The Rectorate of the University of Fribourg (Unifr) funds short research stays for doctoral students who live abroad. Recipients spend up to five months at Unifr in Fribourg, Switzerland, working on their own doctoral project with a Unifr professor.
Any research area offered at Unifr qualifies. There are two rounds a year; the round for stays from September 2027 is open now.
Benefits & funding
- CHF 1,900 a month. The web page gives a stay of at most five months; the 2026–27 description sheet (PDF) gives 5 months with no extension.
- The pages state no travel, tuition or insurance cover.
- Recipients must live in the city or region of Fribourg during the stay and submit a final report signed by the host professor.
- The award cannot be combined with another scholarship.
Eligibility
- At least two semesters completed in a doctoral programme at a foreign university recognised by Unifr.
- Residence in any country other than Switzerland.
- Not enrolled at Unifr.
- A Unifr professor agrees to supervise the stay.
- A research project to carry out at Unifr.
- Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees (or equivalent) from universities recognised by Unifr, the Master’s from a foreign one.
- No nationality, age or field limit is stated.
Application process
- 1Get support letters from the Unifr host professor and from your doctoral supervisor at home.
- 2Write the project description with a timetable, plus why you need the scholarship and why the work must happen at Unifr.
- 3Submit online through INSCRUNI by 28 February (stays from 1 September) or 30 June (stays from 1 February); only complete files are considered.
- 4Results arrive by email in May or November.
Program timeline
Application link opened for stays from September 2027
Nov 1, 2026
Application deadline
Feb 28, 2027
Decisions by email
2027-05
Next round’s deadline (stays from February 2028)
Jun 30, 2027
Earliest start of stays
Sep 1, 2027