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

Switzerland Open for autumn 2026 entry — Excellence Scholarship applications typically close around March 2026

University of Basel Excellence Scholarship for Master's Students

The University of Basel — Switzerland's oldest university and a global research leader in the life sciences, biomedicine, and pharmaceutical research (it sits at the heart of the Basel pharma cluster) — offers an Excellence Scholarship for talented international Master's students worth up to around CHF 16,000 (roughly LKR 5.9 million) as a living-cost contribution across the programme. As a public university, its tuition is low, so this award meaningfully covers living expenses in an expensive country. It's highly competitive and merit-based, suiting Sri Lankan first-class graduates aiming at research-intensive Master's in the sciences, medicine-adjacent fields, economics, or the humanities. A number of Basel's Master's are English-taught; others are in German, so confirm the language of your specific programme before applying.

University of Basel

University-funded

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Value

Up to CHF 16,000 (LKR 5.9M)

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Duration

Master's Programme

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Basis

Competitive Excellence

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Apply to a Basel Master's

You must apply to (or be admitted to) a Master's programme at the University of Basel for autumn 2026 entry. Sri Lankan applicants need a strong, relevant Bachelor's — first-class or high upper-second equivalence is competitive.

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Top Academic Achievement

The Excellence Scholarship goes to applicants with outstanding academic records. Strong grades, relevant research or project work, and excellent references are decisive in a competitive field.

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International Applicant

Open to international students, including Sri Lankan citizens. Verify any prior-study or recent-graduation conditions against the year's call. The award is intended to enable talented international students to afford Swiss living costs.

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Language of the Programme

Some Basel Master's are English-taught (IELTS 6.5+ / equivalent); others are German-taught (C1). Match your proficiency to the programme. English-medium Sri Lankan degree holders usually qualify for English-taught tracks via MOI waiver where Basel accepts it.

account_tree Application Process

Apply to the Master's programme

Submit your Master's application to the University of Basel with transcripts (certified translation), degree certificate, motivation letter, references, CV, and proof of language proficiency.

Apply for the Excellence Scholarship

Complete the separate Excellence Scholarship application within its deadline, including a motivation statement and any required supporting documents.

Selection review

A university committee assesses academic excellence and awards the scholarships to the strongest candidates. Results are typically announced in spring.

Enrol and apply for a Swiss student visa

Accept your offer and scholarship, enrol, and apply for the Swiss national (D) student visa via the embassy/VFS process. The award is disbursed after registration.

Why University of Basel?

Founded in 1460, the University of Basel is Switzerland's oldest university and a world-class research institution, especially in the life sciences, biomedicine, and pharmaceutical research — it sits beside the global pharma giants headquartered in Basel. For a research-minded Sri Lankan graduate in the sciences, a funded Basel Master's offers elite facilities and industry proximity at a manageable real cost.