If you’re driven by a passion for cybersecurity, data science, or AI and aim to contribute to impactful research, the CYD Fellowships 2025—offered by EPFL in collaboration with the Cyber-Defence (CYD) Campus—present an exceptional opportunity. These prestigious Swiss fellowships offer fully funded support at three academic levels — Master’s thesis, Doctoral, and Distinguished Postdoctoral — to outstanding candidates with a proven track record in cyber-defence research.

About CYD Campus & EPFL

The CYD Campus, based at EPFL and ETH Zurich, serves as Switzerland’s national center for cyber expertise, addressing the most pressing cybersecurity challenges of our time. EPFL itself ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide for engineering and technology (QS World Rankings 2024) and serves as a hub for innovation, digital trust, and research excellence.

CYD Fellowships 2025 Overview 

Feature	Details
Fellowship Name	CYD Fellowships 2025
Hosted By	CYD Campus at EPFL & ETH Zurich
Levels	Master Thesis, Doctoral, Distinguished Postdoctoral
Eligibility	Open to all nationalities; hosted in Switzerland
Fields	Cyber-defence, cybersecurity, data science, AI, cyber-physical systems
Fellowship Type	Fully Funded
Deadline	20 August 2025 (Doctoral & Postdoctoral); Rolling (Master)
Application Mode	Online submission platform

Fellowship Benefits

All fellowship categories include substantial funding, access to Switzerland’s premier cyber research infrastructure, and mentorship by leaders in the field.

For Master Thesis Fellowships:
• CHF 2,500 per month for up to 6 months
• CHF 1,500 maximum for project-specific research costs

Doctoral Fellowships:
• Full salary support according to Swiss institutional standards
• CHF 3,000 per year for research costs
• CHF 5,000 per year for conference travel and participation

For Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships:
• Full postdoctoral salary as per host institution scale
• CHF 3,000 per year for project-specific research
• CHF 5,000 per year for conferences and networking

Key Research Themes

Applicants must show interest and capability in working on any of the following themes:

• Security, privacy, and digital trust technologies
  
• Confidentiality and integrity of cyber-physical systems
  
• AI and data science techniques for cyber threat analysis
  
• Information sharing, fusion, and crowdsourcing methods
  
• Innovation in cyber-defence infrastructure and response

Eligibility Criteria (All Levels)

• Open to citizens of any country
  
• No age restrictions
  
• Must be enrolled or planning to enroll at a Swiss higher education institution
  
• Must have the endorsement of a Swiss professor willing to supervise the research
  
• All documents must be submitted in English

Additional Requirements:

• For Master’s: Enrolled in a Swiss Master’s program
  
• For Doctoral: Preferably not yet started or in early stage of PhD
  
• For Postdoctoral: Research must be in a different lab from prior doctoral work

Application Process of EPFL CYD Fellowship 2025

For Master Thesis Fellowships

• Rolling deadline – apply any time during the year
  • Applications are evaluated continuously

For Doctoral & Postdoctoral Fellowships

• 12th Call Deadline: 20 August 2025 (Stage 1)
  • Full Proposal Deadline (Stage 2): 1 October 2025

Two-Stage Process:

Stage 1:
• Initial application review
• Shortlisted candidates assigned a CYD Campus mentor
• Interview with mentor required for Stage 2 endorsement

Stage 2:
• Full proposal submission
• Final evaluation by academic and CYD committee

Required Documents

• Online application form
  
• Academic transcripts and certificates
  
• Proof of university enrollment
  
• Endorsement from a supervising professor
  
• CV highlighting cyber-related experience
  
• Research outline or proposal (for doctoral/postdoctoral)
  
• English-translated copies of all official documents

Comparing CYD vs Other Cybersecurity Fellowships

Fellowship Name	Location	Levels Supported	Stipend & Funding	Deadline
CYD Fellowships (EPFL)	Switzerland	Master, PhD, Postdoc	CHF 2,500–full salary + research & travel	Aug 20, 2025
DAAD Cybersecurity Program	Germany	Master, PhD	€850–1,200/month + travel + insurance	March annually
Fulbright TechImpact Awards	USA	Postdoctoral	Full support + visa + travel costs	Country-specific
Google PhD Fellowship	Global	PhD	Up to $60,000 + mentorship	Varies
Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN	EU-wide	PhD	Salary + travel + family allowance	April annually

FAQs About CYD Fellowships 2025

1. What is the CYD Fellowship 2025?
   → It’s a Swiss-funded fellowship program for Master’s, PhD, and Postdoctoral research in cyber-defence hosted by EPFL and CYD Campus.
2. Who is eligible for the CYD Fellowships?
   → Any nationality can apply, but candidates must be affiliated with a Swiss higher education institution.
3. What is the funding amount for CYD Doctoral Fellows?
   → Full salary + CHF 3,000 for research and CHF 5,000 for conferences annually.
4. Can I apply for the CYD Fellowship if I’ve already started my PhD?
   → Yes, but preference is given to applicants who have not yet started or are in the early stages.
5. Are there any language requirements?
   → All documents are required to be submitted in English.
6. How are candidates selected for Cybersecurity fellowships at EPFL?
   → Through a two-stage process involving mentor interviews and final proposal evaluation.
7. Can I apply for the CYD Master Fellowship at any time?
   → Yes, it operates on a rolling application basis.
8. Can I apply if my research is outside of cybersecurity?
   → No, projects must directly relate to cyber-defence or data science themes.
9. How long does the selection process take for EPFL CYD Fellowship 2025?
   → Usually 6–8 weeks post-submission for Stage 1, then ~1 month for Stage 2 results.
10. What is the deadline for CYD Doctoral and Postdoc Fellowships in 2025?
    → 20 August 2025 (Stage 1) and 1 October 2025 (Stage 2).

If you are a cybersecurity innovator, an AI enthusiast, or a data scientist-in-training, the CYD Fellowships 2025 offer more than just funding — they offer the platform, mentorship, and ecosystem to make a real-world impact. Don’t miss this prestigious opportunity to do meaningful research in the heart of Europe’s digital security hub. APPLY NOW. Please read the full details about the fellowship on their official website.