Federal Department of Economic Affairs,

Education and Research EAER

Federal Commission for Scholarships
for Foreign Students FCS





2015-2016 / Colombia

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Postdoctoral Scholarships

Academic year: 2015-2016
Country: Colombia

Opening of the Call: 06.08.2014
Submission Deadline: 28.09.2014


Scholarship Swiss Government Excellence Postdoctoral Scholarships for foreign
researchers

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

Objectives To enable selected applicants to undertake a postdoctoral research in one
of the 10 Swiss Public Universities, the two Swiss Federal Institutes of
Technology, the public teaching and research institutes and the
Universities of Applied Sciences.

Universities




Federal Institutes
of Technology


Teaching and
Research Institutes


Universities of
applied Sciences















University of Basel / University of Bern / University of Fribourg / University
of Geneva / University of Lausanne / University of Lucerne / University of
Neuchtel / University of St.Gallen / University of Zurich / University of
Lugano

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

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)
Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP)
Institut universitaire Kurt Bsch

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 Zrcher Fachhochschule

Validity

The Scholarship is only valid for a full time postdoctoral research in
Switzerland. It is not valid for mixed postdoctoral research (part time in
Switzerland and part time in a third country).

Target Group Highly qualified postdoctoral researchers from all academic fields.






2015-2016 / Colombia

Duration 12 months

Amount and
additional
allowances











The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of 3500 Swiss Francs.
Exemption of the tuition fees (except for EPFL).
Mandatory Swiss Health insurance paid by the FCS (for non-EU and EFTA
grantees only).
A lump sum for air fare for non-European grantees only (provided at the
end of the scholarship).
Special 300 Swiss Francs housing allowance (paid once at the beginning
of the scholarship).
1 year half-fare public transportation card.
Counseling and various trips, dinners and sight-seeing tours organized for
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

Eligibility Criteria
and specific
conditions

























PhD degree
There cannot be a gap of more than 5 years between the award of the PhD
and the application deadline.
Applicants who are in Switzerland for more than 1 year at the beginning of
the scholarship are not eligible.
Applicants must provide a letter (e-mail) from a Professor from the Swiss
host institution stating that he/she is willing to supervise the postdoctoral
research. Without such a document the application will be rejected.
Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe (this is the
central piece 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.

Selection Crieria



The following dimensions and selection criteria are considered mainly:
The candidate: Her/his academic profile and research capacity.
The research project: Its originality and methodological soundness.
The academic context: The quality of supervision and the potential for
future academic cooperation.

Application
Procedure




The application package can be obtained by e-mail from the Swiss
Embassy in Bogot.
The deadline for the submission of applications is 28.09.2014
Applications have to be submitted in 3 copies (hard copies only).

Application Time
Framework




Opening of the call: 06.08.2014
Application Deadline: 28.09.2014
Selection Interview, ask: Swiss Embassy
Beginning of the scholarship: 14.09.2015

Application
documents
(Please provide 3 sets
of copies on A4 paper.
Please do not staple the
documents and/or put
them into plastic sheets
or binders).








The FCS 2015-2016 official application form (typed and printed). No
handwritten forms will be accepted.
Copies of all university certificates and grade-sheets (all copies must be
attested, and translated if originals are not in English, German, French or
Italian. Attestations can be done by the University or a Government Officer.
2 letters of recommendation from Professors in the applicants field (use
exclusively the official reference form provided with the application
package).





2015-2016 / Colombia










A complete research proposal (max. 5 pages), use exclusively the official
research proposal form provided with the application package.
A motivation letter (max. 2 pages).
A full curriculum vitae with list of academic publications.
A copy of the confirmation from a Professor at the intended Swiss
University that he/she is willing to supervise the Postdoctoral Research.
A health certificate (use exclusively the official health certificate provided
with the application package).
A copy of the passport (main page with personal data).


Contact institution
for the application



Questions and application documents, have to be submitted at the
following address:
Swiss Embassy in Bogot
Cra. 9 No. 74-08, Piso 11, Bogot

E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0057 1 349 72 30
Web: www.eda.admin.ch/bogota





Wrap-up:
your check-list















The FCS 2015-2016 official application form with photo
CV with list of publications
Motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
A copy of the confirmation from a professor at the intended Swiss
university stating that she/he will supervise the research
2 letters of recommendation from professors (use the FCS form only)

A complete research proposal (max. 5 pages) using exclusively the official
FCS research proposal form provided with the application package

Photocopies of certificates from previously attended university/colleges and
diplomas with grades
Medical certificate (use solely the official FCS form)
Copy of passport