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Postdoctoral Scholarships 2018 Under Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
Postdoctoral Scholarships

Academic year: 2018-2019

Country: India

Opening of the call: 01 August 2017

Submission deadline: 12 November 2017

Scholarship : Swiss Government Excellence Postdoctoral Scholarships for foreign researchers

Offered by : The Swiss Government via the Federal Commission for Scholarships for
Foreign Students FCS

Objectives : To enable selected applicants to undertake a PhD at one of the 10 Swiss
cantonal universities, the two Swiss federal institutes of technology or
public teaching and research institutes.

Universities : University of Basel / University of Bern / University of Fribourg / University of Geneva / University of Lausanne / University of Lucerne / University of Neuchâtel / University of St. Gallen / University of Zurich / Università della Svizzera italiana

Federal institutes of technology : Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), Research Institutes of the ETH Domain (PSI; WSL; EMPA; EAWAG)

Teaching and research institutes : Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)

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 Zürcher Fachhochschule

Validity : The scholarship is only valid for full-time PhD studies in Switzerland. It is
not valid for mixed PhD programmes (part time in Switzerland and part time
in another country)

Target group : Highly qualified postdoctoral researchers at the beginning of their academic career from all academic fields. No funding for sabbaticals.

Duration : 12 months (starting in September) no extension possible. Grant applications for stays lasting less than 9 months will not be treated as a priority. Grant applications for stays lasting less than 6 months will be rejected.

Amount and additional allowances :

  • The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 3’500.
  • For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is paid by the FCS.
  • There are no family allowances.
  • Scholarship holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship). Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship). One-year half-fare public transportation card.
  • Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

Eligibility criteria and specific conditions :

  • PhD degree achieved after 31st of December 2014 and before 1st of September 2018 recognised by the Swiss university.
  • As a proof the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
  • No funding for sabbaticals.
  • Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
  • Applicants must provide a letter from a professor at the Swiss host institution stating that she/he is willing to support and supervise the postdoctoral research.
  • Without such support, the application will be rejected.
  • Not accepted as academic supervisors for Post-doctoral scholarship applicants are their former PhD mentors and their co-directors for the cotutelle PhD if the academic supervisor is at a Swiss university.
  • Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe.
  • This is the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required attention to it.
  • Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the postdoctoral research.
  • Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.
  • Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Selection Criteria :

The following aspects and selection criteria are primarily considered:

  • The candidate: academic profile, research capacity and motivation.
  • The research project: originality and methodological soundness.
  • The academic context: quality and context of supervision and potential for future academic cooperation.

Application Time Frame :

  • Opening of the call: 01 August 2017
  • Application deadline: 12 November 2017
  • Beginning of the scholarship: 01 September 2018

Application procedure : The application package can be obtained by e-mail from the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi

Application Documents : Please submit 3 sets (=1 original + 2 copies) of application documents in exact order given below: The 1st set contains the original, signed documents plus the confidential letters of recommendation and if applicable the attested translations. The other two sets are the copies of the 1st set except for the confidential letters of recommendation (only 1st set).

  1. Signed FCS application form (typed and printed) with photo.
  2. A full CV with list of academic publications. A motivation letter (max. 2 pages).
  3. A complete research proposal (max. 5 pages, signed), using exclusively the FCS research proposal form.
  4. A copy of the letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to supervise and support the PhD thesis. For PhD scholarships at doctoral schools*: A proof that the applicant is being considered for admission. Except: EPFL: accepted admission required. *A support letter from a host professor is required in any case additionally.
  5. Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors in the applicant’s field (use exclusively the FCS reference form – originals in sealed envelopes only for the 1st set).
  6. Photocopies of certificates and grade sheets from previously attended universities/colleges and diplomas with grades, starting with the most recent. If not in English, French, Italian or German with attested certified translations.
  7. Signed medical certificate (use only the FCS health certificate form). Two copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data).
  8. Dual nationals add copies of both passports.

Please do not put the documents into plastic folders or binders.

Contact institution for the application : Questions and application documents, should to be submitted to the following address – if not mentioned otherwise below*:

Swiss Embassy in India
Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri
110021 New Delhi

E-mail[email protected]
Tel: 0091 11 4995 9500
Webhttp://www.eda.admin.ch/newdelhi

View Main Notification

Editors Note : PostDoctoral Fellowships can be opted by Postdoctoral researchers. This area is highly competitive with loads of Postdoctoral opportunities present in India as well as abroad. Latest Postdoctoral Scholarships 2018 Notification Under Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships has been released. Click Here to get more postdoc jobs, postdoc positions, postdoc fellowship, postdoc positions in life science.

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