Scholarship Application
An encrypted scholarship application form for Swiss students — academic background, institution, programme, GPA, financial situation (household income, siblings in education), motivation statement, referees, and document upload. Compliant with the Swiss Stipendiengesetz (StipG) and nFADP.
About this template
This template provides Swiss scholarship and bursary providers with a complete, encrypted application form. It collects the applicant's personal details, current academic institution and programme, grade average, financial situation including household income and number of siblings currently in education, a free-text motivation statement, two referee contacts, and a document upload for transcripts, identification, or financial evidence. The form is designed to meet the requirements of the Swiss Stipendiengesetz (StipG) and to collect all information needed for a fair, auditable assessment.
What it collects
- Applicant personal details — name, date of birth, nationality, address
- Current educational institution and programme
- Level of study (bachelor, master, vocational, other)
- Grade average (GPA or Swiss grade scale)
- Expected graduation date
- Household income (annual gross, approximate band)
- Number of siblings currently in full-time education
- Employment status and part-time work income (if any)
- Motivation statement — goals, financial need, why this scholarship
- Referee 1 — name, role, email (academic)
- Referee 2 — name, role, email (professional or academic)
- Supporting document upload (transcript, ID, financial evidence)
- Applicant signature and declaration
Swiss Stipendiengesetz (StipG) and nFADP
In Switzerland, cantonal grants and scholarships are governed by the Federal Scholarships Act (Stipendiengesetz, StipG) and the corresponding cantonal ordinances. To assess financial need, scholarship bodies must collect income and family situation data, which is sensitive personal data under the nFADP. Applicants must be informed how their data will be used and who will have access. End-to-end encryption ensures this data is protected from the moment of submission.
How to use it
Use this template
Click 'Use template' to create a copy in your dashboard.
Adjust for your scholarship criteria
Add specific eligibility questions for your programme — field of study restrictions, citizenship requirements, or minimum GPA thresholds.
Share with eligible applicants
Publish the application link on your website or send it directly to candidates. All submissions are encrypted and accessible only to your selection committee.
The Swiss scholarship and bursary landscape
Switzerland funds student financial support through a combination of cantonal grants (Stipendien), federal vocational training grants, and private foundation scholarships. The cantons are the primary funders under the StipG, and each canton has its own income threshold, eligibility rules, and application process. Private foundations and universities also operate their own bursary schemes, which typically have more discretion in their award criteria.
Regardless of the source, scholarship applications require sensitive financial and personal information. A structured digital form — rather than an email or paper application — ensures that all required information is collected consistently, that supporting documents are attached at the time of application, and that the application record is complete and auditable. This reduces the administrative burden on the selection committee and ensures fair, consistent evaluation of all candidates.
Key elements of a Swiss scholarship application
- Academic standing — institution, programme, level, grade average. Some scholarships require a minimum GPA, so this data must be collected precisely.
- Financial need assessment — household income (gross annual), parental contribution, number of dependants, siblings in education, employment income. The StipG and cantonal ordinances specify how financial need is calculated.
- Motivation statement — why the applicant needs the scholarship, what they will do with it, their academic and career goals. This is the qualitative element that distinguishes strong applications.
- Referees — at least one academic referee who can vouch for the applicant's performance and potential. Some foundations require two referees.
- Supporting documents — official transcript, proof of enrolment, tax declaration or income statement, ID or residence permit.
Financial need assessment under Swiss law
The Swiss Stipendiengesetz (StipG) sets out the principles for financial need assessment across the cantons. Key factors include the applicant's own income, parental income (for applicants under 25 in most cantons), the cost of living in the study location, and the number of siblings who are simultaneously in education. A digital application form that collects all these elements consistently makes it far easier for the selection committee to apply the cantonal criteria uniformly and to document their decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Does a scholarship application need to be signed?
Yes. The applicant's signature is a declaration that the information provided is accurate and complete. False information in a scholarship application is a ground for revocation of the grant under most cantonal ordinances and may constitute fraud. A digital signature with a timestamp and submission record is a legally valid declaration under Swiss law.
Is the financial information in the application encrypted?
Yes. Income figures, family situation data and all other application information is encrypted end-to-end from the moment the applicant submits the form. Only authorised members of the selection committee can access it. This satisfies the nFADP requirement for appropriate technical security measures when handling financial data.
Can I use this form for a cantonal grant application as well as a private scholarship?
Yes. The template is designed to collect the core information required by both cantonal grant offices and private foundations. You can customise it to add or remove fields specific to your eligibility criteria and award conditions.
For more context, see our education use-case page and our guide to Swiss scholarship administration under the StipG.