Brief introduction

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists

Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. Recipients are selected by the awarding body, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS). The federal scholarship is particularly suitable for young researchers and students with the desire for a scientific career and the motivation to apply what they have learned in their home country.

Types of scholarships (depending on nationality): 

• research fellowship for (12 months)
• PhD scholarship (max. 36 months)
• Potstdoc scholarship (12 months)
• Art scholarships (Master studies) 

Applications are subject to preliminary selection by the relevant national authorities and/or the Swiss diplomatic representation. The short-listed applications are then assessed by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), which takes the final decision. You will find all relevant information on the web page of the State Secretariat for Educations, Research and Innovation (SERI). 

Only after a successful application, the Bern FCS reception service contacts the new scholarship holders and explains the further procedure. The Bern FCS reception service supports scholarship holders at the University of Bern, the Bern University of Applied Sciences and the Bern University of the Arts (HKB). 

The delegate of the University of Bern in the scholarship commission is Professor Sebastian Leidel.