The University of Lausanne (UNIL) Master’s Scholarship offers graduates of foreign universities CHF 1,600 per month to study for a Master’s degree in Lausanne, Switzerland. For the 2027/2028 academic year, applications are open now and the deadline is 1 November 2026.
One point matters more than any other: this scholarship is NOT fully funded. UNIL states clearly that CHF 1,600 per month does not cover the full cost of living in Switzerland, and applicants should plan complementary funding before they apply. If you understand that, and you have outstanding academic results, this is one of the most attractive Master’s scholarships in Europe — because the same application also serves as your application for admission to the chosen Master’s programme.
Key points
- Funding: CHF 1,600 per month for the minimum statutory duration of your Master’s programme, plus exemption from standard course registration fees (only CHF 80 per semester remains payable).
- Deadline: 1 November 2026 for the 2027/2028 academic year. Recommendation letters share the same deadline.
- Eligibility: a foreign university degree equivalent to a Swiss Bachelor’s degree, outstanding academic results, C1 level in the language of instruction, and not currently enrolled at UNIL.
- Application fee: CHF 200 administration fee, non-refundable. See the official UNIL page for payment instructions.
- Decisions: the selection board decides in March, and applicants are notified in early April. Decisions cannot be appealed.
At a glance
| Detail | What UNIL states |
| Host university | University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Level | Master’s degree (eligible programmes only) |
| Monthly grant | CHF 1,600 per month |
| Duration | Minimum statutory period of the chosen programme (typically 1.5 or 2 years) |
| Registration fees | Standard fees waived; CHF 80 per semester still payable |
| Administration fee | CHF 200, non-refundable |
| Application deadline | 1 November 2026 |
| Results announced | Early April 2027 |
What the scholarship covers — and what it does not
The grant is paid for the minimum statutory duration of your programme. UNIL’s own guidance says students need roughly CHF 2,000 per month to live in Lausanne, so the CHF 1,600 grant leaves a gap of around CHF 400 per month that you must cover from other resources. Budget for this honestly before applying; an offer you cannot afford to accept helps no one.
What the scholarship does provide:
- CHF 1,600 per month for the statutory duration of the programme.
- Exemption from the standard course registration fees (only CHF 80 per semester remains).
- A guaranteed place in student housing through the Student Housing Foundation of Lausanne (FMEL). The rent is paid by the student, but UNIL notes it is reasonable compared with private-market rents in the Lausanne area.
- A route to cheaper health insurance: international students at UNIL can either have European health insurance recognised (EU/EFTA citizens) or buy a special student insurance option that UNIL says is cheaper than standard Swiss student policies.
What it does not provide:
- Full living costs in Switzerland.
- Airfare or relocation costs.
- Visa or residence-permit fees.
- A fee waiver: every applicant must pay the CHF 200 administration fee, with no exceptions and no refunds, even if the application is withdrawn or refused.
Who can apply
To be eligible, you must meet ALL of these conditions:
- Hold, or be about to hold before the Master’s begins, a foreign university degree that UNIL considers equivalent to a Swiss university Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS credits).
- Have achieved outstanding academic results during your studies. UNIL does not publish a minimum GPA or grade threshold by country.
- Have a minimum language level of C1 in the language in which your chosen Master’s is taught: C1 French for French-taught programmes, C1 English for English-taught programmes.
- Not be currently enrolled at UNIL. Students who have already begun a Master’s at UNIL, or who are in a preparatory year there, cannot apply.
- Have paid the CHF 200 administration fee and included proof of payment in the application file.
Useful clarifications from UNIL’s FAQ:
- Final-year students may apply before they hold their degree, but they must have completed and obtained it before the Master’s programme starts.
- Applicants who already hold a Master’s degree from a foreign university may still apply, but priority is given to applicants who hold only a Bachelor’s degree.
- There is no age limit. However, UNIL warns that for applicants from countries subject to visa restrictions, a higher age or an already-completed first Master’s may make a visa difficult or impossible to obtain. Check with the Swiss diplomatic representation in your country before applying.
Which Master’s programmes are eligible?
Almost all UNIL Master’s programmes are eligible, EXCEPT the following:
- Master from the School of Medicine
- Master in Sciences and Practices of Education
- Master of Law — except the specialisms “International and Comparative Law”, “Legal Theory” and “International Tax Law and Policy”, which ARE open to scholarship applications
- 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 programmes)
Extra conditions apply for the Master’s in Finance, Psychology, Arts and Nursing. If you are considering one of these, read the additional conditions on UNIL’s Admissions Service page before you apply, because admission conditions for some programmes can change for 2027/2028.
Documents checklist
Your application file must contain:
- A single PDF containing all required documents, in the order UNIL specifies.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Certified true copies of academic documents by post, IF they apply to you (see below).
The single PDF must include, in this order:
- A complete, up-to-date CV with photo.
- A covering letter of 1 to 2 pages maximum.
- A copy of your university diploma(s), if already obtained, and official transcripts for all university examinations, plus an authenticated translation if these documents are not in French, German, English or Italian.
- A copy of the programme description for the last semester (or last year) of your Bachelor’s degree, if the degree has not yet been obtained.
- A copy of the official language certificate for the language in which the Master’s is taught, if required.
- A copy of your secondary school leaving diploma, plus an authenticated translation if it is not in French, German, English or Italian.
- A copy of your passport.
- A copy of proof of payment of the CHF 200 administration fee.
Recommendation letters:
- Two letters, written by teachers familiar with your past or present studies, or by an employer.
- They must be sent directly by the author from a professional (not private) email address to mastergrants@unil.ch, with your full name given in each email.
- Only letters sent AFTER your online registration will be considered.
- Deadline: 1 November.
Certified copies by post:
- This step applies only to candidates whose diplomas were obtained in a state that has NOT ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention. UNIL links to the Council of Europe list so you can check your country’s status.
- If it applies to you, your university must certify and seal the copies of your diplomas, transcripts and any provisional certificates in an envelope, with a covering letter giving the full contact details of the person who certified them. Other certifications, including the Hague Apostille and certifications by schools, police, town halls or notaries, are NOT accepted.
- The postmark deadline is 1 November, and you should only send the copies after submitting your online registration.
How to apply: step by step
- Choose an eligible Master’s programme. Check the programme page for its teaching language and any additional admission conditions.
- Prepare your single-PDF application file with every document in UNIL’s specified order. Incomplete files are not considered.
- Register online and upload your PDF before 1 November. Applications sent by email are not considered.
- Ask your two referees to email their letters to mastergrants@unil.ch from their professional email addresses, after you have registered online and before 1 November.
- If certified copies by post apply to you, have your university certify and seal them and post them so they are postmarked by 1 November.
- Wait for the selection process. You do NOT need to apply separately to the Admissions Office: the scholarship application also serves as your application for the chosen Master’s degree.
Selection timeline
| Period | What happens |
| 1 November 2026 | Application deadline (online registration, recommendation letters, and postmark for certified copies where required) |
| November–December | Applications processed by SASME and the Admissions Office |
| December–January | Applicants with incomplete files, or not accepted by the Admissions Office, are told their scholarship application was unsuccessful |
| January–February | Complete applications go to the faculties for admission decisions |
| February–March | Applicants not accepted by the faculty are informed |
| March | The Master’s Scholarship Selection Board selects the recipients |
| Early April | Applicants are notified of the decision. Decisions cannot be appealed. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying for an excluded programme. Check the exclusion list first.
- Sending the application by email instead of registering online.
- Missing recommendation letters, or letters sent from a private email address, or before online registration.
- Forgetting certified copies by post when they apply to you.
- Assuming the scholarship covers all living costs, then having no plan for the roughly CHF 400 monthly gap.
- Submitting a language certificate older than 2 years. UNIL states the certificate should not be older than 2 years. Accepted English certificates include TOEFL iBT 100, Academic IELTS 7, Cambridge Advanced (CAE) Grade B, Cambridge Proficiency (CPE) Grade C and TOEIC 850. Accepted French certificates include DALF C1 or C2, TCF Tout public C1 or higher with all 5 components, and TELC C1.
- Treating the CHF 200 fee as refundable. It is not, even if you withdraw or are refused.
Frequently asked questions
Is the UNIL Master’s Scholarship fully funded?
No. UNIL states explicitly that CHF 1,600 per month does not cover the full cost of living in Switzerland, and recommends having complementary personal financial resources. Do not trust any site that labels this scholarship “fully funded”.
Can I apply if I have not finished my Bachelor’s degree yet?
Yes, if you will have completed and obtained the degree before the Master’s programme starts. Include all existing transcripts plus a precise description of the remainder of your course, including courses to follow, credits to obtain, and your dissertation topic where relevant.
Do I need a separate admission application to UNIL?
No. The scholarship application also serves as your application for the chosen Master’s degree. Do not apply separately to the Admissions Office. Only applicants who are admitted by the faculty but do not receive the scholarship can later continue a normal admission application, and UNIL explains that process in its notification letter.
Is there an age limit?
No. But as noted above, UNIL warns that age and an already-completed first Master’s can affect visa obtention for applicants from countries subject to visa restrictions.
What if my application is incomplete?
Incomplete applications are not taken into account — in particular incomplete PDF files, missing recommendation letters, or missing certified copies where these are required.
Sources and verification
- Official source: University of Lausanne — UNIL Master’s Scholarship page: https://www.unil.ch/unil/en/home/menuinst/etudier/mobilite-et-echange/etudiantes-et-etudiants-internationaux/etudiantes-internationaux-reguliers/bourse-de-master.html
- Related on Sindh Study Hub: Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027: Eligibility, Funding and How to Apply from Pakistan — https://sindhstudyhub.com/erasmus-mundus-scholarship-2027-pakistan/ — and HEC Degree Attestation in Pakistan: Documents, Steps and Common Mistakes — https://sindhstudyhub.com/hec-degree-attestation-pakistan-documents-steps/
- Facts last verified: 15 October 2026. Check the official UNIL page before applying, because programme admission conditions can change for 2027/2028.