ETH Zurich PhD Scholarship in Climate and Agricultural Economics 2026, Switzerland
ETH Zurich is offering a fully funded doctoral opportunity in Agricultural Economics and Climate Policy, focused on climate change mitigation in Swiss agriculture. This PhD position is part of a national research initiative supporting Switzerland’s transition toward net-zero emissions.
The programme is ideal for students interested in climate economics, agricultural policy, sustainability research, and applied environmental economics. The selected candidate will join a major interdisciplinary project combining economics, policy analysis, and real-world agricultural research.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: Switzerland
- University: ETH Zurich
- Level: PhD (Doctoral Position)
- Field of Study: Agricultural Economics, Climate Policy, Environmental Economics
- Duration: 4 years
- Funding Type: Fully funded salaried research position
- Research Project: Swiss net-zero agriculture and climate mitigation (ACHIEVE project)
- Eligible Applicants: International students with relevant academic background
- Application Deadline: June 26
- Start Date: Expected between October–December 2026
Degree Level
This opportunity is available for:
- PhD (Doctoral Research Program)
- Full-time research employment position
Available Subjects
Applicants should have academic backgrounds in:
- Agricultural Economics
- Environmental Economics
- Climate Policy
- Sustainability Studies
- Applied Economics
- Related social science or quantitative disciplines
Research Focus
The selected PhD candidate will work on:
- Climate change mitigation in Swiss agriculture
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in farming systems
- Policy impact analysis for agricultural sustainability
- Farmer behavior and decision-making studies
- Surveys and economic modeling
- Interdisciplinary climate policy research
Why This PhD is Important
This doctoral position is highly valuable because it:
- Combines economics with real-world climate policy
- Involves direct work with farmers and policymakers
- Is part of a major Swiss national climate initiative
- Offers salaried employment instead of traditional funding
- Provides strong academic and professional networking opportunities
- Supports careers in environmental policy, research, and consulting
ETH Zurich is also one of Europe’s leading research universities, making this a highly competitive opportunity for international applicants.
Benefits
The ETH Zurich PhD position provides strong financial and academic support, including:
- Fully funded doctoral employment (salary-based)
- Swiss social security and employee benefits
- No tuition fees for the PhD programme
- Access to ETH Zurich doctoral coursework (18 ECTS)
- Research funding within the ACHIEVE climate project
- Individual academic supervision and mentoring
- Collaboration with policymakers, farmers, and research institutions
- Career development opportunities in academia and industry
Eligible Nationalities
Open to applicants of all nationalities.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants are expected to:
- Hold or be completing a Master’s degree in a relevant field
- Have strong quantitative and analytical skills
- Show interest in climate policy and agricultural systems
- Be willing to conduct applied research with real stakeholders
- Demonstrate ability to work in interdisciplinary teams
- Meet language requirements (German or French at C1 level preferred)
Application Procedure
Required Documents
Applicants typically need to submit:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Academic transcripts
- Contact details of two academic referees
- Proof of relevant qualifications
- Research-related documents (if required by supervisor)
How to Apply
The application process generally includes:
- Preparing a complete application package in PDF format
- Submitting application via ETH Zurich’s online portal
- Including academic and professional documents
- Providing referee contact details
- Shortlisting and evaluation by the research group
- Final selection by ETH Zurich project supervisor
