Government Excellence Scholarships are awarded annually by the Swiss Confederation to encourage collaboration in education and research between Switzerland and Pakistan. The Federal Commission for Foreign Students (FCS) is responsible for selecting scholarship winners.
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are designed for recent master’s or doctoral graduates from abroad in the fields of research and the arts from abroad.
Research scholarships
Researchers with a master’s degree or higher are eligible for the research scholarship (research fellowship, PhD, Postdoc) if they plan to study or conduct research in Switzerland at the doctoral or postdoctoral level.
All of the universities and research institutes in Switzerland are eligible to provide research scholarships, including the four research institutes and two federal institutes of technology. Only those who have been recommended by a professor or other academic advisor at one of these universities will be considered.
Objectives
- Funding will be provided to successful candidates so that they may do doctoral-level research at one of Switzerland’s ten cantonal universities, two federal institutes of technology, public teaching and research institutes, or universities of applied sciences in Switzerland.
- Only for use by full-time Swiss researchers.
Target Group
- Graduate students and young doctors have extensive experience in their respective disciplines.
- This is intended mostly for academics who have not yet visited Switzerland.
Eligibility Criteria
- Master’s degree or equivalent by July 31, 2024 (excluding ETH Zurich, which requires completion by June 30, 2024). A degree has been earned.
- To qualify, your birthday must be after December 31, 1988.
- A timetabled research proposal.
- Academic host professor recommendation letter (with brief CV) required.
Duration
- The 2024-25 school year begins on September 1st, thus the scholarship can be used then.
- Maximum of 12 months (begins in September).
- No prolongation possible.
Amount
- The fellowship provides a recurring monthly stipend of (1920 CHF which becomes 663,651 Pakistani rupees).
- The scholarship money can only be used to pay for one person’s expenses.
- This award is not a wage in any way.
Selection Criteria
- The applicant’s credentials, ability, and drive to conduct study.
- The uniqueness and validity of the study methodology used.
- Potential for future academic collaboration and supervision quality in an academic setting.
Contact for further questions
- Find the appropriate address here based on your nation of citizenship (country of origin).
- Find out what kinds of scholarships are offered in your own country.
- Verify when the call is being issued and what the deadline for responses is. Late applications will not be reviewed.
To Apply
- Forms and guidelines for applying can be downloaded in a ZIP file (application package).
- Please fill out and print.
To Submit
- The application must be completed in two separate physical copies.
- If you want to know where to send letters from your nation, click here (way of submission) to get in touch with the appropriate email address.
Art scholarships
Students pursuing a first master’s degree in the arts in Switzerland can apply for a variety of available art scholarships.
Scholarships are available for studies at any accredited Swiss art academy. Students from a select number of countries are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Objectives
- To give deserving students a head start on their Master’s degree programs at any Swiss conservatory or institution of the arts in Switzerland.
- Only for use by full-time Swiss researchers.
Target Group
- Promising yet unmasters-degreed young creatives.
- Only inhabitants of countries with whom Switzerland has an art scholarship reciprocity agreement are eligible to apply for these grants.
Eligibility Criteria
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree by July 31, 2024. A degree has been earned.
- To qualify, your birthday must be after December 31, 1988.
- All applications for a third or subsequent master’s degree will be rejected.
Duration
- The 2024-25 school year begins on September 1st, thus the scholarship can be used then.
- Duration: 1 year (October start date).
- Possible to extend up to an additional 21 months if you have the required ECTS credits and the Master’s program you’ve chosen requires it.
Amount
- The scholarship provides a stipend of (1920 CHF which becomes 663,651 Pakistani rupees) per month.
- The scholarship money can only be used to pay for one person’s expenses.
Selection Criteria
- The profile, skills, and drive of the candidate in question.
- The portfolio’s level of artistic development and promise.
- The host institute: available study slots.
Contact for further questions
- Find the appropriate address here based on your nation of citizenship (more information).
- Find out what kinds of scholarships are offered in your own country.
- Verify when the call is being issued and what the deadline for responses is. Late applications will not be reviewed.
To Apply
- Forms and guidelines for applying can be downloaded in a ZIP file (application package).
- Please fill out and print.
To Submit
- The application needs to be printed out twice.
- To find the email address of the person who can provide the mailing address for your nation, please click here (submission way).
Application procedure
- Program Activation in Pakistan & other Countries: Go to www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng
- Call for Applications: Download application documents, questions? see list of contacts
- Submit application: includes forms, research proposal, support letters, and references before the deadline.
- Submission deadline at Swiss representation: This date and the postal address varies from country to country
- Federal Commission: for Scholarships FCS selection
- Start of scholarships: Swiss academic host institution
How to apply
Choose your country of birth as it appears on your passport. It’s important to research the scholarship opportunities accessible in your country, as well as the requirements for applying and the application deadlines. Please use the address on the list of contacts for any further inquiries. Choose your country of birth as it appears on your passport.
To apply, please review the Application Guidelines. Please review the list of contacts and submit two complete copies of your application to the appropriate office in your country of origin by the deadline.
Selection
The appropriate national authorities and/or the Swiss diplomatic mission will conduct an initial screening of all applications. Scholarship applications are narrowed down to a select few that are reviewed by the FCS, the Federal Commission for Foreign Students.
The FCS considers the following factors when awarding scholarships:
- Resume of the Candidate
- The standard of the study or the piece of art
- Opportunities for synergy and future collaboration in the field of research
Academic and research prowess serve as the primary criteria for receiving a scholarship.
Awards
By the end of May, at the latest, the FCS will release its decisions on the new scholarship grants.
Outlook
Scholarship recipients for the 2024–25 school year will be chosen by the FCS by the end of May of that year. Advertisements for 2025-26 school year scholarships can be found online beginning in August 2024.
