Lake Zurich at golden hour with the Swiss Alps in the background and trees on the shoreline.

Switzerland Open for September 2026 entry — applications close 15 March 2026

University of Geneva Excellence Master Fellowship

The University of Geneva Excellence Master Fellowship is a CHF 10,000 to CHF 15,000 per year award (around LKR 3.7M – 5.55M) for outstanding international students starting a Master's at UNIGE's Faculty of Science. The fellowship covers the cost of living during the 2-year Master's; tuition fees at the University of Geneva are remarkably low (around CHF 500 / LKR 185,000 per semester), so the stipend essentially covers full living costs in Switzerland's most affordable major city. Geneva is the global capital of multilateralism — home to the UN, WHO, WTO, CERN, ICRC — and the University of Geneva is consistently ranked among Europe's top public universities. Sri Lankan first-class graduates in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Earth Sciences are competitive.

University of Geneva

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

CHF 10,000–15,000/yr (LKR 5.55M/yr)

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Duration

2-Year Master's

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Awards

~10-15 per Year

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Apply to UNIGE Faculty of Science Master's

You must apply for a Master's programme at the University of Geneva's Faculty of Science — eligible programmes include Master's in Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computational Science, Earth Sciences, and Environmental Sciences.

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Top 10% of Bachelor's Cohort

The fellowship is reserved for applicants in the top 10% of their Bachelor's cohort. For Sri Lankan applicants this means a first-class honours science / mathematics Bachelor's from Colombo, Peradeniya, Kelaniya, Moratuwa, or an overseas first-class. Documented research output (thesis grade, publication) strengthens the application.

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International or Swiss Applicant

Open to applicants of any nationality (international, Swiss, EU), including Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka. The fellowship is administered by the Faculty of Science and is independent of any specific country quota.

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English Proficiency

Most UNIGE Faculty of Science Master's are taught in English (some bilingual French / English). English requirement: IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL iBT 90+. Sri Lankan applicants with English-medium undergraduate degrees usually qualify via MOI waiver. French is helpful for daily life but not required for the Master's.

account_tree Application Process

Apply to UNIGE Master's by 15 March

Submit your Master's application via the UNIGE online portal. Application includes Bachelor's transcripts (with English / French translation), ranking certificate (essential for the fellowship), motivation letter, two academic references, English test result, and CV.

Indicate Excellence Master Fellowship consideration

Within the same Master's application, explicitly tick the Excellence Master Fellowship consideration option. Submit a separate 1-page fellowship motivation letter covering your research interests, why UNIGE specifically, and any prior research experience.

Faculty selection committee review

The Faculty of Science scholarship committee reviews all nominations and selects approximately 10-15 awardees each year. Outcomes are typically released in May. Some applicants are asked for additional documentation or a Zoom interview.

Acceptance + Swiss D-visa

Awardees receive a fellowship award letter naming the CHF 10,000 – 15,000 annual value. The stipend is disbursed in monthly instalments after enrolment. You then apply for the Swiss long-stay national visa (D-visa) at the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi (Switzerland covers Sri Lanka via the New Delhi consulate).

Why University of Geneva?

The University of Geneva is consistently ranked in the global top 100 (QS #105 in 2026) and is one of Switzerland's largest universities. Geneva itself is home to the European headquarters of the UN, WHO, WTO, ITU, and the CERN particle physics laboratory — uniquely valuable for graduates targeting international organisations and research careers.