Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027โ€“2028 for Iraqi Students

The Swiss Government has opened applications for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for the 2027โ€“2028 academic year.

These scholarships are awarded through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS / ESKAS) and aim to support outstanding researchers while strengthening academic and research cooperation between Switzerland and other countries.

For applicants from Iraq, only the Research Fellowship and PhD Scholarship are available for the 2027โ€“2028 academic year. The Arts Scholarship is not available for Iraqi applicants during this round.

Scholarships Available for Iraqi Applicants

1. Research Fellowship

The Research Fellowship allows early-career researchers to carry out a full-time research project at a Swiss higher education institution or recognized research institution.

It is particularly aimed at outstanding researchers from different academic fields who are pursuing doctoral studies in their home country.

2. PhD Scholarship

The PhD Scholarship supports outstanding researchers who wish to pursue a full-time PhD at a Swiss university or recognized research institution.

The scholarship is available across different academic fields.

Eligibility Requirements

Research Fellowship Requirements

Applicants must:

  • Hold a Master's degree or equivalent by 31 July 2027.
  • For ETH Zurich, the degree must be completed by 30 June 2027.
  • Have a date of birth after 31 December 1991.
  • Be an early-career researcher pursuing doctoral studies in their home country.
  • Submit a detailed research proposal including a timeline and key milestones.
  • Obtain a support letter from an academic supervisor in Switzerland, together with a short CV of the supervisor.
  • If currently residing in Switzerland, must not have entered Switzerland before 1 August 2026.

Scholarship Duration

The Research Fellowship lasts between 6 and 12 months, with a maximum duration of 12 months, and cannot be extended.

The scholarship starts on 1 September 2027.

PhD Scholarship Requirements

Applicants must:

  • Hold a Master's degree or equivalent by 31 July 2027.
  • For ETH Zurich, the degree must be completed by 30 June 2027.
  • Have a date of birth after 31 December 1991.
  • Submit a detailed research proposal including objectives, milestones, and a timeline.
  • Obtain a support letter from an academic supervisor at a Swiss educational institution.
  • If currently residing in Switzerland, must not have entered Switzerland before 1 August 2026.

PhD Scholarship Duration

The scholarship is initially awarded for 12 months and can be renewed twice, reaching a total duration of 36 months, depending on academic progress during the initial period.

The scholarship starts on 1 September 2027.

Academic Supervisor in Switzerland

Having an academic supervisor in Switzerland is an essential requirement for applying for both the Research Fellowship and PhD Scholarship.

Applicants must independently find a suitable professor or research group leader at a Swiss educational institution and contact them to obtain an official support letter.

The supervisor must be relevant to the applicant's field and qualified to provide academic supervision. For PhD applicants, the supervisor must be authorized to supervise doctoral theses.

Applications without an academic supervisor in Switzerland will not be considered.

The Swiss Government also explains that finding a suitable supervisor can take weeks or months, so applicants are strongly encouraged to start this process early.

Scholarship Value and Benefits

Successful applicants receive several benefits, including:

Monthly Scholarship

CHF 2,450 per month to help cover basic living expenses for one person.

The Swiss Government clarifies that this amount is a scholarship, not an employment salary.

Health Insurance

The Federal Commission for Scholarships covers mandatory health insurance premiums for scholarship holders coming from countries outside the European Union and European Free Trade Association (EU/EFTA).

Housing Allowance

Scholarship holders receive a one-time allowance of CHF 600 to help with rental deposit costs.

Transportation

Scholarship holders receive a Half-Fare Travelcard, providing discounts on public transportation in Switzerland.

Return Travel Allowance

Scholarship holders from countries outside the EU/EFTA receive a return travel allowance, with the amount depending on the country of origin.

The return allowance is intended to support travel back to the country of origin within up to two months after the scholarship ends.

Additional Activities

Various trips and activities are organized for Swiss Government scholarship holders during their scholarship period.

Does the Scholarship Cover Tuition Fees?

No.

This is an important point to understand before applying:

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship does not generally cover tuition fees or semester fees.

Some universities, universities of applied sciences, or federal institutes may charge semester fees of approximately CHF 600โ€“2,000, or may apply reduced fees. PhD students may also not be exempt from certain fees.

These costs must be paid by the scholarship holder.

The scholarship also does not provide additional funding for participation in international conferences.

For PhD students, field research of up to six months may be requested, but without additional funding, meaning the student is responsible for all related costs.

Where Can You Study?

Scholarship holders may study or conduct research at recognized higher education and research institutions in Switzerland, including:

  • University of Basel
  • University of Bern
  • University of Fribourg
  • University of Geneva
  • University of Lausanne
  • University of Lucerne
  • University of Neuchรขtel
  • University of St. Gallen
  • University of Zurich
  • Universitร  della Svizzera italiana
  • ETH Zurich
  • EPFL
  • Research Institutes of the ETH Domain
  • Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)

As well as a number of Swiss universities of applied sciences and recognized educational institutions.

Applicants should verify that their chosen institution and program are eligible for the specific scholarship category they are applying for.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare a range of academic documents, including:

  • Complete academic CV.
  • Motivation letter of no more than 2 pages.
  • Detailed research proposal of no more than 5 pages, including a summary for non-specialists.
  • Support letter from the academic supervisor in Switzerland.
  • Short CV of the academic supervisor in Switzerland, limited to 2 pages.
  • For the Research Fellowship, a short CV of the academic supervisor at the university in the applicant's home country.
  • Email addresses of two different professors in the academic field who will be contacted through the application system for recommendation letters.
  • Copies of previous university degrees and academic transcripts.
  • Certified translations of documents if they are not in English, French, Italian, or German.
  • Copy of passport.
  • Copy of residence permit or proof of registration if the applicant is currently residing in Switzerland.

Application Rejection Cases

An application may be rejected if:

  • The application is incomplete or contains formal errors.
  • The applicant submits multiple applications at the same time to different universities or scholarship categories.
  • The applicant has lived, studied, or worked in Switzerland beyond the permitted period before the scholarship begins.
  • The applicant has previously received a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship.
  • The applicant applies for the fourth time after three previous unsuccessful attempts.
  • There is no academic supervisor in Switzerland.
  • The required supervisor support letter is missing.
  • More than one research project is submitted.

For PhD scholarships in certain Graduate Schools, official proof of admission to the doctoral program must be submitted with the scholarship application.

For traditional PhD programs under academic supervision, a PhD admission letter is not required when submitting the scholarship application, but a support letter from the academic supervisor is required.

Application Dates for Iraqi Applicants 2027โ€“2028

According to the official country profile issued by the Swiss Government:

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ถ Iraq

Applications open:
20 August 2026

Application deadline:
27 November 2026, at 11:59 PM Swiss time

Scholarships available for Iraqi applicants:

  • Research Fellowship
  • PhD Scholarship

Applications from Iraq are managed through the Embassy of Switzerland in Iraq.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the Grants Online (GO ESKAS) system.

Application Steps:

1. Check that you meet the scholarship requirements.

2. Choose the appropriate scholarship category:
Research Fellowship or PhD Scholarship.

3. Find a suitable academic supervisor in Switzerland and contact them.

4. Obtain the supervisor's support letter.

5. Prepare the research proposal and all required documents.

6. Create an account on the GO ESKAS system.

7. Complete the scholarship application online and upload all required documents.

8. Submit the application before the deadline.

Applicants should begin preparing early, especially because finding an academic supervisor in Switzerland can take considerable time.

How Are Applicants Selected?

The scholarship is competitive, and successful applicants are selected by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS / ESKAS).

Applications are assessed based on several factors, including:

  • Academic performance.
  • Research skills and experience.
  • Academic motivation.
  • Quality and originality of the research project.
  • Scientific methodology of the project.
  • Quality of academic supervision.
  • Potential for future academic and research cooperation.

Important Note for Iraqi Applicants

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is not a scholarship for Bachelor's or Master's studies.

For Iraq during the 2027โ€“2028 academic year, the available scholarships are:

PhD Scholarship

and

Research Fellowship

Applicants should therefore make sure that their academic qualifications match the requirements of the relevant scholarship category before beginning the application process.

Application Is Free

Swiss authorities warn against fraudulent offers using the name Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships that ask applicants to transfer money or pay fees in exchange for obtaining the scholarship.

Applicants should rely only on official sources and should not transfer money to organizations claiming to represent the Swiss Government in the application process.

Official Application Link

Applicants from Iraq can submit their applications through the GO ESKAS system:

Official Scholarship Application

Deadline for Iraqi applicants: 27 November 2026 โ€“ 11:59 PM Swiss time.

For the latest official information, applicants should always refer to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and the official Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships page.