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Swiss Excellence Planning Checklist

One tracker for the 2027–28 file: cutoffs, documents, GO ESKAS steps, supervisor search, and a September arrival list. This is a planning tool, not an official SBFI decision.

Opened 20 August 2026. Start 1 September 2027. Decisions by the end of May. Country windows differ (Poland is a published example: 15 September–30 November 2026). Postdocs are discontinued for 2027/28. Confirm every cutoff on SBFI.

Combined application tracker

This is a planning tool, not an official SBFI decision.

Quick Eligibility Checker

Yes = you pass that published cutoff. Full notes: eligibility page.

1. Master's (or arts Bachelor) will be completed by 31 Jul 2027 (ETH 30 Jun)?

2. Born after 31 Dec 1991?

3. Research/PhD: a Swiss supervisor will write a support letter? (arts Master's can Yes if not research)

4. Will you have spent 13 months or less in Switzerland before 1 Sep 2027? (Yes = not over 13 months)

5. Have you NEVER received this FCS/ESKAS scholarship before?

6. Is this your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd attempt (not a 4th)?

7. Are you applying for research/PhD/arts Master — NOT a postdoc?

You meet these published cutoffs

Next: country type and window on SBFI, then the GO ESKAS file.

You may not be eligible on these rules

One or more published exclusions may apply. Postdocs are discontinued for 2027/28.

This is a planning tool, not an official SBFI decision.

Documents

Download current FCS forms inside GO ESKAS. Detail: documents page.

This is a planning tool, not an official SBFI decision.

GO ESKAS steps

Detail: how to apply.

This is a planning tool, not an official SBFI decision.

Supervisor-search readiness

Research and PhD files need a letter of support. Detail: find a supervisor.

This is a planning tool, not an official SBFI decision.

Post-selection

A May award is not a permit. Detail: after selection.

This is a planning tool, not an official SBFI decision.

Living-stipend planning estimate

CHF 2,450 × months. Detail: funding page.

Planning months

months

Estimate at CHF 2,450/month

CHF

6122136

Research stay

6–12 months. No extension.

Art Master's

12–21 months depending on the programme and ECTS.

PhD

Up to 36 months if first-year progress is acceptable.

Official published rate is CHF 2,450/month living costs for one person. Not a salary. Not tuition. Zurich and Geneva cost more. This calculator does not add unpublished allowances. This is a planning tool, not an official SBFI decision.