1. Framework
This page covers aspects of doctoral studies at ETH Zurich within the framework of Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
- Doctoral student at ETH Zurich
- Enrolled for the doctorate by ETH's Doctoral Administration
- All conditions and regulations set by ETH Doctoral Administration must be observed. Questions regarding registration for the doctorate, e.g. whether your Master's degree allows admission to the doctorate at ETH Zurich or verification of your academic records / degrees, .
Deadline for registration with the Doctoral Administration
- You are responsible for registering for the doctorate immediately after being accepted for the FCS scholarship, but not later than 30 June.
- This deadline is non-negotiable to ensure that you are matriculated by 1 September of the year in which your scholarship begins. If necessary, clarify before applying for the scholarship whether you can meet this deadline in view of the processes and deadlines at your home university.
Registration documents required for your doctoral application
- Overview
- All documents, in particular your academic records and Master’s degree, must be submitted in the quality described by 30 June at the latest.
- 1 September. Deviating from this start date is not foreseen.
- Should the start time deviate, inform the Reception Service immediately. Any problems caused by an early or late start will be the responsibility of the grantee.
- Your scholarship will be topped up by a part-time job appointment so the total combined funds reaches at least the lowest ETH dotoral student salary. The total amount cannot exceed the level of the highest ETH doctoral student salary.
- Your supervising professorship will fund the part-time job appointment. Responsible for the administration is Human Resources of ETH Zurich or the respective research institution.
- Regular duration: 12 months
- Possible Extension: Additional 24 months (i.e. 36 months in total)
- Requirement: Annual request by supervisor
- After expiration of the scholarship: Full-time job appointment at the supervising Chair until the expected completion of the doctoral thesis (within a reasonable time frame, approx. one to two further years maximum)
The immigration authorities of canton Zurich identify a sum of CHF 1750 per month as necessary. That sum does not include individual expenses for clothes, leisure, telephone, contingencies. (The cost of living in Basel are described in the fact sheet below.) Accommodation is usually the biggest cost item due to the high demand and very limited supply.
Those costs depend strongly on personal lifestyle, so the following information is only a rough guideline.
The information only applies in part at research institutes of the ETH Domain (Eawag, Empa, WSL, PSI). Address queries to the Reception Service.