Switzerland
10 Fulbright/Swiss Government Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length12 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Up to 10 Fulbright/Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are available for research or a Ph.D. degree program in all disciplines, and for a first master's degree program in the Arts.
All U.S.-based applicants for the Fulbright/Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships will first apply for the scholarship through the Fulbright Program. Once the first phase of the selection process has been completed, the semi-finalists will be required to complete an additional application in paper form and submit this to the Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships (FCS) in December 2024, according to the instructions at this link.
Both Fulbright and Swiss Government/Federal Commission for Scholarship (FCS) grant rules/eligibility apply.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grant Length: Maximum of 12 months of full-time research or study. The grant is not renewable.
The academic year in Switzerland is divided into two semesters. Classes are held starting in the fall from the third week of September 2025 to the fourth week of December, and in the spring from the third week of February 2026 to the first week of June.
Orientation
All grantees are required to attend a pre-departure orientation in June or July as a condition of their grant. The event is organized by IIE, virtual or in-person.
Candidate Profile
The Fulbright program in Switzerland offers academic research scholarships to excellent students who have a clear research goal. Applications within the framework of a cooperative program between the candidate's home academic institution and an academic institution in Switzerland have some priority. Candidates with the intention of pursuing an academic career (i.e. doctoral candidates) will be given priority.
Applicants proposing to pursue master's programs in Switzerland are ineligible for consideration, except in the Arts.
Applicants must be born after December 31, 1989.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Switzerland is one of the safest and wealthiest countries in the world. This makes life in Switzerland very pleasant and comfortable. There is a fantastic public transport system that runs on time and gets you almost everywhere. The health care system is one of the best in the world.
Taking the normal safety precautions, it is safe for women to go out at night and be on the streets alone.
The beautiful country side invites to go outdoor for hiking, swimming, camping, picknick in summer, or doing snow sports in winter.
Swiss people, especially in the German speaking part of Switzerland, might initially be a bit reserved in making contact, but that should not stop you from approaching them and aiming to make friends.
Shops are open from Monday to Saturday, from around 7.30am to 7.00pm. On Sundays all shops, except for some shops at the train stations, are closed. You will also find that on Sunday many restaurants and bars are closed.
Switzerland does have four seasons, meaning that it can be nice and warm in summer with temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius, and quite cold in winter with temperatures going down to -10 degrees celsius. It has dry periods and periods with a lot of rain.
Before arriving in Switzerland grantees will receive an extensive information guide with practical information about their time in Switzerland.
Eligibility
12 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
German, French, or Italian language proficiency is recommended, though not required. However, depending on your research project, a fluent command of one of the national languages may be required. At Swiss universities, a number of courses at the master's level and higher are held in either English, or bilingually in English and the local national language. For all candidates, a working knowledge of the local Swiss national language is recommended to facilitate community engagement and a well-rounded experience.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
Yes
Affiliation
Letter required for independent study or research at deadline
Letter required at deadline
Graduate degree enrollment will only be considered for applicants proposing to enroll in a Ph.D. program, except for students in the Arts, who may apply for a first master's degree program.
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Candidates are responsible for arranging their own affiliations with a host professor who is willing to supervise their research at one of the Swiss public universities, Federal Institutes of Technology, University of Applied Sciences, or Schools of Music and Arts. Applicants must include a letter of affiliation with their application. No fieldwork proposals are permitted for the 12 month research fellowship. Fieldwork projects are possible for the doctoral scholarships but are only permitted for 6 months of the total scholarship length.
A masters is required for Research/PhD award applicants. The master’s degrees must be conferred by June 30, 2025. Applicants may only apply to one Swiss public university in their grant application. Additional information on Swiss public universities may be found at http://www.swissuniversities.ch/en/.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
The scholarship does not include tuition or any other study fees. At present, some universities waive tuition fees for scholarship holders, but often require payment of tuition for postgraduate courses. If tuition is not waived, the grantee must arrange payment. Tuition at Swiss universities is low in comparison to the U.S.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
Round-trip airfare is not provided for Swiss Study/Research grants. Please see the below guidance for more information regarding travel benefits for this award.
Grantees from outside the European Union and the EFTA pay for their own travel expenses to Switzerland, but Scholarship holders from non-EU and non-EFTA countries receive a return flight allowance (lump sum depending upon the country of origin) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship). The return allowance will not be paid if the scholarship holders extend their stay in Switzerland beyond six months after completion of their research, if they take up employment pending the continuation of their research or if they move to a Third country.
Additional Grant Benefits
- Health insurance (in addition to ASPE)
Grantees will be covered by the health insurance of the ESKAS program.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Housing: Grantees should expect to pay between CHF 500 and 700 rent per month.
Mobile phone plans should be possible of around CHF 50 per month.
Public transport: We recommend that grantees buy the half fare card for all Swiss public transport upon arrival in Switzerland, saving 50% per ticket. The card is CHF 185 per year. A return ticket Zurich airport to Bern is normal price CHF 112, and with half fare card CHF 56. Anyone under 25 years old can also by a general transport card for free travel between 7.00pm until next morning 5.00am. Cost of that card is around CHF 125.
Groceries: As with everything in Switzerland, groceries are not cheap, especially meat, fish and cheeses.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
No housing arrangements are provided, but the Reception Service/International Office at some host universities may offer assistance in finding a room in the University housing.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Arts candidates
Up to two grants are available for candidates in the fine arts, music, and performing arts through a worldwide competition. Applications in the Arts may be accepted for the first master's study at a recognized Swiss art or music school, which may include Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences.
Grantees may study at any cantonal university of applied sciences or recognized music academy, conservatory, or art school. Some music academies and conservatories may require an audition in Switzerland before admission is finalized. The applicant must receive written confirmation from a professor at the chosen educational institution that the study project is feasible at that institution, or that admission for a specific master's program will be granted.
Applicants in the Arts must be at the bachelor’s degree level. Arts applicants with an MFA or any other Master's degree are not eligible to apply.