1. Conditions for the supervision of a scholarship holder (doctoral scholarship)

The requirements for the supervision of a dissertation is specified by the Doctoral Administration.

Questions regarding the eligibility for supervision and admission criteria of doctoral students matriculated at ETH Zurich should therefore be addressed directly to the Doctoral Administration before a letter of confirmation for the applicant is issued.

• The research project of the grantee relates to the research that you conduct.
  
• You have to integrate the grantee into your team.
  
• You have to provide the grantee productive research conditions (lab space, access to infrastructure, etc.).
• You have to commit to the whole duration of the scholarship. The grantee will need your guidance and feedback throughout their whole research stay.
  

• 12 months
• The first 12 months can be extended twice by 12 months, up to a maximum of 36 months (provided the student passes the aptitude colloquium within twelve months after provisional admission for doctoral studies).
• If extended doctoral studies are required, please inform the Student Exchange Office.

• 1 September 
• A different start date leads to considerable additional work for the inviting professorship. Especially earlier admission and entry into Switzerland less than 120 days before the official start of the scholarship has caused problems in the past due to overlapping processes (e.g. entry formalities, health insurance coverage, accommodation search, reconciliation of funding with HR Operations, etc.)
• An earlier start date at ETH Zurich may make sense if planned for the beginning of the Autumn Semester of the previous year or the beginning of the Spring Semester of the current year. This usually does not lead to any major additional work but must be reported to the Student Exchange Office once the scholarship offer has been confirmed.
• In case of late arrival, FCS reserves the right to pay the scholarship only for the remaining months until the scheduled end date, usually 31 August of the following year.

• As the scholarship only amounts to CHF 2,450 per month, you are required to top up the scholarship with a part-?time job appointment (funded by the professorship's resources). The total funds must equal at least the level of the lowest ETH doctoral student salary but cannot exceed the level of the highest ETH doctoral student salary (see the directive and ordinance). 
• Please contact the Human Resources Department directly for the increase of the scholarship by means of part-time employment.
  
• The normal time to complete a doctorate at ETH Zurich usually exceeds the maximum duration of the scholarship (36 months). Upon conclusion of the 36-month scholarship period, the doctoral student must be employed full-time, with total funding meeting or exceeding the minimum ETH doctoral salary level, until the anticipated completion of the thesis.
• It is therefore essential to secure sufficient financial support to enable the student to finalize their thesis within a reasonable timeframe¡ªideally within one to two additional years. Employment must be guaranteed at least until the end of the month in which the doctoral examination takes place (refer to the directive for details). Responsibility for ensuring this continued funding lies with the budget manager of your institute.

These stipulations apply analogously at the research institutions of the ETH domain (Eawag, Empa, PSI, WSL).

• The Student Exchange Office coordinates the processes between the FCS, the respective university (Doctoral Administration, professor, etc.) and the grantee.
• The Student Exchange Office advises and supports the grantee, particularly during their initial transition period. It regularly organises activities (excursions, evenings, leisure pursuits, and cultural programs) to familiarise them with Swiss culture, aligning with the FCS's spirit.
• The FCS delegate represents ETH within the FCS commission and provides support to hosts and grantees in academic matters.
• Although the FCS oversees the whole programme, the Student Exchange Office and FCS delegate are your main contacts.