Guide · Switzerland
How to write a motivation letter for a Swiss university
In Switzerland, a motivation letter is a standard part of most Master's applications. ETH Zurich asks for one in its Master's programmes, EPFL asks for one together with your CV and three academic referees, and the University of Geneva's Faculty of Social Sciences asks for one together with a one-page CV.
Letters are often short: ETH asks for about one A4 page, Geneva for one page, UZH's Master in Biostatistics for at most 500 words. EPFL allows more — up to 1,000 words. On one page, every sentence has to count.
Checked against official sources: October 2026
- 1 page
- the limit at ETH and Geneva, for example
- DE · FR · IT · EN
- always the language of the programme
- 6 is best
- Swiss grades run from 1 to 6, 4 is a pass
Your first letter is free — no credit card needed.
At a glance
- Length
Often 1 A4 page
ETH Zurich and the University of Geneva ask for one page, UZH Biostatistics for at most 500 words. EPFL allows up to 1,000 words. Your programme's own limit always counts.
- Language
Language of instruction
The language the programme is taught in — German, French, Italian or English. ETH says it explicitly: the letter is written in the language of instruction of the chosen programme. Many Master's programmes are taught in English.
- Content
Why this programme here
Universities want to know why you chose this specific programme at this university. Some are more specific: EPFL asks you to describe your academic background and career plan and to be precise about your goals; ETH's Master in Mathematics wants you to name and explain the courses, specialisations and possible supervisors you're interested in.
- Swiss German spelling
ss, never ß
In Switzerland, German is written without “ß”: “Strasse”, “gross”, “Freundliche Grüsse”. If you write in German, use Swiss spelling consistently.
- Grades
6 is the best
Swiss grades run from 1 to 6: 6 is the best, 4 is a pass. That's the opposite direction from Germany and Austria. Give your own grade on its original scale — the university converts it itself.
- Where to submit
Directly to the university
Each university runs its own admissions, with its own portal, deadlines and fees. Recommendation letters often go directly from your referees to the university.
How to structure it
Opening: the programme and your reason
Name the programme and the university, and give your main reason in one or two sentences, linked to a concrete experience. On one page, there's no room for a warm-up.
Academic preparation
Your degree, your grade on its original scale and the one or two courses or projects that matter most for this programme. Swiss committees check your prior knowledge closely — many ETH programmes also ask for a description of every course you took.
Why this programme at this university
Name courses, specialisations, labs or professors and explain why they matter to you. This is the part universities ask about directly, so give it the most space.
Goals and closing
What you want to do after the degree, in one or two sentences, then the closing formula. Keep it realistic and concrete.
Example: Master's application to ETH Zurich
Excerpt from a sample letter for a fictional applicant. Note how much fits into two short paragraphs — the whole letter stays under one page. The numbers in the margin match the steps above.
Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,
I am applying for the MSc Data Science at ETH Zurich. During my internship as a data analyst at a logistics company, I built Python dashboards that cut the weekly reporting time from six hours to one. That project taught me how much value operational data holds — and how quickly my tools reached their limits once the data grew beyond one machine.
My Bachelor's in Computer Science, completed with a GPA of 3.6 out of 4.0, gave me a solid base in algorithms, statistics and machine learning. In my thesis, I predicted delivery delays from 50,000 shipment records with gradient boosting. What I want next is the step from a working model to a reliable system, and the Data Science Laboratory is the main reason I am applying to ETH: working on a practical problem from another discipline, from the model to its validation, is exactly what my thesis was missing.
[…]
Yours sincerely, Alex Weber
Common mistakes
Too long
Two full pages — ETH asked for about one
One page: one reason, two experiences, why this programme
A two-page letter for a programme that asks for one page shows that you didn't read the instructions — or can't prioritise.
The wrong language
A letter in German for an English-taught programme
A letter in English for an English-taught programme
The letter is written in the language of instruction. A German letter for an English-taught Master's at ETH doesn't follow the rules, even if you live in Zurich.
Converting your grades yourself
“My German grade of 1.4 corresponds to a Swiss 5.5.”
“I completed my Bachelor's with a final grade of 1.4.”
Swiss grades run the other way: 6 is the best. Don't convert yours — give the grade as it appears on your transcript, and the university converts it officially.
“ß” in a German letter for Switzerland
“Mit freundlichen Grüßen” · “Bahnhofstraße”
“Freundliche Grüsse” · “Bahnhofstrasse”
German in Switzerland is written without “ß”. It's a small detail, but it shows whether you wrote the letter for Switzerland or reused one from Germany.
Not answering the programme's question
“I am very interested in many areas of mathematics.”
“I would like to specialise in probability theory and write my project in the group of …”
If a programme asks you to name courses, specialisations or supervisors, do it. A general letter doesn't answer the question that was asked.
Empty praise
“ETH is one of the best universities in the world.”
“The Data Science Laboratory is the main reason I am applying.”
“A world-leading university” tells the committee nothing they don't know. Name what you'll actually use: a course, a lab, a project format.
Questions
How long should a motivation letter for Switzerland be?
Often about one A4 page — ETH Zurich and the University of Geneva ask for one page, UZH Biostatistics for at most 500 words, while EPFL allows up to 1,000 words. Your programme's limit is what counts.
Which language should I write in?
In the language the programme is taught in. Many Master's programmes in Switzerland are taught in English; others are in German, French or Italian, depending on the region.
Is the motivation letter the same as the study plan for the visa?
No. Students from outside the EU and EFTA also need a personal study plan for the residence permit, which describes the goal of their studies. That's a separate document for the authorities, not for the university.
Is it OK to use AI for a motivation letter?
Rules differ between universities, and some ask you to confirm that you wrote the letter yourself. Use an AI draft as a starting point: check every fact, change anything that doesn't sound like you, and follow your university's rules.
Sources
Documents checklist
Documents you need to study in Switzerland