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Scholarships in Switzerland

4 scholarships · 2 categories

Overview

Switzerland is known for excellent education and relatively low tuition at public universities (about $1,000–$2,000/year). The key is obtaining living expense support since Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries to live in. The Swiss government and top universities offer several scholarship programs for international students.

Swiss Government Scholarships

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

The Swiss government awards scholarships to foreign students from over 180 countries for postgraduate studies — including research fellowships, PhD scholarships, and art scholarships (for Master's in arts). Candidates must be nominated by their country's Swiss embassy; you cannot apply directly to the Swiss government. It's a great opportunity for those aiming to do research or a doctorate in Switzerland, given that Swiss tuition is low (~$1,000–$2,000/year) and the main challenge is typically covering the high cost of living.

Coverage: Monthly stipend (~CHF 1,920), tuition fee waivers (in some cases), health insurance, airfare, and housing allowance.
Eligibility: Foreign students from 180+ countries, nominated by Swiss embassy.

University Scholarships

ETH Zürich - Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP)

ETH Zurich's ESOP scholarship is for excellent Master's students admitted to one of the world's top technical universities. The award provides full coverage of tuition and a generous living allowance. Given ETH's reputation in engineering, natural sciences, and technology, this scholarship offers exceptional prestige and opens doors to top industry and research careers globally.

Coverage: Full coverage of tuition and living expenses (~CHF 12,000 per semester).
Eligibility: Excellent Master's students.

EPFL Excellence Fellowship

EPFL in Lausanne, ranked among the world's top technical universities, offers an Excellence Fellowship for outstanding Master's students. It provides a generous per-semester stipend plus a reserved dorm room, helping manage the high cost of living in the Lausanne area. Candidates must apply to an EPFL Master's program and indicate interest in the fellowship during the admissions process.

Coverage: CHF 10,000 per semester plus reservation of dorm room.
Eligibility: Outstanding Master's students.

University of Geneva Excellence Master Fellowships

The University of Geneva offers Excellence Master Fellowships for outstanding international students in science fields. These are merit-based awards that cover a significant portion of the cost of living in Geneva — one of the world's most expensive cities — and are awarded alongside admission to select Master's programs.

Coverage: CHF 10,000-15,000/year.
Eligibility: International students in science Master's programs.

Tips & Notes

  • Swiss tuition is relatively low (about $1,000–$2,000/year at public universities), so often the key is obtaining living expense support.
  • If you secure any fellowship or research assistantship, it can usually cover living costs.
  • Switzerland is not in Erasmus+ but offers the Swiss-European Mobility Programme as an alternative.

References & Sources