August 20, 2026
CHF 2,450
Research, PhD, Arts
September – December 2026
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027–2028 application process is fully online and starts on August 20, 2026 for most countries via the GO ESKAS portal.
Candidates must first complete a mandatory GO ESKAS Eligibility Check covering degree dates, nationality, scholarship category, and chosen host institution before accessing the full application.
Research and PhD applicants must secure a Swiss academic supervisor and a signed Letter of Support well in advance, as supervisor details and institution must match your application.
Required application documents include a tailored CV, research proposal, motivation letter, academic transcripts, passport copy, supervisor’s support letter, and supervisor’s short CV.
Country-specific deadlines fall between October and November 2026, so applicants must verify their specific national deadline before final submission.
Table of Contents
If you want to learn How to Apply for Swiss Government Scholarship 2027, this step-by-step guide covers the GO ESKAS portal registration, required documents, and embassy submission.
You need to check your eligibility, choose the right scholarship type, find a Swiss supervisor when required, prepare your documents, and then submit your application through the official GO ESKAS portal.
This guide explains the process in the right order so you know what to do first and what to do next.
Step 1: What to Prepare Before You Apply for Swiss Scholarship
First, make sure you meet the rules for your country and scholarship type.
Check your:
- Nationality
- Age
- Degree
- Degree completion date
- Previous stay in Switzerland
- Scholarship type
Do this before spending time on the application.
Step 2: Complete the GO ESKAS Eligibility Check
The official application starts with an Eligibility Check on the GO ESKAS portal.
You will be asked for information such as:
- Scholarship category
- Scholarship type
- Academic year
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Email address
- Degree information
- Planned arrival date
- Host university
The portal uses labels such as: Art Scholarship, Doctorate, Research stay
The exact option you choose depends on your study or research plan.
Read each question carefully and use the same information shown on your official documents.
Important Note on GO ESKAS Portal Access:
Registering on the GO ESKAS portal does not immediately open the main scholarship application. You must first complete a short GO ESKAS Pre-Eligibility Check. Once your nationality, degree level, and host university details are verified by the system, your full application form will be unlocked.
Step 3: Choose Your Swiss Host University
You will need to select your host university from the options available in the portal. Make sure the university you choose matches the institution where your professor works.
For Research and PhD applicants, your Swiss supervisor is an important part of the application.
Step 4: Find Your Swiss Academic Supervisor
Research and PhD applicants should have their supervisor search well underway before completing the full application.
Your supervisor needs to support your research project and provide the required Letter of Support.
This can take weeks or months, so do not leave it until the last minute.
Before applying, you must secure a support letter. Read our guide on how to email a Swiss professor for a host letter to get an early endorsement.
Arts applicants follow a different process and may need admission or proof of application to a Swiss art school instead.
The professor’s name, department, and university name entered in the GO ESKAS portal must match your signed Letter of Support (Host Letter) exactly. Once your application is submitted on the portal, these details are locked and cannot be edited or updated.
Step 5: Complete the GO ESKAS Eligibility Check
Once you pass the eligibility check, you can move to the full application.
For the 2027–2028 cycle, applications open on August 20, 2026 for most countries. Your country may have a different opening date, so always check the official information for your country.
Create your account and keep your login details safe.
You do not need to finish everything in one sitting.
Step 6: Complete the Application Form
The full application asks for more information than the first eligibility check.
You may need to provide:
- Personal information
- Contact details
- Academic history
- Scholarship type
- Host university
- Supervisor details
- Research information
- Recommendation details
- Required documents
Fill in every section carefully.
Use the same spelling of your name and dates as shown on your official documents.
For a complete list of certificates, medical forms, and translation standards, check our Swiss Government Scholarship required documents checklist.
Step 7: Gather Required Documents for Swiss Scholarship
Upload all required documents through the official portal.
Your documents may include:
- CV
- Motivation letter
- Research proposal
- Academic certificates
- University transcripts
- Passport
- Supervisor’s Letter of Support
- Supervisor’s short CV
- Recommendation details
The exact list depends on your scholarship type and country.
For the full checklist, read our Swiss Government Scholarship Required Documents guide.
Tip: Do not wait until the last week to collect your documents. Some documents depend on professors, universities, or certified translations.
All transcripts, degree certificates, and official documents must be submitted in English, German, French, or Italian. If your original university documents are issued in any other language, you must attach an official certified translation along with the original copy.
Step 8: Check Everything Before Submission
Before clicking submit, check the full application again.
Pay special attention to:
- Scholarship type
Make sure you select the correct option. - Host university
Check that it matches your supervisor’s institution. - Dates
Check your degree dates and personal information. - Documents
Make sure every required file is uploaded. - Supervisor details
Check that the information is correct.
A small mistake can cause serious problems, so take your time before submitting.
Step 9: Submit Your Application on GO ESKAS Portal
Submit your application before the deadline for your country.
Do not wait until the final hours.
Your country’s deadline may be different from another applicant’s deadline, so check the official country list.
What Happens After You Submit?
The application is reviewed by the Swiss diplomatic representation responsible for your country and then assessed by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).
The selection looks at your academic background, your research or study plan, and your potential for future cooperation with Switzerland.
For successful applicants, the scholarship period starts in September 2027.
Common Application Mistakes
- Starting Too Late — Do not wait until the application deadline to find a professor. Start your supervisor search early.
- Choosing the Wrong Scholarship Type — The portal uses different names, such as Doctorate and Research stay. Read the descriptions carefully before choosing.
- Uploading Incomplete Documents — Check your document list before submission.
- Applying to the Wrong University — Make sure your selected university matches your research and supervisor.
- Using Old Information — Scholarship rules can change from one year to another. Always use the current 2027–2028 instructions.
- Waiting Until the Last Day,Technical problems, missing documents, or slow internet can cause unnecessary stress. Submit early.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the application portal open for 2027–28?
August 20, 2026, for most countries. A small number of countries open slightly later, check your country’s specific dates.
Do I need to complete the eligibility check before registering?
Yes. GDESKAS requires you to pass a short eligibility check first, which covers your scholarship type, degree dates, nationality, and planned arrival date, before you can start the full application.
What's the difference between "Doctorate" and "Research stay" on the portal?
These are the portal’s own labels for the PhD Scholarship and Research categories mentioned earlier in this guide.
Can I save my application and finish it later?
Yes, the application isn’t designed to be completed in one sitting. Register early so you have time to return to it as documents come in.
What if my target university isn't in the host university dropdown?
Double-check the exact institutional name against the official host university list on the portal.
Can I apply to more than one Swiss university at the same time?
No. Submitting multiple applications for different host universities or scholarship types at once is an exclusion criterion and can get your whole application rejected.
Is there a fee to use the GO ESKAS portal?
No. Applying is completely free at every stage, and the portal itself doesn’t charge anything to register or submit.
Final Takeaway
The Swiss Government Scholarship application becomes much easier when you do each step in the right order.
Start with eligibility. Then choose your scholarship type and host university. If you are applying for Research or PhD funding, find a Swiss supervisor early. After that, prepare your documents, complete the GO ESKAS application, check everything carefully, and submit before your country’s deadline.
For full details on stipends, age limits, and eligible fields, visit the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027 overview.
Scholarship Researcher and Writer