Study in Switzerland
Global leader in hospitality and business management, with strong paid-internship models.
What makes Switzerland worth considering
Switzerland is the world’s reference point for hospitality management education, and also hosts two of Europe’s strongest technical universities. Costs are high, but hospitality programmes are built around paid industry placements that offset part of the expense.
Hospitality education leader
Swiss hospitality schools are consistently ranked first globally in the field.
Paid internships built in
Most hospitality programmes include paid placements of four to six months per year.
World-class technical universities
ETH Zurich and EPFL rank among the top technical universities worldwide.
Low public tuition
Public university tuition is surprisingly low — the main cost is living expenses.
Multilingual environment
German, French, Italian and English are all used across different regions.
High graduate salaries
Among the highest starting salaries in Europe for skilled graduates.
Key facts
Popular courses
- ETH Zurich
- EPFL
- Les Roches
- EHL Hospitality Business School
- Glion Institute of Higher Education
- University of Zurich
- University of St. Gallen
- César Ritz Colleges
About Switzerland
Country facts
Switzerland is a landlocked country of about 8.9 million people in central Europe, with German, French, Italian and Romansh as national languages. It is not an EU member. Bern is the capital, while Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne host leading institutions.
Higher education system
Swiss higher education comprises cantonal universities, two federal institutes of technology (ETH Zurich and EPFL), universities of applied sciences, and a large private hospitality sector. Public tuition is low; private hospitality schools charge substantially more.
Admission requirements
- Relevant academic qualification for the level applied for
- IELTS 5.5–6.5 depending on institution
- Motivation letter and CV
- Interview for hospitality schools
- Proof of substantial funds — Switzerland has a high financial threshold
- Health insurance valid in Switzerland
Thinking about Switzerland?
Send us your academic record and budget — we will tell you honestly whether Switzerland is the right fit, and which universities you are competitive for.