Federal Department of Economic Affairs,

Education and Research EAER

Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students FCS

Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide

(GROW) SWITZERLAND
APPLICATION GUIDELINES

for NSF shortlisted candidates

for the academic year 2014-2015

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND RESPECT THE GUIDELINES FOR

PREPARING THE APPLICATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIPS

p. 3.

1. Types of Scholarships and Duration

pp. 4-5.

1.1 Scholarship Types

p. 4.

1.2 Eligible Institutions

p. 4.

1.3 Study Location

p. 5.

1.4 Duration of the Scholarship

p. 5.

1.5 Scholarship Amount

p. 5.

1.6 Semester Tuition Fees

p. 5.

1.7 Insurance

p .5.

1.8 Travel Expenses

p .5.

2. PRECONDTIONS FOR APPLYING

2.1 Motivation and Research Interest

pp. 6-7.

2.2 Research Advisor

p. 6.
p. 6.

2.3 Cooperation between the Home University and a Swiss University

p. 6.

2.4 Exclusion Criteria

p. 6.

2.5 Obligations of Scholarship Holders

p. 7.

3. APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Academic year 2014-2015

p. 8.

ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIPS

The Objective of Graduate Research Opportunity Worldwide (GROW) is to allow Graduate Research Fellows to broaden their
international experience through exposure to leading international institutions in Switzerland.
Through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), the Swiss Government grants scholarships in
the GROW program.

Applications have to be submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for preliminary selection. The short-listed
candidates will then have to apply for the scholarship through the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington. The Embassy of
Switzerland will forward the preselected applications to the FCS for final selection.
The results will be communicated in March-April 2014.

Academic year 2014-2015

1. TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIP AND DURATION (1)

1.1 Scholarship Types
The scholarships are intendedfor people currently working on their Ph.D. in an American academic institution and wishing to conduct research with
a professor at one of the Swiss academic institutions.

1.2 Eligible Institutions

Universities:
University of Basel / University of Bern / University of Fribourg / University of Geneva / University of Lausanne / University of Lucerne / University of
Neuchtel / University of St.Gallen / University of Zurich / University of Lugano
Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology:
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) / Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ)
Swiss Federal Research Institutes:
Paul Scherre Institute (PSI) / The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) / Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic
Science and Technology (EAWAG) / EMPA
Teaching and Research Institutes:
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) / Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP) / Institut
universitaire Kurt Bsch
Universities of Applied Sciences:
University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland / Bern University of Applied Sciences / University of Applied Sciences Northwest Switzerland /
University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland / Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts / University of Applied Sciences and Arts of
Southern Switzerland / The Zrcher Fachhochschule

Academic year 2014-2015

1.
1.3

SCHOLARSHIP TYPES AND DURATION (2)

Study Location

The scholarship is valid only for full-time research in Switzerland. It is not valid for on-the-job studies, part-time studies, correspondence courses or
mixed programs (part time in Switzerland and part time in another country).

1.4

Duration of the Scholarship

The scholarships always start in September. (It is not possible to start the scholarship in the spring semester or at any other time of the year).
It is for a minimum of six months and a maximum of twelve months.

1.5

Scholarship Amount

1,920 Swiss francs per month plus health insurance coverage

1.6

Semester Tuition Fees

The FCS does not pay for tuition and/or semester fees. In most cases the universities and the Federal Institutes of Technology do not require
scholarship holders to pay the semester fees (generally around CHF 600 per semester). If the universities and/or universities of applied sciences do not
waive the fees, it is up to the grantee to pay for the fees.

1.7

Insurance

According to Swiss law, every resident in Switzerland must have a Swiss health insurance coverage (except for dental care). The scholarship holders are
insured by the FCS.

1.8

Travel Expenses

The NSF will provide a lump sum for travels to and from Switzerland. The FCS does not provide travel allowances.

Academic year 2014-2015

2. PRECONDTIONS FOR APPLYING

2.1

Motivation and Research Interest

Applicants must have a clear research goal. They will have to provide a complete research proposal (max. 5 pages), using only the official
research proposal form provided with the application package.

2.2

Research Advisor

The applicant must have a professor in Switzerland willing to supervise his or her research project. A letter of invitation must be part of the application
package.

2.3

Cooperation between the Home University and a Swiss University

Candidates submitting their applications as part of a cooperation program between their home academic institution and a Swiss
university/institution are given priority.

2.4

Exclusion Criteria

Applications will not be taken into consideration if they are in one of the following situations:
o

The applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria stated in the application guidelines

The application is incomplete, does not respect the deadlines, does not include the proper forms or is badly prepared

The applicant does not have an invitation letter from a professor willing to supervise the research at one of the Swiss academic institutions

The applicant has already benefited from a Swiss Government Scholarship

The applicant has already been in Switzerland for more than one year at time the scholarship begins.

Academic year 2014-2015

2. PRECONDTIONS FOR APPLYING (2)

2.5

Obligations of Scholarship Holders

Scholarship holders must live in Switzerland (place of Study). They must comply with FCS instructions, residence regulations for
foreigners in Switzerland and with university regulations.
The FCS does not have the authority to decide on the possibility of bringing the family of the scholarship holder to Switzerland. That is left to the
Cantonal Migration Offices, which at present deal with requests very restrictively. The FCS does not provide any family allowance.

Academic year 2014-2015

3. APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND REQUIRED DOCUMENT

Applications have to be sent in three hard copies to the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington DC, by .. at the latest.

Each application must include the following documents in this precise order:
Please do not put the various documents into plastic sheets or binders.
a) The FCS 2014-2015 official application form (typed and printed). No handwritten form will be accepted;
b) Curriculum vitae;
c) Motivation letter;
d) A complete research proposal (max. 5 pages), using only the official research proposal form provided with the application package;
e) A copy of the confirmation from a professor at the intended Swiss university stating that he/she will supervise the research;
f) Letters of recommendation from two professors (only use the official FCS form).
g) Photocopies of certificates from previously attended universities/colleges and diplomas with grades.
h) One health certificate (on the FCS form only);
i) A copy of a passport or ID (main page with personal data);

If the above list of application documents (a-i) is not submitted in German, French, Italian or English, then a certified translation in one of these
languages must be included.

If the application is shortlisted by the NSF, it will be sent to Switzerland for the final selection by the FCS. The FCS will inform the applicants at
the end of March/beginning of April 2014 whether or not the application has been accepted.

Academic year 2014-2015