English summary The Swiss Study Foundation Since 1991 the Swiss Study Foundation has been supporting excellent students and postgraduates at universities and technical colleges who due to their personality, creativity and intellectual skills are in a position to contribute to science, business, culture and politics. The Foundation offers the students and postgraduates learning opportunities complementary to their studies, an individual mentoring and guidance scheme as well as financial support. The main selection criteria for the admission to the Swiss Study Foundation are: excellent academic records motivation and enthusiasm faculty to perform and commitment broad interests, creativity and intellectual curiosity sense of responsibility strong communication skills, also in foreign languages The Foundation supports the students throughout their university career up to their master or doctorate, in terms of both a comprehensive education in their chosen field and a general, interdisciplinary formation.