CYD Campus Fellowships: 13th Call for Applications
Deadline: 25 February 2026 (17:00 CET)
To pomote research and education in cyber-defence, EPFL and the Cyber-Defence Campus jointly launched in 2020 the “CYD Fellowships - A Talent Program for Cyber-defence Research”. By supporting the training in Switzerland of the next generation of leading researchers, the CYD Fellowships are accelerating the development of cyber-security and privacy solutions that can significantly influence the research fields of cyber-security and data science and/or have significant impact in Swiss cyber-defence.
Available funding
The Master Thesis Fellowships offer 6-month funding (living allowance and research funds). The CYD Doctoral Fellowships offer 4-year funding with a possible one-year extension (salary and research and conference funds). The CYD Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships offer (up to) 2-year funding (salary and research and conference funds). The Proof of Concept CYD Fellowships provide 12-month funding (personnel and development costs).
Requirements
Citizens of any nationality can apply. Applicants must be enrolled in a master program at a higher education institution in Switzerland OR have been accepted into a doctoral program at a higher education institution in Switzerland OR wish to pursue a postdoctoral project at a higher education institution in Switzerland. Applicants must be willing to conduct their research at the CYD Campus located on the premises of EPFL and ETHZ and in its office in Thun. Those applying for the CYD Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships must conduct their fellowship-funded postdoctoral research in a different laboratory from the one of their doctoral and (if applicable) current postdoctoral research.
For the requirements for the Proof of Concept Fellowships, please check the website.
Candidates applying for a CYD fellowship are expected to have excellent grade transcripts.
How to apply
The Master Thesis fellowships are on a rolling-call basis so Master students may apply any time. There are two calls per year for Doctoral and Distinguished Postdoctoral fellowships. The 13th call opened on 3 December 2025 and applicants may apply until 25 February 2026 (17:00 CET). The next call will open on 3 June 2026. Both new applications and resubmissions are encouraged.
An online applicant workshop will take place on 13 January 2026 from 11:00 to 11:45 CEST. The registration form is available here.
For more details visit the program webpage.
Master Thesis Fellowships: rolling call for proposals
Proof of Concept Fellowships: rolling call for proposals
Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships: the submission deadline is 25 February 2026 (17:00 CET).