Funded PhD Fellowships in Switzerland in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence 2026

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), in collaboration with the CYD Campus, has opened applications for funded PhD fellowships in Switzerland for researchers interested in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, privacy, and digital trust.

The fellowship provides a contribution toward the researcher’s salary, along with annual funding for research activities and conference participation for up to four years, with the possibility of a one-year extension. The researcher will work on a doctoral project in collaboration with the CYD Campus under the supervision of a professor at a Swiss higher education institution.

The fellowship is open to applicants of all nationalities, including researchers from Arab countries, and there is no maximum age limit. Preference is given to candidates who have not yet started their PhD or are still in the early stages of their doctoral studies.

• A salary contribution based on the salary scale of the host Swiss institution.
• Coverage of social security benefits associated with the salary.
• Research funding of up to CHF 3,000 per year.
• Conference funding of up to CHF 5,000 per year.
• Funding for four years, with the possibility of an extension for a fifth year.
• The option to request funding for a shorter period if it corresponds to the remaining time required to complete the PhD.

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Applicants must:

• Be of any nationality.
• Meet no maximum age requirement.
• Be enrolled in a PhD program at a Swiss higher education institution when submitting the second-stage application.
• Obtain the agreement of a professor at the Swiss institution to supervise the research.
• Be eligible to apply at any stage of the PhD, although preference is given to candidates who have not yet started or are still in the early stages of their doctoral studies.
• Have a strong academic record and high grades.
• Submit a research project related to cyber defence, digital security, or data science.
• Demonstrate the project’s potential impact on Swiss cybersecurity.
• Develop a collaborative project involving researchers from the CYD Campus and at least one Swiss higher education institution.