Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027-28 – Switzerland (for Pakistani Students)

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027-28 are now open to Pakistani students and researchers. Announced by the Embassy of Switzerland in Pakistan and advertised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, this prestigious federal programme funds research stays and full PhD studies at Swiss universities, federal institutes of technology and recognised research institutes. Applications for Pakistani candidates close on 31 October 2026, so preparation must start now — securing a Swiss academic supervisor alone can take weeks or months.

Scholarship Details

• Two tracks for Pakistani applicants: a 1-year Research Scholarship (6 to 12 months, starting 1 September 2027, non-extendable) for doctoral candidates, and a 3-year PhD Scholarship (awarded for 12 months initially, renewable twice for up to 36 months, starting 1 September 2027).
• Monthly allowance of CHF 2,450 to cover basic living costs (it is a scholarship allowance, not a salary).
• Mandatory health insurance for non-EU/EFTA holders, a one-time CHF 600 rental deposit allowance, a Half-Fare Travelcard for public transport, a return flight allowance for non-EU/EFTA holders, and organised excursions.
• Tuition and semester fees are not automatically covered — some institutions charge around CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester, payable by the scholar.
• No application fee; applications are submitted online only, never by email or post.

Eligibility for Pakistani Applicants

• Pakistani nationals (including AJK residents) holding a Master's degree or equivalent, completed by 31 July 2027 (30 June 2027 for ETH Zurich).
• Born after 31 December 1991 (maximum age 35).
• A strong academic and research profile with a clear, original research proposal.
• A confirmed academic supervisor at a Swiss institution who agrees to support and supervise the research — applications without the supervisor's support letter are not considered.
• Research scholarship applicants must already be pursuing a PhD in their home country.

Required Documents

• Complete CV, educational certificates and transcripts, and a copy of the passport.
• Research proposal (maximum 5 pages, in the official FCS/ESKAS format, including a summary for non-specialists) plus a research timeline.
• Motivation letter of up to 2 pages explaining the study project and career plans.
• Support letter from the Swiss academic supervisor and a short CV of that supervisor.
• Contact details for two professors for recommendations.
• Documents not in English, French, Italian or German require certified translations.

Important Dates / Deadline

• Application deadline for Pakistani candidates: 31 October 2026 (per the HEC Pakistan announcement).
• Scholarship start: 1 September 2027.
• Selection by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS/ESKAS), based on academic profile, motivation, project quality and originality, methodology, quality of supervision and potential for future research cooperation.

How to Apply

• Identify a suitable Swiss university and professor, contact them, and obtain the supervisor's support letter first.
• Prepare the proposal, motivation letter and documents, then register and apply through the Swiss Government's official GO ESKAS online application system.
• Submit before the deadline; applications sent by email or in paper form are not accepted.
• Official sources: HEC Pakistan scholarship announcements at hec.gov.pk and the Embassy of Switzerland in Pakistan. HEC advertises the opportunity only — all applications go directly through the official Swiss process.