Students Exchange (SE)

The Students Exchange grants are intended to support Master's, PhD and post doc students of Switzerland for short stays in Russia and to host Russian students for short stays in Switzerland.

Applicants are expected to submit either high quality research projects that demonstrate the opportunity to advance knowledge in a given research area either projects that provide the student a unique training opportunity.

The grant may be used to cover travel expenses of Swiss students visiting an institute or laboratory in Russia and to cover the accommodation and living costs of Russian students visiting an institution or laboratory in Switzerland. See Grant information for more details.

- To encourage 'brain circulation' between Switzerland and Russia.

- To enhance technical and personal development and future career prospects of students.

- To provide students with new learning experiences and networking opportunities in another country.

Applications will be accepted only from Swiss citizens or permanent residents of Switzerland based in a Swiss university or research institution.

Eligible Swiss Institutions:

Swiss federal institutes of technology, cantonal universities of higher education, federal and cantonal research institutions, Swiss universities of applied sciences, other research institutions eligible for receiving federal funding.

Priority will be given to new projects.

Applications must be made by the Faculty member who will be sending or hosting a student. It must be made jointly by the Swiss applicant and its Russian counterpart.

Application forms can be downloaded from this site. The original of the completed joint application form, along with an electronic version, should be sent to the Swiss Programme Office at the University of Geneva:

Mrs Irina Niggli

Rectorat, Uni-Dufour

Université de Genève

1211 Genève 4

Switzerland

The printed original copy must be signed by the responsible Faculty member (written signature), its Russian counterpart (electronic signature) and the student (written signature for Swiss students and electronic signature for Russian Students).

Completed applications must be submitted no later than:

Late and incomplete applications will not be accepted.

The exchange principle should follow the rules that the sending institute pays for international travel costs and the receiving institute pays for accommodation and living costs of the visiting scientist. This principle can be adapted to individual situations. A detailed budget will be required. Projected expenses must be justified and related to the proposed activities.

Maximal allowable budget per project is CHF 15'000.

Allowable budget items for Swiss applicants going to Russia:

- Travel expenses connected with the visit to the hosting institute(s) in Russia.

Allowable budget items for Swiss applicants inviting students from Russia:

- Living expenses of visiting students from Russia.

- Costs for supplies required to do the proposed activities.

Grants may not be used for:

- Salaries and insurance

- Overhead costs

For more details, please see Financial guidelines

In Switzerland, applications will be considered by LH/ ALH (if budget < CHF 10,000) or by the Swiss Steering Committee (if budget > CHF 10,000) on the basis of recommendations made by Advisory Board members and/or a panel of experts proposed by these Advisory Board members.

For more detailed information, see the document Selection Process.

Evaluation criteria:

(1) Scientific, technological and educational merit

(2) Specific qualification of applicants for the proposed activities

(3) Expertise of the host institution

(4) Feasibility of the proposal

(5) Benefits of the proposed activities for the student's main research project.

(6)Benefits of the proposed activities for strenghtening short and long term institutional links between Switzerland and Russia.

Evaluation and selection process may take up to three months.

Applicants will be notified by the LH.

Grant recipients will have to submit to the LH a short scientific and financial report within three months of the end of the grant period.

Scientific reports will be evaluated by the Advisory Board members and/or a panel of experts proposed by these Advisory Board members for projects with a budget > CHF 10'000 and by the LH for projects with a budget < CHF 10'000. Financial reports will be examined by the LH.