University of Basel Scholarships for International Students

Established in 1460, the University of Basel is Switzerland’s oldest university. For 550 years, it has consistently ranked among the top 100 universities globally. Today, the University of Basel continues to lead innovation in the fields of Visual studies, Energy research, Life Sciences, Nanosciences, and European and Global studies.

With over 7,000 faculty staff, 2,800 postgraduates, and over 13,000 students from more than 100 countries, the University of Basel has a thriving community ideal for high-minded international students. Given below are some of the most prestigious scholarships offered at the University of Basel.

University of Basel Scholarships

Undergraduate Scholarships at University of Basel

1. Swiss-European Mobility Program (SEMP) for undergraduate students

• Scholarship Amount: Fully-funded
• Eligibility Criteria: Applicants enrolled in an undergraduate program at a recognized higher education institution (HEI) are welcome to apply. Applicants must have good academic and disciplinary records from the recognized higher education institution.
• Scholarship Link

The SEMP offers a fully-funded study visit for international students at Swiss Institutions such as the University of Basel. It aims to strengthen the interdisciplinary and intercultural rapport between Swiss and European institutions by offering fully-funded study visits. During the duration of the SEMP, the courses taken by the student may be credited on the student’s curriculum or as part of the student’s internship program.

To apply for this scholarship program available at the University of Basel, you must first enroll in one of the partner higher education institutions of the SEMP. Contact your International Relations Office and inquire about the application process and eligibility requirements for your undergraduate program to study at a relevant program at the University of Basel. All relevant documents and applications must be submitted to your institution because the SEMP board will only consider applications endorsed by the partner HEIs.

2. University of Basel Solidarity Fund

• Scholarship Amount: CHF 500 to 1000 per semester
• Eligibility Criteria: Open to undergraduate applicants from low-income families. Enrolled students at the University of Basel may also apply for this solidarity fund under the same criteria.
• Scholarship Link

The University of Basel offers scholarships as study funds for under-resourced students or undergraduate applicants. The scholarship amount is CHF 500 to 1000 per person, given per semester of study. To apply, you must first complete your application at the University of Basel. You may apply to any undergraduate programs, but note that you must submit the necessary documents to the University of Basel’s welfare office.

The University of Basel focuses more on postgraduate research and programs. Hence, there are very few scholarships offered for undergraduate international students. If you are interested to know more about the scholarships offered at the University of Basel, you may visit their scholarship page. Alternatively, you may also try to reach out to Switzerland’s embassy in your country for more undergraduate scholarships.

Postgraduate Scholarships at University of Basel

1. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars

• Scholarship Amount: Fully-Funded
• Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must come from an eligible country with an outstanding academic reputation and background. Applicants must have completed their Master’s degree or Ph.D. outside Switzerland.
• Degree Offered: (Ph.D.)
• Scholarship Link

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships offer fully-funded Ph.D. programs for international students. Funded by the Swiss Government, this scholarship aims to attract talented individuals all around the globe to participate and cooperate in different research endeavors of Switzerland. The number of candidates accepted yearly varies depending on the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students’ (FCS) decision.

To apply for this University of Basel scholarship, you must apply to an eligible postgraduate program at a recognized Swiss Institute or University. When prompted, make sure to prioritize the University of Basel as your host institution. Check the application package from the Swiss representation and submit a research or project proposal along with the required application documents before the scholarship deadline. Once the FCS has evaluated your application, the FCS will notify you about the results.

2. Start-Up Scholarships of the Graduate School of Social Sciences – G3S

• Scholarship Amount: 30,000 CHF
• Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must have completed a postgraduate degree in Social Sciences or other relevant fields with an equivalent Swiss grade of 5.0.
• Degree Offered: (Ph.D.)
• Scholarship Link

The University of Basel is famous for offering start-up scholarships to prospective international students seeking to complete postgraduate research abroad. In particular, the Graduate School of Social Sciences at the University of Basel provides a one-year start-up scholarship program for young talented international applicants to get started with their postgraduate research. Yearly, three candidates receive this scholarship grant. The grantees receive the scholarship amount in two installments. A particular grantee only acquires the second installment if the grantee maintains satisfactory performance in the first six months.

To apply for this scholarship, you must complete your application at the University of Basel and apply to any postgraduate programs offered at the Graduate School of Social Sciences. You must submit a scholarship application to the G3S with other relevant documents such as your curriculum vitae, personal statement, Ph.D. draft, writing samples, and academic diplomas. Once you have submitted the documents, the office of the G3S shall notify you about the status of your application.

3. Basel Graduate School of History (BGSH) Starter Scholarships

• Scholarship Amount: 30,000 CHF
• Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must have completed a postgraduate degree in history with high motivation to complete a research project under the Basel Graduate School of History. Upon acceptance, applicants must be active members of the BGSH. Applicants with exemplary debate skills are also preferred.
• Degree Offered: (Ph.D.)
• Scholarship Link

The Basel Graduate School of History offers scholarships for young graduates who completed a postgraduate degree in relevant fields of history. This starter scholarship aims to aid the grantees in carrying out their research projects. Furthermore, the BGSH also offers joint workshops, research seminars, and study exchange to provide a rich experience to the grantees of the scholarship program.

To apply for this University of Basel scholarship, you must submit an application form to the BGSH official page. Make sure to indicate in your application the master’s degree you have completed. Note that only those with a master’s degree in history are eligible. Afterward, submit your CV, dissertation proposal, degree certificate, writing samples, and cover letter to the coordinator at the BGSH. Further instructions about the application documents are in the BGSH scholarship link.

4. Swiss-European Mobility Program (SEMP) for postgraduate students

• Scholarship Amount: Fully-funded
• Eligibility Criteria: Applicants enrolled in a graduate program in an eligible partner higher education institution (HEI) are eligible. Applicants must have an exceptional academic and disciplinary record from the recognized higher education institution. Applicants who have completed a postgraduate degree in a recognized higher education institution are also welcome to apply.
• Degree Offered: (Master’s and Ph.D.)
• Scholarship Link

The SEMP also offers extensive traineeship and research opportunities to international postgraduate students and applicants. Under the study visit program, grantees can experience a fully-funded exchange program at a Swiss institution such as the University of Basel for one year. Aside from fully-funded research opportunities, postgraduate grantees can also participate in a traineeship or teaching opportunity in a relevant faculty at the University of Basel.

To apply, contact the International Relations Office in your home institution and inquire about the eligibility requirements for your country. In your application, make sure to prioritize the University of Basel as your host institution. Your home university’s International Relations Office shall update you about the postgraduate entry requirements at the University of Basel. You must submit those documents with your application form to your home institution. Your home institution shall forward your application and update you about the results.

 

These are only some of the postgraduate scholarships at the University of Basel you may avail to study or conduct postgraduate research. Make sure to note the deadlines for each scholarship as the processing for applications usually happens before the first academic term of Swiss Institutions. New undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships may eventually be available, so be sure to check the University of Basel’s official scholarships page regularly.

 

I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Europe Scholarships Page.