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Scholarships in Switzerland – Requirements & Amount

Updated on 09 April, 2024

upGrad Abroad Team

upGrad Abroad Team

upGrad abroad Editorial Team

Switzerland is home to some of the world’s best universities. These universities are equipped with world-class facilities and laudable faculty and programs. Switzerland is also one of the best countries for obtaining an affordable, high-quality education. Moreover, scholarships in Switzerland allow Indian students to pursue their education without the burden of student loans looming over their heads. There are many options, and here is a guide on how to get a scholarship to study in Switzerland. Switzerland is a great place to study abroad for international students. For Master’s and Ph.D. degrees, most universities offer Engineering, Hotel Management, Science & Technology, Business Management, Arts & Design, Computer & IT, Films & Media, and Animation programs. Internships and summer programs are available.

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Top Switzerland Universities

Switzerland has well-established and renowned universities across the globe. According to QS World Ranking 2022, some of the top Swiss Universities are:

UniversityQS World Ranking 2022Average Tuition fee/Semester
ETH Zurich8730 CHF
EPFL14780 CHF
University of Zurich701,220 CHF
University of Geneva105500 CHF
University of Bern119950 CHF
University of Basel138850 CHF
University of Lausanne176580 CHF
USI – Università della Svizzera italiana2404,000 CHF
University of St.Gallen (HSG)4593,000 CHF

Scholarships in Europe

Top Courses in Switzerland

There are numerous courses in Switzerland that will confidently meet the needs of international students.

The best courses in Switzerland for international students are:

  • Interdisciplinary Sciences
  • Hotel & Hospitality Management 
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Quantitative & Systems Biology
  • Banking & Finance
  • International Law
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Business Management
ProgramsDuration
BA Hons (International Hospitality Management)2-3 years
MA Banking and Finance1-2 years
Bachelor of Business Administration3 years
Master in Interactive Design 3 semesters
MBA (Global Banking & Finance)3 terms
MSc Artificial Intelligence4 terms
MSc Mechanical Engineering2 years
Masters of International Business18 months

Switzerland Scholarships for International Students

Only a few undergraduate scholarships are available in Switzerland, as most university-specific scholarships are only available to postgraduate students. Below are some of the available scholarships in Switzerland for undergraduate and graduate students:

Scholarships for Graduate Students

ETH Zurich Excellence Master’s Scholarships

It provides financial assistance to all students wishing to pursue a master’s degree at the institution. Master Scholarship and Excellence Scholarship Program are two scholarship programs offered by the university. The Excellence Scholarship covers all of the student’s study and living expenses, while the Master Scholarship program provides a partial stipend as well as an apprenticeship offer. This scholarship program is open to all students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution.

Amount/ Benefit:

The Master Scholarship includes a partial stipend for living and study expenses of CHF 6,000 per semester in addition to a tuition fee waiver. The Excellence Scholarship includes a grant covering living and study expenses covering CHF 11,000 per semester.

University of Lausanne Master’s Grants for Foreign Students

Through the UNIL Master’s Grants, the University of Lausanne offers scholarships to all those who have completed their bachelor’s degree and wish to pursue a master’s degree at the university. 

Amount/ Benefit:

The scholarship program provides students with a monthly stipend of CHF 1,600

EPFL Excellence Fellowships for Master’s Students

Students interested in pursuing a master’s degree at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne can apply for scholarships in Switzerland. Only master’s students are eligible for the scholarship. 

Amount/ Benefit:

The scholarship includes a stipend of CHF 16,000 per academic year. It is divided into 8,000 dollars per semester and the cost of room and board.

Graduate Institute Geneva Scholarships

The Graduate Institute invests a significant amount of money in attracting talented scholars from all over the world. All students have the opportunity to apply for several scholarships in Switzerland offered by the institute. 

Amount/ Benefit: It offers a CHF 20,000 full scholarship and a partial scholarship of CHF 10,000. It also offers a merit scholarship based on academic excellence, which may include an offer to work as a teaching assistant or a tuition reduction based on financial need. 

European Mobility for Higher Education: Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) / ERASMUS

The Swiss-European Mobility Programme, or SEMP, is the Swiss version of Erasmus+ for higher education. SEMP allows Swiss higher education institutions to subsidize students and faculty members who are on study, training, or teaching mobility in Europe.

As a result, scholarships for prospective students will be funded by the Swiss government. A SEMP exchange can run anywhere from three to twelve months.

Amount/ Benefit:  

CHF 380 to CH 440 per month, depending on your home country.

 

Scholarships for undergraduate students

Franklin Honors Program Award

This scholarship is for students with exceptional academic performance who have followed a rigorous secondary school curriculum. students with a GPA of at least 3.5 or the equivalent are eligible for this scholarship. This is for all bachelor programs, with participation in the Honors Program.

Amount/ Benefit: two annual scholarships –

CHF 2,863 to CHF 9,545

The Ambassador Wilfried Geens United World Colleges (UWC) Award

The purpose of the award is to make admission easier for applicants who are pursuing an IB diploma in any one of the UWC member schools and exhibit exceptional academic progress and personal accomplishments. All bachelor programs are eligible for this scholarship.

Amount/ Benefit:

CHF 2,862.78

Excellence Scholarships of the University of St. Gallen

At the University of St. Gallen, merit-based scholarships are given to students enrolling in bachelor’s programs. For a total of six semesters, the scholarship amount is equal to the current bachelor-level tuition costs.

Amount/ Benefit:

 CHF 18,756

Excellence Fellowships

EPFL awards excellence fellowships to the best first-year Bachelor’s students in order to encourage holders of a Swiss high-school maturity diploma and holders of a Swiss vocational maturity diploma to pursue the CMS in their scientific ambitions.

Amount/ Benefit:

CHF 10,000 spread over three years

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Tips on How to Get a Scholarship to Study in Switzerland

The official websites of your favourite universities are the ideal location to start looking for a scholarship. If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, contact a representative by email or chat to see if they can help.

The next step is to search the internet for other sources of financial assistance. However, finding reliable information is not always easy, and not all websites have up-to-date content. Here are some tips that will help you to find the right Switzerland scholarship for Indian students:

Find

Look for country-specific scholarships by contacting the institutions to which you are applying, or ask the university directly if any subject-specific scholarships are available.

Qualify

Once you’ve located a scholarship, make sure you’re eligible for it. Applying for a scholarship is meaningless unless you meet the criteria, so make sure you verify and double-check these first.

Research

When you identify a scholarship for which you are eligible, it is essential to research the scholarship and its source. Learn what they are looking for in applications – are they seeking younger people with an entrepreneurial flair, or are they searching for someone whose ideals are strongly linked with a specific charity?

Prove Yourself

It is now time to put pen to paper and fill out the application form. This is when all of your prior research will come in handy – use it as a checklist and make sure you mark off everything the scholarship giver is looking for, and provide the necessary evidence.

Repeat

Applying for more than one job at a time is an excellent idea. Don’t pin all of your expectations on the large scholarships, which are quite competitive.

Study Abroad with upGrad Abroad

To help students cut costs on tuition and other expenses, upGrad Abroad has launched specially designed programs. In these programs, students will study a portion of their course online and finish the course on campus.

Advantages of enrolling in upGrad’s program:

  • Quality education at lower costs
  • Degree from international colleges/universities
  • Time-saving
  • Save up to 1/5th the education cost
  • End-to-end assistance for application and visa

upGrad Abroad Team

upGrad abroad Editorial Team

We are a dedicated team of study-abroad experts, ensuring intensive research and comprehensive information in each of our blogs. With every piece written, we aim at simplifying the overseas education process for all. Our diverse experience as journalists, content writers, editors, content strategists, and marketers helps create the most relevant and authentic blogs for our readers.

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