Types of funding
Firstly, it is important to understand that it is not the UNIGE that awards any grants:
- University of Geneva: The doctorate can be paid for as part of a teaching assistantship at the university; in principle, this is the only doctoral funding offered by the institution itself.
- Funding not provided by the University of Geneva: The doctorate may be funded by subsidies, which may be supervised and awarded by Swiss federal institutions (SNSF, Swissuniversities). Some grants are awarded by private foundations. Grants may also be awarded as part of international or bilateral partnerships.
- The doctorate may be financed by a job outside the academic institution and unrelated to the thesis work.
The successful completion of a doctorate is closely linked to the way in which doctoral students support themselves and, where applicable, their families.
Below you will find links to funding opportunities.
Funding for mobility can be found on the Doc.Mobility page.
FUNDINGS
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for foreign researchers and artists
Every year, the Swiss Confederation offers scholarships for excellence in research and the arts. These government scholarships encourage international exchanges and promote collaboration between Switzerland and over 180 countries. They are awarded by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCFS).
The Swiss Confederation's scholarships for excellence are aimed at young foreign researchers who have completed their master's or doctoral studies, and at foreign artists who have completed their bachelor's degree.
Please note that The bursary is CHF 1920.- per month for doctoral students and does not cover the usual needs, due to the high cost of living in Geneva.
BRIDGE Proof of Concept provides targeted support for young researchers to help them turn their scientific findings into applications and take the plunge into practical applications close to the market. Projects can be devoted to any type of innovation, in any field of research.
The SNSF also supports doctoral students indirectly by funding positions in research projects, primarily through project funding, but also through other instruments (Eccellenza, PRIMA, Ambizione, NCCRs, NRPs, special programmes in biology and medicine, Sinergia). Applicants seeking funding for research projects should contact the project leaders themselves.
The Flexibility Grant is aimed at doctoral and post-doctoral students with dependent children, offering them the increased flexibility required by this decisive phase in their careers. This grant enables researchers to better reconcile their professional and private lives through two measures. The first is to provide a financial contribution towards the cost of external childcare. Under the second, the subsidy helps to finance the salaries of auxiliary staff, enabling applicants to reduce their workload. What's more, these two measures can be combined.
The equality subsidy is aimed at young female researchers supported by the SNSF. It provides them with additional individual and flexible support for their career development. Those who meet the conditions receive a subsidy of CHF 1,000 per 12-month project period. This can be used to finance career development measures, but cannot be used for family support measures.
The MD-PhD program, run jointly by the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), is aimed at research-oriented doctors who wish to follow a second course of study leading to a doctorate in the fields of science, public health, clinical research or bioethics at a Swiss university.
Bourses pour l'institut universitaire européen de Florence
The European University Institute (EUI) is a unique international centre for doctorate and post-doctorate studies and research, situated in the Tuscan hills overlooking Florence. Since its founding in 1972 by the six original members of the then European Communities, the EUI has earned a reputation as a leading international academic institution with a European focus. The four departments – Economics, History and Civilization, Law, and Political and Social Sciences – host scholars from more than 60 countries, studying for the Institution’s doctorate or the one-year master in law.
The institute mainly welcomes young researchers from Europe for four-year doctoral studies. Its aim is to offer advanced university training to young people wishing to obtain a doctorate or post-doctorate and to encourage research in areas of particular interest for the development of Europe.
Swissuniversities occasionally receives information about various other funding opportunities from higher education institutions, research institutions or foundations abroad. Foreign higher education institutions often offer own scholarships for international students which are not announced worldwide. We therefore recommend advanced students, especially researchers, to contact the host university directly regarding financial aid.
Postgraduate students with an interesting research project proposal can often apply for financial support from foundations and other funds. It is advisable to search for foundations which support your particular field of research.