Scholarships

The Swiss Benevolent Society helps qualified applicants obtain a higher education in any field of endeavor at any accredited university, college or vocational school in the United States. The scholarships are limited to students who are residents of Northern California. Students may apply every year while enrolled.

There are eight (8) different scholarship funds available:

Need & Merit

1. SBS General Fund Scholarship
2. Willy Isler Scholarship
3. Silvia and Jacques Iselin Scholarship
4. Walter Munz Scholarship

• Based on need and merit.
• Awarded to students entering college through postgraduate studies.
• Minimum GPA 3.2 for the last 2 years in high school, 3.0 for first year in college and 3.2 thereafter.
• Voacational school and community college attendees need a high school diploma and a clear path to a profession.

5. Walter Munz Culinary and Hospitality Scholarship

• Based on need and merit.
• Awarded to students pursuing an undergraduate degree or certificate in hospitality or culinary studies.
• Minimum GPA 2.5 in high school, and 3.0 while in college.

Merit Only

6. Clement & Frieda Amstutz Scholarship
7. Silvio Canonica Scholarship
8. Walter Munz Merit Scholarship

• Based on merit alone.
• Awarded to students at the junior & senior level in college, graduate and postgraduate university level.
• Minimum GPA 3.5 for the last 2 years.

 

Requirements

Applicants must:

• be of Swiss descent by demonstrating that applicant or at least one parent is a Swiss national, registered with the Swiss Consulate General of San Francisco (or carry a valid Swiss passport).
  
  
• have resided in one of the following Counties in Northern California for a minimum of three years preceding the date of initial application.
  
  
• have applied for admission to any accredited institution of higher learning in the United States offering an associate, baccalaureate or graduate degree.
  
  
• be a full time student: 12 undergraduate or 9 graduate units per term.

 

Application Package

To apply for any of these scholarships, please download the guidelines and apply online through the link below.

Scholarship Guidelines (2 pages) Revised 2025	MS Word    or    PDF
Scholarship Application	Online Form

Deadline

• Only complete online applications, including all supporting documents date-stamped no later than
  April 30th, can be considered.
  
  
• Please contact Ms. Ariana Ghelfi at Scholarships@sbssf.com should you have any questions.
  
  

Note

As a benevolent organization, SBSSF also invites and encourages applicants who may not meet every guideline or requirement of our scholarship program, but who may nonetheless be worthy of consideration.

Other

• Thank You Notes from 2023-2024
  
  
• Previous Awards to 2024