The PhD School of Life Sciences is run jointly by the University of Geneva’s Faculties of Medicine and Science. It groups six doctoral programmes: Biomedical Sciences, Ecology and Evolution, Genomics and Digital Health, Molecular Biosciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Physics of Biology.
Applicants file one open-call application; shortlisted candidates meet recruiting labs in Geneva, and a PI’s offer is the admission. The Winter Call 2026-27 leads to a spring 2027 start.
Benefits & funding
- A University of Geneva work contract with a monthly salary for the whole PhD, paid by the host lab; the school says it covers living costs.
- A PhD usually takes four to five years; ten semesters at most unless extended.
- Students pay university fees of CHF 500 per semester, part of which Swiss or European nationals may have waived.
- Interview travel and accommodation are reimbursed up to a set limit.
Eligibility
- A Master’s degree or recognised equivalent in a relevant field, including a graded, written-up experimental research internship of a full semester.
- Other degrees go to an equivalence review; the Faculty Dean’s Office decides.
- Master’s students may apply if they expect the degree within six months of the deadline.
- English at B1 or above; no test needed to apply, and no French required.
- No nationality restriction and no age limit.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Application process
- 1Pick one of the six programmes; the others also see the application.
- 2Submit online by 1 November 2026, 23:59:59 CET, with CV, transcripts and the emails of at least two referees.
- 3If shortlisted (about 3–4 weeks later), record a short video presentation.
- 4Attend the on-site interview week in Geneva at the end of January 2027: a panel interview, then one-on-one interviews with recruiting PIs.
- 5Only candidates with a PI’s offer are admitted.
Program timeline
Winter Call deadline
Nov 1, 2026
shortlist emails
Late November 2026
interview week in Geneva
End of January 2027
PhD start, agreed with the PI
April/May 2027
next (Summer Call) deadline
Apr 1, 2027