Why it fits you

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Who can apply

Three different things not to mix up: the country where you study, your nationality and the country where you live when you apply.

Call
Senegal
Country of study
Switzerland
Accepted nationalities
Senegal
Degree already heldRequired
Master’s
Target level
Doctorate
Fields of study
All fields
Age limit
35 years old at most
Other conditions
  • Be born after 31 December 1991.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Date of birth after 31 December 1991.
  • Have a letter of support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland (with a short CV).RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Applicants must have a letter of support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland (including a short CV).
  • If you already live in Switzerland: you must have arrived on or after 1 August 2026.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: If the applicant already resides in Switzerland: date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2026 (submit a copy of the registration confirmation or residence permit).
  • Not have already received a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: The applicant has already received a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship.
  • Submit only one application (one host university, one scholarship type, one project).RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Multiple applications are submitted simultaneously by the same person for several host universities and/or scholarship types.
  • A fourth application after three unsuccessful attempts is not accepted.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: This is the fourth application after three unsuccessful attempts.
  • A PhD under a joint supervision agreement (« cotutelle de thèse ») between a Swiss and a foreign university is only eligible for the 12-month research fellowship.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: PhD students with an ongoing or planned doctoral project carried out under a formal agreement between two universities ("cotutelle de thèse” cooperation between a Swiss and a foreign university) are only eligible for a 12-month research fellowship.

The real funding

What the opportunity pays, what is left for you to pay and the money to plan before leaving.

Paid
Insurance
Partly paid
Housing and plane ticket
At your expense
Tuition
Allowance
CHF 2,450 a month
What is left for you to pay
  • Any semester or tuition fees charged by the university (about CHF 600 to 2,000 per semester depending on the institution).
  • The costs of attending international conferences.
  • Field research costs (for the PhD, up to six months, with no extra funding).
  • Your family's costs: the scholarship covers one person only.
Application fee
Free

Dates

Applications open
20 August 2026 at 00:00 CEST (Europe/Zurich)
Applications close
30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET (Europe/Zurich)
Results announced
By the end of May at the latest, for the following academic year
Studies start
1 September 2027

Application steps

In the order set by the programme. Open a step to see the details.

  1. Step 1: Find an academic supervisor in Switzerland who accepts your project and writes a letter of support.
    With whom
    A professor or lab group leader at a Swiss higher-education institution
    By when
    As early as possible: the search can take weeks or even months
  2. Step 2: Create an account on Grants Online (GO ESKAS), prepare and submit the application online. No application by e-mail or on paper.
    With whom
    The GO ESKAS platform (Swiss Confederation)
    By when
    30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET (Europe/Zurich) — 30 November 2026 at 11:59 PM, Swiss time
    Documents to provide
    • Complete CV
    • Letter of motivation (max. 2 pages)
    • Research proposal on the FCS/ESKAS form (max. 5 pages)
    • Letter of support and short CV of your supervisor in Switzerland
    • Copies of degrees and transcripts (certified translation if not in English, French, Italian or German)
    • Copy of passport (both passports for dual citizens)
  3. Step 3: Give two professors in your field: the system asks them to upload a recommendation letter.
    With whom
    Two professors in your field
  4. Step 4: For a PhD scholarship: apply separately for admission to the Swiss university's doctoral programme.
    With whom
    The Swiss host university

Where to apply

Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) (opens in a new tab) · Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships – research scholarships

Official title (in English): Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Edition 2027-2028 · Verified on 30 October 2026

Apply on the official website (opens in a new tab)

Official website of Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS): go.eskas.ch

See the official page of the opportunity(opens in a new tab)

Prepare your departure

Visa, insurance, housing, budget and first steps on arrival: everything is explained in the country guide.