Switzerland is one of the most developed countries in the region and provides enormous educational opportunities for international students. This country is distinguished for its highly prestigious universities, ranked among the best universities in the world. This is the main reason why the number of international students in this country is increasing every day.
New opportunities to advance in your education area arise over time, and students from different parts of the world are searching for ways to build on their careers by getting a master’s degree from one of the best universities possible. The head universities in Switzerland are under their scope of research because they are particularly interested in areas with underdeveloped education systems, such as those in southeastern Europe.
Switzerland is known for its high prices in everyday life situations, but when it comes to university prices, the average tuition fee for international students at public universities is around $27,000. A master’s program in Switzerland offers various study opportunities, where the most basic ones are one-year or two-year-long study programs. The length of your master’s studies depends on the bachelor’s degree duration and qualification. In this article, let’s talk about how international students can apply for a master’s degree in Switzerland.
Master’s Degree Admission Requirements
The application requirements for studying for a master’s degree in Switzerland are simple and easy to understand. The university requires documents that prove that the student has finished an acceptable bachelor’s degree based on the country’s criteria.
The first requirement is a printout of the student’s registration form that has been formally signed, followed by his identification documents. Another important requirement is an official university certificate that includes a thorough assessment and description of the courses studied and the grades received for those subjects.
Prior university management staff should be able to secure this official transcript in a relatively simple method.
The following requirement is essential for all universities, which is the CV and motivational letter written personally by the student. Another interesting requirement that may distinguish the universities in this country is the application fee that needs to be paid and proven to the university. The application fee is around 100-150 CHF.
Language Proficiency Tests Needed for Master’s Studies
When it comes to the language requirements, the country of Switzerland is very interesting and a unique example of diversity. In this country, it is evident that there is no set official language, and the languages that are used in the local universities depend on the region. In most cases, students are allowed to follow their studies in English because it is recognized as an international language, but this can vary. The tests that are accepted by the universities in most cases are the standard methods of language assessment, but there are exceptions in every case, such as the situation with the University of Bern.
The University of Bern has no strict rules for language requirements. They do not request an official language test that will demonstrate their language skills, they critically showcase that the student should be aware of their language skills and should decide based on the curriculum if they can follow the studies in the chosen language. Other universities accept students who can follow their studies in any of the official languages, such as the case with German, French, and Italian.
The acceptable tests for all languages are the official tests that are recognized in the whole world.
The ETH Zurich accepts the TOEFL and IELTS with official scores of 100 and 7.0 respectively. As for the German language, they accept passing scores on the TestDaf, TELC, and DSH. Other universities, such as the University of Lausanne, accept students who enroll in the French language and the acceptance tests or assessments for this type of language are the DELF and DALF.
So, if you’re getting a master’s program in Switzerland, it is wise to know first your program and the university’s language requirements, in that way, you’ll have specific information about this matter.
Master’s Degree Application Process
Even though this process may vary among different universities in the country, it can be easily stated that the most prestigious universities have a very easy three-step application process, but on the other hand, their acceptance rate for international students is lower, because they are the focus for a very large region of national and international students. It is also worth stating that all universities follow the same application guidelines and those application guidelines are enforced by the Ministry of Education.
Here are the common steps in applying for a master’s program in Switzerland:
Step 1. Complete the Online Application Form
At the University of Bern, the application process starts with the creation of an online account of the university, where the applicant can find the required list of documents and contacts needed for the complete application process. The creation of the account is simple and the directions are set by the administrators. In the creation process, the applicant will be required to provide personal information regarding his background and education. All the information will be classified until the applicant becomes an official university student.
Step 2. Complete the Payment for the Application Fee
The second step of the process is choosing the field of study and providing all the necessary documents together with the payment fee. When enrolling in an international master’s program at a university in Switzerland, the only strict requirement is that the applicant must possess a relevant bachelor’s degree that lasted for 3 years with a total of 180 credits. If the student possesses a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature, he can apply for master’s degree programs that are similar to their primary field of studies.
Many universities in Switzerland such as the University of Zurich and the University of Geneva charge application fees to process your applications. The fee is paid in Swiss Francs and ranges between CHF 65 and CHF 400, depending on the school, and many international students find it challenging to pay these fees through their home banks due to high exchange rates and other extra charges that may be hidden.
Step 3. Deliver the Original Documents to the Campus
This process is required by all universities to fulfill the application process. The required documents are mentioned in the requirements paragraph, the primary ones are essential identification documents, such as passports and identification cards, followed by your former education degrees and certifications that will prove the credibility of your application. The documents that may be required will vary from the students’ country and visa application process. The delivery process may be different depending on the university. Most universities allow students to send their documents in one of the accepted languages in the country, but some of them may require translated versions of the documents, such as the case with the University of Lausanne.
Switzerland is one of the best countries in Europe that provides vast educational opportunities, so the number of students researching to apply in this country is gradually growing. By taking a master’s program in Switzerland, you’ll be able to see the diversity and excellence in their educational system. You’ll see how different cultures interact while getting the most out of your education!
We hope that this article on how to study Master’s in Switzerland was helpful! Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe and Study in Switzerland pages!
