SWISS GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

The Swiss Government through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign
Students (FCS) grants a limited number of scholarships to developing countries, among
which Indonesia is included.
These scholarships are offered to Indonesian POSTGRADUATE students wishing to study at
a Swiss university. The aim of the scholarship is to enable grantees either to further their
education or to undertake research work in the fields in which the universities are particularly
active. The intended study should be useful for the development in Indonesia. In principle,
the scholarship holders can study at any national Swiss university or Federal Institute of
Technology as registered on the page 4.A candidate should take into account the
possibilities offered by Swiss universities. Following programmes are not included in this
scholarship:
1. Fine arts and music
2. Undergraduate studies
3. Hotel management studies
4. Student exchange programmes
5. Part-time studies
6. On-the-job studies
7. Correspondence courses
The duration of grant is for the nine-month academic year. Under certain conditions, which
are justified by FCS and the related university, the scholarship may be renewed for a second
year maximum.
Conditions
1. Indonesian citizen (priority: applicants reside and have professional career in
Indonesia)
2. University degree (min. Sarjana Strata-1/bachelor degree or equivalent)
3. Candidates must be under 35 years old when applying (birth date after December 31,
1974)
4. Sufficient knowledge of one of the official languages in Switzerland (i.e. German,
French or Italian), depending on the location of chosen university, and English for
some studies. Each candidates will have to undergo a language test at the Swiss
Embassy in Jakarta in order to determine the oral and written language ability.
Note: The proficient knowledge of one of the official languages spoken in Switzerland is a main
priority of the scholarship selection, especially if the intended master programme is held in one of the
languages. More over a scholarship holder should fully benefit from the offered scholarship. Without
knowledge of one of the national languages it will be difficult to handle daily situations (foreign police,
post office, bank, university life, etc). A qualified applicant who only has English proficiency could be
considered as long as the master courses are fully conducted in English. This, however, will be
subject to the applicant’s attendance of a special three months’ intensive language course in Fribourg
or Lugano. The FCS will also cover the expenses for these courses, which usually start in July.
5. Acceptance letter from the chosen university. Before applying the applicants need to
contact the professor or direction of the postgraduate programme at the chosen
educational institution in order to get a written confirmation of acceptance which must
be submitted when filing the application. The requirements to obtain the letter have to
be seen in the web site of each universities. Generally the request of the acceptance
letter must be completed with a detailed and precise plan of the intended
postgraduate study programme, curriculum vitae and certified copies of the university
diplomas including academic transcripts. A certified translation is required if the
originals are not issued in English, German, French or Italian.
6. Detailed study/research plan and motivation describing clearly and precisely the aim
of study. The possibilities offered by the Swiss universities should be taken into
account, also the possibilities of professional reintegration when returning to
Indonesia
Application Procedure
Please note that only applicants who fulfil the above mentioned requirements can
obtain scholarship application forms which are available until October 16, 2009. To
obtain the forms, the applicants should send a brief request letter or an e-mail which includes
this following data and document:
1. Complete name
2. Date of birth
3. Language. Please mention one the official languages in Switzerland which you speak
fluently (German, French or Italian, depending on the location of the chosen
university).
4. Intended study field and university in Switzerland
5. Written confirmation from professor/university in Switzerland (by e-mail or fax) stating
that your study plan is accepted and that you meet requirements and own a suitable
academic background to be accepted as a student.
6. Copy of research/study plan
7. Copy of motivation letter
8. Curriculum vitae
9. E-mail address
Please send the request by post or e-mail to the address below:
Embassy of Switzerland
Cultural Section
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav. X 3/2
Kuningan, Jakarta 12950
E-mail: jak.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
Web site: http://www.eda.admin.ch/jakarta
The application will be sent only by e-mail. It must be completed and returned together with
supporting documents before October 30, 2009.
All documents must be submitted in 3 sets of copies. Every document set must be prepared
in following order:
1. Application form
2. Copies of secondary school certificates
3. Translation of secondary certificates
4. Copies of certificate of bachelor degree from university
5. Translation of the certificate of bachelor degree
6. Academic transcript
7. Translation of the academic transcript
8. Letters of recommendation from 2 professors/lecturers in English
9. Precise and detailed plan outlining the programme of the intended study or research
in Switzerland
10. Motivation letter
11. Curriculum vitae
12. Acceptance/confirmation letter of a university or a professor of the chosen master
programme stating that your study plan is accepted and that you meet requirements
and own a suitable academic background to be accepted as a student.
13. Medical certificate (on form supplied by the Embassy)
14. Other documents (language certificates, etc.)
Photocopies of any documents such as general certificates of secondary education,
university diplomas and transcripts, language certificates, etc. have to be certified as true
copies. Certified translations into either English, German, French or Italian have to be
attached to those documents which are not originally issued in one of these languages.
Please note that only complete and orderly prepared application files will be taken into
consideration. If all requirements are fulfilled, the applicants will be selected to be invited by
the Embassy in order to take a written and oral language test, as well as a short personal
interview. Therefore not all applicants will be invited to have the further selection procedure.
In May 2010 the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) will
announce the accepted candidatures.
Scholarship Amount
CHF 1.920,-/month for post-graduate students
CHF 1.600,-/month for the language course in Fribourg or Lugano.
Please note that not all master programmes and universities exempt scholarship holders
from semester fees. The scholarship grant covers only living expenses in Switzerland.
Therefore it is very necessary that all applicants clarify the possibility of tuition fee
exemption directly with the university.
Travel Expenses and Insurance
Recipients from Indonesia pay their own travel expenses to Switzerland, but the Federal
Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) pays the return ticket (except for
family members). The return travel will not be offered if the grantees extend their stay in
Switzerland beyond six months after completion of their studies, or if they take up
employment or move to a third country.
Health insurance (except for dental care) and accident insurance are provided.
Obligations of a Scholarship Holder
Scholarship holders must live in Switzerland at the study place and must comply with the
laws concerning the residence of foreigners in Switzerland and the university regulations.
The scholarship holders cannot take family members to Switzerland in the first year of study
but they may visit Switzerland on their own costs as a tourist.
When accepting the scholarship, candidates may have to give their written agreement to
return to Indonesia after completion of the scholarship in Switzerland.
Scholarships of the FCS cannot be cumulated with other scholarships. If the scholarship
holders have another scholarship or another financial support (such as salary), they are not
entitled to be granted a Swiss scholarship.
Links of Swiss Universities and Federal Institutes of Technology
1. Universität Basel
www.unibas.ch
2. Universität Bern
www.unibe.ch
www.int.unibe.ch
3. Université de Fribourg
www.unifr.ch
www.unifr.ch/mobilite
4. Université de Genève
www.unige.ch
www.unige.ch/intl/boursiers/
5. Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
www.epfl.ch
www.epfl.ch/soc/social/bourse3eme.html
6. Université de Lausanne
www.unil.ch
www.unil.ch/ri/page12729.html
7. Universität Luzern
www.unilu.ch
8. Université de Neuchâtel
www.unine.ch
9. Universität St. Gallen
www.unisg.ch
10. Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
www.ethz.ch
www.mobilitaet.ethz.ch/incomings/anmeldung/andere/bundesstipendium
11. Universität Zürich
www.unizh.ch
www.int.unizh.ch
12.Università della Svizzera italiana
www.unisi.ch
www.unisi.ch/index/servizi/mobilita.htm
Useful Links
www. Swissuni.ch
www.swissuniversity.ch
www.crus.ch/engl/study.html
www.bbw.admin.ch
www.edk.ch