Updated: August 30, 2026 | Reading time: 10 min | Written by: StudyTribune Team
Scholarships in Switzerland Without IELTS is a strong option for international students who don’t have an IELTS score yet, or don’t want to wait to get one. Several Swiss universities accept an English Proficiency Certificate from your previous institution instead, and multiple funded opportunities — from a national government scholarship to CERN’s student programmes — don’t require a submitted English test score at the application stage. Here’s what’s actually available, current deadlines, and one important restriction CERN applicants from a handful of countries need to know before applying.
Universities in Switzerland That Accept Alternatives to IELTS
Several Swiss universities will accept proof that your previous education was conducted in English instead of requiring a separate IELTS or TOEFL score, particularly for students whose prior degree was taught entirely in English:
- University of Basel
- University of Fribourg
- University of Bern
- University of Lausanne (UNIL)
- University of Geneva
Exact policy varies by program and department, so confirm directly with your specific faculty before assuming this applies to your chosen course.
The English Proficiency Certificate Alternative
If your previous degree was taught in English, you can generally request a letter from your school or university confirming this, and submit it in place of an IELTS or TOEFL score. The letter needs to explicitly state that your prior institution’s medium of instruction was English. What is an English Proficiency Language Certificate
Scholarships in Switzerland Without IELTS
1. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
Switzerland’s national government scholarship, for postgraduate researchers (PhD and research fellowships) and art students — full details, current stipend, and the recent postdoctoral-track discontinuation are covered in our dedicated guide. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
2. UNIL Master’s Scholarship (University of Lausanne)
A worthwhile option if you’re specifically targeting a Master’s at UNIL, though it’s worth knowing upfront that it isn’t a no-IELTS scholarship itself — it asks for IELTS/TOEFL (English-taught programs) or DELF/DALF (French-taught programs) results as part of the language requirement for your chosen program.
- Level: Master’s degree
- Coverage: CHF 1,600/month for 10 months a year (September 15 – July 15), for the statutory minimum length of your program (1.5–2 years), plus exemption from UNIL’s fixed registration fees. This is a contribution toward living costs, not full funding — UNIL itself notes the amount isn’t enough to cover the full cost of living in the Lausanne region, so plan on additional personal funds.
- Awards: Around 10 per year
- Eligibility: Graduated from a university outside Switzerland with an outstanding academic record; not previously registered at UNIL. Medicine, Law (with limited exceptions), and Education programs are generally excluded — check the current eligible-programs list.
- Deadline: November 1, 2026, for the 2027/28 intake. The scholarship application also serves as your Master’s program application — there’s no separate admission step.
Internships and Studentships at CERN
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research near Geneva, runs several distinct student programmes. None of them require a submitted IELTS score — CERN asks for “good knowledge of English or French” rather than a specific test result.
Before you apply: CERN currently cannot consider applications from Pakistani, Lithuanian, Latvian, Cypriot, or Croatian nationals for several of these programmes. The quota set under Article II.5 of CERN’s Associate Membership Agreement has been reached for these nationalities. This restriction is confirmed for the Doctoral Student Programme and the Technical Student Programme specifically — check the current status for your nationality directly on CERN’s official careers page before investing time in an application.
CERN Summer Student Programme
For Bachelor’s or Master’s students (not PhD candidates) in physics, computing, engineering, or mathematics. Selected students spend 8–13 weeks at CERN working on real research and technical projects alongside CERN scientists and engineers, plus an academic lecture series and site visits.
- Eligibility: Enrolled Bachelor’s or Master’s student in a relevant field; must remain enrolled throughout your stay
- Deadline: End of January each year — confirm the exact date on CERN’s official careers site closer to the time
CERN Technical Student Programme
For Bachelor’s or Master’s students in applied sciences, computing, or engineering, running 4–12 months as a structured part of your studies. PhD students and PhD holders are not eligible for this specific programme.
- Coverage: Monthly net allowance of CHF 3,486, plus health insurance and paid leave
- Eligibility: Enrolled in applied sciences, computing, engineering, or a related technical field
- Deadline: Varies by vacancy and cycle — check CERN’s current listings directly
CERN Administrative Student Programme
A companion track to the Technical Student Programme for Bachelor’s and Master’s students interested in administrative and support functions at CERN, rather than technical or engineering work. Structure and benefits broadly mirror the Technical Student Programme — confirm current openings and terms directly with CERN.
CERN Doctoral Student Programme
For PhD students only — and specifically for students who have already started, or are about to start, their doctoral program. This is not an entry pathway into a PhD; you remain enrolled at your home university, with CERN serving as your research workplace for all or part of your required thesis work.
- Coverage: Contract of association for 12 months initially, renewable up to a total of 36 months
- Eligibility: National of a CERN Member or Associate Member State; already started or about to start a doctoral program; thesis work relevant to CERN’s research; good knowledge of English or French
- Deadline: Mid-October to mid-November depending on your track — recent cycles have listed dates around October 16 and November 16, so confirm the specific date for your category on CERN’s official site
- Note: As above, Pakistani, Lithuanian, Latvian, Cypriot, and Croatian nationals cannot currently be considered due to the Associate Membership Agreement cap
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Swiss universities really not require IELTS? Policy varies by university and program. Several Swiss universities, including Basel, Fribourg, Bern, Lausanne, and Geneva, will accept a letter confirming your prior education was in English instead of a separate IELTS score for at least some programs — but always confirm with your specific faculty.
Is the UNIL Master’s Scholarship a “without IELTS” scholarship? Not exactly. UNIL still asks for IELTS/TOEFL (for English-taught programs) or DELF/DALF (for French-taught programs) as part of its language requirement — the “without IELTS” opportunities in this guide are mainly the university admission alternative and CERN’s programmes.
Can Pakistani students apply for CERN’s student programmes? Currently, no, for the Doctoral Student Programme and Technical Student Programme specifically — the quota for Pakistani nationals under CERN’s Associate Membership Agreement has been reached. Check CERN’s official site for the current status before applying, since these caps can change.
Do I need an IELTS score for CERN’s Summer Student Programme? No. CERN asks for “good knowledge of English,” not a specific submitted test score.
Can PhD students apply for the CERN Summer or Technical Student Programmes? No. Both are restricted to Bachelor’s and Master’s students. PhD students and PhD holders should look at the CERN Doctoral Student Programme instead, which requires you to have already started your doctorate.
How much does the CERN Technical Student Programme pay? A monthly net allowance of CHF 3,486, plus health insurance and paid leave, for a placement of 4 to 12 months.
More Fully Funded Options
If none of these fit, compare them against other fully funded scholarship programs on our main hub. Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students