The CYD Fellowships 2026 are cyber-defence research fellowships jointly launched by EPFL and the Cyber-Defence Campus. The programme supports Master Thesis, Doctoral, and Distinguished Postdoctoral fellowships for candidates with strong academic and, where applicable, professional records. The 14th call opened on 3 June 2026, and the deadline for Doctoral and Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship applications is 19 August 2026 at 17:00 CEST.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: CYD Fellowships – A Talent Program for Cyber-Defence Research
Category: Fellowship
Host: EPFL and Cyber-Defence Campus
Country: Switzerland
Research Focus: Cyber-defence, security, and data science
Fellowship Tracks: Master Thesis, Doctoral, and Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships
Application Deadline: 19 August 2026, 17:00 CEST for Doctoral and Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships
Master Thesis Applications: Rolling call throughout the year
About the CYD Fellowships 2026
The CYD Fellowships are designed to promote research and education in cyber-defence. The programme supports research that connects basic and applied work in cyber-defence, with a focus on new solutions to major challenges in security and data science.
Fellows are hosted by a higher education institution in Switzerland. They conduct their research at the CYD Campus, which is located on the premises of EPFL and ETHZ and in its office in Thun. The CYD Campus acts as a cyber-competence centre and anticipation platform for assessing technologies, cyber trends, and related usage scenarios.
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Fellowship Tracks
The CYD Fellowship programme offers three main fellowship tracks. Each track is connected to cyber-defence research and provides a different form of support.
✓ CYD Master Thesis Fellowships: living allowance and research funds for 6 months
✓ CYD Doctoral Fellowships: salary, research, and conference funds for 4 years, with a possible one-year extension
✓ CYD Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships: salary, research, and conference funds for up to 2 years
The official page also states that the CYD Fellowships are supported by armasuisse Science and Technology.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is aimed at candidates with an outstanding academic record and, where relevant, professional achievements. The primary evaluation criterion is excellence, measured through academic records and professional accomplishments.
Applicants are expected to have excellent grade transcripts. The official page identifies the programme as a talent programme for cyber-defence research and lists Master Thesis, Doctoral, and Distinguished Postdoctoral fellowship categories.
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Application Deadline
The application timeline depends on the fellowship track.
• Master Thesis Fellowship applications are accepted through a rolling call and may be submitted throughout the year.
• The 14th call for Doctoral and Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship applications is open.
• The Stage 1 submission deadline for Doctoral and Distinguished Postdoctoral applications is 19 August 2026 at 17:00 CEST.
• The 14th call opened on 3 June 2026.
• The next, 15th call will open on 3 December 2026.
An online applicant workshop is scheduled for 7 July 2026 from 11:00 to 11:45 CEST.
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Application Toolkit
Applicants should review the application toolkit before preparing their materials. The official page provides separate toolkit resources for Master Thesis Fellowship applications and for Doctoral and Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship applications under the 14th call.
Candidates should use the application documents and instructions provided in the toolkit to prepare their submissions. The official page directs applicants to submit through the online application platform.
How to Submit an Application
Applications are submitted through the official EPFL Research Funds application platform. Applicants should first review the programme page, select the appropriate fellowship category, and prepare their materials according to the official toolkit.
The submission platform is available through the official CYD Fellowships page. The linked portal is identified as the Applicant Portal.
Apply Here
Submit your application through the official application link below.
Apply for CYD Fellowships – A Talent Program for Cyber-Defence Research
