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Bern GCB Structured PhD Programme

The Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences is the University of Bern's structured doctoral school, run jointly by the Faculties of Medicine, Science and Vetsuisse. It offers experimental research training leading to a PhD, or to combined MD-PhD, DDS-PhD and DVM-PhD degrees, across biochemistry and molecular biology, biomedical engineering, biomedical sciences, cell biology, immunology, neuroscience and epidemiology. Doctoral researchers are paid by their supervisor's project according to Swiss National Science Foundation guidelines, which currently puts PhD salaries in Bern in the region of CHF 47,000 a year — roughly LKR 17.4 million — as an employment contract rather than a stipend. The structure of this one differs from a fellowship competition and Sri Lankan applicants need to understand it. You are not applying to a central scholarship pool. Your supervisor is responsible for the research project, the lab infrastructure, your supervision and your salary; GCB admission formalises and structures the doctorate around that. In practice you either respond to an advertised PhD position on the GCB open positions page, or you secure an agreement with a Bern research group directly. The GCB application must then be submitted within four months after the start of the research project, and there are three admission deadlines a year: 15 April, 15 August and 15 December. Candidates with foreign diplomas must register at the University of Bern before signing an employment contract, so build that step into your timeline. Requirements are a Master's or equivalent in life sciences or a related area, biomedical engineering, medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine. Bern is expensive but somewhat less punishing than Zurich or Geneva; the salary supports one person comfortably and gives you a proper Swiss employment record.

Three admission deadlines a year: 15 April, 15 August and 15 December. Applications must be submitted within four months after your research project starts — monitor advertised PhD positions on gcb.unibe.ch

Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB), University of Bern

University-funded

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Salary

SNSF-rate doctoral salary

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Degrees

PhD, MD-PhD, DDS-PhD, DVM-PhD

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Deadlines

15 Apr / 15 Aug / 15 Dec

info How this award actually works

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Who awards it

Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB), University of Bern — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.

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What it covers

Salaried Doctoral Positions on SNSF Rates in Biomedical Research. This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.

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Where we come in

We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Open to International Candidates

There is no nationality restriction. Candidates with foreign diplomas must register at the University of Bern before signing an employment contract with their supervisor — plan this step into your timeline.

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Master's in a Relevant Field

Applicants should hold a Master's degree or equivalent in life sciences or related areas, biomedical engineering, medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine.

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A Supervisor Funds You

The supervisor is responsible for the research project, laboratory infrastructure, adequate supervision and your salary according to SNSF guidelines. Securing a supervisor with funding is the real gateway, not the GCB application itself.

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Apply Within Four Months of Starting

Applications to the GCB must be submitted within four months after the start of the research project, against one of the three annual deadlines. Missing that window creates administrative problems.

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Find an advertised position or a supervisor

Watch the GCB open PhD positions page for advertised projects, and email Bern research groups whose work matches your Master's training with a concise CV and research statement.

Secure the position and salary agreement

Your offer comes from the research group, with salary set according to SNSF guidelines. Confirm the salary, contract length and funding source in writing before you commit.

Register with the University of Bern

Candidates with foreign diplomas must register with the university before the employment contract can be signed. Start document verification early — Sri Lankan transcripts may need attestation.

Submit the GCB application

Apply to the graduate school by the next 15 April, 15 August or 15 December deadline, within four months of your project start. Choose the appropriate research training area for your project.

Apply for the Swiss residence permit

With your employment contract and university registration, apply for the Swiss residence permit for doctoral researchers. Arrange Bern accommodation before arrival.

Why the University of Bern GCB?

Bern is a research-intensive Swiss university with a strong biomedical and veterinary research base, and the GCB gives doctoral researchers a structured programme rather than an unsupported apprenticeship. Swiss doctoral positions are salaried employment, which changes the financial picture entirely compared with fee-paying PhDs elsewhere.

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Research Training Areas

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Admission Deadlines a Year

Salaried

Employment Contract

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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