UNIL Master’s Grants 2027 | Excellence Scholarship at University of Lausanne Switzerland

The UNIL Master’s Grants 2027 officially known as the UNIL Master’s Excellence Grants are prestigious excellence scholarships offered by the University of Lausanne (UNIL) in Switzerland, awarding approximately 10 outstanding graduates from foreign universities each year a monthly grant of CHF 1,600 to pursue a Master’s degree at one of UNIL’s world-class faculties, located on a stunning campus on the shores of Lake Geneva in Lausanne. The UNIL Master’s Grants 2027 application is expected to open in September 2026 and the final deadline is midnight Swiss time on 1 November 2026. Apply through the official UNIL Master’s Grants portal at unil.ch/bourse-de-master. For questions not answered on the official website, contact mastergrants@unil.ch.

The University of Lausanne is one of Switzerland’s leading research universities consistently ranked among the top universities in Europe in life sciences, social sciences, law, economics, and the humanities. UNIL’s campus in Lausanne sits on the north shore of Lake Geneva, just minutes from the Alps and at the heart of one of Europe’s most innovative ecosystems, with proximity to EPFL, WHO, IOC, and dozens of international organisations headquartered in the Lausanne-Geneva corridor. The UNIL Master’s Grants represent the university’s commitment to attracting the world’s most academically outstanding students to study at UNIL — regardless of their country of origin.

Key Highlights

Detail Description

The University of Lausanne (UNIL) is one of Switzerland’s eight cantonal universities and one of Europe’s leading research institutions. Founded in 1537, UNIL is home to approximately 17,000 students and 4,500 staff across seven faculties: Theology and Religious Studies, Law, Criminal Justice and Public Administration, Social and Political Sciences, Business and Economics, Arts, Geosciences and Environment, and Biology and Medicine. UNIL consistently ranks among Europe’s top universities in its fields of specialisation — particularly biology, medicine, social sciences, and law.

UNIL’s campus in Lausanne is regularly cited as one of the most beautiful university campuses in Europe — situated on the northern shore of Lake Geneva with direct views of the Swiss Alps across the water. Lausanne itself is a dynamic, cosmopolitan, and safe city — home to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the WHO regional office, and dozens of international organisations and multinational companies. It sits within one of Europe’s most innovative technology and life sciences ecosystems, adjacent to EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) and within easy reach of Geneva.

Benefits

Eligibility Criteria

• Foreign University Graduate Only: Must have graduated from a university outside Switzerland. Your degree must be deemed equivalent to a Swiss university Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS credits). Swiss university graduates are not eligible.
• Outstanding Academic Results: Must have achieved very high academic results. There is no list of required grades by country — the selection is based on relative academic excellence. Only the strongest academic profiles are considered.
• Not Currently Enrolled at UNIL: Must not be currently enrolled at UNIL. Students who have already begun a Master’s programme at UNIL or who are in a preparatory year at UNIL are not authorised to apply.
• Degree Equivalent to Swiss Bachelor’s: Must hold (or be about to complete) a degree equivalent to a Swiss university Bachelor’s degree at the time of starting the Master’s programme. May apply if degree is in progress — but must be completed before starting at UNIL.
• Language Proficiency — C1 Level:
  • For French-taught programmes: C1 French — accepted certificates: DALF C1/C2, TCF (niveau C1), TEF (niveau C1), Alliance Française diploma. Not required if French is your mother tongue or if your Bachelor’s was taught in French.
  • For English-taught programmes: C1 English — accepted certificates: IELTS 7.0+, TOEFL iBT 100+, Cambridge Advanced (CAE) or Proficiency (CPE), or similar. Not required if English is your mother tongue or if your Bachelor’s was taught in English. Certificate must not be older than 2 years.
• Priority Given to Bachelor’s Holders: Students who already hold a Master’s degree from a foreign university may apply — but priority is given to applicants who hold only a Bachelor’s level degree.
• No Withdrawal: Withdrawal from the Master’s programme will lead to the immediate suspension of the scholarship. Scholars must complete their studies to retain the grant.
• No Age Limit: There is no official age limit. However, for candidates from countries subject to Swiss visa restrictions, a higher age and/or an already-completed Master’s degree may negatively affect the obtention of a Swiss student visa. UNIL recommends verifying with the Swiss diplomatic representation in your country before applying.

Special Requirements for Specific Programmes:

• Master in Psychology: Students holding a foreign Bachelor’s in Psychology must have obtained a place of study for a Master’s in Psychology at a university in the country where the Bachelor’s was awarded.
• Master in Finance: Students holding a foreign Bachelor’s in the same field must have obtained a place of study for a Master’s in Finance at a university in the country where the Bachelor’s was awarded.

Who is NOT Eligible:

• Students who have graduated from a Swiss university (at any level)
• Students currently enrolled at UNIL (including those in a preparatory year)
• Students who have already started a Master’s programme at UNIL
• Applicants for ineligible Master’s programmes (check official list at unil.ch)

Selection Timeline

Required Documents

• Online application form — submitted via the official UNIL Master’s Grants portal. This also serves as your admission application — do NOT apply separately through the SII Admissions Office.
• Academic transcripts — all existing grade transcripts from your university studies. If your degree is in progress, provide all existing transcripts plus a detailed description of the remaining coursework.
• Diploma(s) — certified copy of Bachelor’s degree diploma if already obtained. If not yet obtained, provide an official certificate of success/graduation signed by the institution.
• Language certificate — proof of C1 level in the language of the chosen programme (max 2 years old). Not required if the language is your mother tongue or if your Bachelor’s was taught in that language.
• Two letters of recommendation — from teaching staff (lecturers, supervisors, assistant lecturers, etc.) or current/former employers. Must be sent DIRECTLY by the author by email to mastergrants@unil.ch from a professional (not personal) email address, mentioning the applicant’s full name. Only letters sent after the online application is submitted will be accepted. The deadline for letters is also November 1.
• Proof of CHF 200 administrative fee payment — bank transfer receipt or equivalent. Non-refundable. Must be included in the application.
• Certified copies by post (if required) — Applicants from countries that have NOT ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention must send certified copies of university documents (diploma and transcripts) in a sealed university envelope by postal mail (postmarked by November 1 at the latest). Applicants from Lisbon Convention countries upload documents online only — no postal copies required.

Application Process

Step 1: Check Programme Eligibility and Choose Your Master’s at UNIL

Go to the official UNIL Master’s Grants page at unil.ch/bourse-de-master and check the list of Master’s programmes for which the grant can be applied. Not all UNIL Master’s programmes are eligible — specific programmes including some in Psychology and Finance have additional requirements. Browse UNIL’s full Master’s programme catalogue and identify the programme that best fits your academic background and career goals.

Step 2: Prepare All Documents Before the Application Opens

Do NOT start filling in the online application form until you have ALL required documents ready — UNIL explicitly advises this on the official page. Gather: all academic transcripts, diploma(s) or graduation certificates, language proficiency certificate (C1 level, not older than 2 years), proof of CHF 200 administrative fee payment. If your country has not ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention, prepare your certified university document copies in a sealed institutional envelope — these must be postmarked by November 1, 2026.

Step 3: Contact Your Two Recommenders NOW

Identify two people who will write your recommendation letters — teaching staff members (lecturers, supervisors, assistant lecturers) or current/former employers. Brief them on the UNIL Master’s Grants and your chosen programme. Recommendation letters must be sent directly by the author — by email only from a professional email address — to mastergrants@unil.ch, after your online application has been submitted. The deadline for recommendation letters is also November 1, 2026. Give your recommenders enough time — contact them now, not in October.

Step 4: Pay the CHF 200 Administrative Fee

All applicants must pay a CHF 200 non-refundable administrative fee to cover the processing of the admission application by the UNIL Admissions Office (SII). This fee is required regardless of the scholarship outcome. It is not refunded if your application is unsuccessful. If your scholarship application fails but you are admitted and choose to register as a regular student, you will not be required to pay this fee again. Keep a copy of the bank transfer receipt — it must be uploaded as part of your application.

Step 5: Submit the Online Application Before 1 November 2026 (Midnight Swiss Time)

When the application opens in September 2026, complete and submit the online form at unil.ch/bourse-de-master before the deadline of midnight Swiss time on 1 November 2026. Remember: this application is simultaneously your Master’s programme admission application — do NOT submit a separate application to the UNIL Admissions Office (SII). Incomplete applications will not be considered. After submitting, ensure your recommenders send their letters directly to mastergrants@unil.ch before the same deadline.

Step 6: Await Decision — Outcome Notified Early April 2027

After submission, UNIL’s SASME office will contact applicants with incomplete files or those not accepted by the Admissions Office during October–November 2026. Complete files proceed to faculty review (January–February 2027), followed by the Selection Board review (March 2027). All applicants are notified of the final decision in early April 2027. Note: decisions of the Selection Board cannot be appealed.

How to Apply

Also Check

• 📌 Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Scholarship in Switzerland
• 📌 Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Postgraduate at Cambridge University
• 📌 Chevening Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded UK Government Master’s Scholarship
• 📌 Erasmus+ ICM 2027 | Study in Europe with Monthly Stipend

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the UNIL Master’s Grant 2027?

The UNIL Master’s Grant 2027 (officially: UNIL Master’s Excellence Grant) is a monthly excellence scholarship of CHF 1,600 awarded by the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, to approximately 10 outstanding graduates of foreign universities each year to pursue a Master’s degree at UNIL. The grant covers CHF 1,600/month for the statutory duration of the chosen programme, waives registration fees (except CHF 80/semester), and guarantees accommodation through the FMEL Student Housing Foundation. It is NOT a fully funded scholarship — approximately CHF 2,000/month is needed to live in Lausanne. Applications open in September 2026 and the deadline is midnight Swiss time on 1 November 2026.

2. When is the UNIL Master’s Grant 2027 deadline?

The application for the 2027/2028 academic year opens in September 2026 and the final deadline is midnight Swiss time on Sunday 1 November 2026. This applies to both the online application and the recommendation letters (which must be emailed directly by the recommender to mastergrants@unil.ch by November 1). For applicants from countries that have not ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention, certified copies of university documents sent by post must be postmarked no later than November 1, 2026.

3. Who is eligible for the UNIL Master’s Grant?

The grant is open to graduates of foreign (non-Swiss) universities whose degree is deemed equivalent to a Swiss university Bachelor’s (180 ECTS). You must have outstanding academic results, not be currently enrolled at UNIL, and meet the C1 language requirement in the language of your chosen programme (French or English). Students who have already started a Master’s at UNIL are not eligible. There is no age limit, but higher age and an existing Master’s degree may affect Swiss visa obtention — verify with your Swiss diplomatic representation before applying.

4. Is the UNIL Master’s Grant fully funded?

No — the UNIL Master’s Grant is an excellence grant, NOT a fully funded scholarship. The grant provides CHF 1,600/month plus a waiver of registration fees. The Swiss Federal and Cantonal Authorities estimate approximately CHF 2,000/month is needed to live in Lausanne. Applicants must have personal complementary financial resources. UNIL guarantees accommodation through the FMEL Student Housing Foundation (rent still payable by the scholar) and health insurance options are available at reduced student rates.

5. Do I need to apply separately for admission to my Master’s at UNIL?

No — the UNIL Master’s Grant application simultaneously serves as your admission application to the chosen Master’s programme. You do NOT apply separately through the UNIL Admissions Office (SII). If your scholarship application is unsuccessful but your admission is accepted by the faculty, you will be notified and given the option to register as a regular (non-grant) student without paying the CHF 200 administrative fee again.

6. What language level is required for the UNIL Master’s Grant?

A minimum C1 level in the language of instruction of your chosen programme is required. For French-taught programmes: C1 French (DALF C1/C2, TCF, TEF, or Alliance Française diploma). For English-taught programmes: C1 English (IELTS 7.0+, TOEFL iBT 100+, Cambridge Advanced/Proficiency, or similar). Certificates must not be older than 2 years. No language certificate is required if the language of the programme is your mother tongue OR if your Bachelor’s was taught in that same language.

7. What is the CHF 200 administrative fee?

The CHF 200 administrative fee covers the processing and consideration of your application for admission to the chosen Master’s programme by the UNIL Admissions Office (SII). It is required from all applicants and is non-refundable — regardless of the outcome. If your scholarship application fails but you are admitted and choose to register as a regular student, you will not be required to pay this fee a second time. Proof of payment (bank transfer receipt) must be uploaded as part of your scholarship application.

Final Thoughts

The UNIL Master’s Grants 2027 represent a rare and prestigious opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree at one of Europe’s leading universities in one of the world’s most beautiful, safe, and internationally connected cities. With only approximately 10 grants awarded per year from a competitive global applicant pool, the UNIL Master’s Grant is highly selective — but for academically outstanding graduates of foreign universities, it offers a transformative academic experience in Switzerland at a significantly reduced financial burden. The application opens in September 2026 and closes at midnight Swiss time on 1 November 2026. Start preparing your documents today — brief your two recommenders now, prepare your language certificate, gather your transcripts, and pay the CHF 200 administrative fee. For all official information, visit unil.ch/bourse-de-master or contact mastergrants@unil.ch.