Study Hotel business in Switzerland - 9 institutions

Thanks to renowned schools and world fame, the university teaching methodology in Switzerland is considered the best - it has become the benchmark for educational institutions around the world. Along with a strong theoretical base, you will find extensive practice in demonstration, practical classes and semi-annual practice.

The duration of the programs depends on the chosen school: from 3-4 years at the undergraduate and 1-2 at Master's. At the 3-4 year students are invited to change their university and continue their studies in Spain, the UK or China, which gives foreign students a great opportunity to broaden their horizons and study the features of hospitality, business practice, culture in major tourist centers of the world. Towards the end of studying, students are invited to choose a specialization that can be associated with digital marketing strategies, financial management, and entrepreneurial activity. You can apply the acquired knowledge in such areas as the tourism business, hospitality technology, cruise management, sports management, etc.

• BHMS: Business and Hotel Management School
• University Center "César Ritz"
• IMI University Center / International Hotel Management Institute
• Lausanne Hotel School École hôtelière de Lausanne EHL
• Glion Institute of Higher Education
• Les Roches International School of Hotel Management
• Swiss Hotel Management School SHMS
• International Hotel and Tourism Training Institute IHTTI
• Hotel Institute Montreux HIM .

1. What you should know about this field:

• This is one of the most popular and rapidly developing areas, which covers a huge number of specialties, therefore, having received education at a top university, you will open the doors to the restaurant business, event industry, sports management, sales and the premium segment.
• Most employers apply to TOP universities in Switzerland for high-ranking personnel: students at hospitality schools receive internships and further employment at the best companies in Europe. This is also confirmed by statistics - it was the Les Roches hospitality school that received the status of the best school in the world in this field, and 89% of the graduates of this educational institution were immediately employed at the end of the educational institution. 

2.  The advantages of studying the hotel business in educational institutions of the country:

• The educational direction “Hotel business” can be easily attributed to applied and interdisciplinary. Students of faculties not only study a large number of subjects related to business and tourism, but also gain deep knowledge about human psychology, and also master communication skills and leadership qualities
• The prestigious universities of Switzerland are in close cooperation with universities abroad and major hotels in Europe. Students at universities in Switzerland have a unique opportunity to unlearn a semester in another state and gain valuable practical experience on an internship in the best companies
• Most graduates find work in the first 6 months after graduation
• Institutions related to hotel business often work on the basis of large hotels that required highly qualified specialists, therefore training here is as close as possible to the real needs of employers and is practice-oriented.

3. Features of university studies:

The best programs that harmoniously combine theory and practice are waiting for applicants: usually courses involve balanced education, an equal number of practical seminars and theoretical lectures, as well as a large number of demonstration classes and working out real situations in large companies.

The duration of the programs varies: as a rule, they study at the Bachelor's degree for 4 years, and study at the magistracy takes 2 years. In the first courses, students comprehend general subjects and gain fundamental knowledge; in the next courses, students should choose a narrow specialization related to digital marketing, financial management, business and so on. As for the language of instruction, here you can find educational institutions with programs in German , English or French.

4. Admission requirements:

The first thing to consider is that a foreign student must demonstrate a high level of language proficiency. The hospitality industry involves working with people, so there are always high requirements for applicants. It’s great if the applicant speaks several foreign languages - this can turn out to be a significant advantage.

Some educational centers have a preparatory department, and then the conditions for admission to foreign applicants are slightly less strict: it is assumed that students will quickly tighten the language in special courses. In some institutions, you may need to go through pre-university courses or study at a domestic university for 1-2 years and only then enter a chosen university in Switzerland.

5 steps to study in the hotel business in Switzerland:

Basic documents for admission:

• Certificate of education: school certificate or diploma of a vocational school, Bachelor's or Master's diploma
• The original and copies of the passport
• Language Exam Certificate
• Additional documents and certificates.

Basic requirements for applicants:

• Motivation letter
• High school diploma
• Language certificate ( IELTS - 5.5; TOEFL - 70; FCE - C).

When planning your studies, it is worth considering that living in this country is much more expensive than in other European countries - for example, a monthly expense will be about 3,600 CHF or 3,200 €. Examples of student expenses per month:

5. Work while studying:

Students are allowed to work officially, but no more than 20 hours a week, that is, no more than 2 hours per day. Some cantons allow students to work up to 30 hours a week. There is one more condition for foreign students - they can start earning money only after living abroad for 6 months.

6. Prospects:

Here are excellent conditions for employment: according to statistics, the unemployment rate in the country is only 3-5%. However, graduates face high competition in the field. But with a Swiss diploma, foreigners quickly find work outside the state, in other European countries. Many international firms invite students even before graduation.