Funding for postdocs
Switzerland is not a member of the European Union and, since 2021, it no longer has a direct association with Horizon Europe, the EU's main funding programme for research and development. The country does, however, participate to a limited extent in numerous Horizon Europe programmes, and many of the main postdoc funding initiatives in the country are designed as transitional financing measures to compensate for the lack of direct association with Horizon. They are facilitated by Innosuisse, the Swiss government's innovation agency, and the Swiss National Science Foundation, with funding ensured by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).
A select list of postdoc grants available in Switzerland:
- SNSF Starting Grant
The Swiss National Science Foundation's transitional solution for ERC Starting Grants, replaces Eccellenza and PRIMA funding programmes. - SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship
A transitional instrument for researchers of all nationalities planning to apply for the EU's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. - SNSF Ambizione
Tailored for young researchers wanting to lead independent projects at institutes of higher education in Switzerland.
- SNSF Postdoc.Mobility
Targeted at postdocs seeking a 24-month research stay in Switzerland. - Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
Research scholarship for postdocs planning to pursue research or further studies in Switzerland at a postdoctoral level.
The University of Zurich also provides an extensive list of funding opportunities available to postdocs in the country.
Salary for postdocs in Switzerland
According to the science and research career portal MyScience.ch, gross salaries at universities run between 6,000 and 8,200 Swiss francs a month, depending on the institution, age and experience. In 2022, the Swiss career portal Glassdoor reported annual average postdoc salaries of 87,960, which translates to 7,330 francs a month.
Still, there are some important factors to keep in mind when it comes to salaries in Switzerland. First, there is a significant gender pay gap in the country. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office of Switzerland, women earned on average 19.5 percent less than men in 2020.
There is also less job security in Switzerland. Employment law allows for employers to fire staff as they see fit, as long as it cannot be proved discriminatory. Family leave is also not considered generous by other European standards, with women entitled to 14 weeks of leave paid at 80 percent of their salary but capped at 220 francs per day. Fathers are entitled to two weeks’ paid leave.
Childcare is also expensive. A 2021 report by UNICEF ranked Switzerland in 38th place out of 41 in a comparison of childcare in wealthy countries. The report found that Switzerland has the least affordable childcare for the middle class, with two earners of an average wage needing to spend between a third and half of one salary to cover childcare costs for two children.
Still, there are many positives to working in Switzerland. As noted above, salaries are high and holiday allowance is generous by modern standards. Switzerland is considered to have an excellent work/life balance. While working hours are long, Swiss cities are regularly featured at or near the top of quality-of-life rankings.
There are generous unemployment benefits if you have worked at least one year in the country. Most people, including foreign workers with a valid work permit, are entitled to between 70 and 80 percent of their salary for a maximum of between 400 and 520 days, depending on age and the amount of time they have paid into the unemployment system.
Finally, despite the limited family leave, there are other employee benefits to be reaped such as accident insurance, which also includes sick leave, and is deducted from the worker’s salary. Most larger companies also cover part of their employees' healthcare insurance, although they are not legally required to do so.