Cantonal Scholarships: Which canton is responsible?

At stipendium.ch we often see in practice that the question of the right canton is more important than the actual form of the application. If you misclassify your scholarship residence, you will quickly submit the application to the wrong place. That’s why a first look at the responsibility is worthwhile.

Which canton is responsible for cantonal scholarships?

In Switzerland, education contributions are governed cantonally. Therefore, the prerequisites and the amount of contributions vary by canton. In the overview of cantonal scholarship offices you will find the responsible office for your application: https://www.stipendium.ch/stipendienamt/.

The decisive factor is usually your scholarship residence. This is often the canton of residence of your parents, but depending on personal circumstances it can also be determined differently. You can find the official bases of the EDK here: https://www.edk.ch/de/themen/stipendien/stipendienstellen.

• The scholarship residence is often at the civil-law residence of the parents or with the last competent guardianship authority.
• Swiss citizens without a parental residence in Switzerland often have their scholarship residence in their home canton.
• Recognized refugees can establish the scholarship residence in the canton of their asylum decision.
• Mature individuals can, under certain conditions after two years of residence and financial independence, establish a new scholarship residence.

Who can apply for educational grants?

Whether you are eligible for educational grants depends on your nationality, your residence status and your education. Those who stay in Switzerland solely for the purpose of training are generally not eligible. For borderline cases, it is worth having the responsible cantonal scholarship office review it.

What conditions apply for cantonal scholarships?

To obtain a scholarship, several conditions usually must come together. The decisive factors are financial need, a recognized education and a recognized educational institution. The cantonal office checks these points according to its own calculation rules and recognition provisions.

The figures from the Federal Statistical Office show how important education contributions are: in 2024 the cantons paid a total of 349 million francs in scholarships. About 20 million francs in educational loans were added. This also indicates that cantonal differences are not only formal but financially relevant.

What exactly does the cantonal office review?

In terms of financial need, depending on the canton, factors such as your income and assets, as well as the financial circumstances of the parents or other legally responsible persons, are considered. Whether you are eligible and how high a possible contribution is, is decided by the responsible office according to the applicable rules.

Education itself must also be recognized. Support is particularly for education in the post-compulsory education sector, including secondary II and tertiary levels. Therefore, check before submitting the application whether your study program and your educational institution meet the cantonal recognition requirements.

Frequently asked questions

If you want to apply for cantonal scholarships, the responsible canton is the first and most important step. Afterwards come the requirements for education, financial situation and recognition of the educational institution. stipendium.ch supports you precisely with an individual scholarship search and preparation of your application.

This saves you time and reduces the risk of sending your application to the wrong place. At the same time, you get a better overview of the contact points that really fit your project. This is especially helpful if your case does not fit the standard.