Published: 8/24/2018 4:45:21 PM
Description:
The Swiss Government via the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Student (FCS) is offering scholarships for the academic year 2019-2020 for researchers, Postdoctoral and PhD studies.
The aforementioned scholarships are opened from August 1, 2018 to November 24, 2018, and the scholarships begin September 1, 2019. The Scholarships are only valid for full-time studies in Switzerland. They are not valid for mixed research or PhD programmes (part time in Switzerland and part time in another country). PhD students with ongoing or planned doctoral project that is carried out within the framework of a formalized agreement between two universities (“cotutelle de thèse” cooperation between a Swiss and a foreign university) and under the joint direction of two supervisors are eligible for a 12 month research fellowship only.
Benefits
For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is paid by the FCS;
There are no family allowances;
No financial support for conferences for the PhD and Postdoctoral programmes;
Scholarship holders from non-EU and non-EFTA countries receive a flight allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship);
Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship); and
One-year half-fare public transportation card.
General Eligibility Criteria and Specific Conditions
Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible;
Applicants must provide a letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to supervise and support the research. Without such support, the application will be rejected;
Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required attention to it;
Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the research fellowship or postdoctoral scholarship or PhD scholarship; and
Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship. Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.
Selection Criteria
The following aspects and selection criteria are primarily considered:
The candidate: academic profile, research capacity and motivation;
The research project: originality and methodological soundness; and
The academic context: quality and context of supervision and potential for future academic cooperation.
Universities
University of Basel University of Neuchâtel
University of Bern University of St Gallen
University of Fribourg University of Zurich
University of Geneva Università della Svizzera italiana
University of Lausanne
University of Lucerne
The following institutions are for Research Fellowships and Postdoctoral Scholarships:
Federal Institutes of Technology:
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ)
Research Institutes of the ETH Domain (PSI; WSL; EMPA; EAWAG)
Teaching and Research Institute:
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)
Universities of Applied Sciences:
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland
Bern University of Applied Sciences
University of Applied Sciences North western Switzerland
University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
The Zürcher Fachhochschule
Universities of Teacher Education: Universities of teacher education
The following institutions are PhD Scholarships:
Federal Institutes of Technology:
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ)
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)
Application Documents
Please submit
2 sets (=1 original + 1 copy) of application documents in exact order given below: The 1st set contains the original, signed documents plus the confidential letters of recommendation and, if applicable the attested translations in English. The other set is the copy of the 1st set except for the confidential letters of recommendation (only 1st set). No copies for 2nd set.
Signed FCS application form (typed and printed) with photo.
A full CV with list of academic publications, awards, etc.
A motivation letter (max. 2 pages).
A complete research proposal (max. 5 pages, signed), using exclusively the FCS research proposal form.
A copy of the letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to supervise and support the research, the postdoctoral research or PhD thesis.
For research fellowships in addition: A short CV of the academic mentor at the home institution.
Applicants for doctoral schools (doctoral programmes): In addition to all other application documents (including the support letter from supervisor), the admission letter from the doctoral school is required with the application dossiers.
Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors in the applicant’s field (use exclusively the FCS reference form – originals in sealed envelopes only for the 1st set). No copies for 2nd set.
Photocopies of certificates and grade sheets from previously attended universities/colleges and diplomas with grades, starting with the most recent. If not in English, French, Italian or German with attested certified translations in English. Originals have not to be submitted.
Signed medical certificate (use only the FCS health certificate form).
Two copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data). Dual nationals add copies of both passports. Applicants already in Switzerland during the application procedure add the “Permis B”.
Please do not put the documents into plastic folders or binders.
Scholarships Offered:
Research Fellowship
Target Group: Highly qualified postgraduate researchers from all academic fields as well as young medical doctors.
Duration: 12 months maximum (starting in September); no prolongation possible. The research fellowship cannot be upgraded into a prolongable PhD scholarship. Grant applications for stays lasting less than 9 months will not be treated as a priority. Grant applications for stays lasting less than 6 months will be rejected.
Value: The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1,920.
Specific Eligibility: Master’s degree or equivalent university degree recognised by the Swiss university. The applicant must have achieved this degree before the start of the scholarship next September. As a proof, the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
Applicants must be born after 31 December 1983.
Postdoctoral Scholarships
Target Group: Highly qualified postdoctoral researchers at the beginning of their academic career for all academic fields. Please note that there is no funding for sabbaticals.
Duration: 12 months (starting in September) no extension possible. Grant applications for stays lasting less than 9 months will not be treated as a priority. Grant applications for stays lasting less than 6 months will be rejected.
Value: The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 3’500.
Specific Eligibility: PhD degree achieved after 31 December 2015 and before 31 August 2019 recognised by the Swiss university. As a proof, the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
PhD Scholarships
Target Group: Highly qualified postgraduate students (possessing the required degrees) from all academic fields.
Duration: 3 years maximum (starting in September 2019)
Value: The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1’920.
Specific Eligibility: Master’s degree or equivalent university degree recognised by the Swiss university. The applicant must have achieved this degree before the start of the scholarship next September. As a proof, the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
Applicant’s date of birth after 31 December 1983.
Applicants for the doctoral schools (doctoral programmes) In addition to all other application documents (including the support letter from a supervisor), the admission letter from the doctoral school is required with the application dossier. As this takes time applicants must plan accordingly and submit their application for admission to the doctoral school sufficiently in advance of the scholarship programme deadline.
PLEASE NOTE: If the chosen doctoral school does not allow you to contact a supervisor before being admitted to the school, the application for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is not possible.
There are basically two different ways to achieve a doctorate degree (aka PhD). The first and best-known way consists in undertaking doctoral studies under the supervision of an academic mentor (supervisor). The second way consists in being admitted to a doctoral programme (aka doctoral school) which provides the framework for the following doctoral studies.
Application Procedure
The application package can be obtained by e-mail from the Swiss Embassy in Chacao, Caracas: E-mail: car.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
PLEASE NOTE: The Federal Commission for Scholarships (FCS) application for a PhD scholarship and the application for admission by a Swiss University for a PhD study are two separate procedures.
The admission to a PhD study at your chosen Swiss University is a conditio sine qua non for a potential attribution of a FCS scholarship – but no guarantee though for a positive decision by the FCS for Foreign Students FCS. It is the applicant’s responsibility to manage both procedures in parallel.
All queries and application documents, should to be submitted to the following address – if not mentioned otherwise below:
Swiss Embassy in Venezuela
Centro Letonia,
Torre Ing-Bank, La Castellana
1060 A Chacao, Caracas
E-mail: car.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
Tel: 0058 212 267 95 85
Web: https://www.eda.admin.ch/caracas
Ministry: Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development
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