UNIL Master’s Excellence Scholarships 2027/2028 in Switzerland
The University of Lausanne (UNIL) Master’s Excellence Scholarships, administered by the Social Affairs and Student Mobility Office (SASME), provide competitive grants to foreign university graduates who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement. Designed to attract global talent to Switzerland, UNIL awards approximately ten scholarships per year across its eligible Master’s faculties for the minimum statutory length of the program.
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For the 2027/2028 academic cycle, the online application system opens in September 2026, with a strict, non-negotiable submission deadline of November 1, 2026. Recipients receive a monthly stipend of CHF 1,600 (paid across 10 months per academic year) along with a course tuition fee waiver, leaving only a fixed CHF 80 semester fee. However, this is not a fully funded award. With local living expenses in Lausanne typically ranging from CHF 1,900 to CHF 2,400 per month, candidates must independently plan for and cover the remaining monthly costs. This guide explains the exact eligibility requirements, what the scholarship does not cover, and UNIL’s combined application and admission process.
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How This Scholarship’s Application Actually Works
One detail worth understanding before anything else: your scholarship application and your UNIL admission application are the same document. When you complete the online form, you’re simultaneously applying for a place in your chosen Master’s programme and applying for the scholarship itself — this isn’t a separate add-on step after admission, the way many university scholarships work.
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This means the quality and completeness of your application carry double weight: they determine both your admission to UNIL and your eligibility for the CHF 1,600 monthly award. UNIL awards the scholarship to students with genuinely outstanding academic records. The university does not publish country-specific grade requirements, so it assesses applications holistically rather than against a fixed numerical threshold. As a result, your motivation letter and overall academic narrative carry significant weight alongside your transcripts.
UNIL Master’s Excellence Scholarship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | UNIL Master’s Excellence |
| Host Country ⇒ | Switzerland |
| Study Level ⇒ | Masters |
| Benefits ⇒ | CHF 1,600/month (partial funding), tuition fee exemption (except CHF 80/semester) |
| Funded by ⇒ | University of Lausanne |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Opens September 2026, closes November 1, 2026, for the 2027/2028 academic year |
What the Scholarship Provides
- CHF 1,600 per month, paid for 10 months of each academic year (typically September 15 to July 15), for the minimum statutory duration of your chosen Master’s — meaning a 1.5-year programme runs 1.5 years of funding, a 2-year programme runs 2 years.
- Exemption from most course registration fees, with only a CHF 80 fee per semester remaining.
- Guidance for student housing and student services at UNIL, though this is support in navigating these systems rather than funding them directly.
The critical caveat, worth restating directly: this is not fully funded. CHF 1,600 a month falls well short of Lausanne’s actual cost of living, which UNIL and independent trackers estimate at roughly CHF 2,000 a month or more. You need additional financial resources lined up before committing to this scholarship, not just the monthly stipend alone.
Who Can Apply
- You need a foreign university bachelor’s degree, deemed equivalent to a Swiss bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS credits) — this excludes students whose bachelor’s was completed at a Swiss institution.
- You need genuinely outstanding academic results from your undergraduate studies — assessed holistically rather than against a published grade threshold.
- You need language proficiency matching your chosen programme’s language of instruction: a minimum B2 in French, or C1 in English, depending on the specific Master’s you’re applying to.
- You must not have any prior registration history at UNIL.
- You need to pay a non-refundable CHF 200 administrative fee as part of your application, with proof of payment included.
- Master’s in Psychology applicants with a foreign bachelor’s in psychology must already hold a place in a psychology Master’s programme in their home country.
- Master’s in Finance applicants with a foreign bachelor’s in finance must prove admission to a finance Master’s programme in their home country.
Excluded Master’s Programmes
Not every UNIL Master’s qualifies. The following are explicitly excluded from this scholarship:
- Master’s from the School of Medicine.
- Master’s in Sciences and Practices of Education.
- Master of Laws — except for “International and Comparative Law,” “Legal Theory,” and “International Tax Law and Policy.”
- 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 (third-cycle/further education).
Check UNIL’s official website directly for the current, complete list of eligible programmes before assuming your intended course qualifies.
Documents to Prepare
The University of Lausanne (UNIL) Master’s Excellence Scholarships—offered by the Social Affairs and Student Mobility Office (SASME)—are awarded to international students who have achieved outstanding academic records in their Bachelor’s studies.
Candidates must submit an online application via the official UNIL portal (unil.ch). All primary documents must be compiled into one single PDF file in the exact order requested by the SASME admissions panel, while recommendations and postal legalizations are submitted via separate channels.
1. Primary Application Dossier (Single PDF File Structure)
Your compiled PDF file must strictly follow this sequential document order:
1. Complete Curriculum Vitae (CV):
Format: Structured academic CV including a formal passport-style photograph placed in the header/top corner.
Content: Detail your academic background, research projects, awards, work experience, and language proficiencies.
2. Motivation Letter:
Length & Language: 1 to 2 pages written in French or English (matching the primary instruction language of your chosen Master’s program).
Focus: Explain your academic background, scientific motivation for choosing UNIL, career objectives, and why you are applying for the Excellence Scholarship.
3. Higher Education Diplomas & Transcripts:
Scans: Copies of your Bachelor’s degree diploma (and Master’s diploma, if applicable) alongside all official semester-by-semester transcripts.
Translation Standard: Documents not issued in French, English, German, or Italian must include a certified translation into one of these four languages.
4. Final Semester Description (For Graduating Students):
If your Bachelor’s degree is currently in progress, include an official summary detailing your final semester’s enrolled courses, remaining credit points, and expected graduation date.
5. Language Certificate (If Required):
Proof of language proficiency required by the specific Master’s program (e.g., C1 French for French-taught programs, or TOEFL/IELTS C1 for English-taught programs).
6. Secondary School Leaving Certificate:
High school diploma / upper secondary graduation certificate, accompanied by an official translation if not in French, English, German, or Italian.
7. Copy of Valid International Passport:
Clear scan of the biographical data page showing your full name, photo, birth date, and citizenship details.
8. Proof of CHF 200 Administrative Fee Payment:
Official payment receipt or bank transfer slip confirming payment of the CHF 200 UNIL administrative processing fee.
2. Documents Submitted Separately (Referees & Post)
- Two Confidential Academic Recommendation Letters:
- Submission Channel: Sent directly by your referees via their official institutional or academic email addresses.
- Critical Timing Rule: Referees must submit their letters after you complete your online scholarship registration. Letters sent prior to registration completion will not be matched to your account.
- Postal Mail Submission (Non-Lisbon Recognition Convention Countries):
- If your Bachelor’s degree was awarded by an institution in a country that has not ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention, you must send certified paper copies of your diplomas and transcripts by physical mail.
- Postmark Deadline: The physical package must be sent in a sealed envelope with an official postmark dated on or before November 1, 2026.
How to Apply — Step by Step
- Confirm your intended Master’s programme is actually eligible for this scholarship — check UNIL’s current official list directly, since the exclusion list is specific and not every programme qualifies.
- Confirm your bachelor’s degree meets the 180 ECTS equivalence requirement and that you haven’t previously been registered at UNIL.
- Assemble your complete application as a single, clean PDF file well ahead of the deadline — an incomplete PDF can be rejected without review, so double-check every required document is included before submitting.
- Pay the CHF 200 administrative fee and keep clear proof of payment to include in your application.
- Complete your online registration through UNIL’s official portal once the window opens in September 2026 — remember, this single form serves as both your scholarship application and your formal UNIL admission application.
- Immediately after completing registration, ask your two referees to send their recommendation letters directly by email from official institutional addresses — letters sent before your registration is complete aren’t considered.
- If your country hasn’t ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention, mail certified copies of your diplomas and transcripts by post, ensuring the postmark falls by November 1, 2026.
- Submit your complete application before November 1, 2026.
- Track the review timeline: applications are processed November through December; ineligible or incomplete applications are notified December through January; eligible applications go to faculty review January through March; the Selection Board finalises recipients in March, with successful candidates typically notified in early April.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UNIL Master’s Excellence Scholarship currently open?
Not yet as of this writing — the 2026/2027 cycle has closed. The 2027/2028 cycle opens for online applications in September 2026, with a deadline of November 1, 2026.
Is this scholarship fully funded?
No. CHF 1,600 per month covers only part of the actual cost of living in Lausanne, which runs closer to CHF 2,000 a month or more. Applicants need additional financial resources lined up before committing.
Is my scholarship application the same as my UNIL admission application?
Yes. This single combined form serves both purposes simultaneously — there’s no separate admission step required beforehand.
Does every UNIL Master’s programme qualify?
No. A specific list of programmes is excluded, including Medicine, most Law programmes, Physical Education and Sport Didactics, Health Sciences, Sustainable Management & Technology, Human Taphonomy, and all MAS programmes. Check the official current list directly.
When should I ask my referees to send recommendation letters?
Only after you’ve completed your online registration — letters sent before this step aren’t considered, regardless of how early they arrive.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from the University of Lausanne’s official website as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on UNIL’s official Master’s Excellence Scholarship page before applying. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the University of Lausanne.
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