IELTS for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027–2028: Do You Really Need It?
If you are preparing for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027–2028 and do not have IELTS yet, this does not automatically put you out of the race.
A lot of applicants get confused because they see completely different advice online. Some sources say IELTS 6.5 is compulsory, others describe the opportunity as “without IELTS,” while applicants themselves often receive different answers from different Swiss universities.
The reason is quite simple: there is no single IELTS rule that applies to everyone.
The scholarship itself does not publish one universal IELTS, TOEFL or English-language score that every applicant must submit. However, the Swiss university, doctoral school or research programme that will host you can have its own language requirements. The 2027–2028 scholarship application window opens on August 20, 2026.
Is IELTS Compulsory for Swiss Government Scholarship 2027 Entry?
Not necessarily. If you do not have IELTS right now, that alone does not make you ineligible.
There is no blanket scholarship rule requiring every applicant to present IELTS 6.0, 6.5 or 7.0. Where IELTS can become important is when your host university or department asks you to prove that you can work and study in English.
And this is where things become interesting, because Swiss universities do not all follow the same approach.
How Much IELTS Could Your Swiss University Ask For?
Here are some real examples of minimum score of IELTS required at Swiss Universities for 2027 cycle:
| Swiss university/programme | Current English requirement |
|---|---|
| ETH Zurich – Computer Science PhD | English required, but language test not required |
| EPFL Doctoral School | No general IELTS/TOEFL rule; individual programmes may set one |
| University of Zurich – Graduate School of Business | IELTS Academic 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100 |
| University of Bern – English PhD | IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100 for applicable international applicants |
| University of Basel – programmes requiring B2 | IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 |
| University of Basel – programmes requiring C1 | IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 96 |
ETH Zurich’s Computer Science department, for example, expects applicants to be proficient in spoken and written English but explicitly states that language tests are not required.
At the University of Zurich Graduate School of Business, the situation is different: IELTS Academic 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100 is currently required for most applicants who need to demonstrate English proficiency.
The University of Bern’s Department of English also asks relevant international PhD applicants for IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 100.
Basel provides another useful example because it links English requirements to CEFR levels: IELTS 6.0 corresponds to its B2 requirement, while IELTS 7.0 is accepted for C1.
So instead of asking, “What IELTS score does the Swiss scholarship require?”, ask:
“What English proof does my exact Swiss department require?”
Can Your MOI Letter Replace IELTS?
Sometimes, yes.
If your previous Bachelor’s or Master’s degree was taught entirely in English, your institution may be able to issue an official Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter.
Some Swiss universities allow previous English-medium education to satisfy their language requirement. The University of Basel, for example, provides exemptions for applicants who completed qualifying studies at an English-speaking institution or an English-taught programme.
But this does not mean MOI is automatically accepted everywhere.
A sensible MOI letter should clearly confirm your name, degree, study period and that the programme was taught in English. Most importantly, ask your proposed Swiss department whether they accept it before relying on it.
If they say yes, keep their written confirmation.
No IELTS Yet? Do You Still Have Time?
For many applicants, yes.
Do not rush to book IELTS simply because another scholarship applicant tells you it is compulsory.
First identify your intended supervisor and programme. Check that department’s requirements. If they accept MOI or do not ask for a formal test, you may save yourself both money and unnecessary preparation.
If they do require IELTS, you can still arrange a test before the relevant deadline.
Can You Use TOEFL Instead?
In many programmes, yes. But applicants applying in 2026 should know about an important change: TOEFL iBT moved to a new 1–6 scoring scale from January 21, 2026.
ETS currently gives these approximate comparisons:
- Old TOEFL 80 → new score 4
- Old TOEFL 90 → 4.5
- Old TOEFL 100 → 5
For a transition period, TOEFL score reports also display comparable scores under the older 0–120 system.
So if a Swiss university page still says “TOEFL 100,” do not assume the information is unusable—check how the institution is handling the new scale.
What If You Miss One IELTS Band?
There is another option worth knowing about.
IELTS One Skill Retake allows eligible candidates who took IELTS on computer to retake one section only—Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking—within 60 days of the original test.
But do not assume your Swiss university accepts One Skill Retake. IELTS itself advises candidates to confirm acceptance directly with the institution.
What Should You Do Before Spending Money on IELTS?
If you are preparing for the 2027–2028 round, use this order:
Find your intended Swiss supervisor → identify the exact programme → check its language rule → ask whether MOI is accepted → take IELTS Academic or TOEFL only if you actually need it.
That is far safer than assuming every applicant needs IELTS 6.5.
The key point is simple: you may need to prove that you can work academically in English, but IELTS itself is not automatically compulsory for every Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship applicant.