Funding for PhD Students

How can you finance your doctoral study? You have the option of applying for a job at UZH as a teaching and research assistant or as a doctoral student. In addition to employment at the University, there are also funding instruments that award grants or stipends to PhD students.

Experience abroad is essential for an academic career. There are a number of programs that offer PhD students financial assistance for a stay abroad.

The following overview is not conclusive; please also inquire about specific funding sources in your discipline or your faculty.

1 PhD Study / Research at UZH

GRC Grants The Graduate Campus funds early stage researchers' scientific activities.
 
UZH Candoc Grant The University of Zurich supports research projects of PhD students.
 
Doc.CH The SNSF supports excellent PhD projects in the humanities and social sciences.
 
DIZH Innovation Program

The University of Zurich (UZH), the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH) are networking in DIZH to promote research on topics related to digital transformation.

 

Research Talent Development Fund (FAN) The Research Talent Development Fund (FAN) - supported by UZH Alumni - supports outstanding, innovative young researchers.
 
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships With these scholarships, foreign PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in all disciplines can fund a research stay at a Swiss higher education institution.
 
SEMP (Formerly Erasmus) and International Agreements PhD students can arrange a stay at UZH via the Swiss-European Mobility Program (formerly Erasmus) or via other international agreements.
 
BRIDGE Proof of Concept BRIDGE (a joint program conducted by SNSF and Innosuisse) supports projects at the intersection of basic research and science-based innovation. BRIDGE Proof of Concept is aimed at young researchers who wish to develop an application or service based on their research results.
 

2 Research Stay Abroad

GRC Travel Grants The Graduate Campus supports short research stays abroad.
UZH Doc.Mobility With a UZH Doc.Mobility grant, PhD students can fund a stay abroad of 6 to 12 months.
Mobility Grants for SNSF Projects PhD students who are employed in an SNSF-funded research project can apply for a grant to finance a stay abroad of 6 to 12 months.
 
SEMP (Formerly Erasmus) and International Agreements PhD students can arrange a stay abroad via the Swiss-European Mobility Program (formerly Erasmus) or via other international agreements.
 
Foreign Government Scholarships Roughly 40 countries award grants to PhD students and postdoctoral researchers for a stay abroad.
 
UZH Global Strategy and Partnerships Funding Scheme

The UZH Global Strategy and Partnerships Funding Scheme supports UZH faculties, departments and professional service units in pursuing activities that strengthen the impact of the global UZH network in line with the UZH Global Strategy.

 

3 PhD Study Abroad

In some cases, it is a good idea to pursue your doctoral degree at a university abroad. You should inquire at suitable universities about receiving a grant.

It is also possible to earn your doctorate at two universities: In a cotutelle de thèse program, PhD students can be enrolled in two universities at the same time. The program requires students to spend at least a third of the time at the partner university; upon completion of the degree, both universities will issue a diploma.