Switzerland · Master's
University of Basel
MA in European Global Studies
University of Basel
Deadline detail: April 30 (autumn semester), November 30 (spring semester)
Course Overview
Switzerland's cheapest serious social science Master's for international students is the fact worth leading with: Basel is a public cantonal university and charges roughly CHF 850 a semester regardless of nationality — about CHF 1,700 a year, or a twentieth of a comparable US degree. The MA in European Global Studies is run by the Institute for European Global Studies and is interdisciplinary by design, combining political science, history, law, economics and cultural studies around how Europe relates to the rest of the world.
Basel itself sits at the corner where Switzerland, France and Germany meet, which is not a travel-brochure detail but the programme's subject matter — cross-border governance, migration, regional integration and the practical limits of sovereignty are visible from the tram. Teaching is in English with some German-language options, cohorts are small, and the Institute runs an active exchange and internship network across European institutions. Basel is also Switzerland's pharmaceutical capital, which shapes the political-economy and regulation teaching.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS equivalent) in social sciences, humanities, law, economics or a related field with a good grade average.
- check_circle The admissions board assesses curriculum equivalence and may require supplementary credits if your Bachelor's is narrowly specialised.
- check_circle Motivation letter setting out your interest in European and global governance questions, plus a CV.
- check_circle Certified transcripts, degree certificate and sworn translations where documents are not in English or German.
- check_circle Non-EU applicants must budget eight to twelve weeks for the Swiss student visa from Colombo, and must show proof of roughly CHF 21,000 in accessible funds per year of study.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall, or TOEFL iBT 90 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught and assessed entirely in English — a Medium of Instruction letter is accepted from Sri Lankan universities.
- check_circle German at B2 is required only for the German-language module options; the English track can be completed without it, and the university offers free German courses.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (CHF) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per semester, all nationalities) | CHF 850 /semester | Rs. 314,500 /semester |
| Total Tuition (4 semesters) | CHF 3,400 | Rs. 1,258,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, Basel) | CHF 21,000 /yr | Rs. 7,770,000 /yr |
| Health Insurance & Residence Permit (per year) | CHF 1,700 /yr | Rs. 629,000 /yr |
| Total 2-Year Investment | CHF 48,800 | Rs. 18,056,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Graduates work in European and international institutions, foreign ministries and diplomatic services, NGOs and foundations, public affairs and regulatory roles in the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors around Basel, journalism and policy research, and doctoral study. Switzerland gives non-EU graduates six months to seek work after completion, and Basel's tri-national labour market means German and French employers are also within reach. Sri Lankan graduates return into the Foreign Ministry and diplomatic service, policy and research roles at IPS, Verité Research and the Centre for Policy Alternatives, EU and UN programme work in Colombo, and teaching in political science and international relations.
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.