Embassy of Switzerland in Japan Science & Technology Office Tokyo

STO-CORAU

Tokyo, May 14, 2013

FELLOWSHIPS SWITZERLAND Switzerland’s scholarships and fellowships are very diverse, and mostly aim at bringing highly talented PhD students, Post-Docs and researchers. In this context, the scholarships/funding possibilities for undergraduate foreign students are relatively limited. For Swiss nationals there are a number of instruments that have been set up in order to financially support these students in need. Herein below, tables with the possibilities at the national and cantonal level for Swiss and Foreign nationals are listed, specifically for undergraduate studies (most of them, though, can be extended or are available for the first part of graduate studies - Master).   





Federal scholarship programs. Details under the “federal scholarships” section. Universities own programs. Each university has at least one financial programme to assist students; these are further described below. Cantonal scholarships are available from the very first year of studies in a University or specialized school to Swiss nationals. A student may apply for a scholarship to a specific canton, and this depends upon the parents’ residency (Switzerland or abroad). Residents in Switzerland: canton of residence, while residents abroad: canton of origin. Since scholarships are a cantonal matter, allowance, stipends and conditions vary greatly between cantons. The deadline is usually around the end of May, but may vary depending on the cantons’ own criteria. AJAS (Association Promoting Education for Young Swiss Abroad) also provides financial support, but only to a very limited extent and generally only to complement the cantonal scholarship. Students with Swiss nationality who come from abroad to carry out higher education studies in Switzerland are eligible. A number of other private foundations provide financial support or have specific programs. Among them, the Swiss National Science Foundation is the most important, mandated by the Swiss Federal Government and supporting around 8,500 scientists.

For foreign students wishing to carry out higher education studies in Switzerland, these financial aids are provided either directly by the universities, or through special programs.

Federal Scholarships Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists Outline

Research Fields Organization

The Swiss Government awards various postgraduate scholarships to foreign scholars and researchers:  University scholarships (Swiss universities, Federal Institutes of Technology as well as Universities of Applied Sciences)  Arts scholarships (schools of music and fine arts, only for a limited number of countries). All fields Swiss Government

Nationalities What is funded Duration Calls Web page

Confirmation must be received from the host institutes Stipend From 1 year up to 3 years August http://www.sbfi.admin.ch/themen/01366/01380/01715/index.html?lang=en

Universities’ Own Programs Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne - EPFL  (1) Excellence Fellowships  (2) Grants from the Fondation des Etudiants de l'EPFL  (3) Grants from Private Foundations Outline (1) EPFL offers a limited (though increasing) number of fellowships at the Master level to students with outstanding academic records. (2) These grants are never awarded during the first year of studies and are awarded at the earliest after successfully finishing the first year. (3) Grants from different private foundations, covering a wide range of fields. Visit the website for the comprehensive list. Study Level Bachelor and Master degrees, Postgraduate studies Organization EPFL, private foundations Nationalities Swiss and Non-Swiss What is funded (1) CHF 16,000 per academic year (max 32,000 for a Master in 2 years for external candidates) CHF 10,000 and a certificate of excellence for internal candidates (EPFL Bachelor) (2) Depends on individual cases (3) Depends on Grants/ Foundations Duration Bachelor and Master level, up to 2 years, PhD may be longer/shorter Calls (1) January and May (2) May 15 (for fall semester), February 15 (for spring semester) (3) Depends on grants/ Foundations Web page (1) http://master.epfl.ch/page-24550-en.html (2) http://sae.epfl.ch/epfl-grants (3) ttp://sae.epfl.ch/private-foundations Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich - ETHZ  (1) Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme and Master Scholarship Programme (MSP)  (2) Solidarity Fund for Foreign Students Outline (1) Open both to excellent ETH students and students from other universities (national and international) to pursue their Master’s degree at ETH Zurich. The scholarships can be awarded to students belonging to the best 10% of their Bachelor programme. (2) Can support foreign students who are regularly enrolled and studying for their first degree at ETH Zurich or the University of Zurich with a monthly contribution to the study costs. Study Level (1) Master Degree (2) Bachelor Degree (and Master if acquired their Bachelor degree at a Swiss university) Organization ETHZ Nationalities Swiss and non-Swiss What is funded (1) Excellence scholarship: Grant covering living and study expenses (CHF 1,750 per month) as well as tuition fee waiver. Master scholarship: partial stipend for living and study expenses (CHF 850 per month during the first semester CHF 600 per month

Duration Calls Web page

(2) (1) (2) (1) (2) (1) (2)

from the second semester onwards) as well as tuition fee waiver. Assistantship possibility (CHF 600 per month). Max CHF 750 per month 3 to 4 semesters Max 8 semesters March 1 to June 30 August 15 (Autumn semester), February 1 (Spring semester) http://www.rektorat.ethz.ch/students/finance/scholarship/excellen ce/index_EN http://www.rektorat.ethz.ch/students/finance/foreigners/index_EN

University of Zurich – UZH  (1) Solidarity Fund for International Students  (2) Student Financial Aid Office  (3) Doctoral Studies’ Funding Outline (1) Financial aid is granted to international students who are excluded from receiving federal funds and who are not able to finance their studies through their own efforts or through contributions by their families. (2) Financial aid to students in need (3) Various possibilities of financing doctoral projects Study Level Bachelor, Master degrees, Doctoral degrees Organization UZH Nationalities (1) Foreign nationals (2) Swiss, Non-Swiss holder of residence permits (B, C). Master level only if student holds a Bachelor from Swiss university (3) Any What is funded (1) Stipend up to CHF 750 per month (2) Varies depending on cases (3) Varies depending on cases and projects Web page (1) http://www.ad.uzh.ch/commissions/solidaritycom_en.html (2) http://www.studienfinanzierung.uzh.ch/voraussetzungen/ausland_e n.html (3) http://www.researchers.uzh.ch/index_en.html University of Lausanne - UNIL  (1) Social Found UNIL  (2) FAE – Federation of Students Associations Outline Grants to complement a cantonal grant or a one-off aid Tuition fees waiver (for those who do not receive a cantonal grant) Study Level Bachelor, Master Degrees Organization UNIL, FAE Nationalities Swiss and non-Swiss What is funded Complementary aid to a cantonal grant (depending on individual cases) or isolated help Duration Depending Calls Tuition fees waiver: October 1 for Autumn semester, March 1 for Spring semester Web page (1) http://www.unil.ch/sasc/page6171.html (2) http://www3.unil.ch/wpmu/fae/services/aide-financiere/

University of Bern - Ub  (1) Master Grant  (2) Social Fund Foundation  (3) Students’ Union of the University of Bern Outline (1) The University of Bern will offer every academic year a total of 6 grants for excellent international students for postgraduate studies. (2) Financial aid before the end of Bachelor, Master or PhD studies in the event of economic hardship, max 12 months to the end. (3) One-off financial aid in case of economic hardship Study Level Bachelor, Master Degrees Organization U b, Nationalities Swiss and non-Swiss What is funded (1) As yet, to be defined for the next call (2) Complementary aid (depending on individual cases) or isolated help. (3) Up to CHF 5,000, as a single stipend or loan Duration (1) Master studies (3 to 4 semesters) (2) Depending on individual cases (3) One-time payment Calls (1) September 2013, call for AY 2014/15 (2) (3) Contact offices Web page (1) http://www.int.unibe.ch/content/incoming/master_grant/index_eng .html (2) http://www.generalsekretariat.unibe.ch/content/stiftungen/stiftung _sozialkasse/index_ger.html (3) https://subnew.unibe.ch/studienfinanzierung University of Neuchatel - UNINE  (1) Grants and allowances from the University’s Social Service  (2) Grants for Researchers Outline (1) The Social Service provides both one-time payments in case of hardships, as well as scholarships for Master students (2) Various grants possibilities for researchers Study Level Bachelor (one-time payments), Master Degrees (one-time payments, scholarships), Doctoral degree Organization UNINE, various Nationalities Swiss and non-Swiss What is funded (1) Subsides: in specific cases, the university’s social service can grant one-time payments in case of hardship Scholarships: Master students only, CHF 6,000 per year (2) Depends on projects and foundations Duration (1) One-time payment, the scholarship is granted for one year, possibility of prolonging for 1-2 semesters, depending on study curriculum (2) Depends on projects and foundations, usually 2 to 4 years Web page (1) http://www2.unine.ch/social/page-4686.html (2) http://www2.unine.ch/unine/page-15662.html#cid134076 Università della Svizzera Italiana - USI  Study grants for the Master's programme Outline Various possibilities of financial help for students at USI Study Level Master degrees Organization USI – Private foundations Nationalities Swiss and non-Swiss. Swiss must have been resident in canton Ticino for at least 2 years, foreigners at least 5 years. Grants (1) Bursary from the Leonardo foundation (2) Private foundations (3) Grants from USI based on each faculty.

Duration Web page

Depending on individual cases, varying among faculties http://www.usi.ch/en/container_prospective_students/borse_studio/forma zione-borse_studio.htm

University of Geneva - UNIGE  (1) Bureau universitaire d'information sociale (BUIS)  (2) Prix-Bourses-Subsides and Private Funds Outline Grants, complementary financial aid to cantonal grants, special grants from UNIGE Study Level Bachelor, Master Degrees Organization UNIGE Nationalities Swiss and non-Swiss What is funded (1) Complementary aid to a cantonal grant (depends on individual cases) or on-time payment help. (2) Diverse funds and prizes, with very different kinds of financial help and awarding modalities. Duration Depends on individual cases Web page (1) (2) http://cms.unige.ch/buis/index.php/aides-financieres

Swiss National Science Foundation’s Programs Doc.CH in humanities and social sciences (HSS) Outline

Doc.CH (HSS) is an excellence funding scheme aimed at promising researchers who wish to write a dissertation in the humanities and social sciences in Switzerland on a topic of their own choice.

Research Fields Organization Nationalities

Humanities and social sciences Swiss National Science Foundation Master or similar degree with excellent marks from a Swiss higher education institution. Holders of a foreign degree may submit an application if they have Swiss nationality. Salary (doctoral student) and project-related costs 2 to 4 years 3 months before deadlines (March 10, September 10) http://www.snf.ch/E/funding/individuals/docch_hss/Pages/default.aspx

What is funded Duration Calls Web page

MD-PhD Program Outline

Research Fields Organizations

Nationalities What is funded Duration Calls

Fellowships under the MD-PhD programme are designed to enable researchoriented physicians to complete a second course of study at a Swiss scientific faculty leading to the conferral of a doctorate. Applications can also be made for PhD funding in the field of public health (e.g. epidemiology, biostatistics) and in the field of biomedical ethics. Medical Sciences Swiss National Science Foundation, together with the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences. With the assistance of private foundations, such as: the Foundation Cancer Research Switzerland, la Fondation suisse de la recherche sur les maladies musculaires, the Velux Foundation and the Swiss Academic Foundation for Education in Infectious Diseases (SAFE-ID) Any. Only students with a degree from a Swiss University or foreigners who worked for at least 2 years in Switzerland (at the time point of application) are eligible for the fellowship Annual contribution amounting to 60,000 CHF Up to 3 years Deadline for submission. December 15

Web pages

http://www.snf.ch/E/funding/individuals/md-phdprogramme/Pages/default.aspx http://www.samw.ch/en/Research/MD-PhD-Programme.html

Ambizione, Ambizione-PROSPER, Ambizione-SCORE Outline

The program is geared for young researchers who would like to conduct, manage and lead an independently planned project at a Swiss university. Applies to both Swiss nationals abroad, and foreign researchers.

Research Fields Organization Nationalities What is funded Duration Calls Web page

All fields Swiss National Science Foundation Confirmation must be received from the host institutes Salary (research associate level) and project funds < 3 years February http://www.snf.ch/E/funding/individuals/ambizione/Pages/default.aspx

Postgraduate Courses Outline

With the aim of encouraging doctoral students to improve their research skills, the Humanities and Social Sciences division of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) awards grants for postgraduate courses.

Research Fields Organization Nationalities What is funded

Humanities and social sciences Swiss National Science Foundation Any. Doctoral student enrolled in a Swiss institution of higher education Expenses of doctoral candidates, travel/ room expenses of referees, travel/ room of course organizers based in Switzerland, organization costs. Maximum approvable amount per course 25,000 CHF Course must last at least 5 working days Deadlines April 1 and October 1 http://www.snf.ch/E/funding/individuals/postgraduatecourses/Pages/default.aspx

Duration Calls Web page

International Short Visits Outline Research Fields Organization Nationalities What is funded Duration Calls Web page

Allows researchers working in Switzerland to go abroad or researchers from elsewhere to visit Switzerland All fields Swiss National Science Foundation Swiss/ Any Living and travel expenses 1 week to 3 months Any time (at least two months before grant is due to start) http://www.snf.ch/E/international/europe/international-shortvisits/Pages/default.aspx

International Exploratory Workshop Outline Research Fields Organization Nationalities What is funded

Allows researchers working in Switzerland to organise workshops with partners from abroad All fields Swiss National Science Foundation Organiser: Switzerland based, participants: all countries Travel and living expenses for up to ten researchers from abroad

Duration Calls Web page

2 to 5 days 3 times per year http://www.snf.ch/E/international/europe/international-exploratoryworkshops/Pages/default.aspx

Other Foundations or Institutions Schweizerische Studienstiftung Outline

Study fields Organization Nationalities What is provided Requirements Web page

Supporting excellent students and postgraduates at universities and technical colleges who, because of their personality, creativity and intellectual skills, are in a position to contribute to science, business, culture and politics. All fields Schweizerische Studienstiftung Swiss and Non-Swiss, but domiciled in Switzerland or Liechtenstein Complementary trainings, counselling programs, Financial aids, vast network of contacts Excellent academic records, motivation and enthusiasm, faculty to perform and commitment, broad interests, creativity and curiosity, responsibility, strong communication skills, also foreign languages. http://www.studienstiftung.ch/d/index.cfm?ID=512

Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) – Postdoctoral Fellowships Outline

Research Fields

Organization Nationalities What is funded Duration Calls Web page

The HFSP supports novel, innovative and interdisciplinary basic research focused on the complex mechanisms of living organisms. A clear emphasis is placed on novel collaborations that bring biologists together with scientists from fields such as physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science and engineering to focus on problems at the frontier of life sciences. Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) are reserved for applicants with a Ph.D. in a biological discipline to embark on a new project in a different field of life sciences. Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF) are open to applicants with a Ph.D. other than from life sciences e.g. in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering or computer sciences who have had limited exposure to biology during their previous training. HFSP HFSP-supporting country: apply to any country HFSP-non-supporting country: apply only to a research institute in one of the supporting countries Research, living, relocation, child allowances Up to 3 years June http://www.hfsp.org/funding

Graduate Engineer Training (GET) Scheme at CERN Outline

Research Fields Organization

Addressed to recent Bachelor graduates with < 4 years professional experience or with a M.Sc. qualification or above with < 10 years of professional experience. Successful applicants are assigned to a project supervisor. Candidates should apply through the standard Fellowship programme. Engineering CERN

Nationalities What is funded Duration Calls Web page

National of CERN Member State Stipends 1 year, extension for another year March and September http://ert.cern.ch

Non-Member State Postdoc Fellowship programme (CERN) Outline Research Fields Organization Nationalities What is funded Duration Calls Web page

For young university graduates in theoretical physics from a Non-Member State looking for a Postdoc opportunity Theoretical physics CERN Nationals of non-CERN member countries Salary 1 year, extension for another year December http://ert.cern.ch

EU-Commission Marie-Curie Grants Marie Curie – International Incoming Fellowship (IIF) Outline Research Fields Organization Nationalities Duration Calls Web page

Funding is provided for top-class researchers from overseas to work on research project in Europe and Switzerland All (except EURATOM areas) European Commission, FP7 Any nationality (move from a third country to a Member State or Associated Country in Europe) 12-24 months August http://www.euresearch.ch/index.php?id=185

Marie Curie – Career Integration Grants (CIG) Outline

Research Fields Organization Nationalities Duration Calls Web page

Applicants from any country in the world, with at least 4 years research experience or a doctoral degree. Applicants should not have carried work in the country of the host organisation for more than 12 months over the last 3 years. All areas (except EURATOM areas) European Commission, FP7 After mobility, any nationality can move from outside Europe to perform research in a European Union Member State or Associated Country institute or facility 2-4 years March http://www.euresearch.ch/index.php?id=185

Marie Curie – International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) Outline Research Fields Organization Nationalities

Staff exchanges and networking activities between European research organizations and organizations in Japan, or other countries. All European Commission, FP7 Partnerships composed of at least two research organizations in at least 2

What is funded Duration Calls Web page

different Member States or Associated Countries; and one or more organization located in other countries, such as Japan . Subsistence allowance for the additional mobility costs of Euro 1,800 per month (including travel costs). Minimum of three participants. Up to 12 months March http://www.euresearch.ch/index.php?id=185

Marie Curie – Initial Training Network (ITN) Outline Research Fields Organization Nationalities Duration Calls Web page

Joint research opportunities for early-stage researchers to improve their research skills, join established research teams and enhance career prospects. Any research field (with emphasis on interdisciplinary and newly emerging supra-disciplinary fields) European Commission At least 3 participants established in at least 3 different Member States or Associated countries: Third countries’ organisations may also participate above the minimum requirements Up to 4 years Annual http://www.euresearch.ch/index.php?id=185

Marie Curie – Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP) Outline Research Fields Organization What is funded

Calls Web page

To help commercial and non-commercial research organisations work together. Partners include universities and companies of all types and sizes. All European Commission  Exchange of know-how and experience through two-way or one-way secondments of research staff between the commercial and noncommercial partners.  Networking, workshops and conferences involving external researchers as well as the partners’ own research staff May http://www.euresearch.ch/index.php?id=185

FP7 Cooperation Specific Programme Outline Research Fields

Organization Nationalities What is funded Calls Web page

Support for all types of research activities carried out by different research bodies in trans-national cooperation. Japanese research institutions, universities, industry and SMEs are invited to join these programs. Health; Food, Agriculture & Biotechnology; Information & Communication Technology; Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials & New Production Technology; Energy; Environment (including Climate Change); Transport (including Aeronautics); Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities; Space; Security European Commission All Details are provided in each call Published throughout the year; majority in July http://www.euresearch.ch/index.php?id=185

Research positions and fellowships in Switzerland; advice and support on mobility on the country: http://euraxess.ch/

Disclaimer The information in this report is an excerpt of material from Switzerland and gathered to the best knowledge of the writer. The report tries to provide information without any preferences, and takes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information. No legal liability or responsibility can be taken. The information is provided for informational purposes only. No part of the report may be used for any commercial or public use. Open disclosure of this report is not permitted.