In Switzerland, only few students at bachelor and master’s level hold a scholarship or grant. Most students finance their programme and costs of living through part-time work. While tuition fees vary between CHF 500 and CHF 2,000 per semester/term, the costs of living are high though. Furthermore, grant availability for PhD students is much higher.
- Does your government offer study grants and scholarships through which you could finance your stay in Switzerland?
- If you are an exchange student, does your home university offer scholarships for studying 1-2 semesters in Switzerland?
- Would you be eligible for a student job alongside your study programme in Switzerland?
- Check out the funding opportunities of Swiss universities and companies. Several universities have grants/scholarships at faculty/department/institute or student body level. Make sure to check out these grants when you have chosen your study programme.
Short-term mobility
Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) Scholarship
SEMP is the Swiss Programme for Erasmus+ for higher education. As a SEMP incoming student, you will receive a mobility grant from the Swiss government. This ranges from CHF 380 to CHF 440 a month depending on your country of origin. Contact the responsible office at your home university in order to find out about the requirements for participation, the application deadlines at your home university, the required documents, etc.
Your online application for a SEMP stay at a Swiss university is also an automatic application for the grant. The grant is paid out directly by the Swiss host institution. General information about SEMP can also be found on the website of the national agency for exchange and mobility Movetia.
Young Swiss Abroad
Scholarships for Young Swiss Abroad Studying in Switzerland
Young Swiss abroad usually have the possibility to apply for a scholarship for their home canton or training. Each canton has its own grant regulations, and so the pre-requisites fand the amount of the grant, as well as the necessary formalities and deadlines, vary greatly from canton to canton (Education Suisse).
Federal Scholarships
For PhD Students, Artists and Young Researchers
- University/Faculty or Department Scholarships for PhD Students
Several departments and institutes offer scholarships or grants. However, they rarely provide full coverage. Check your future department’s scholarship or grant programme. - Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists
Are you an excellent PhD Student or Artist?
The Swiss Government awards Excellence Scholarships to foreign graduates, post-graduates and artists holding a recognised university degree. Detailed information about offers and requirements is available on the website of the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS). - Swiss National Science Foundation
Mandated by the federal government, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) supports science in all academic disciplines, from history to medicine and the engineering sciences. The SNSF is Switzerland’s foremost research funding organisation and finances over 3,200 projects involving 14,800 researchers each year.
Find further information on SNSF.
Master and MBA Student Scholarships
Offered by Universities and Companies
- ETH Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme (ESOP) and Master Scholarship Programme (MSP)
- EPFL Excellence Fellowships
- Graduate Institute Financial Aid and Special Aid
- University of Geneva Excellence Master Fellowships
- University of Lausanne Master’s Grants in Switzerland for Foreign Students
- University of St. Gallen Starr International Foundation Scholarship Fund
- Hirschmann grant for master’s degree students attending Swiss universities of applied sciences and arts
- IMD MBA Scholarships: Jim Ellert MBA Scholarship / IMD Emerging Markets Scholarships / MBA Future Leaders Scholarships
- IO-MBA Program Scholarships at the University of Geneva
- Nestle MBA Scholarships for Women from Developing Countries
- Swiss Study Foundation