The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027-28 are now open for eligible Pakistani students and researchers seeking opportunities for doctoral study and research in Switzerland.
The scholarship programme has been announced by the Swiss Government, while the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan is advertising the opportunity for Pakistani applicants. The application deadline for Pakistani candidates is October 31, 2026, according to the HEC announcement.
Levels: PhD
Fields: All Fields
International
Merit Based
All Pakistan
31-10-2026
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are designed to support international academic exchange and research cooperation. Switzerland offers these scholarships to applicants from more than 180 countries.
Swiss Government Scholarships 2027-28 for Pakistan
For Pakistani applicants, the current HEC announcement highlights two major opportunities:
- 1-Year Research Scholarship
- 3-Year PhD Scholarship
The research scholarship is intended for doctoral candidates who want to undertake a research stay in Switzerland, while the PhD scholarship is for candidates planning to pursue doctoral studies in Switzerland.
The official Swiss information states that research fellowships are available across academic disciplines at eligible Swiss universities, universities of applied sciences, federal institutes of technology and recognised research institutes.
1-Year Research Scholarship
The research fellowship allows selected candidates to conduct a research project in Switzerland as part of their doctoral studies.
The official scholarship information says the research fellowship can run for 6 to 12 months, with the scholarship starting on September 1, 2027. It cannot be extended.
Applicants must already be pursuing a PhD in their home country and need an academic supervisor in Switzerland who agrees to support and supervise the proposed research.
3-Year PhD Scholarship
The PhD scholarship is designed for qualified applicants who want to pursue a PhD in Switzerland.
The scholarship is initially awarded for 12 months and can be renewed twice, allowing funding for up to 36 months, subject to satisfactory academic progress. The expected start date is September 1, 2027.
Applicants must have a Master's degree or equivalent qualification by July 31, 2027. For ETH Zurich, the qualification must be completed by June 30, 2027. Applicants must also have been born after December 31, 1991.
Scholarship Amount
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship provides CHF 2,450 per month for research and PhD scholarship holders to help cover basic living expenses for one person.
The amount is a scholarship allowance and is not considered a salary.
Additional benefits include:
- Compulsory health insurance coverage for eligible non-EU/EFTA scholarship holders
- One-time CHF 600 rental deposit allowance
- Half-Fare Travelcard for public transportation
- Return flight allowance for eligible non-EU/EFTA scholarship holders
- Organised activities and excursions for scholarship holders
Important: Tuition Fees Are Not Fully Covered
Applicants should understand that the scholarship does not automatically cover tuition or semester fees.
Some Swiss universities and institutions may charge semester or tuition fees, which scholarship holders have to pay themselves. The official information says these fees can be around CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester, although the actual amount depends on the institution.
The scholarship also does not provide additional funding for conference participation or field research.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is mainly aimed at highly qualified early-career researchers and applicants with strong academic and research profiles.
For the research and PhD categories, applicants generally need:
- A completed Master's degree or equivalent
- A strong academic and research profile
- A suitable research proposal
- A clear research plan and timeline
- Support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland
- Relevant academic qualifications and experience
For the 2027-28 cycle, the official Swiss criteria specify the Master's degree completion deadline as July 31, 2027, with a different deadline for ETH Zurich.
Finding a Swiss Academic Supervisor Is Essential
One of the most important requirements for applicants is finding an academic supervisor in Switzerland.
Applicants are responsible for contacting suitable professors or research leaders and obtaining a letter of support. Applications without the required Swiss academic supervisor and support letter will not be considered.
Students should therefore begin contacting potential supervisors well before the application deadline. The Swiss authorities also point out that finding a supervisor can take weeks or even months because professors receive many requests.
Applicants should first identify universities and professors whose research matches their proposed PhD or research topic.
Documents Required
Applicants should prepare their documents well in advance. The official scholarship information lists the following key application materials:
- Updated and complete CV
- Educational certificates and transcripts
- Research proposal
- Research timeline
- Motivation letter
- Letter of support from a Swiss academic supervisor
- Short CV of the Swiss supervisor
- Recommendation information for two professors
- Copy of passport
- Residence permit/registration confirmation, where applicable
- Graduate school admission confirmation where required
Documents issued in languages other than English, French, Italian or German require certified translations.
Research Proposal
The research proposal is an important part of the application.
According to the Swiss Government's requirements, the proposal should include a detailed research plan and timeline showing the main activities and milestones. The proposal must be submitted using the FCS/ESKAS format and can be a maximum of five pages, including a summary for non-specialists.
Motivation Letter
Applicants must also submit a motivation letter of up to two pages.
The letter should explain why the applicant wants to undertake the research or PhD in Switzerland, how the opportunity fits into their career plans and what they intend to do professionally after the scholarship.
How to Apply for Swiss Government Scholarship 2027-28
The Swiss Government says applications are submitted through its Grants Online (GO ESKAS) system.
Applicants should:
- Check the scholarship category and eligibility requirements.
- Identify a suitable Swiss university and academic supervisor.
- Contact the potential supervisor and obtain the required support.
- Prepare the research proposal and other documents.
- Register on the GO ESKAS application system.
- Complete the online application.
- Upload the required documents.
- Submit the application before the deadline.
Applications should not be sent by email or in paper form.
Selection Process
Applications are assessed by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS/ESKAS).
The main selection factors include:
- Academic profile and research ability
- Motivation
- Quality and originality of the research project
- Research methodology
- Quality of academic supervision
- Potential for future research cooperation
Important Deadline for Pakistani Students
According to the HEC announcement shown in the scholarship notice, the last date to apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027-28 from Pakistan is October 31, 2026.
Candidates should not wait until the final days because securing a Swiss academic supervisor and preparing a strong research proposal can take considerable time.
