Applying for a PhD in Switzerland

Applying for a PhD in Switzerland is pretty straightforward as long as you know what university and programme you want to study or work at

If you are not sure about which university is most suitable for you, we have a guide which tells you all about the types of universities that award PhD degrees in Switzerland. You can also browse and compare a list of available PhD degrees in Switzerland on our website.

Before you apply for a PhD in Switzerland, you must have completed a Masters degree in a relevant subject. That will be the main academic requirement for admission into doctoral research. However, further requirements usually depend on the type of PhD you are applying for:

• If you are responding to an advertised project or position you will need to put together a personal statement or cover letter, along with an appropriate academic cv and references. Your university should provide further information and guidance for this.
• If you are coming up with your own PhD topic (as is common in the Arts and Humanities) you should normally submit a research proposal outlining the scope of your project, its objectives, methodology and outcomes. Supporting material such as academic references may also be required.

Applications to join structured PhD programmes may not require an initial research proposal as students will often develop their project during the first year of the doctorate.

Individual Swiss universities traditionally teach in the language of their canton, which will be French, German or Italian (Romansh is not used as an academic language of instruction).

The central and northern areas of the country speak German, the western region speaks French and the Southern cantons speak Italian.

The table below lists the language of each of the 26 Swiss cantons.

PhD programmes are likely to be offered in a university’s local language, or in English. The availability of English-language PhD opportunities in Switzerland may depend on your subject area. Highly international subjects such as Science, Engineering and Business are more likely to be taught in English; Arts and Humanities subjects may only be offered in the local language.

You’ll need to be able to communicate effectively in the language used for your PhD programme and may be asked to complete a French, German, Italian or English language test in order to prove this. The exact test required will depend on your university and subject.

You can also take advantage of the multi-cultural study environment to learn a new language, maybe one of the four cantonal languages! Most universities provide free lessons for students.

There isn’t usually a deadline for PhD applications in Switzerland, however, international students should account for visa processing times and apply as early as possible. Some universities set recommended deadlines (PDF) for international applications.

Search for PhD programmes in Switzerland

FindaPhD also has guides to funding, student visas and living in Switzerland to help you decide if doing a PhD in Switzerland is for you.

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