The Doctoral Exchange Grant comes from the Zeno Karl Schindler Foundation, a Geneva foundation. It funds a doctoral student’s research stay, in person, at a university or research institute in another country.
The home university and the host must be in two different countries, one of them in Switzerland. The grant normally spans engineering, medieval disciplines and medieval digital humanities, but in 2025 and 2026 it is offered only in medieval disciplines or digital humanities.
Benefits & funding
- A contribution to local living costs for the whole stay at the host; the page states no monthly amount or set length.
- A flat-rate economy-class return airfare or train ticket between home and host universities.
- The host professor must waive or cover any visiting-student fees the host institution charges.
- Through the affidavit you commit to refund unused money if the stay is shortened or cancelled.
Eligibility
- Open to any nationality.
- Doctoral students with top academic credentials; in 2025 and 2026 the research must be in a medieval discipline or in digital humanities joining medieval studies with computer or data science.
- Biology, chemistry, physics and the life sciences are excluded.
- The home university and the host must be in two different countries, one of them situated and governed in Switzerland.
- No other funding during the grant, including an assistant salary.
- The stay must not have begun before the round’s earliest start date.
- A rejected applicant cannot apply again for this grant.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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“The grant aims to encourage research collaboration between two universities which must be located in two different countries, namely the home university of the candidate and a hosting university or research institute, one of the two being necessarily situated and governed in Switzerland.” Eligibility
Education required
PhD Enrolled
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Application process
- 1Agree stay dates with a host professor, who signs a letter on institutional letterhead in the foundation’s exact wording, including the fee waiver.
- 2Have your home thesis advisor sign the two-page research proposal.
- 3By 1 May or 1 November (23:59 Swiss time), email the application form, the signed affidavit and one combined PDF to the foundation.
- 4Recommendation letters are not considered.
Program timeline
application deadline.
1 November 2026, 23:59 Swiss time
earliest start for this round.
1 February 2027
1 May 2027, 23:59 Swiss time
next deadline; stays from 1 August 2027.