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Western Europe, capital Bern

Scholarships to Study in Switzerland (2027)

Switzerland teaches higher education mainly through ten cantonal universities, two federal institutes of technology (ETH Zurich and EPFL) and a separate network of universities of applied sciences, with bachelor's degrees mostly taught in German, French or Italian and a growing number of English-taught master's programmes. Tuition is charged per semester rather than per year, and since 2025 several universities, including both federal institutes and the University of Bern, charge foreign students roughly three times the domestic rate. Non-EU/EFTA students need a national type D visa before travel and a cantonal residence permit after arrival, and cantons commonly ask for proof of about CHF 21,000 a year in funds.

Verified 7 Sep 2026 Sources
Public tuition, per year
CHF 1,000 to CHF 8,000
international students
Living cost, per month
CHF 2,000 to CHF 2,500
typical range
Work during study
15 h
per week
Post study work
6 mo
after graduation
Intakes
Autumn, Spring
main application cycles

The main national award is the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, run by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI) and the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students, for postgraduate researchers, normally those who already hold a master's degree, from around 180 partner countries; it pays a monthly stipend plus health insurance and a travel allowance and is aimed at research and doctoral-level study rather than a first master's degree. Individual universities and cantons run their own, smaller merit and needs-based awards open to bachelor's and master's applicants, and Switzerland's association with EU research and education programmes gives some students access to Erasmus+ mobility funding. There is no single central portal listing every award; each scheme is published and run by whichever body funds it.

  • Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
    Swiss Confederation, State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI), study in Switzerland , Phd, Other
    CHF 2,450 a month to cover basic living costs, plus health insurance premiums and a return flight allowance for non-EU/EFTA scholars, a one-time CHF 6...
    Full
    The closing date depends on the applicant's country of origi...
  • Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP)
    ETH Zurich, with the ETH Zurich Foundation, study in Switzerland , Master
    CHF 12,000 per semester toward living and study expenses (rising to CHF 13,500 from autumn 2027), plus a full tuition fee waiver, for the regular dura...
    Full
    Closes 30 Nov 2026
  • EPFL Master's Excellence Fellowships
    Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), study in Switzerland , Master
    CHF 10,000 per semester for up to four semesters, plus a reserved room in EPFL student housing for external candidates; cannot be combined with other...
    Partial
    Closes 15 Dec 2026
Sources, checked 7 September 2026
  1. https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/en/qualifications-awarded-by-swiss-higher-education-institutions
  2. https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/en/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships-at-a-glance
  3. https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/themen/einreise/faq.html
  4. https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/themen/arbeit/faq.html
  5. https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/usa/en/home/visa/entry-ch/more-90-days/fees-national.html
  6. https://www.swissuniversities.ch/en/themen/lehre-studium/information-on-studies/tuition-fees/tuition-fees-at-universities
  7. https://ethz.ch/en/studies/international/after-arrival/residence-permit/applying.html
  8. https://www.uzh.ch/en/studies/application/entry/guidelines.html
  9. https://www.uzh.ch/en/studies/application/languagerequirements.html
  10. https://www.uzh.ch/en/studies/application/fees.html