Switzerland — Study (PhD (employed as doctoral assistant))

Main requirements

A Swiss PhD is usually a job: most doctoral candidates are employed as doctoral assistants with a contract and salary, doing teaching and group work alongside the thesis. You need a master's (or equivalent) with an excellent record and a supervisor or funded position; at ETH applications mostly go directly to professors.

Security screening applies here too. ETH's fact sheet (updated September 2025) screens doctoral applicants from sanctioned countries on prior study at a risky or sanctioned institution, nationality or residence in a sanctioned country, questionable funding, and applied dual-use research topics (TRL 4 and above). More than one YES leads to a recommendation to reject, although a professor can still push a top candidate with extra documentation. EPFL also runs a special sanctions and export-control procedure for PhD applicants.

Documents

For the visa, the Tehran embassy's work/research checklist (July 2026): three D forms, four photos, original passport, employment contract from the university or company, shenasnameh and degree translations legalised by the Iranian MFA, CV, motivation letter and language certificate. The work contract serves as proof of means.

Language

Most ETH and EPFL groups work in English and usually ask for an English certificate; the embassy checklist also lists a language certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, Goethe).

Costs and proof of funds

You are paid, so the contract is your financial proof. EPFL states the starting gross salary for doctoral assistants is CHF 55,225 a year from 1 January 2026. Out-of-pocket costs are mainly translations, visa, flight and the first month (rent deposit, insurance). Values as per official sources, checked October 2026.

Steps and timeline

Find a position and interview with the professor; the university then applies for your residence and work permit, which ETH says takes the migration authorities 4–6 weeks. Then book a D visa appointment by email with the Tehran embassy. The embassy checklist says the Swiss decision takes 12–16 weeks.

Tips for Iranian applicants

The Tehran embassy closed temporarily on 11 March 2026 and reopened gradually from May 2026; per its 3 August 2026 notice consular services are limited but D visas are accepted by appointment. If your master's is from a sanctioned or sensitive institution, or your topic is close to dual-use technology, rejection risk is high, so pick the research topic carefully. Do the degree release and MFA legalisation early.

After arrival (work while studying, post-study stay, path to permanent residence)

Per the federal SEM directives, doctoral candidates who work at the university alongside the thesis (e.g. as assistants) are admitted outside the quotas under Art. 40 OASA; this applies at all cantonal universities, ETH and EPFL, universities of applied sciences and other higher-education institutions covered by the HEdA. The status lasts until the thesis is finished (usually 3 to 4 years, at most 8 years). ETH says total study time in Switzerland (bachelor to postdoc) may not exceed 8 years. Part-timers may work outside only up to 15 hours a week or within the thesis scope. After the PhD, Swiss graduates get six months to find a job. A C permit for non-EU nationals normally comes after 10 years of residence and, per SEM directives, needs the local language at oral A2 and written A1; with good integration and oral B1 / written A1 you can apply after 5 uninterrupted years on a B permit. Study years only count under a condition: per SEM, if after finishing your studies you hold a residence permit for a lasting purpose (e.g. work) for two uninterrupted years.