Scholarships in Switzerland

If you would like to go to a university in Switzerland, it is important to know how to reduce the overall costs. Although universities are subsidised and therefore charge relatively low tuition fees, some other costs remain. Scholarships in Switzerland are a way of completely subsidising your costs while studying. Some of these programmes cover tuition alongside food and student housing.

How to apply for a scholarship at a Swiss university

Switzerland awards scholarships to international students based on two main factors:

• Students who experience hardship or difficult circumstances surrounding their family or work
• Students who excel in their area of study

Most scholarships are awarded during the application process. It is therefore important to find out which ones you are eligible to apply for, as being granted a scholarship could dramatically reduce the cost of studying in Switzerland.

The scholarships listed below are available to students at any university in Switzerland, but it can be beneficial to look and see if your university has its own scholarship programme or system of financial aid.

Scholarships from the Swiss Study Foundation

The mission of the Swiss Study Foundation is to subsidise students who are recognised for excellence in their field of study. These scholarships cover the majority of living expenses while pursuing a degree in Switzerland. In addition, the foundation seeks to reward students who make the decision to study abroad, attend relevant conferences, complete internships, and contribute to the academic potential of their department.

These scholarships apply to all universities in Switzerland and each scholarship requires certain qualifications or attributes, alongside membership of the foundation.

Annual scholarship

The annual scholarship system is a 20.000-Swiss-franc-per-year grant to support a study period or research period abroad. Grants of 5.000 and 500 Swiss francs are available for those who wish to travel for shorter periods. This grant is available to members of the Swiss Study Foundation and must be applied for through their organisation, listing evidence of academic excellence and motivation to learn.

Mercator Fellowship

This fellowship is in cooperation with the Mercator College and the government department of foreign affairs. It is designed to support German speakers who wish to obtain higher management positions abroad. This is a 12-month funded programme where students are assigned to work with an international company to gain valuable experience. Students must have an in-depth understanding of business management and a desire to work abroad. The monthly scholarship totals 3.500 francs.

Göhner scholarship

A Göhner scholarship is a grant awarded to fully fund a degree in Switzerland. This can be at the bachelor's or master’s level and there are variations of the grant for the arts and teachers. The scholarship is an allowance of 1.200 Swiss francs a month, paid for a maximum of six semesters, which can be used for all expenses. The grant is open to all who have been accepted into a university in Switzerland.

Werner Siemens Fellowship

This fellowship is supported by Siemens and is used to fund students in the STEM fields of study (science, technology, engineering, maths) who have a particular interest in innovation and infrastructure. The scholarship is worth 1.650 Swiss francs a month and is open to all members of the Swiss Study Foundation.

Suyana scholarship

The Suyana scholarship is awarded to ensure that gifted students can fully commit themselves to their studies without having to support themselves with a side job. It amounts to 1.200 Swiss francs a month and is awarded to those from challenging backgrounds. This is in order to give underprivileged students the opportunity to study at the highest level.

Swiss government excellence scholarship

The Swiss government awards scholarships in order to cultivate foreign talent at Swiss universities and abroad. The scholarship is to encourage international researchers and arts students to attend university in Switzerland. It is awarded by the federal commission for scholarships and is targeted at those with a master’s degree in a scientific subject and those who have a bachelor's degree in the arts. The selection process takes around a year and is awarded on excellence.

Heyning-Roelli Foundation

The Heyning-Roelli Foundation is an organisation that funds students that wish to take advantage of the Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP), better known in Europe as the ERASMUS programme. The foundation awards significant financial grants to students attending a Swiss university who wish study abroad. There are no strict criteria for applications, although these scholarships are typically awarded to excellent students who can demonstrate why studying abroad would be beneficial for them.