Switzerland 2026: New Scholarship Opportunities for Indian Students

22 November 2025

Why do so many Indian students wish to study in Switzerland but put constraints on themselves in terms of finances? Financial tuition barriers are increasingly disappearing as new scholarship notifications line up for the 2026 academic year. Swiss institutions, research councils, and global partnerships are moving quickly to accept more international applicants, particularly students from India. This newly developed funding mechanism will have a focus on research degrees, innovation programs, and high-quality academic pathways through the leading public universities and institutes of technology in the country. 

Switzerland continues to be a distinctive destination for scientific infrastructure, applied learning, and industry-academic relations. In 2026, the difference is an opportunity for international mobility and research exchange. This initiative will benefit eager Indian students looking for transparent processes, academic mentorship, and world-class research environments. Top institutions in the country, like ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Geneva, and University of Lausanne, are still in demand internationally for graduates prepared for an international career.  

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships will likely again be open for the 2026-2027 academic year and calls researchers, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral scholars from India. Generally, scholarships will be offered in public universities, applied science universities, federal institutes of technology, and government-funded research centers. Applications will most likely require a strong academic record, a structured plan for research, and a faculty member in Switzerland to sponsor or host the applicant. Rather than providing mere tuition or living arrangement funds, the scholarship is supposed to establish long-term academic ties between Switzerland and the participating countries, including India. As it puts a heavy emphasis on research credibility, applicants have an advantage if they have prior publications, academic recommendations, and a well-matched research topic.

Another major initiative expected to be continued in 2026 is the ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship. The scholarship targets those students who would like to participate in short-term research stays in Swiss laboratories and universities. It is highly relevant for students studying in the Asia-Pacific region, including India, at either the bachelor’s or master’s levels, and who require international exposure prior to pursuing advanced research degrees. The prime appeal of this scholarship is its flexibility: it underwrites research-focused academic travel in a way that does not bind the student to a full degree, hence opening doors toward future master’s or doctoral admission in Switzerland.

Apart from government-supported opportunities, a number of institutional scholarship schemes are available for international students every year. The University of Geneva has excellence-based funding for master’s applicants with strong academic profiles and clear research direction. EPFL supports students facing academic or financial challenges through internal aid programs. Universities such as Zurich, Basel, and Lausanne continue to award a combination of merit-based, need-based, and departmental scholarships which supports international applicants across social sciences, business and the humanities to science and technology. This signals Switzerland’s continuing shift to attract global talent from a wider range of study backgrounds rather than just research-oriented disciplines.

Swiss scholarships not only support admission, but also access to laboratories, research facilities, innovation hubs, and professional networks. Students work with distinguished researchers, contribute to academic projects funded by their institutions, and attend academic events that lead to potential job and doctoral opportunities, both in Europe and beyond. For Indian students pursuing international careers where research-heavy programs will aid in lending credibility and international exposure to their academic portfolio, studying in Switzerland with funded scholarships is sought after.

Anyone applying in 2026 should begin early in identifying supervisor(s) of interest, drafting a clearly structured proposal, obtaining letters of recommendation, and aligning their academic, research interests, and career goals with departmental goals. Clarity of research, academic maturity, and a clearly identified career plan goes a long way in establishing a successful case for what is very competitive funding from Swiss institutions.

While at BCES Admissions Abroad, the facilitation in understanding eligibility criteria, shortlisting universities appropriately, refining research proposals, and contacting potential academic supervisors is provided. Students could, with personalized guidance, build stronger applications that address both Swiss academic expectations and long-term professional goals.

Students expecting to apply in 2026 are welcome to communicate with us directly for possible guidance and step-by-step support.

You can contact BCES Admissions Abroad for help with applying for scholarships, applying for admission, providing Schulaut/navbarusaud documentation, and research-based admissions.