Swiss Scholarships for Indian Students
Swiss scholarships for Indian students are meant to cover study and living expenses while pursuing academic courses in Switzerland. Education in Swiss universities is quite affordable for international students compared to other European countries.
Providing financial aid and grants eases their stay in the country by lowering the overall tuition fees and cost of living.
In the blog, we have discussed Swiss universities’ scholarships, their types, benefits, eligibility criteria, application process, and more.
Importance of Swiss Scholarships for Indian Students
Indian students who want to pursue higher studies in the best colleges in Switzerland sometimes find it difficult to afford tuition fees and other expenses.
Although public colleges in Switzerland charge lower tuition fees and provide quality education to students, tuition fees in private Swiss institutes are comparatively very high. Scholarships are often offered to students as full or partial tuition fee waivers, ultimately reducing or reimbursing the significant fees.
They are provided on merit and financial basis, depending on the availability of awards and the academic or economic background of the students.
The importance of Swiss scholarships for Indian students is very high as they ease their academic journey.
Types of Swiss Scholarships for Indian Students
There are two types of scholarships to study in Switzerland for Indian students:
- Government Scholarships
- University Scholarships
Let’s discuss them one by one.
Government Scholarships in Switzerland
Government Swiss scholarships provide financial aid to Indian students through tuition fee waivers and fellowships to encourage them to pursue education and research programs in the universities of Switzerland.
Let’s examine their types: duration, benefits, eligibility, application process, and deadline.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships offered by the Swiss Confederation promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries, as well as to promote research and artistic abilities in students. It is aimed at international students who have completed their bachelor’s and want to pursue master’s and PhD in Switzerland.
It provides research and art scholarships to international students.
Duration
It grants monthly payments to afford living costs for 12-21 months.
Benefits
Monthly payment to afford the cost of living worth 1,920 CHF or INR 1.79 Lakh.
Eligibility Criteria
- The student must have completed their course in a foreign university.
- Students must have been enrolled in a master’s or PhD program.
- To get research fellowships, the applicant must have completed their master’s before July 31, 2024.
- To get art scholarships, the applicant must have completed their bachelor’s before July 31, 2024.
- Students must meet the specific requirements of the institution.
- Applicants must be born after December 31, 1988.
Application Process
Apply through the official website.
Application Deadlines
For the academic year 2025-26, the advertisement will be released in August 2024.
Also read – How to Find the Perfect Study Abroad Program
Switzerland University Scholarships
The following are the university scholarships for Indian students to study in Switzerland, including their description, eligibility criteria, benefits, application process, and deadlines.
Most colleges in Switzerland often provide tuition fee waivers and monthly stipends to cover living expenses in the country.
EPFL Social Scholarships
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne offers this scholarship to those pursuing any course or degree program at the university but needing help in completing the program.
Duration
Applicable for the entire course duration (depending on its length).
Benefits
Covering the whole living and study costs 1,920 CHF or 1.78 Lakh per semester. It also provides the additional benefits of:
- Travel card
- Housing/Accommodation
- Return flight ticket to home country
- Health insurance coverage
Eligibility Criteria
- The scholarships are provided on a financial need basis, so it is essential to submit the proper budget planning to the university.
- Students must have completed their senior secondary education in their home country.
Application Process
The candidates can apply online on the university’s official website.
Application Deadlines
For Autumn Intake 2024, the application deadline is October 1st, 2024
For Fall Intake 2025, the application deadline is February 1st, 2025.
University of Geneva Excellence Master’s Scholarship
The Faculty of Science, with the help of external partners, has established its Excellence Master’s Scholarship program for outstanding and highly motivated students pursuing a Master of Science at the University of Geneva. The candidate selection is based on excellence.
Duration
It is awarded for one year, and it can be extended further depending on the specialisation and academic performance of the students.
Benefits
The Excellence Fellowship consists of a grant of 10,000-15,000 CHF or INR 9 Lakh-13 Lakh.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must have had extraordinary academic performance in previous bachelor’s courses equivalent to Grade A.
- Applicants must submit their clear motivation for pursuing a Master’s of Science.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online on the university’s official website by submitting a motivation letter and other necessary documents like previous academic transcripts and CVs.
Application Deadlines
The next application deadline is 28 February 2025 (for Masters starting September 15, 2025).
UNIL Master’s Grants
The University of Lausanne offers master’s grants to incoming undergraduate students who have achieved high academic excellence in their studies. It grants around ten scholarships a year. It is not fully funded for master’s scholarships in Switzerland since the grants students receive are insufficient to live there.
Duration
The scholarship is awarded for the entire duration of the academic program.
Benefits
CHF 1,600 or INR 1.48 Lakh per month from 15 September to 15 July (or ten months a year) for the complete duration of the master.
Eligibility Criteria
- Enrolled students are required to have excellent academic results.
- The student must be from outside of the EU/EEA.
- Students must have been enrolled in full-time master’s programs at the university.
- They must have an English language level of at least C1.
Application Process
Scholarship applications will be automatically considered for scholarship applications.
Application Deadlines
The application can be submitted on or before November 1st, 2024.
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarships & Opportunity Program
ETH Zurich offers this scholarship to international students enrolled in a master’s program, which covers complete study and living costs during the course.
Duration
3-4 semesters.
Benefits
Cover whole living and study cost 12,000 CHF or 1.11 Lakh per semester and tuition fee waiver (depending on course).
Eligibility Criteria
- The average grade should be A grade in previous bachelor’s studies.
- Students must have completed their bachelor’s course.
Application Process
The candidates can apply online on the university’s official website.
Application Deadlines
The application can be submitted on or before November 30th, 2024.
Geneva Academy Scholarships 2025
Geneva Academy scholarships are fully funded scholarships in Switzerland for international students provided to ease their studies and living in Geneva.
It covers the tuition fees and cost of living in the city. It is open for international students pursuing LLM at Geneva Academy, Switzerland.
Duration
Applicable for ten months of the entire duration of the program.
Benefits
The grant tuition fees and cost of living cover.
Eligibility Criteria
- A strong command of English
- A strong academic background
- Full-time degree in a previous academic course
Application Process
Applicants can apply for the scholarship program on the official website of the Geneva Academy.
Application Deadlines
The application can be submitted on or before February 24, 2025.
Franklin Honours Award Program
Franklin University Switzerland offers the Franklin Honours Award Program to international students with strong and exceptional academic backgrounds who want to pursue undergraduate courses there.
Duration
Applicable for the entire program duration.
Benefits
The university offers 2,600-8,900 CHF grants or INR 2.41-8.27 Lakh per semester.
Eligibility Criteria
Students with a GPA of at least 3.5 or the equivalent and evidence of a rigorous academic curriculum and exceptional academic performance.
Application Process
Application for the scholarship program will be considered automatically.
Application Deadlines
The application can be submitted on or before December 1st, 2024.
Switzerland University Scholarships-PhD
Below, we have discussed about the Swiss scholarships for Indian students in PhD courses:
ELES Doctoral Scholarships
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research offers a scholarship program to international students pursuing their PhD at Swiss universities. ELES Doctoral Scholarship program is aimed at doctoral candidates from all the disciples except the Medicine program.
Duration
The scholarship program is applicable for 2 years but can be renewed up to an additional one year.
Benefits
- The monthly stipend for doctoral scholarship holders is €1350 or INR 1 Lakh per month and a monthly €100 or INR 9,000 for research.
- In some cases, a monthly health insurance subsidy can also be awarded.
Eligibility Criteria
Students with a solid academic background and motivation to conduct the research will be preferred.
Application Process
Application for the scholarship program can be made on the official website of ELES or Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk.
Application Deadlines
The application can be submitted on or before December 1st, 2024.
Also read – Masters Abroad Top Courses Universities
Documents Checklist for Scholarships in Switzerland
The requirements for documents for applying to various Netherlands scholarships for Indian students may vary depending on the university, course, specific eligibility criteria, etc.
However, the scholarship scheme requires the presentation of some standard documents. Below, we have listed the documents that are required to be submitted during the application process:
- Two passport-size photographs
- Copy your passport’s first page (with photo and expiration date).
- Curriculum Vitae (maximum two pages).
- A copy of your admission or acceptance letter from the Dutch higher education institution.
- Copy of mark sheets and degree of higher secondary school (XII), bachelor’s, and master’s degrees (including those of completed semesters of the ongoing degree)
- English language proficiency certificate (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE etc.)
- Document of employment or internship record (if applicable)
- Letter(s) of recommendation from the current Indian university, employer, or institution last attended.
- Motivation letter
- Bank statements
- Proof of extraordinary academic or athletic achievement
- A civil liability certificate
Conclusion
With the availability of affordable study programs and scholarships in Swiss universities, international students do not have to worry about managing their tuition fees while studying in Switzerland. Swiss universities offer scholarships to ease international students’ burden of living expenses in the country. They also provide health insurance, travel costs and complete or partial tuition fee waivers for private institutions where the cost of studying is relatively high compared to public universities.
FAQs
How do I get PhD scholarships in Switzerland?
The Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) is the primary funding source for international students pursuing PhD in Switzerland. Applicants must contact the organisation to seek fellowships and grants for their research program.
Can I study in Switzerland for free?
Non-EU/EEA students cannot study free of cost in Switzerland as they can seek various scholarship programs provided by universities and the government to reduce their expenses further. Swiss scholarships cover their study cost and offer several benefits in managing extra expenses like accommodation, health insurance, etc.
How much is an IELTS score required to avail of scholarships in Switzerland?
IELTS score is an option to get a scholarship, and the students must fulfil the financial requirements per university guidelines.
If you are an aspirant looking to study at your dream university, book an appointment with AdmitX today and start your applications early to avail yourself of all the benefits.
