Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS)
Every year, the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships in research and the arts to young foreign researchers and arts students. The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students is responsible for selecting suitable candidates and awarding these scholarships.
Activities
The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) reviews applications to award or extend research scholarships. In the case of arts scholarships, they are reviewed in consultation with the Federal Office of Culture.
These activities require special expertise that is not available within the Federal Administration. The FCS therefore carries out its activities as an independent decentralised body of the Federal Administration. It is not bound by any directives. The selection process is governed by the Federal Act on Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists and the corresponding ordinances.
Members
The FCS consists of 16 members representing Swiss higher education institutions, the Swiss Conference of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions and students.
Organisation
The FCS is assigned for administrative purposes to the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER. The Secretariat of the FCS is run by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI.
Links
Legal basis
- Federal Act on Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists (de, fr, it)
- Ordinance on Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists (de, fr, it)
- EAER Ordinance on the Awarding of Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships to Foreign Scholars and Artists (de, fr, it)
- Ordinance on Information Systems in the Vocational Education and Training and Higher Education Sectors (de, fr, it)
E2 – The SERI news portal
Social Media
Index
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2026 – 2027
Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to encourage international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. Recipients are selected by the awarding body, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS aka ESKAS).