A student in São Paulo finds a master’s programme in Lausanne that looks perfect. The course page is in English, the modules are taught in English, and the application portal opens in November. Then the questions start. Which English certificate does the university want, and what score? Is a bachelor’s degree taught in English enough proof? And how much French will daily life in Lausanne require, even if every lecture is in English?
There is no single Swiss answer
English requirements are not set by one single national university standard; they vary by university and programme. Within one university the requirement can differ from one programme to the next. A master’s in engineering and a master’s in international relations at the same institution may ask for different evidence, different scores, or different deadlines for submitting it.
The admission page of the specific programme is the only source that counts. It tells you which tests are accepted, the minimum result, and whether any exemptions apply, for example for applicants whose previous degree was taught in English. Pages change from one intake to the next, so check the version for the year you’re applying to.
Where English is the teaching language
English-taught programmes are particularly common at master’s level. Many bachelor’s programmes run in the local language of the region: German in cities like Zurich and Basel, French in Geneva and Lausanne, Italian in Ticino. ETH Zurich teaches most of its bachelor’s programmes in German, and EPFL teaches most of its bachelor’s programmes in French, while both offer a wide range of master’s programmes in English.
For an undergraduate applicant, then, the first question is often which language the programme uses at all. For a graduate applicant, it’s usually how the university wants you to prove your English.
What the CEFR levels look like in a Swiss lecture hall
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) describes six levels by what a person can do. Universities that mention the CEFR on their admission pages use it as a reference point, and the practical meaning of each level becomes clearer through study situations.
At A1 and A2, you can handle basic exchanges: introducing yourself at a welcome event or asking where the library is, provided people speak slowly. B1 is the first independent level. A B1 student follows a lecture on a familiar topic if the professor speaks clearly and writes a short, coherent email to a course coordinator.
B2 is where academic study in English usually becomes more manageable. You can take part in a seminar discussion, read a journal article in your field with reasonable speed and defend a point in a group project. C1 fits students who write long assignments or a thesis in English and pick up the implied criticism in a supervisor’s polite feedback. C2 describes very advanced control of the language, including subtle shades of meaning, which matters most in fields where precise wording is the work, such as law or literature.
None of these levels guarantees success on a programme. A B2 student with strong subject knowledge and good study habits can outperform a C1 classmate. The level tells you which parts of student life will take extra effort, so you can prepare for them.
Applications and interviews
Some programmes invite shortlisted applicants to an online interview, and it is often conducted in English. Interviewers are usually assessing your motivation and subject knowledge, but they hear your English at the same time. Knowing your level lets you prepare honestly: rehearse how you describe your previous studies and why this programme fits, out loud and in English, until the answers come without translating in your head.
The written parts of an application, such as a motivation letter or a research statement, are read closely. A clear, well-structured letter at B2 makes a better impression than an ambitious one full of phrases you don’t fully control.
Academic reading and seminars
Reading load surprises many international students. A single week can include several journal articles, a textbook chapter and case material, all in dense academic English. Students who read at B1 can manage the texts, but slowly, and the hours add up. Seminars bring a different pressure: classmates from many countries, different accents, and discussions that move fast when a topic gets interesting.
Living with an international cohort
On English-taught master’s programmes, English often becomes the shared language between students from dozens of countries. Group projects, study sessions and flat-share conversations all happen in English that is nobody’s first language, which tends to make people patient with each other. Outside the university, supermarkets, landlords and local offices will usually address you in German, French or Italian, so a few phrases of the local language make everyday life smoother, whatever your English level.
Checking your level before you apply
Guessing your level rarely works. Students who speak confidently often overrate their academic writing, while careful learners tend to underrate their listening. An English level test from International English Test gives you a neutral starting point: it runs in a browser and shows your CEFR band on screen at the end.
Start with the programme page
Open the admission page for the programme you want and find three things: the accepted tests, the minimum result and the date by which the result has to arrive. Put that date in your calendar, count back the weeks you have left, and you’ll know whether you need a study plan or just a booking.
