University of Zurich Candoc Doctoral Grant
The Candoc grant from the University of Zurich's Forschungskredit (research-funding) scheme supports outstanding early-stage doctoral researchers at UZH — Switzerland's largest university and a global top-100 institution. It provides roughly one year of doctoral salary/grant (commonly CHF 50,000 or more) so that promising candidates can focus on their thesis in the early phase of their PhD. It is open across most disciplines and is awarded competitively by faculty after peer review of the research proposal. For Sri Lankan researchers, the route is: secure a UZH PhD place and supervisor first, then apply for Candoc within the first two years of your doctorate. A strong Master's, a clear and original research plan, and supervisor backing are essential. Confirm the current grant amount and annual call dates with UZH.
Annual Forschungskredit call — typically opens spring with autumn decisions; apply within the first two years of your UZH doctorate
University of Zurich (UZH)
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
≈ CHF 50,000+ (1 year)
Stage
Early-Phase Doctorate
Selection
Faculty Peer Review
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
University of Zurich (UZH) — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
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.
What it covers
One-year doctoral salary/grant (≈ CHF 50,000+). 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.
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
Enrolled UZH Doctoral Candidate
You must already be matriculated as a doctoral candidate at the University of Zurich and within the early years of your PhD (typically the first two). You secure a UZH PhD place and supervisor before applying.
Strong Research Proposal
Selection is by competitive peer review of your research project. A clear, original, feasible proposal with demonstrated capability — usually backed by a strong Master's — is essential. Sri Lankan applicants compete on the same scientific basis as all candidates.
Supervisor Support
Your UZH supervisor must support the application and confirm the project fits the group's research. Securing the right supervisor is the critical first step.
Open to International Researchers
There is no nationality bar — the grant is open to international doctoral candidates at UZH, including Sri Lankan citizens, provided the enrolment and stage conditions are met.
account_tree Application Process
Secure a UZH PhD place and supervisor
Identify a UZH research group, agree a project with a prospective supervisor, and matriculate as a doctoral candidate. This must happen before you can apply for Candoc.
Prepare the research proposal
Develop a detailed proposal with timeline, methodology, and budget for the grant year, refined with your supervisor against the Forschungskredit call requirements.
Submit to the annual call
Apply through your faculty by the Forschungskredit deadline, with the proposal, CV, transcripts, and your supervisor's endorsement.
Peer review and decision
The faculty's research commission reviews and ranks applications; awards are announced after the review cycle, and the grant funds your salary for the funded period.
Why University of Zurich?
UZH is Switzerland's largest university and a global top-100 research institution, especially strong in medicine, life sciences, economics, and law. Its Forschungskredit Candoc grant lets exceptional early doctoral researchers buy time to focus on their thesis at one of Europe's best-funded research environments.
Top 100
Global Ranking
1833
Founded
1 year
Funded Doctoral Phase
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.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
Open the cost calculator arrow_forwardSort courses by lowest fee
The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
Browse lowest-fee courses arrow_forwardWhat Switzerland actually costs
Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for Switzerland, in LKR as well as local currency.
See the cost breakdown arrow_forwardCheck your proof of funds
Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
Check the requirement arrow_forwardSimilar Scholarships
Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
Bern GCB Structured PhD Programme
Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB), University of Bern
Biozentrum PhD Fellowships Programme
Biozentrum, University of Basel
EPFL EDIC Doctoral Fellowships (Computer & Communication Sciences)
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)