The Fondazione per le Facoltà di Lugano funds one-off scholarships for students entering the first year of a Master’s programme at Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano, Switzerland. The award is reserved for candidates whose legal residence was outside Switzerland at the time they obtained the certificate giving access to university studies. Each scholarship is worth CHF 4,000, about half of one academic year of tuition at the standard rate of CHF 4,000 per semester.
Eligible degrees sit in four faculties: Biomedical Sciences, Communication Culture and Society, Economics, and Informatics, covering 22 Master’s programmes from Artificial Intelligence and Finance to Health Communication and International Tourism. Awards are distributed across programmes in proportion to the number of students enrolled, and applicants use a form whose link arrives with the letter of admission.
Benefits & funding
- CHF 4,000 one-off scholarship for the first year of the Master’s programme.
- The 2026/27 call page lists 10 scholarships on this route; the official call document states 30 annual scholarships of CHF 4,000 for the first year of a Master’s programme.
- Students on the reduced CHF 2,000 semester fee: autumn 2026/27 tuition is covered after a refundable deposit, and spring 2027 is covered automatically.
- Students on the CHF 4,000 semester fee: autumn 2026/27 is paid by the student, and spring 2027 is covered automatically.
- The award cannot be combined with other USI scholarships or grants; mobility funding is the only exception.
Eligibility
- Admitted to the first year of a USI Master’s programme starting September 2026.
- Legal residence abroad at the time of obtaining the certificate giving access to university studies (high-school diploma or equivalent).
- Bachelor’s degree obtained by 31 July 2026, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 80% of the highest possible grade.
- The programme must belong to the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences (Master of Medicine excluded), the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society (Master in European Studies in Investor Relations and Financial Communication excluded), the Faculty of Economics, or the Faculty of Informatics.
- Holders of more than one Bachelor’s degree are assessed on the degree that qualifies them for admission. Applicants who already hold a Master’s degree may be considered if funds remain.
- Open to all nationalities. No age limit and no work-experience requirement are set.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Apply for admission to a USI Master’s programme through student.usi.ch. Applications for the September 2026 intake opened on 9 December 2025; the application fee is CHF 100, or CHF 200 for Architecture programmes.
- 2Wait for the letter of admission, which carries the link to the scholarship application form.
- 3Fill in the online scholarship form and attach the documents listed in the call.
- 4Submit by 31 July 2026. Late or incomplete applications are rejected.
- 5Receive the decision by 17 August 2026 and follow the tuition instructions for the applicable fee band.
Program timeline
Applications open for USI Master’s programmes starting September 2026
Dec 9, 2025
Scholarship application deadline; the Bachelor’s degree must be obtained by this date
Jul 31, 2026
Award decisions communicated to applicants
Aug 17, 2026
2026-09
Autumn semester 2026/27 begins in Lugano
2027-02
Spring semester 2027 tuition covered automatically for scholarship holders