Hada News
Iraq announces Swiss government PhD scholarships for applicants outside state employment; deadline Friday 27 November 2026
Iraq's higher education ministry says the Swiss excellence awards for 2027-2028 are available to applicants who are not state employees, for doctoral study only.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for the 2027-2028 academic year are available to Iraqi applicants who are not state employees. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research posted the call in a notice dated 18 October 2026, which the Iraqi outlets 964 and Al Saa reported on Monday 19 October.
**What the ministry said.** - The scholarships are offered by the Swiss government for 2027-2028. - They are for the "non-employee" category, meaning applicants outside state employment. - They lead to a doctorate (PhD), in all fields except languages, according to the ministry's notice. - The ministry's Department of Scholarships and Cultural Relations set the last day for applications as Friday 27 November 2026.
**How to apply.** The ministry asks applicants to register on its scholarships portal, portal.scrd-gate.gov.iq, and says it bears no financial costs. Switzerland's State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) lists 27 November 2026, 11:59pm Swiss time, as Iraq's deadline, with the Swiss embassy in Baghdad as contact. SERI's terms include a Master's degree or equivalent completed by 31 July 2027, a date of birth after 31 December 1991, and a letter of support from an academic supervisor at a Swiss university. PhD awards run 12 months, renewable up to 36 months, from 1 September 2027 and pay CHF 2,450 a month. SERI warns that applying is free and that fake offers using its name circulate online.
**Why it matters:** The call gives Iraqis outside public service a dated window, closing on 27 November 2026, to compete for a funded doctorate in Switzerland.