Applications are open for the University of Lausanne UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027–2028 in Switzerland. International graduates can receive CHF 1,600 per month and exemption from standard course registration fees. Apply by November 1, 2026.
The University of Lausanne (UNIL) Master’s Scholarship 2027–2028 is now open for international students seeking to pursue a master’s degree in Switzerland.
UNIL awards approximately 10 excellence scholarships each year to students who have graduated from universities outside Switzerland and have achieved outstanding academic results.
Successful scholarship recipients receive CHF 1,600 per month for the minimum statutory duration of their chosen master’s programme. They are also exempt from the university’s standard course registration fees, although a semester fee of CHF 80 remains payable.
Applications for the 2027–2028 academic year are officially open, with a deadline of November 1, 2026.
Importantly, UNIL explicitly states that the CHF 1,600 monthly scholarship does not cover the full cost of living in Switzerland. It should therefore be described as an excellence scholarship with substantial financial support rather than a fully funded scholarship.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | UNIL Master’s Scholarship |
| University | University of Lausanne |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Academic Year | 2027–2028 |
| Study Level | Master’s |
| Target Group | Graduates of foreign universities |
| Scholarships Available | Around 10 per year |
| Scholarship Amount | CHF 1,600 per month |
| Duration | Minimum statutory period of the master’s programme |
| Standard Course Registration Fees | Exempted |
| Remaining Semester Fee | CHF 80 |
| Administrative Application Fee | CHF 200 |
| Funding Type | Partial funding |
| Language Requirement | Minimum C1 |
| Application Status | Open |
| Application Deadline | November 1, 2026 |
| Final Results | Early April |
| Application Method | Online |
What Is the UNIL Master’s Scholarship?
The UNIL Master’s Scholarship is an excellence scholarship established by the University of Lausanne for talented international students who have completed their previous university education outside Switzerland.
The scholarship is highly selective. UNIL states that it awards around 10 scholarships annually, and candidates are expected to have achieved academic results of a very high standard.
Unlike a separate external scholarship programme, the UNIL application process combines the scholarship application with the applicant’s application for admission to their selected master’s programme.
This means candidates applying for the scholarship do not need to submit a separate master’s admission application to the UNIL Admissions Office.
How Much Is the UNIL Scholarship Worth?
Successful students receive:
CHF 1,600 per month
The scholarship is paid for the minimum statutory duration of the selected master’s degree.
This makes the award potentially valuable for international students seeking financial assistance while completing graduate studies in Switzerland.
Recipients are additionally exempt from standard course registration fees.
However, they must still pay:
CHF 80 per semester
UNIL also warns that withdrawal from the master’s programme results in suspension of the scholarship.
Is the UNIL Master’s Scholarship Fully Funded?
No.
This is particularly important for applicants planning their finances.
The University of Lausanne explicitly states that CHF 1,600 per month is insufficient to cover the full cost of living in Switzerland.
Therefore, the UNIL Master’s Scholarship should not be advertised as a fully funded scholarship.
Applicants should budget for expenses that may not be completely covered by the monthly scholarship and review expected living costs in Lausanne before accepting an offer.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must satisfy several scholarship conditions.
To qualify, candidates must:
- Hold a foreign university degree recognized as equivalent to a Swiss university bachelor’s degree before beginning their master’s programme at UNIL.
- Have achieved outstanding academic results during their previous studies.
- Meet the required language proficiency standard.
- Not currently be enrolled at the University of Lausanne.
- Pay the CHF 200 administrative fee.
The scholarship is therefore specifically intended for applicants coming to UNIL after studying at a foreign university.
Language Requirements
Applicants need a minimum language proficiency of:
C1 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The required language depends on the language in which the selected programme is taught.
Candidates applying to programmes taught in French need at least C1 French.
Candidates applying to programmes taught in English need at least C1 English.
Applicants should check the specific master’s programme before applying because programme-level language requirements can differ.
Eligible Master’s Programmes
The scholarship can be used for many University of Lausanne master’s programmes, but not every degree is eligible.
UNIL specifically excludes the following:
- Master from the School of Medicine
- Master in Sciences and Practices of Education
- Master of Science in Physical Education and Sport Didactics
- Master of Science in Health Sciences
- Master of Science in Sustainable Management & Technology
- Master of Science in Human Taphonomy
- All MAS programmes, which are third-cycle/further education programmes
The Master of Law is generally excluded, but there are important exceptions.
Applications for the scholarship are accepted for the following Master of Law specialisations:
- International and Comparative Law
- Legal Theory
- International Tax Law and Policy
Applicants should verify their exact programme before preparing an application.
Programmes With Additional Requirements
Some programmes have additional admission conditions.
These include master’s degrees in:
- Finance
- Psychology
- Arts
- Nursing
Candidates interested in these programmes must satisfy the additional requirements established by the University of Lausanne Admissions Service.
UNIL also warns that admission conditions for some programmes may change for the 2027–2028 academic year.
Applicants should therefore check the programme-specific requirements rather than relying solely on the general scholarship criteria.
Application Deadline
The deadline for the 2027–2028 UNIL Master’s Scholarship is:
November 1, 2026
The online application is currently open.
The same November 1 deadline applies to online registration and the submission of recommendation letters.
Where certified academic copies must be submitted by post, the deadline is also November 1, based on the postmark date.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Documents Required
Applicants need to prepare a complete scholarship application.
The application consists of three main components:
- A single PDF containing the required application documents
- Two recommendation letters
- Certified true copies of academic documents, where applicable
Candidates should carefully follow the instructions provided by UNIL because missing documentation can result in the application being excluded from consideration.
Two Recommendation Letters Are Required
Applicants must arrange for two recommendation letters.
The recommendations may be written by:
- Teachers familiar with the applicant’s previous or current studies
- An employer
The letters must be submitted directly by the referees using professional email addresses.
Private email addresses should not be used.
Another important rule is that recommendation letters are considered only after the applicant has completed the online registration.
Applicants should therefore coordinate carefully with their referees.
Certified Academic Documents
Some applicants must also submit certified true copies of their academic documents by post.
This requirement applies to candidates whose diplomas were obtained in a country that has not ratified the Lisbon Convention.
Documents that may need certification include:
- University diplomas
- University transcripts
- Provisional certificates of achievement, where applicable
The university or college must certify the documents and seal them in an envelope.
These documents should only be sent after the online application has been submitted.
Where Certified Documents Must Be Sent
Where certified copies are required, they should be mailed to:
University of Lausanne
Social Affairs and Student Mobility Service (SASME)
Bâtiment Unicentre
CH-1015 Lausanne
Switzerland
The deadline is November 1, based on the postmark date.
Candidates should first determine whether this requirement applies to the country where their degree was issued.
How to Apply for the UNIL Master’s Scholarship
The application process can be completed in several stages.
Step 1 — Select an Eligible Master’s Programme
Review the University of Lausanne master’s programmes and ensure the intended programme qualifies for the scholarship.
Candidates applying for Finance, Psychology, Arts or Nursing should also check the additional admission requirements.
Step 2 — Prepare the Application PDF
Compile all documents required by UNIL into the requested single PDF file.
Applicants should verify that every required document is present before uploading the file.
Step 3 — Complete the Online Application
Register through the official UNIL Master’s Scholarship application system.
The application for the scholarship simultaneously serves as the application for admission to the selected master’s programme.
Step 4 — Pay the Administrative Fee
Applicants must pay an administrative fee of:
CHF 200
This fee is part of the application conditions.
It should not be confused with the CHF 80 semester fee payable by scholarship recipients after admission.
Step 5 — Arrange Recommendation Letters
Ask two eligible referees to submit recommendation letters directly to UNIL.
The letters must arrive by November 1.
Step 6 — Send Certified Documents if Required
Applicants whose academic qualifications were obtained in countries for which certified copies are required must arrange for the documents to be sent by post.
Step 7 — Monitor the Selection Process
Applications pass through several stages involving the Social Affairs and Student Mobility Service, Admissions Office, faculties and final scholarship Selection Board.
UNIL Scholarship Selection Timeline
The University of Lausanne provides a detailed selection schedule.
| Period | Selection Stage |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Application deadline |
| November–December | SASME and Admissions Office process applications |
| December–January | Applicants with incomplete or inadmissible applications are notified |
| January–February | Complete applications transferred to faculties |
| February–March | Faculty admission decisions communicated where applicable |
| March | Scholarship Selection Board chooses recipients |
| Early April | Final scholarship decisions communicated |
Scholarship decisions cannot be appealed.
Matriculation Fee
Students admitted to GIST—wait, no, for UNIL the relevant costs stated on this scholarship page are the CHF 200 administrative application fee and the CHF 80 semester fee remaining for scholarship recipients.
Applicants should keep these two charges separate when budgeting:
- CHF 200 — administrative fee required as part of the application conditions
- CHF 80 per semester — remaining semester fee for scholarship recipients
The scholarship exempts recipients from the standard course registration fees.
How Competitive Is the Scholarship?
The scholarship is highly competitive because UNIL awards only approximately:
10 scholarships per year.
Academic excellence is therefore central to the selection process.
Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements should not be interpreted as guaranteeing a scholarship.
Applicants should use their application to demonstrate a consistently strong academic record and present a clear connection between their previous studies, proposed master’s programme and longer-term academic or professional goals.
Why This Scholarship Is Worth Considering
The programme combines several useful advantages for international master’s applicants.
Recipients receive CHF 1,600 monthly financial support while also receiving an exemption from standard course registration fees.
The application structure is also relatively streamlined because the scholarship application doubles as the admission application for the chosen master’s programme.
For students with strong academic records who can supplement the scholarship where necessary, it offers a route to graduate study at a Swiss university without carrying the full standard tuition burden.
Important Costs to Consider Before Applying
Candidates should plan beyond the scholarship amount.
UNIL directly warns that CHF 1,600 per month does not fully cover the cost of living in Switzerland.
Applicants may therefore need additional personal funding for expenses such as accommodation, food, transportation, insurance and other living costs.
The exact amount needed will depend on individual circumstances.
This financial planning is particularly important for international students who will need to demonstrate that they can support themselves during their studies.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes would be describing the scholarship as fully funded. UNIL explicitly says it is not sufficient to cover all living expenses.
Applicants should also avoid submitting incomplete documentation. Missing recommendation letters, incomplete PDF files or missing certified academic documents where required can result in an application not being considered.
Another mistake is assuming every UNIL master’s programme qualifies. Several programmes are specifically excluded, while others have additional requirements.
Candidates should also remember that recommendation letters sent before completing online registration will not be considered.
Finally, applicants should not submit a separate master’s admission application unnecessarily. The scholarship application already serves as the admission application for the chosen programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are UNIL Master’s Scholarships 2027 open?
Yes. The University of Lausanne states that applications for the 2027–2028 academic year are open.
What is the deadline?
The application deadline is November 1, 2026.
How much does the scholarship provide?
Recipients receive CHF 1,600 per month.
How many scholarships are available?
UNIL awards approximately 10 excellence scholarships each year.
Is the scholarship fully funded?
No. UNIL explicitly states that the CHF 1,600 monthly payment does not cover the full cost of living in Switzerland.
Are international students eligible?
The scholarship is specifically intended for students who have graduated from a foreign university and meet the academic and admission requirements.
What academic performance is required?
Applicants must have achieved outstanding academic results.
What language level is required?
Applicants generally need at least C1 in the language of instruction of their selected programme.
Do recipients pay tuition fees?
Scholarship recipients are exempt from standard course registration fees, but they still pay a CHF 80 semester fee.
Is there an application fee?
Yes. Applicants must pay a CHF 200 administrative fee.
Do I need recommendation letters?
Yes. Two recommendation letters are required.
Do I apply separately for admission to UNIL?
No. The scholarship application also serves as the application for admission to the selected master’s degree.
When will successful applicants know the results?
The final Selection Board meets in March, and applicants are expected to receive the decision in early April.
Can the scholarship decision be appealed?
No. UNIL states that scholarship decisions cannot be appealed.
Final Thoughts
The University of Lausanne Master’s Scholarship 2027–2028 offers a valuable opportunity for academically outstanding international graduates seeking master’s-level study in Switzerland.
Around 10 students are selected each year, with successful candidates receiving CHF 1,600 per month for the minimum statutory duration of their master’s programme. Recipients are also exempt from standard course registration fees, leaving a semester fee of CHF 80.
Applicants should nevertheless plan their finances carefully because UNIL clearly states that the scholarship does not cover the full cost of living in Switzerland.
Candidates must hold an eligible foreign university qualification, demonstrate outstanding academic performance, meet the relevant C1 language requirement and submit a complete application with two recommendation letters.
Applications for the 2027–2028 academic year are currently open, and the final deadline is:
November 1, 2026.
Given the limited number of scholarships available, applicants should prepare their documentation carefully and submit well before the deadline.
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