Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships: conditions for PhD and research

Short answer: The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are mainly for researchers: doctoral, postdoctoral and research fellowships. Applying usually requires a supervisor at a Swiss university willing to host you and a research proposal. The list of eligible countries and conditions is announced every year.

Who is it for?

• Those with a master's degree who want to do a PhD or research in Switzerland.
• Early-career researchers with a doctorate (postdoc).
• Citizens of eligible countries — check on the official website whether Azerbaijan is on the list this year.
• There are usually conditions on age and the date your degree was awarded.

What does it cover?

• A monthly allowance.
• Insurance and in some cases a tuition fee waiver.
• There may be a one-time payment for housing or settling in.

Check the amount and duration in the official announcement.

Application steps

• Find a professor in your research field at a Swiss university and contact them. See: PhD abroad: finding a supervisor.
• Prepare a research proposal and get a letter of support from the professor.
• The application is usually submitted via the Swiss embassy in Azerbaijan in the autumn.
• Selection is in stages, and results are announced by spring.

About the country: studying in Switzerland.

Frequently asked questions

Is this scholarship available for a master's?

This programme is mainly for research level. For a master's, look at universities' own scholarships.

Can I apply without a supervisor?

Usually not — support from a professor at a Swiss university is a key condition.

Note: eligible countries, conditions and dates may change every year. Check the official announcement and the Swiss embassy's information.

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