The Swiss Government is offering foreign researchers postgraduate scholarships at Swiss higher education institutions (Universities, Federal Institutes of Technology and Universities of Applied Sciences, Arts and Music Schools) through the Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS also known as ESKAS, CFBE

For South African citizens three different types of fully funded scholarships are offered starting in September 2023 in all academic fields:

PhD Scholarships

• The scholarship is valid for 12 months and renewable for a maximum of 3 years;
• Applicants should have a Master’s degree or equivalent University degree recognized by a Swiss University obtained before 31 July 2022;
• The applicant must not be older than 35 years at the time of application (born after 31 December 1987).

Postdoctoral Scholarships

• The scholarship is valid for 12 months and non-renewable;
• Grant applications for stay lasting less than 9 months will not be treated as a priority;
• Grant applications for stay lasting less than 6 months will be rejected.
• The applicants should have a PhD degree;
• PhD degree must be obtained after 31 December 2019 and before 31 July 2023 (PhD degree certificate).

Research Scholarships

• The Scholarship is intended for highly qualified postdoctoral researchers from all academic fields as well as young Medical Doctors;
• The scholarship is valid for 12 months maximum and non-renewable;
• Grant applications for stay lasting less than 9 months will not be treated as a priority;
• Grant applications for stay lasting less than 6 months will be rejected;
• The applicant should have a Master’s degree or equivalent obtained before 31 July 2022;
• A research proposal including a timeframe;
• Mandatory letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV);
• The applicant must not be older than 35 years at the time of application (born after 31 December 1987).
• The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students assesses scholarship applications according to three criteria:

a) Candidate profile: Academic profile, the research capacity and motivation;

b) The research proposal: Its originality and methodological soundness;

c) Academic Context: The quality and context of supervision and the potential for future academic cooperation.

Degree level

PhD, Post Doc, Research Fellow

Deadline

15 December 2022

Who can apply?

• Citizens of South African, Botswana, Lesotho, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Namibia and Mauritius (with global outreach);
• Applicants who have been in Switzerland since more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible. Reference document if applicable: residence permit to be added to the application documents;
• Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.

Fields of Study

• Open to all academic fields of research.

What the fellowship offers

• Stipend: Postdoctoral research: CHF 3500/month;
• Stipend: PhD and Research scholarship: CHF 1920/month;
• Mandatory Swiss health insurance;
• One-time lump sum of CHF 300.-with the first grant payment to help for payment of the housing deposit
•  Flight allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship).

Application process

Applications must be submitted to the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa. The applicants are strongly advised to use a courier company to submit their application