Documents & Application Requirements – Switzerland

Here are the list of documents you need to apply to Switzerland:

1. Resume – updated, 1 page, using action verbs. Skip the “objective” but mention your 12th marks.
2. Academic Mark Sheets – scan them all! 10th standard onward.
3. Transcripts – Std. 10, Std. 11 & 12, Bachelor’s, Master’s – you need to go to your institute and ask them to issue transcripts. Get 1 per university you’re applying to. They will be stamped & signed, and then sealed in an envelope which also needs to be stamped and signed. Ensure the transcript states your medium of instruction was English – this way some of your institutes may waive the TOEFL requirement.
4. Referees – You will have to add the title, full name, designation, company name and official email ID of your referees to the online application. They will then get an email from the university with a link they need to click on to recommend you. Half of this is usually a rating scale and the other half is either a text box or specific questions about you need to be answered. Please pick referees who will be comfortable doing this all online and who have an official email ID. Tip: It’s more important for your immediate manager to be your referee as opposed to the Director of the company who has barely had any interaction with you.
5. Personal Statement / Statement of Purpose – Should address 5 main questions: What motivates you to do this course? What prepares you to do this course? Why do you want to do this particular degree? Why do you want to study at this particular institute? What are your career plans? This should neither be an autobiography nor exceed 2 pages in length. Often, the university will tell you what information they want and what the word/character limit on the question is.
6. Essays – Universities will also ask you topical questions with corresponding word limits. Usually, universities that ask for these won’t ask for a personal statement.
7. Work Experience or Internship Letters
8. Score Reports – test takers reports of the IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT etc. If you haven’t taken the test yet, update the test date in the application. These scores will have to be reported to the universities officially as well e.g. TOEFL scores can be reported online by ETS to the university, after making the payment and entering the university code.
9. Certificated – extracurricular activities, social work, volunteer work, community service, etc. Don’t include participation certificates (unless it’s a workshop, seminar or the like). Keep to the certificates you earned 9th standard onward, unless it’s at the inter-state level.
10. Passport – First and last page, plus any correction page
11. Photo – passport sized photograph where you’re formally dressed
12. Financial Documents: (i)Bank statement showing adequate funds (1st year tuition + cost of living), (ii) Affidavit of Support if someone else, e.g. your parents, grandparents, aunt & uncle etc. are sponsoring you, (iii) financial certification form (which is sometimes given by the university and needs to be filled up as requested)

Please keep in mind that this is a general checklist, more or fewer documents may be required based on the universities requirements. In case of a courier, you will need to attest these or send originals of some documents, like transcripts.