Last verified on: September 20, 2025

1. Overview

Here’s what is known:

• The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland’s federal scholarship scheme) are offered to international researchers, doctoral applicants, and artists, to conduct advanced studies or research in Swiss universities (including University of Bern). The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) / ESKAS runs this programme. (SERI)

• The University of Bern has a “Scholarships / Student Financing” section on its official site, listing various foundations, grants, scholarships for students. These include the Swiss Study Foundation, Canton of Bern scholarships, “open calls”, mobility grants etc. But there is no clearly labelled fully funded, general University of Bern scholarship programme for international masters/PhD students (as of last verification). (Portal)

Purpose: To support international and domestic students, particularly those with academic excellence or research potential, especially for postgraduate research. Some funds are for mobility, exchange, or covering parts of living costs.

2. Benefits / Funding (What We Know)

From official sources, especially for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships and some internal / external funds, the benefits include:

• Monthly stipend for Excellence Scholarships. As of the official Swiss Government site, the programme “Excellence Scholarships 2026-2027” is active. (SERI)

• Research allowances / funding for projects and artistic work under Excellence Scholarships. (SERI)

• Tuition exemption / waiver is not generally needed in Switzerland for many public universities, but some funds help with other costs. University of Bern’s site indicates scholarships / grants for “student financing”, but not always full coverage of all costs. (Portal)

What is not clearly stated:

• The exact amount of monthly stipend via University of Bern’s internal scholarships (unless via external programmes).

• Whether scholarships cover tuition, health insurance, travel, housing, or all living expenses in full.

• Whether there is a single “fully funded” pathway for masters & PhD via University of Bern.

3. Eligibility

The eligibility depends on the specific scholarship. Combining what is official:

4. Timeline & Deadlines

From official published sources:

• The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2026-2027 call is active. Deadlines vary by country; applicants must check the official “Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships” page. (SERI)

• For internal University of Bern calls via “open calls” or “foundations”, deadlines are not globally consolidated: departments, faculties, or specific foundations may have different schedules. The University of Bern page for scholarships and funds (“Stipendien an der Universität Bern”) lists “Open calls” but does not give one single date for all scholarships. (Portal)

As of last verification, the official site does not specify a consolidated University of Bern “fully funded scholarship 2026 deadline for international students” for all masters/PhDs.

5. How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

Because there is no single fully funded scheme, here is how to approach applying to University of Bern / Swiss Excellence Scholarships:

1. Identify which scholarship fits you

   • Check the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (for research / doctoral etc.). (SERI)

   • Explore University of Bern’s “Scholarships / Student Financing” page (foundations, funds, open calls) for departmental / faculty-level grants. (Portal)

2. Check eligibility for that specific scholarship

   • Confirm your academic level, nationality, language requirement, degrees held etc.

   • If applying for Swiss Government Excellence, check country-specific conditions.

3. Prepare necessary documents (see checklist below)

4. Submit applications via the right portal

   • For Swiss Government Excellence: via SERI’s or ESKAS official portal. (SERI)

   • For University of Bern internal or foundation funds: via the University’s scholarship or student financing section, or directly via faculty / department forms. University of Bern may have online or paper processes.

5. Await decision

   • For Excellence Scholarships, decisions often in spring / early summer for the next academic year. (SERI)

   • For internal funds, timelines will depend on the foundation / internal call.

6. If successful, organize enrollment, visas, housing, insurance etc.

6. Required Documents Checklist

Based on Excellence Scholarships and University of Bern sources, typical required documents include:

• Academic transcripts of previous degrees / diploma certificates. (SERI)

• Degree certificate(s) of previous qualification (Bachelor / Master as applicable).

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) with academic and research experience.

• Project proposal / research proposal (for doctoral / research-oriented scholarships).

• Statement of purpose / motivation letter explaining why you seek scholarship and your alignment.

• Proof of language proficiency, as required (English / German / French).

• Letters of recommendation (usually 2 or more).

• Passport / identity proof.

• Possibly additional documents specified by particular departments (e.g. publications, portfolios etc.).

7. Selection Criteria & What Reviewers Look For

From official Swiss Government Excellence and University of Bern funding bodies:

• Research quality & potential: for PhD / postdoctoral level, how strong is your proposal, alignment with supervisor / department, contribution to knowledge. (SERI)

• Academic excellence: grades, past transcript, performance. Excellent standing in prior degrees. (SERI)

• Motivation & clarity: why this study / research, why Switzerland / Bern, what you plan to do afterwards.

• Language skills: sufficient proficiency to conduct study / research in required language(s).

• Feasibility & preparedness: can you start at the requested time, do you have supervisory / departmental support, do you meet admission requirements.

• International exchange / cooperation: sometimes preference for proposals showing collaboration or linkages.

8. Practical Tips to Strengthen an Application

• Begin early: gathering transcripts, letters of recommendation, drafting proposals and motivation letters takes time.

• Make sure your research / study plan is well structured and clearly shows why University of Bern (or Swiss environment) is essential.

• Contact potential supervisors or departments in Bern, especially for doctoral applications, to ensure your proposal fits and to show initiative.

• Demonstrate outstanding academic record: high grades, awards, projects or papers help.

• Show language readiness: even if the scholarship doesn’t strictly require language test scores, submitting strong evidence adds credibility.

• Observe all formal requirements: formatting, translations (if needed), certified copies.

• Tailor letters of recommendation: ideally from people who know you academically / in research contexts.

• Follow deadlines strictly and check announcements for “open calls” on University of Bern’s scholarship page.

9. Official Links & Apply Now

Here are official sources you should use to find accurate and up-to-date information, and for applications:

• Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Federal / SERI / ESKAS) – official programme page for international researcher / postgraduate scholarships. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2026-2027 (https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/en/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships-at-a-glance) (SERI)

• University of Bern – Student Financing / Scholarships page – lists internal scholarships, grants, open calls, foundations etc. Scholarships, University of Bern – Student Financing (https://www.unibe.ch/studies/organizational_matters/student_financing/scholarships/index_eng.html) (Portal)

As of last verification, the University of Bern page does not have one unified “apply here” portal for a fully funded master’s/PhD scholarship for all international students: you must apply via the specific external or internal scheme you choose.

10. FAQ

Q1: Is there a guarantee of fully funded scholarships at the University of Bern for masters & PhD for 2026 for international students?

• No. There is no official programme publicly documented as of last verification that guarantees fully funded scholarships for all international students at University of Bern for 2026. Opportunities exist (e.g. Swiss Government Excellence) but they are competitive and specific.

Q2: Do Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships cover tuition, living, insurance etc.?

• They cover a monthly stipend for living costs and research allowances. Whether tuition is needed depends on the university and programme; sometimes Swiss universities have low or no tuition fees for many programmes. Health insurance etc. may need to be arranged by the student. Always check the specific conditions. (SERI)

Q3: Are bachelor’s students eligible under these scholarship schemes?

• For Swiss Government Excellence, it is mainly for postgraduate researchers / doctoral or artistic endeavours. Bachelor’s level is less likely. Some University of Bern internal grants / foundations / mobility grants may accept undergraduate students. But fully funded master’s or PhD are more common than fully funded bachelor’s.

Q4: What is the timing to apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships?

• The call for 2026-2027 is active. Applicants need to check the SERI / ESKAS site for country-specific deadlines. Usually, the period is several months ahead of the academic year. (SERI)

Q5: Can I combine University of Bern scholarship / grant with other funding sources?

• Often yes: scholars may combine a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship with departmental funding or external foundations. But whether combination is allowed depends on the rules of each specific scholarship: some require that you not hold overlapping funding. Always read the guidelines of each scheme.

11. Call-to-Action

If you are planning to pursue master’s or PhD studies in Switzerland in 2026 and are interested in scholarships, your next steps are:

• Visit the official Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships page and check whether your country is eligible, and what deadlines apply. (https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/en/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships-at-a-glance)

• Explore the University of Bern’s Scholarships / Student Financing page regularly to find “open calls” and funding options aligned with your level of study and research area. (https://www.unibe.ch/studies/organizational_matters/student_financing/scholarships/index_eng.html)

• Begin preparing your documents (transcripts, proposals, language proof, recommendations) well in advance to meet deadlines.

Disclaimer: While this article is based on official University of Bern and Swiss Federal sources as of September 20, 2025, not all details (benefit amounts, deadlines, scope of coverage) are clearly defined; policies may change. International applicants should always verify directly on the official university or government pages.