Switzerland
10 Fulbright/Swiss Government Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
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 2023, 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 2024 to the fourth week of December, and in the spring from the third week of February 2025 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, 1988.
Eligibility
12 Months
Accepted Degree Levels
- 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.
___________________________________________________________________________
Candidates are responsible for arranging their own affiliations with a host professor who is willing to supervise their research at one of the 12 public Swiss universities. Applicants must include a letter of affiliation with their application.
In general, a bachelor's degree is sufficient for conducting research at Swiss universities, with two exceptions: research candidates applying to ETH Zurich or the University of Basel must have completed a master's degree. Bachelor's and/or master's degrees must be conferred by June 30, 2024. 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.
Housing Arrangements
No housing arrangements are provided, but the Reception Service at some host universities may offer assistance in finding a room in the University housing.
Dependents
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.