Scholarships and Student Financial Aid in Switzerland

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships fund early-career researchers from abroad who already hold a master's degree and want to pursue doctoral or postdoctoral research in Switzerland. Recipients get a monthly stipend of CHF 2,450, plus a one-time CHF 600 housing allowance and full Swiss health insurance for non-EU/EFTA fellows, according to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI) . You need to be under 35 and line up an academic supervisor in Switzerland before you apply.

The award runs for 12 months initially, and PhD students can apply for renewal if their research progress is on track. Applications for the next cycle go through the ESKAS online portal and open on 20 August 2026, with country-specific deadlines published on the SBFI site shortly after, so check back for the exact date that applies to you.

University scholarships: ETH Zurich and EPFL

ETH Zurich's Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) covers master's students who rank in the top 10% of their bachelor's cohort. It pays CHF 12,000 a semester plus a full tuition waiver for the regular length of your master's program, according to ETH Zurich . Applications open in November for programs starting the following autumn, and the process includes a thesis pre-proposal plus an interview for shortlisted candidates.

EPFL runs a comparable scheme, the Master Excellence Fellowships, paying CHF 10,000 a semester up to a total of CHF 40,000 for a two-year master's, with guaranteed campus housing included, according to EPFL . Both programs judge you on your bachelor's results, so a strong final-year transcript matters more than your nationality or financial need.

Other university scholarships

Most cantonal universities run smaller merit or need-based scholarship funds through their own financial aid or international office, separate from the two flagship programs above. Amounts and eligibility differ by institution and by faculty, so check your target university's own scholarships or financial aid page once you have a program in mind rather than searching for a single Switzerland-wide fund.

Cantonal grants and loans

Each Swiss canton runs its own means-tested grant and loan scheme for residents in financial need. These schemes target people already established as residents of that canton, so most European students who arrive specifically for a degree do not qualify. If you already live in Switzerland with your family or hold long-term residence status, check your canton's education office directly, since rules and amounts differ across all 26 cantons.

Combine funding sources

Full scholarships covering both tuition and living costs are rare and go to a small number of applicants each year. Most students combine a partial award, personal savings and part-time work during the semester to cover their budget. Work permit rules limit how many hours you can work during term time, and the exact limit depends on your residence permit type, so confirm with your canton's migration office before you commit to a work schedule.

How to apply well

Treat scholarship applications as separate from your university admission. Start early, since the strongest programs, including ESOP and the Excellence Fellowships, ask for a pre-proposal, references or interview slots months before teaching starts. Read the eligibility page for each scholarship carefully: some target incoming master's students only, others target PhD researchers, and mixing up the target group wastes your application window.