Ukrainians can receive scholarships from Switzerland: what to do.

The Embassy of Switzerland in Kyiv has started accepting applications for scholarships provided by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students. These scholarships offer the opportunity to study at Swiss universities, polytechnic institutes, and universities of applied sciences.

What are these scholarships

Every year, the Swiss Confederation provides government excellence scholarships to support international exchange and scientific cooperation between Switzerland and more than 180 countries. Candidates are selected by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students. These scholarships are intended for young researchers from abroad who have completed a master’s or doctoral degree, as well as foreign artists with a bachelor's degree.

Ukrainian scientists have the opportunity to apply for three types of scholarships:

• Research scholarships
• PhD scholarships
• Postdoctoral scholarships

The process is coordinated by the Embassy of Switzerland in Kyiv, which is responsible for receiving and verifying the candidates' documents. To participate in the competition, you must contact the Embassy of Switzerland in writing at the email address [email protected]. After this, the candidate will receive all the necessary application documents.

The document package, which must be completed and printed in two copies, should be submitted to the Embassy of Switzerland by December 5, 2024.

Types of scholarships

Research scholarships are provided for research or studies at all Swiss universities in the cantons, universities of applied sciences, federal technology institutes, and research institutions. Only candidates who have been nominated by an academic supervisor from one of these educational institutions are considered.

Art scholarships are intended for students of artistic specialties who wish to obtain a master's degree in arts in Switzerland. These scholarships are offered for studies at any Swiss conservatory or art university. This scholarship is only available to students from a limited number of countries.

Selection process

Applications undergo preliminary selection by national authorities and the Swiss diplomatic mission. The final decision is made by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).

The FCS Commission evaluates applications based on three criteria:

• Candidate’s profile
• Quality of the research project or artistic work
• Synergies and potential for future scientific cooperation

The FCS Commission consists of professors from Swiss public universities. The awarding of scholarships is based on academic and scientific excellence. The decision on new scholarship awards should be announced by the end of May. The FCS Commission will select scholarship holders for the 2025-2026 academic year by the end of May 2025. The announcement of scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year will take place from August 2025.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine recommends universities to change the tuition payment schedules, as some students may receive state grants. This was reported by the press service of the ministry. Heads of educational institutions should modify the payment schedules to accommodate the peculiarities of education for students receiving financial support from the state. This applies to both annual and first-semester payments.