Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (ESKAS) promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. They support doctoral students and researchers coming from abroad, in particular from developing countries, for a research period in Switzerland.
The programme is managed by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. At USI, Prof. Gibbert is the academic point of contact for the Swiss Italian part of Switzerland, and the International Relations Service is responsible for the assistance and welcoming incoming researchers.
ESKAS is an opportunity to host a researcher in your team for 12 months (research fellows and post-docs) or up to 36 months (PhD scholarships). Your role as a supervisor consists in providing supervision and integrating the fellow, thus enhancing the potential for future collaborations.
Target group: foreign post-graduate students who wish to undertake a 12 months research stay in Switzerland.Budget includes a monthly payment of CHF 1’920 + health insurance coverage for non-EU citizens and CHF 300 housing allowance (lump sum). This scholarship is not a salary.
For foreign researchers (master's degree achieved before 31.07.24) who wish to undertake a PhD in CH of up to 36 months. Budget: CHF 1920/month + health insurance coverage for non-EU citizens + CHF 300 housing allowance (lump sum). Hosts must guarantee a top-up funding up to the SNSF standard rates.
For foreign postdoctoral researchers (PhD degree achieved after 31 December 2020 and before 31 July 2024) who wish to undertake a 12 months research stay in CH. Budget includes a monthly payment of CHF 3’500 + health insurance coverage for non-EU citizens and CHF 300 housing allowance (lump sum).
For research fellowships and PhD scholarships: applicants must be born after 31 December 1988.Applicants who have been in Switzerland since more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September 2024 are not eligible.
Applications have to be submitted in the candidate‘s country of origin at the specified responsible contact (normally the Swiss Embassy).Submission deadlines vary from country to country. Candidates should check the conditions in the relevant application package.
ESKAS are evaluated towards the following criteria:- The candidate: academic profile, research capacity and motivation.- The research proposal: originality and methodological soundness.- The academic context: quality and context of supervision, potential for future academic cooperation.
