5. Information for assistants (doctoral scholarship)
Background
Your professor has acknowledged and agreed to the following conditions and criteria. We recommend that you read the websites.
Your responsibilities
They may vary from professorship to professorship.
Registration for doctorate
It is essential to start the registration for the doctorate as soon as possible, with absolute deadline of June 25. This process involves several steps.
You must also inform the student about the necessary steps for the registration (should you not have already done so).
HR
The ETHIS workflow must be completed by mid-July so HR can apply for the required work permit.
- 12 months
- Can be extended up to 36 months (awarded in three steps of 12 months each based on the achieved academic results) if students pass the aptitude colloquium
- If extended doctoral studies are required, please inform the Student Exchange Office.
Doctoral students (via Doctoral Administration)
Background
The scholarship must be topped up.
ETHIS
Read how the salary is determined. Then register the scholarship (CHF 2,450 per month) with the remark "Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships". The total amount of scholarship and salary cannot exceed the level of the highest ETH doctoral student salary.
You will need the following documents:
- Official scholarship offer (which you will receive from the Student Exchange Office)
- Download Personal data sheet (PDF, 107 KB)
- CV
- Copy of passport
- Copy of residence permits for foreign nationals at the start of employment
- Photo for ETH card (JPEG format)
- Copy of Master's degree
- Confirmation of admission
- Visa authorisation (if already available)
- Download Application for employment (PDF, 630 KB)
If you need help with ETHIS, do not hesitate to contact your HR person.
You must ensure a physical workplace is available for the student.
General
The scholarship holders should – if possible – take up residence in the canton of Zurich, as the regulations vary from canton to canton. The Student Exchange Office can only advise on the procedures in the canton of Zurich.
Scholarship holders at ETH Zurich
You do have to make any arrangements. The accommodation can be arranged by Housing Office of University Zurich and ETH, the Student Exchange Office will take the necessary steps.
Scholarship holders at one of the research institutes (Eawag, Empa, PSI or WSL)
The research institutes must provide accommodations. Please inform the scholarship holder accordingly and make sure that housing is provided.
Scholarship holders already living in Switzerland
As they have already found accommodation, they are not given preferential treatment in the allocation of accommodation.
Scholarship holders with partners and families
Accommodation will only be offered to scholarship holders themselves, no additional people. Scholarship holders with family must organise their own accommodation.
Visa
- Students who are not yet in Switzerland: You do not have to do anything. The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) applies for their visa. You can send any questions about visas to the Student Exchange Office.
- Students already in Switzerland: Please inform the Student Exchange Office.
Date of entry
- This must be on 1 September. If the student will be employed, the date is also 1 September (at most a few days afterwards). At the latest, students should have entered Switzerland by the semester start.
- Problems arising from an earlier or later entry must be solved by you. The Student Exchange Office cannot assist in this case. FCS processes – including their health insurance solution – and potential fees from registering for a residence permit after taking up employment – which is scheduled for 1 September – are examples for possible problems.
- You do not have to do anything, the Student Exchange Office will take care of the scholarship payments.
- For your information: The first two scholarship instalments are paid out at the cash desk in the main building, after that the scholarship is transferred directly to the bank account specified by the scholarship holder. It is paid as a net amount without social security contributions.
You do not have to do anything. For your information:
- Students with residence in an EU/EFTA country: They should have an insurance and may apply for an exemption if they meet certain conditions.
- Students with residence in a non-???EU/EFTA country: Paid and organised by FCS
- The Student Exchange Office will invite the scholarship holders to events.
- Before arriving in Switzerland the Student Exchange Office organizes an online information event for all scholarship holders. The aim is to ensure that the start in Switzerland is successful and that they all know what needs to be done (e.g. applying for residence permit, explaining the public transport and health insurance system, etc.).
- During the year, the scholarship holders are invited to events to familiarise themselves with Swiss culture and to give them the opportunity to network.