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

Switzerland Autumn Semester 2027: applications open December 2026; main deadline 30 April 2027 (with scholarship consideration); final deadline 30 June 2027

USI Lugano Master's Merit Scholarship

Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) — based in Lugano, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland — offers merit scholarships ranging from CHF 4,000 to CHF 16,000 per year (LKR 1.48M-5.92M/year) to outstanding international Master's applicants. USI is Switzerland's youngest public university (founded 1996) but has rapidly grown into a respected research institution, particularly strong in informatics (the Faculty of Informatics is one of Europe's top CS schools), economics, communication sciences, and architecture (Accademia di architettura at Mendrisio). All Master's programmes are taught in English. Sri Lankan applicants find USI an attractive smaller-university alternative to ETH Zurich or HSG, with more accessible admissions and a uniquely Italian-Swiss cultural experience.

Università della Svizzera italiana

University-funded

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Value

CHF 4,000 / 8,000 / 16,000 per Year

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Duration

2 Years (renewable)

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Application

Automatic at Admission

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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USI Master's Admission

You must be applying to or admitted to a USI Master's programme. USI offers Master's in Informatics (Software Engineering, AI, Computational Science), Economics, Finance, Management, Communication Sciences, Architecture, and Italian Culture. All Master's are taught in English.

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Strong Academic Record

Awards are tiered by academic merit. Top tier (CHF 16,000) typically for first-class Bachelor's holders from recognised universities. Mid-tier (CHF 8,000) for solid second-upper. Lower tier (CHF 4,000) for adequate-but-not-exceptional profiles.

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International Fee Status

Open to international students paying USI's non-Swiss tuition (~CHF 4,000 / semester for non-EU, EUR 2,000 / semester for EU). Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are eligible.

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English + Italian Proficiency

All Master's are English-taught — IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL iBT 88+ required. Italian is NOT required for academic purposes but is useful for daily life in Lugano. Sri Lankan applicants with English-medium degrees may qualify for the MOI-letter waiver.

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Apply to USI Master's by 30 April

Submit your USI Master's application via the USI online portal by 30 April 2027 for full scholarship consideration. Applications received after this date (up to 30 June) are still considered for admission but may not be eligible for scholarship awards depending on remaining budget.

Submit application materials

Required: transcripts, motivation letter, CV, English proficiency, two recommendations. USI does not require GMAT/GRE for most Master's. Submit one application — no separate scholarship form.

Automatic scholarship review

USI's faculty admissions committees review applications for both admission and scholarship tier. There is no separate scholarship application — strength of academic record + motivation letter determines award tier. Decisions are communicated within 6-8 weeks of application.

Acceptance + Swiss D-visa

Successful applicants accept the Master's offer and scholarship via the USI portal. Use the offer + scholarship + financial documents to apply for the Swiss national D-visa at the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi (Sri Lankan applicants apply via Delhi).

Why USI?

USI is Switzerland's third public university to teach in a non-German/French language — its primary identity is Italian-Swiss. With campuses in Lugano (main) and Mendrisio (architecture), it offers a uniquely small-scale Swiss research experience. The Faculty of Informatics consistently ranks among Europe's top 50 CS schools (with strong AI research). The Lugano region offers excellent quality of life — Lake Lugano, easy access to Milan (1 hour by train) and Zurich (3 hours).