Academic funding from PhD to professorship

Funding opportunities in Switzerland for each career stage, from PhD to professorship, and where to look for foundation funding.
Modified

October 18, 2026

MSc level opportunities

  • Professors’ own research budgets
    Professors often have their own research funds from institutional budgets. These can sometimes be used to support PhD candidates, often for the first one to two years, typically as a bridge to longer-term funding like an SNSF project.
  • SNSF Project Funding
    Most Swiss PhDs are employed on SNSF-funded research projects as doctoral research assistants. These positions provide a salary (via the professor’s project grant) to fund the PhD work.
  • UZH Candoc Grants
    Provides salary funding for doctoral candidates at UZH, offering protected research time up to 1 year. Limited material and travel funds (up to CHF 10,000) may also be requested.
  • Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
    Available for PhD candidates coming from selected countries (mostly outside Europe and often from developing regions).

PhD level funding

UZH internal funding for PhD students

  • UZH Candoc Grants
    Provides salary funding for doctoral candidates at UZH, offering protected research time up to 1 year. Limited material and travel funds (up to CHF 10,000) may also be requested.
  • UZH Doc.Mobility
    Enables doctoral researchers to conduct part of their dissertation at a research institute abroad for 6–12 months. Covers living costs, travel expenses, and, in substantiated cases, tuition fees.
  • Graduate Campus (GRC) Travel Grants
    Supports short research stays, workshops, summer schools, or conferences abroad for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. Funding includes travel subsidies and daily allowances, depending on the destination and duration.
  • FAN Academic Excellence Fellowships
    Supports outstanding, innovative early career researchers at UZH.

External PhD funding

  • SNSF Project Funding
    Most Swiss PhDs are employed on SNSF-funded research projects as doctoral research assistants. These positions provide a salary (via the professor’s project grant) to fund the PhD work.
  • SNSF Mobility Grants in Projects
    PhD students employed on SNSF projects can apply for a mobility grant for research stays abroad (6–12 months). Covers travel and living costs, as well as fees for conferences and workshops.
  • Marie Curie Doctoral Networks (MSCA)
    Fully funded PhD positions in international research networks. Candidates apply to specific advertised MSCA doctoral positions.

Postdoc level funding

UZH and ETH Zurich internal funding

  • UZH Postdoc Grants
    Seed funding for postdoctoral research (up to 1 year). Includes salary and research expenses. Designed to prepare for external grant applications.
  • ETH Zurich Postdoc Grants
    Similar to UZH Postdoc Grants, but typically up to 2 years. For ETH-affiliated researchers or those collaborating closely with ETH Zurich.

SNSF national postdoc funding

  • SNSF Postdoc.Mobility
    Supports research stays abroad (12–24 months) plus an optional return grant. Ideal first step post-PhD.
  • SNSF Ambizione
    For postdocs aiming to establish independence. Provides salary plus project funding for up to 4 years. Includes supervision of students.
  • SNSF Project Funding
    Some universities (and groups) allow advanced postdocs to apply as PIs or co-PIs on SNSF Project Funding.
  • Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
    Available for postdocs coming from selected countries (mostly outside Europe and often from developing regions).
  • SNSF Spark
    For postdoc or later career researchers, can cover salary for up to 1 year.

International postdoc fellowships

Junior group leader / professorship entry level

  • SNSF Starting Grants
    Supports new group leaders with salary and full project costs for 5 years. Equivalent to ERC Starting Grant.
  • SNSF Project Funding
    For group leaders to fund research projects, staff, consumables, fieldwork, etc. Renewable every 4 years.

Professorship and senior-level grants

Typical progression

  • PhD: GRC travel grants → UZH Doc.Mobility → Candoc
  • Postdoc: UZH/ETH Postdoc Grants → Postdoc.Mobility → Marie Curie → Ambizione → Starting Grant
  • Group Leader: Starting Grant → Project Funding → Consolidator → Advanced

Third-party funding (foundations, trusts, funds, etc.)

Online directories

Official database of all Swiss-based foundations: esa.admin.ch/de/stiftungsverzeichnis

  • Keyword-based search
  • Provides description, scope, and address of all foundations (in German, French, or Italian)
  • No information about whether or not the foundation provides funding for research activities

Global database of foundations, trusts, funds, etc.: fundraiso.ch/en

  • Keyword-based search
  • Provides up-to-date address and contact details
  • Provides detailed description of scope, board members, and funding activities
  • Information about whether or not an organisation provides grants
  • Enables notification of newly added or created foundations
  • To unlock all features, annual subscription is needed

Grant applications

  • Check if target organization provides funding guidelines and deadlines
  • If no formal guidelines are in place:
    • Prepare cover letter (max. one page, ideally in the language of the organization)
    • Provide scientific grant application (the shorter the better, can be in English)
    • Provide total budget (split budget into salary and equipment costs)
      • Highlight which part of the total amount has already been covered (and by whom)
      • Outline requested amount → offer flexibility to cover only part of the requested amount, or to cover either salary or equipment