3. Preparing before arrival (doctoral scholarship)

If you already live in Switzerland, contact the Student Exchange Office with the following information:

• Date of arrival in Switzerland
• Residential address in Switzerland
• Copy of your residence permit (if not already uploaded in Mobility-Online)

Citizens of Switzerland, the European Union or EFTA states

• You do not require a visa to enter Switzerland, so no action is needed on your part before arrival.
• When entering Switzerland, you can show a valid passport or identity card and the confirmation of acceptance.

Citizens of other countries

• Please follow the FCS instructions to apply for your visa.
• Begin your visa application as soon as you¡¯ve confirmed your scholarship and received the necessary instructions from FCS. You can locate the Swiss representation responsible for your place of residence at the link provided: external page Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA.
• Obtaining a visa can take up to three months, so it's crucial to begin your application as early as possible.
• Important: Do not travel to Switzerland on a tourist visa. While it permits short-term visits for leisure, it does not allow you to study or establish residency. To pursue your studies and stay longer than 90 days, you must apply for a national visa.
• Typically, a copy of your official FCS notification letter is sufficient to demonstrate that you¡¯ve been invited to Switzerland for your scholarship period. Although all admission formalities as an FCS doctoral student are completed before your scholarship is granted, your official admission letter will be issued later and may not be available at the time of your visa application.
• If the Swiss embassy or consulate abroad still requests confirmation of your admission to ETH Zurich as an FCS doctoral student¡ªor if you encounter any other issues¡ªplease contact the Student Exchange Office. Be sure to include any relevant email correspondence you've already had with the embassy or consulate.
• For all other inquiries related to the visa process, reach out directly to the appropriate Swiss embassy or consulate abroad.

Visa for family members

• Please note that you are personally responsible for handling all entry formalities for your family members, including providing proof of sufficient financial resources. The FCS and the Student Exchange Office cannot assist with these procedures.
• Additionally, you must independently manage all related arrangements¡ªsuch as securing a residence permit, finding accommodation, obtaining insurance coverage, and enrolling children in school. Make sure that these steps are completed in a timely manner.

• You will find all the necessary information in the Guidelines for ESKAS Scholarship Holders or in the separate emails sent by FCS after acceptance of your scholarship. Read this information carefully and act accordingly before your arrival in Switzerland.
• ETH does not provide health insurance coverage.
• Scholars from third states (non-EU and non-EFTA member states) are insured through FCS. Scholars coming from EU and EFTA member states need to organize their own health insurance.

For more information go to step 4 ¨C no need to take action now

Plan for an arrival in Switzerland on 1 September at the earliest.

You are additionally employed and must therefore register with the residents' registration office ¡°Einwohnermeldeamt¡± before starting work. As the employment contract is usually linked to the start of the scholarship, the Student Exchange Office recommends that you arrive no earlier than 1 September and no later than 4 September.

Should you consider an earlier entry date, note the following:

• Your residence permit is issued for the duration of the scholarship stay as confirmed by FCS and ETH Zurich.
• If you enter Switzerland earlier, there is a risk that your residence permit will expire before the end of the confirmed scholarship period. You would then have to apply for an extension of your residence permit at your own expense.
• It is your responsibility to clarify your health insurance coverage for the period prior to 1 September.  

Should you already have booked your journey with an earlier arrival date, contact the Student Exchange Office.

• At ETH, registration for your doctorate is coordinated with your employment. The start date of the doctorate must therefore coincide with the start date of the scholarship as well as the employment date. Usually, this is 1 September. If this is not the case, please inform the Student Exchange Office. Note: The registration process can take up to two months, during summer even longer. It is essential that you also read the legal basis for your doctorate. Direct any kind of specific questions regarding this process either to your supervisor or the Doctoral Administration.
• The assistant of your supervisor or your supervisor will take care of your additional paid employment.
• The Student Exchange Office informs both about the correct registration of scholarship holders. But it is your responsibility to establish contact with them early on and make sure you are properly registered as a doctoral student by the latest at the beginning of September (unless otherwise agreed with FCS in exceptional cases).

ETH Zurich is committed to equal opportunities for students with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses. Various services are designed to enable students to study independently and with equal rights.  For more information or questions, go to Disability Advisory Service.

You can also contact the Doctoral Administration:  and visit for more information on accessibility: Accessibility | ETH Zurich.