The UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027 offers talented international students an opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. This competitive excellence scholarship is designed for students who completed their previous university education outside Switzerland and achieved outstanding academic results.
Selected students receive CHF 1,600 per month for ten months of each academic year. The scholarship is provided for the minimum official duration of the chosen Master’s program, which is normally one and a half or two years.
Applications for the 2027–2028 academic year open in September 2026. The final application deadline is November 1, 2026.
Students looking for other Swiss funding opportunities can also explore the EPFL Excellence Fellowships 2027.
UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027 Overview
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Host country | Switzerland |
| Host university | University of Lausanne |
| Scholarship name | UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027 |
| Degree level | Master’s |
| Scholarship type | Merit-based excellence scholarship |
| Eligible applicants | International students with foreign university degrees |
| Monthly scholarship | CHF 1,600 |
| Payment period | Ten months per academic year |
| Scholarship duration | Minimum official duration of the selected program |
| Number of awards | Approximately ten each year |
| Applications open | September 2026 |
| Application deadline | November 1, 2026 |
| Academic year | 2027–2028 |
| Application method | Online |
About the University of Lausanne
The University of Lausanne, commonly known as UNIL, is a public research university located in Lausanne, Switzerland. The university is situated near Lake Geneva and offers an international academic environment with students and researchers from many countries.
UNIL provides programs across business, economics, law, social sciences, political science, environmental studies, biology, humanities, and other disciplines. Its location also gives students access to an important European region known for research institutions, international organisations, innovation, and multilingual education.
The university awards approximately ten Master’s scholarships each year. Competition is therefore strong, and applicants should demonstrate excellent academic performance and clear motivation for their selected degree.
Another option for students planning to conduct research in Switzerland is the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027.
Financial Benefits
The UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027 provides substantial financial assistance during the selected Master’s program.
The main benefits include:
- A scholarship payment of CHF 1,600 per month
- Payments from September 15 to July 15
- Funding for ten months of each academic year
- Support for the minimum official duration of the Master’s degree
- Exemption from standard fixed course-registration fees
- Payment of only CHF 80 per semester in remaining university fees
- Access to education and research facilities at the University of Lausanne
- Opportunity to study in an international academic environment
The scholarship usually continues for one and a half or two years, depending on the official length of the selected degree. Funding may be stopped if a recipient permanently fails the first academic year, withdraws from the program, or no longer meets the scholarship conditions.
Applicants should understand that this is not a complete living-cost scholarship. The University of Lausanne states that CHF 1,600 per month may not cover every expense associated with living in Switzerland. Selected students should therefore prepare additional personal funding for accommodation, food, transportation, health insurance, study materials, and other expenses.
Applicants must also pay a CHF 200 administrative fee when submitting their application. This processing fee is separate from the scholarship and is generally non-refundable.
Eligible Master’s Programs
The UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027 is available for most Master’s degrees offered by the University of Lausanne. Students should select a program that matches their previous education, academic strengths, language ability, and career goals.
However, the scholarship does not support every program. The main excluded programs include:
- Master’s programs offered by the School of Medicine
- Master of Science in Education Sciences and Practices
- Most Master of Law programs
- Master of Science in Physical Education and Sport Didactics
- Master of Science in Health Sciences
- Master of Science in Sustainable Management and Technology
- Master of Science in Human Taphonomy
- Advanced Studies programs
- Continuing-education and third-cycle programs
Some law specialisations may remain eligible, including International and Comparative Law, Legal Theory, and International Tax Law and Policy. Applicants interested in law should confirm the latest eligibility of their selected specialisation before applying.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the scholarship and university admission requirements to apply for the UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027.
Applicants must:
- Hold a university degree obtained outside Switzerland.
- Have a foreign degree considered equivalent to a bachelor’s degree at the University of Lausanne.
- Complete the required degree before beginning the selected Master’s program.
- Demonstrate outstanding academic performance during previous university studies.
- Select an eligible Master’s program offered by UNIL.
- Meet the language requirement of the selected program.
- Not currently be registered at the University of Lausanne.
- Pay the CHF 200 administrative application fee.
- Submit a complete application before November 1, 2026.
The scholarship is based on academic excellence. Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee selection because only approximately ten awards are offered each year.
Applicants should explain why they selected UNIL, how the chosen Master’s program connects with their previous education, and how the degree will support their long-term academic or professional plans.
Language Requirements
The language requirement depends on the language used to teach the selected Master’s program.
Applicants should normally have:
- At least C1 in French for a program taught in French
- At least C1 in English for a program taught in English
Applicants may need to provide an official language certificate. The accepted test and required score can vary between programs, so students should carefully check the individual admission page for their selected degree.
A strong language certificate is important because scholarship recipients must be able to complete advanced university coursework, presentations, research assignments, and examinations in the program’s teaching language.
Required Documents
Applicants for the UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027 should prepare the following documents:
- Completed online application
- Recent passport-sized photograph
- Copy of a valid passport or identity card
- Copy of the secondary-school leaving certificate
- Bachelor’s degree certificate
- Academic transcripts from all university studies
- Description of the final semester or final year if the bachelor’s degree has not been completed
- Complete and updated curriculum vitae
- Motivation letter
- Official proof of language proficiency, when required
- Two academic recommendation letters
- Proof of payment of the CHF 200 administrative fee
- Certified translations of documents not issued in French, German, English, or Italian
- Certified copies of academic documents when required
The recommendation letters must normally come from university lecturers who can assess the applicant’s academic ability. Referees should provide specific information about the applicant’s achievements, academic potential, research ability, and readiness for graduate study.
Applicants from certain countries may also need to send certified academic documents in a sealed university envelope by post. The requirement depends on whether the country where the bachelor’s degree was issued is covered by the Lisbon Recognition Convention.
Students considering another competitive Swiss Master’s opportunity can compare this scholarship with the ETH Zurich ESOP Scholarship 2027.
Selection Process
The University of Lausanne reviews applications in several stages.
First, the responsible university offices check whether each application is complete and whether the applicant meets the general admission requirements. Complete applications are then sent to the relevant faculty to determine whether the applicant is eligible for the selected Master’s degree.
Eligible scholarship applications are evaluated based on academic excellence, the quality of the application, motivation, language preparation, and suitability for the chosen program.
The final selection committee normally chooses scholarship recipients in March. Applicants are generally informed of the final decision in early April. Scholarship decisions are highly competitive and cannot usually be appealed.
Important Dates
The expected selection timeline is:
- Applications open: September 2026
- Application deadline: November 1, 2026
- Initial application review: November–December 2026
- Admission and faculty evaluation: January–March 2027
- Final scholarship selection: March 2027
- Results announced: Early April 2027
- Master’s studies begin: Academic year 2027–2028
The online application, supporting documents, recommendation letters, and any required certified copies must follow the stated deadline and submission instructions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
How to Apply for UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027
The application for the UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027 must be completed online.
Follow these steps:
- Visit the official University of Lausanne scholarship page.
- Review the available Master’s programs.
- Confirm that the selected program is eligible for the scholarship.
- Check the academic and language requirements of the selected degree.
- Create an account on the online application platform.
- Complete all required sections of the application.
- Prepare the supporting documents in the required format.
- Request two recommendation letters from qualified university lecturers.
- Pay the CHF 200 administrative fee.
- Upload the complete application file in PDF format.
- Send certified academic copies by post if required for your country.
- Submit the application before November 1, 2026.
The scholarship application also serves as the application for admission to the selected Master’s program. Applicants do not normally need to submit a separate application to the UNIL Admissions Office.
Application files sent by ordinary email will not be accepted. Applicants should submit early to allow enough time to solve technical problems and confirm that all recommendation letters and certified documents have been received.
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Final Thoughts
The UNIL Master’s Scholarship 2027 is a valuable opportunity for academically outstanding international students who want to complete a Master’s degree in Switzerland. Selected students receive CHF 1,600 per month for ten months each year and an exemption from most fixed university registration fees.
Because approximately ten scholarships are awarded annually, applicants should submit a carefully prepared application with strong academic records, a focused motivation letter, suitable language evidence, and detailed recommendations.
Interested students should select an eligible program, prepare all required documents early, and submit the complete application before November 1, 2026.
