University of Bern Scholarship 2027 Switzerland (Funded)

Apply for Scholarships from Here.

There isn’t one single “University of Bern Scholarship” — international students can access several funded routes, most notably the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, which pays CHF 2,450 per month plus health insurance and travel benefits for PhD and research study at the University of Bern. Applications for the 2027–2028 cycle open 20 August 2026, with country-specific deadlines.

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INTRODUCTION

The University of Bern is Switzerland’s third-largest university and one of its oldest, founded in 1834, with a strong international research reputation across medicine, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences. For international students hoping to study there without covering the full cost themselves, it’s worth knowing upfront that “University of Bern Scholarship” isn’t a single named award you apply to directly through the university. Instead, funding comes through a handful of separate schemes, each with its own purpose, funding level, and eligibility rules.

The flagship, genuinely fully funded option is the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, run by the Swiss Confederation’s Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS/ESKAS), which funds PhD and research study for applicants from more than 180 countries at eligible Swiss institutions — including the University of Bern. Alongside it sit smaller, more targeted awards like the Canton of Bern Scholarship (merit-based tuition waiver and stipend) and foundation-based support such as the Heyning-Roelli Foundation Scholarship.

This guide walks through the real, currently available funding paths to study at the University of Bern in 2027, starting with the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship since it’s the most substantial and broadly accessible option for international applicants.

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QUICK OVERVIEW TABLE

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About the University of Bern Scholarship

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship has run for decades as Switzerland’s flagship mechanism for international academic exchange, funded by the Swiss Confederation and administered by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), also known as ESKAS. It supports two main research pathways relevant to PhD-track applicants: a one-year Research Fellowship for early-career researchers already pursuing a PhD in their home country, and a PhD Scholarship for those beginning doctoral studies in Switzerland, renewable up to a total of 36 months.

The University of Bern is one of fourteen Swiss universities and federal institutes eligible to host Excellence Scholarship recipients, alongside institutions like the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, and EPFL. Unlike a university-run scholarship, the FCS scholarship is fundamentally supervisor-driven: applicants must independently secure a letter of support from an academic supervisor at the University of Bern (or another eligible institution) before applying — without this, the FCS will not consider the application at all.

Because the scholarship is aimed at postgraduate researchers rather than undergraduates, and because finding a supervisor willing to sponsor your research proposal is itself a real hurdle, this is a competitive, self-directed process rather than a simple form-and-wait application.

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SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

✔ Monthly stipend of CHF 2,450 to cover basic living expenses for one person

✔ Compulsory Swiss health insurance premiums covered for scholars from non-EU/EFTA countries

✔ A one-time CHF 600 grant toward a rental deposit

✔ A Half-Fare Travelcard for public transport across Switzerland

✔ A return flight allowance for scholars from non-EU/EFTA countries, usable up to two months after the scholarship ends

✔ Organised excursions and cultural activities for federal scholarship holders

Not covered: tuition or semester fees (typically CHF 600–2,000 per semester, paid by the scholar), conference participation costs, field research costs, and travel expenses for EU/EFTA scholars. This scholarship also only covers the recipient — no family allowances are provided, and residence permits for accompanying family members are handled separately by migration authorities under a currently restrictive policy.

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AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

At the University of Bern, the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship supports:

• Research Fellowships — a one-year research project as part of a PhD already underway in your home country, across any academic field, including medicine
• PhD Scholarships — full doctoral study in Switzerland, in any academic field, for holders of a completed Master’s degree

Separately, other Bern-specific and Swiss-wide schemes (covered below) may support undergraduate and Master’s-level study, but the Excellence Scholarship itself is aimed at postgraduate researchers.

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ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

For both Research Fellowships and PhD Scholarships:

• Hold a Master’s degree or equivalent, completed by 31 July 2027
• Be born after 31 December 1991
• Have a detailed research plan with a clear timeline of milestones and activities
• Secure a letter of support from an academic supervisor at the University of Bern (or another eligible Swiss institution), including that supervisor’s short CV
• If you already reside in Switzerland, your date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2026
• Priority is given to applicants who have not previously studied or conducted research in Switzerland

Automatic exclusions include:

• Incomplete applications or applications with formal errors
• Applying to multiple host universities or scholarship types simultaneously
• Having lived, studied, or worked in Switzerland since a date more than 13 months before the scholarship’s start
• Having already received a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
• A fourth application after three unsuccessful attempts
• No named academic supervisor, or no letter of support from that supervisor

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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Complete CV covering education, degrees, awards, positions, publications, and teaching or practical experience
• Letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages) explaining your reasons for wanting to study in Switzerland and your plans afterward
• Research proposal on the official FCS/ESKAS form (maximum 5 pages, including a summary for non-specialists)
• Letter of support from your academic supervisor at the University of Bern, plus their short CV (maximum 2 pages)
• For Research Fellowships: a short CV of your academic supervisor at your home university
• For PhD Scholarships at graduate schools only: confirmation of admission to the graduate school
• Email addresses of two different professors in your academic field, who will be contacted through the application system for a recommendation letter
• Certified copies of certificates and transcripts from previous universities (with certified translations if not in English, French, Italian, or German)
• Copy of your passport (both passports if you hold dual citizenship)
• Copy of your residence permit or registration confirmation, if already residing in Switzerland

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APPLICATION PROCESS

Step 1: Identify a research topic and potential supervisor at the University of Bern. Check that a Bern professor or lab group leader is actively researching your intended field, and confirm they’re authorised to supervise doctoral theses if you’re applying for a PhD Scholarship.

Step 2: Reach out to your potential supervisor early. This can take weeks or months, since professors receive many enquiries — start well before the application window opens.  (University of Bern Scholarship)

Step 3: Check your country’s specific deadline and quota. Deadlines and available scholarship types vary by country of origin — check the official country list before applying.

Step 4: Register in GO ESKAS (Grants Online). Applications open 20 August 2026, accessible only through the official online system — applications are never accepted by email or in paper form.

Step 5: Prepare and submit your full application. Complete your CV, letter of motivation, research proposal (on the FCS/ESKAS form), and upload your supervisor’s letter of support, along with all required transcripts and identification documents.

Step 6: Provide your two academic references. Enter the email addresses of two professors in your field during the online application — they’ll be contacted directly through the system to upload a recommendation letter.

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IMPORTANT DATES

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IMPORTANT LINKS

• Official Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships page: sbfi.admin.ch
• FAQ for applicants and academic supervisors: sbfi.admin.ch – FAQ
• Country-specific deadlines and quotas (A–Z list): sbfi.admin.ch PDF
• Online application portal (GO ESKAS, live from 20 August 2026): go.eskas.ch
• University of Bern official site: unibe.ch
• Contact: sgs@sbfi.admin.ch

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SELECTION PROCESS

1. Supervisor confirmation — applicants must first secure a letter of support from a Bern-based academic supervisor before applying.
2. Application submission — completed through GO ESKAS, including CV, motivation letter, and research proposal.
3. Reference collection — two professors in your field are contacted directly through the system for recommendation letters.
4. FCS review — applications are assessed on academic profile, research competence, motivation, originality, methodological quality, and quality of supervision.
5. Results and placement — selected applicants are notified by around May 2027, with the scholarship beginning 1 September 2027.

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How to increase your chances for University of Bern Scholarship

• Start searching for a University of Bern supervisor months in advance — this is the single biggest bottleneck in the process
• Write a research proposal with real originality and methodological rigor, not just a restatement of existing work in your field
• Choose two academic referees who know your work well and will respond promptly when contacted by the system
• Check your country-specific deadline as soon as it’s published in August 2026 — don’t assume a single global deadline applies
• Keep your application to one host university and one scholarship type — multiple simultaneous applications lead to automatic exclusion

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COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID

• Applying without a confirmed supervisor and letter of support — this alone disqualifies the application
• Submitting more than one research project proposal, or applying to multiple host institutions at once
• Missing your country’s specific deadline, since there is no single global cutoff
• Assuming this scholarship covers tuition fees — it doesn’t, and Bern’s semester fees are the scholar’s own responsibility
• Reapplying for a fourth time after three unsuccessful attempts, which is an automatic exclusion
• Overlooking that field research and conference costs are not funded under this scholarship

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LIVING IN SWITZERLAND

Switzerland has a high cost of living, but Bern is generally more affordable than Zurich or Geneva. Students can expect to spend roughly CHF 1,300–1,800 per month on accommodation, food, and transport, though the CHF 2,450 monthly stipend is specifically designed to cover a single person’s basic living costs in this environment. Bern is compact and walkable, with excellent public transport — supported directly by the scholarship’s Half-Fare Travelcard benefit — and a strong, established international academic community.

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VISA INFORMATION

Non-EU/EFTA scholarship holders will generally need a Swiss national (type D) visa for study purposes, arranged after their scholarship and university placement are confirmed. Required documents typically include proof of the scholarship award, health insurance, and confirmation of accommodation or registration in the canton of Bern. Scholarship holders are required to reside in the canton of their host institution and to follow the FCS’s specific instructions and Swiss immigration regulations throughout their stay.

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WHY STUDY IN SWITZERLAND

• Home to some of the world’s top-ranked research universities and institutes
• A stable, safe, and highly developed academic and living environment
• Strong research funding and access to internationally competitive labs and facilities
• A well-established government scholarship system supporting exchange with over 180 countries
• Central European location, useful for academic conferences and collaboration across the EU

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is there a single “University of Bern Scholarship” that’s fully funded? Not as one named award. The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is the main fully funded route (covering living costs, insurance, and travel benefits, though not tuition), alongside smaller Bern-specific schemes like the Canton of Bern Scholarship.

Who can apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship? Applicants from more than 180 eligible countries who hold, or are close to completing, a Master’s degree, and who secure a letter of support from a Bern-based academic supervisor.

Can European students apply? Yes, though EU/EFTA applicants receive slightly different benefits — for example, they must cover their own travel costs, unlike non-EU/EFTA scholars.

Can African students apply? Yes, applicants from across Africa are eligible, subject to their specific country’s quota and deadline.

Can Asian students apply? Yes, the scholarship is open to applicants from across Asia, again subject to country-specific rules.

Can Pakistani students apply? Yes, Pakistan is among the more than 180 eligible countries — check the official country list for the specific deadline.

Can Indian students apply? Yes, and Indian applicants can use self-certification in place of certain document requirements, per the official guidelines.

Is IELTS mandatory? Not through the FCS scholarship application itself — language requirements depend on your specific programme and supervisor at the University of Bern.

Is there an application fee? No, the scholarship application is free of charge.

Does this scholarship cover tuition fees? No — tuition and semester fees (roughly CHF 600–2,000 per semester) are the scholarship holder’s own responsibility.

Can I bring my family? The stipend covers one person only; residence permits for accompanying family members depend on federal and cantonal migration authorities, under a currently restrictive policy.

What GPA or academic record is required? There’s no fixed GPA threshold — applicants are assessed on their academic profile, research competence, motivation, and the quality of their proposal.

Can I work while studying? The scholarship is not intended as a salary and may not be used to supplement full-time employment; any additional income must be disclosed to the FCS.

How many students are selected each year? Numbers vary by country quota and aren’t published as one combined global figure.

Can I apply without a confirmed supervisor? No — an application without a named academic supervisor and their letter of support will not be considered.

Does age matter? Yes — applicants must be born after 31 December 1991 to be eligible.

What happens after I’m selected? You’ll be notified around May 2027 and begin your scholarship on 1 September 2027, based at the University of Bern (or your confirmed host institution).

How competitive is this scholarship? Very — selection is based on academic profile, originality, and the strength of a supervisor’s endorsement, and applicants get only up to four total attempts.

Can I apply if I’ve already studied in Switzerland before? Priority goes to applicants who haven’t previously studied or conducted research in Switzerland, though exceptions exist under the detailed eligibility criteria.

What expenses are not covered? Tuition/semester fees, conference participation costs, field research costs, and (for EU/EFTA applicants) travel expenses.

Can I apply if I already have another scholarship? You must notify the FCS of any other financial support you receive, including other scholarships or assistant positions.

How will I know if I’ve been selected? Selected applicants are notified through the GO ESKAS system following the FCS’s review process, expected around May 2027.

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FINAL SUMMARY

Studying at the University of Bern with funding is genuinely achievable, but it’s worth going in with a clear picture: there’s no single “University of Bern Scholarship” you simply apply to. The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is the strongest, most broadly available route — covering living costs, health insurance, and travel benefits for PhD and research study — but it demands real groundwork, starting with finding a University of Bern supervisor willing to back your research proposal, months before the application window even opens. Start that search early, check your country’s specific deadline as soon as it’s published in August 2026, and make sure your proposal, CV, and references are genuinely strong before you apply.

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