OpenFieldAdolphe Merkle Institute Excellence Fellowship in Nanomaterials
Prestigious fellowship awarded by the world-renowned Adolphe Merkle Institute at the University of Fribourg supporting exceptional researchers in fundamental and applied nanoscience.
University of Fribourg: Degrees, Swiss Cantonal Scholarships & Faculty Guide
Established in 1889, the University of Fribourg (French: Université de Fribourg; German: Universität Freiburg) is Switzerland's unique fully bilingual university, situated at the cultural crossroads between German- and French-speaking Switzerland. Home to five distinguished faculties—Humanities, Science and Medicine, Law, Management and Social Sciences, and Theology—UniFR is internationally renowned for nano-sciences, administrative law, inter-religious dialogue, and computational sciences.
Verified degree programs and opportunities
Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:
Master of Science in Computer Science and Data Analytics
Two-year 120-ECTS English-taught master's program jointly organized with the Universities of Bern and Neuchâtel (Swiss Joint Master in Computer Science), covering distributed systems, machine learning, and cryptography.
Fully Funded Doctoral Assistantship (Doctorat) in Soft Matter Physics
Three-to-four-year salaried doctoral research appointment conducting cutting-edge experimental physics investigations into colloidal suspensions, light scattering, and polymer glass transitions.
Swiss National Science Foundation Cellular Immunology and Oncology Project
Laboratory research project investigating molecular mechanisms of immune cell signaling, tumor microenvironments, and novel targeted antibody therapies in human cell models.
Federal and Cantonal Bilingual Administrative Law Legal Practicum
Six-month bilingual legal practicum embedding law graduates in cantonal administrative tribunals and federal offices in Fribourg and Bern, drafting legal opinions and appellate briefs.
UniFR Center for Inter-Religious Dialogue and Ethics Postdoctoral Fellowship
Two-year postdoctoral fellowship conducting interdisciplinary research into intercultural ethics, inter-religious cooperation, and democratic secularism at the Faculty of Theology.
Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Tenure-track professorship teaching undergraduate and graduate computer science courses, establishing an independent AI research group, and supervising doctoral candidates.
Admissions, language requirements & application process
- Master's admission eligibility
- Accredited Bachelor's degree (minimum 180 ECTS credits) from a recognized Swiss or international university in a congruent academic discipline with strong marks.
- Doctoral admission eligibility
- Recognized Master's degree (or equivalent second-cycle academic qualification) with above-average grades and written approval from an authorized UniFR dissertation supervisor.
- Language proficiency
- Proficiency in French (B2/C1) and/or German (B2/C1) depending on the degree stream; numerous master's and doctoral science programs are conducted entirely in English (IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL iBT 90+).
- Research statement / Proposal
- Submission via the UniFR online portal including official transcripts, detailed curriculum vitae, diploma certificates, and a letter of academic motivation.
- Application fee
- CHF 100 non-refundable application fee for holders of Swiss degrees; CHF 150 for holders of foreign degrees.
- Required documentation
- Bachelor's/Master's diplomas, certified transcripts of all university semesters, curriculum vitae, copy of passport, and proof of language competence.
Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems
Tuition fees at the public cantonal University of Fribourg are highly affordable under Swiss higher education subsidies, amounting to CHF 835 per semester for Swiss domestic students and CHF 985 per semester for international students (CHF 1,970 per academic year). Employed doctoral assistants receive competitive Swiss cantonal research salaries (CHF 48,000 to CHF 56,000 per annum) with zero tuition fees.
Verified faculty profiles and research leaders
Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at University of Fribourg:
Prof. Dr. Katharina Fromm
Rector of University of Fribourg & Professor of Inorganic Chemistry · Coordination Chemistry, Nanomaterials, Bio-Inorganic Chemistry, Silver Compounds & Batteries
Prof. Dr. Christoph Weder
Director of Adolphe Merkle Institute & Professor of Polymer Chemistry · Polymer Chemistry, Stimuli-Responsive Materials, Mechanophores, Supramolecular Polymers
Prof. Dr. Philippe Cudré-Mauroux
Professor of Computer Science & Head of eXascale Infolab · Big Data Systems, Knowledge Graphs, Semantic Web, Scalable Information Systems
Important verification note
Facts reflect official University of Fribourg documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue