Top 20 Switzerland Scholarships for International Students in 2027 | Fully Funded & Partial Scholarships

Switzerland is home to some of the world’s leading universities, cutting-edge research institutions, and a world-renowned education system. Known for excellence in science, engineering, business, hospitality, and innovation, Switzerland offers numerous scholarships for international students through the Swiss Government, universities, and private foundations.

This guide features the Top 20 Scholarships in Switzerland for International Students in 2027, along with their official application websites.

1. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are among the country’s most prestigious awards, supporting international researchers, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and artists.

Benefits

• Monthly stipend
• Tuition support (where applicable)
• Health insurance
• Airfare allowance (selected countries)
• Research support

Official Website

https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/home/education/scholarships-and-grants/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships.html

2. ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP)

A fully funded scholarship for outstanding master’s students at ETH Zurich.

Benefits

• Full tuition support
• Living stipend

Official Website

https://ethz.ch/en/studies/financial/scholarships/excellencescholarship.html

3. ETH Zurich Master Scholarship Programme (MSP)

Financial support for talented master’s students requiring partial funding.

Official Website

https://ethz.ch/

4. EPFL Excellence Fellowships

Scholarships for exceptional international students pursuing master’s degrees at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).

Official Website

https://www.epfl.ch/education/master/

5. University of Lausanne (UNIL) Master’s Grants

Merit-based scholarships for international master’s students.

Benefits

• Monthly stipend
• Duration of the master’s programme

Official Website

https://www.unil.ch/grants

6. University of Geneva Excellence Master Fellowships

Scholarships for master’s students in science disciplines.

Official Website

https://www.unige.ch/

7. University of Geneva Excellence Fellowships in Physics

Funding for exceptional students pursuing advanced studies in physics.

Official Website

https://www.unige.ch/sciences/physics/

8. University of Basel Scholarships

Various scholarships for master’s and doctoral students.

Official Website

https://www.unibas.ch/

9. University of Bern Excellence Scholarships

Scholarships for international graduate students.

Official Website

https://www.unibe.ch/

10. University of Fribourg Scholarships

Funding opportunities for international master’s and doctoral students.

Official Website

https://www.unifr.ch/

11. University of St. Gallen Excellence Scholarships

Scholarships for outstanding international undergraduate and master’s students.

Official Website

https://www.unisg.ch/

12. IMD MBA Scholarships

Merit- and need-based scholarships for MBA students.

Official Website

https://www.imd.org/

13. Geneva Academy Scholarships

Scholarships for master’s programmes in international humanitarian law and human rights.

Official Website

https://geneva-academy.ch/

14. Graduate Institute Geneva Scholarships

Financial aid for master’s and PhD students studying international affairs and development.

Official Website

https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/

15. CERN Summer Student Programme

A prestigious research programme for undergraduate and master’s students in science and engineering.

Benefits

• Monthly allowance
• Travel support
• Accommodation assistance

Official Website

https://careers.cern/summer

16. CERN Administrative Student Programme

Opportunities for students in administration, law, finance, HR, communication, and related fields.

Official Website

https://careers.cern/

17. CERN Technical Student Programme

Hands-on training for engineering, computing, and technical students.

Official Website

https://careers.cern/

18. Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP)

Supports international student exchange between Swiss and European higher education institutions.

Official Website

https://www.movetia.ch/

19. Franklin University Switzerland Scholarships

Merit scholarships for undergraduate students.

Official Website

https://www.fus.edu/

20. Glion Institute of Higher Education Scholarships

Scholarships for international students pursuing hospitality and luxury management programmes.

Official Website

https://www.glion.edu/

Why Study in Switzerland?

Switzerland offers exceptional advantages for international students:

• World-ranked universities.
• Outstanding research and innovation ecosystem.
• Multilingual and multicultural environment.
• Strong links with global industries.
• High graduate employability.
• Excellent quality of life and safety.
• Numerous scholarship and research funding opportunities.

Tips for Winning Scholarships in Switzerland

• Apply early for both admission and scholarships.
• Maintain excellent academic performance.
• Develop a strong research proposal (for graduate studies).
• Prepare a compelling motivation letter.
• Secure strong recommendation letters.
• Meet English, German, French, or Italian language requirements where applicable.
• Carefully review eligibility criteria on each scholarship’s official website.

Switzerland remains one of the world’s premier destinations for higher education and research. Prestigious opportunities such as the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, ETH Zurich ESOP, EPFL Excellence Fellowships, University of Lausanne Master’s Grants, and CERN student programmes enable talented international students to study and conduct research at globally recognized institutions. Whether you are pursuing a master’s degree, PhD, postdoctoral research, or a short-term academic programme, these scholarships provide excellent financial support and international exposure. Always consult the official scholarship websites for the latest eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and application procedures before applying.