Scholarship Opportunities for Turkish and Foreign Students Studying at Universities in Switzerland
Switzerland is an attractive educational center for international students with its world-renowned universities, high-quality education, and research-oriented structure. However, due to high living costs, scholarship and funding opportunities are of great importance for Turkish and other foreign students planning to study in Switzerland. This article summarizes the main types of scholarships available for students coming to study at universities in Switzerland and the official university-based scholarship sources.
1. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
These scholarships offered by the Swiss Confederation are among the most prestigious scholarship programs for successful foreign students and researchers.
Who can apply?
Turkish and other foreign nationals
Master's (limited in some fields), PhD, and postdoctoral research candidates
Scholarship coverage:
Monthly living allowance
Health insurance
Research and academic support
Note: There are almost no government scholarships available for the Bachelor's level.
🔗 Official page:
https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships
2. University-Based Scholarship Opportunities
In Switzerland, most scholarships are awarded within the universities themselves based on academic achievement. Below are leading universities and their scholarship pages.
ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich is one of the world's most respected universities in engineering and natural sciences.
Main scholarship program:
Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP)
Targeted at Master's students
Coverage:
Tuition fee waiver
Financial support per semester for living expenses
🔗 Scholarship page:
https://ethz.ch/en/studies/financial-support/scholarships.html
EPFL – École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
EPFL offers attractive scholarships for international students in technology and engineering fields.
Main scholarship program:
EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships
Coverage:
Monthly stipend
Contribution to accommodation and living expenses
🔗 Scholarship page:
https://www.epfl.ch/education/studies/financial-aid-scholarships/
University of Geneva – UNIGE
The University of Geneva is particularly strong in natural sciences and international relations.
Main scholarship program:
Excellence Master Fellowships
Coverage:
Support ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 CHF annually
🔗 Scholarship page:
https://www.unige.ch/sciences/en/enseignements/formations/masters/excellencemasterfellowships/
University of Lausanne – UNIL
UNIL offers a limited number of competitive scholarships for international students.
Main scholarship program:
UNIL Master’s Grants
🔗 Scholarship page:
https://www.unil.ch/international/en/home/menuinst/etudier-a-lunil/bourses.html
University of Zurich – UZH
The University of Zurich is the largest university in Switzerland and offers various foundation scholarships.
🔗 Scholarship and funding page:
https://www.uzh.ch/en/studies/financial.html
University of Bern
The University of Bern offers scholarships and funding opportunities, particularly in social sciences and health.
🔗 Scholarship page:
https://www.unibe.ch/studies/organisational_matters/financing_studies/scholarships/index_eng.html
3. Foundation and Private Institution Scholarships
In Switzerland, some foundations and private institutions offer scholarships for foreign students. These scholarships are generally based on:
Academic achievement
Financial need
Social and cultural participation
criteria.
Students are also advised to:
Regularly check the canton scholarship offices
University “Financial Aid / Scholarships” sections
Scholarship opportunities in Switzerland are mostly concentrated at the Master's and PhD levels. For Turkish students to have a successful application process:
They should strongly document their academic achievements
Carefully prepare their motivation letters
Follow application deadlines at least 1 year in advance
As Swissturknet, our goal is to make this process more accessible by providing accurate, up-to-date, and reliable information to students aiming to study in Switzerland.