Hospitality Management in Switzerland: Schools, Degrees, Fees and Paid Internships

Hospitality management in Switzerland is taught by private schools: EHL, Glion, Les Roches, César Ritz Colleges, SHMS, HIM, BHMS and others. A bachelor's takes 3–4 years, and between a third and half of that time is spent on paid internships. A full bachelor's with all compulsory charges costs from $140,180 (CHF 116,800) at BHMS to $278,320 (CHF 231,900) at Glion. The decision that matters most comes before price: do you need a Swiss-accredited degree, or is a British or American degree awarded by a partner university enough for your plans?

Who a Swiss hospitality school suits

This route suits people who want to work in hotels, restaurants, events, luxury retail or other guest-facing businesses and who learn well by doing. The first months are spent in training kitchens, service and front-office practicals, followed by six months with a real employer. Classes are international, so you need working English from day one.

It is a poor fit if:

• Your budget matches a public university. Tuition alone at a private hospitality school runs to tens of thousands of francs a year, while Swiss public universities charge international students a fraction of that. For a lower-cost business or management degree, see universities in Switzerland.
• You want theory without compulsory work. Internships are mandatory and credit-bearing, and you leave campus for them.
• You expect internship pay to fund the degree. Glion and Les Roches state in their terms that internship pay cannot be expected to finance studies.

The schools and who awards the degree

The key question is not the school's name but who awards the degree. Under the Higher Education Act (HEdA), the Swiss Accreditation Council accredits higher education institutions, and swissuniversities publishes the list. Four hospitality schools are on it: EHL, as an affiliated school of the HES-SO University of Applied Sciences, and Glion, Les Roches and César Ritz Colleges, accredited as university of applied sciences institutes. SHMS, HIM and BHMS are not on the list; their bachelor's degrees are awarded by British or American partner universities.

César Ritz Colleges, SHMS and HIM belong to Swiss Education Group (SEG); Glion and Les Roches belong to Sommet Education. Schools within a group share similar application steps, deposits and fee-sheet formats.

Swiss-accredited vs UK- or US-validated: what changes

The difference shows up after graduation more than in year one:

• Staying to work. Under the SEM (State Secretariat for Migration) directives, a non-EU graduate can get six months to look for a qualified job, but only after graduating from a "Swiss higher education institution", which SEM defines as universities and universities of applied sciences under the HEdA (HFKG). A British or American degree earned in Switzerland does not qualify. The directives do not spell out how private accredited institutes are treated, so ask the cantonal migration office before you enrol.
• Part-time work while studying. Under the federal SEM directives (section 5.1.3), a side job of up to 15 hours a week in term time can be allowed no earlier than six months after the start of studies, and only for students of higher education institutions: universities, universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education. The canton of Vaud, home to EHL, SHMS, HIM and Glion's Montreux campus, applies the same rule. Students at schools that award a British or American degree should not count on it. Neither SEM nor Vaud states explicitly whether the rule covers accredited private institutes (Glion, Les Roches, César Ritz Colleges), so ask the school whether its students have obtained such permits. Paid internships that are part of the programme fall under a different rule, covered below.
• A Swiss master's later on. HIM states plainly that its own award does not necessarily give access to the Swiss higher education system. If you plan a master's at a Swiss university, check in advance that it will accept your degree.

A degree from a UK partner university is a full degree of that university and is widely used for careers with international hotel groups. It is simply not a Swiss degree.

The Swiss federal HF/ES diploma

SHMS and HIM also offer a Swiss federal professional diploma alongside the bachelor's (at SHMS, after year two on completing a capstone project). It is a professional qualification, not a bachelor's degree. The schools' own rules show this: SHMS diploma holders enter the final semester of the bachelor's, and EHL admits graduates of the Swiss hôtelier-restaurateur HF programme to a shortened three-semester bachelor's.

Rankings

In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Hospitality & Leisure Management, EHL is ranked first. QS also notes that all of the top five institutions are based in Switzerland, including Les Roches. Check other schools' places in the full table on the QS site: school marketing quotes different indicators, such as overall rank or employer reputation, and those figures are not always comparable.

Programme levels: from preparatory year to MBA

• Preparatory or Experiential Year. At EHL, a compulsory preparatory year combines a practical semester with a first internship. Glion and Les Roches run an Experiential Year of one campus semester plus an internship. Direct entry to the BSc is for applicants with related vocational training or at least a year of relevant work experience.
• Bachelor's. 3 years at SHMS, HIM and BHMS; 4 years at EHL and César Ritz including the first year; 3 years plus the Experiential Year at Glion and Les Roches.
• English pathways. Glion's 15-week Pathway to English Proficiency (an extra $3,020, CHF 2,500), SHMS's 9- or 18-week Access Foundation, and non-credit English courses at Les Roches.
• Master's. Usually 1–1.5 years, often with an internship or applied-project semester. Glion requires age 21 and a bachelor's, preferably in business or hospitality. EHL's Master's in Hospitality Management requires a bachelor's in hospitality, tourism or business administration and at least six months of industry experience, internships included.
• MBA and executive programmes. For experienced professionals: Glion's Executive Master's requires age 25 and ideally three years' experience with management responsibility.

How the paid internships work

Internships are credit-bearing parts of the curriculum. Schools do not charge tuition during internship semesters, but insurance and sometimes service fees are still billed.

Pay. SHMS and HIM say internship gross pay in Switzerland can reach $2,820 (CHF 2,350) a month. That is a ceiling, not a guarantee, and pay abroad depends on the country. Glion and Les Roches warn that internship pay will not cover study costs.

The legal basis. Under SEM directive 5.1.4 (Art. 39 of the Ordinance on Admission, Period of Stay and Employment), a foreign full-time student on a programme with a compulsory internship may be allowed a paid internship in Switzerland if four conditions are met: local and industry pay and working conditions are respected, the work takes up no more than half of the total programme, an employer files the application, and suitable housing is available. Work may start only after approval.

Internships abroad. Glion notes that visa and work-permit rules in some countries restrict placements. Ask the careers team early which countries are realistic for your nationality.

"Guaranteed" internships. SEG schools advertise guaranteed internships, yet the SHMS FAQ explains that placements are competitive: the careers team helps with CVs and interview preparation, but the employer selects the student.

What a bachelor's costs: full fee sheets

Figures come from the schools' official fee sheets for international students. They cannot be compared line by line: they cover different items, so the table shows what each figure includes. The fee sheets also refer to different intakes: EHL, Glion and Les Roches already for 2027, the SEG schools and BHMS still for 2026 or 2026/27. If you start in 2027, ask SHMS, César Ritz, HIM and BHMS for the fee sheet for your intake, as prices are usually reviewed once a year.

¹ Sum of the line items in SHMS's detailed breakdown. The summary card on the same page shows $222,280 (CHF 185,200); confirm the exact amount for your intake on the school's invoice.

What is excluded, or included only at some schools:

• Deposits. EHL takes a refundable $6,000 (CHF 5,000) guarantee deposit, Glion $1,500 (CHF 1,250), Les Roches $1,200 (CHF 1,000). SEG schools (SHMS, César Ritz, HIM) require a $2,400 (CHF 2,000) security deposit from all applicants.
• Health insurance. Compulsory in Switzerland. Glion and Les Roches include it in the compulsory bill; EHL bills it separately; SEG fee sheets do not show it, so check the contract.
• Personal spending. Glion estimates about $600 (CHF 500) a month, plus flights, visa fees, a laptop and travel to internship locations.
• Lausanne tourist tax. EHL passes on $44 (CHF 37) a month for students whose legal address is outside Switzerland.

Why Swiss students pay less. Under EHL's agreement with HES-SO, Swiss students and others eligible for the A-HES subsidy pay $107,020 (CHF 89,170) for the same bachelor's instead of $220,680 (CHF 183,874). A B permit issued for studies does not make you eligible, so international students pay the full rate. Glion gives Swiss nationals and children of B or C permit holders 35% off tuition.

Discounts open to international students. Glion offers 10% off tuition when the sponsor is a manager or owner in hotels, restaurants or related hospitality businesses (with supporting documents), and 5% for a second child from the same family. SEG schools have limited merit scholarships that reduce tuition only and cannot be combined. No private school offers full funding.

For public-university fees and city living costs, see the cost of studying in Switzerland.

Master's costs

Entry requirements

Will my school certificate be accepted? Swiss public universities often require more than a foreign school certificate; see applying to Swiss universities. Private schools assess documents themselves. EHL asks for a qualification that gives university access in your own country. Glion and Les Roches refer to Swiss/European equivalence, and Les Roches assesses it following Swiss ENIC guidance. Admissions decide case by case, so ask for a pre-assessment before applying; EHL has a dedicated form for this.

Documents. Passport, school certificate and transcripts, CV, motivation letter or essay, English certificate, and references or work certificates if you have them. EHL accepts documents in English, French, German or Italian; others need a certified English translation. SEG schools ask for an official English translation.

Step by step: an example for a September 2027 start

1. September–December 2026: shortlist and English test. Decide whether you need a Swiss-accredited degree. Watch certificate validity: Glion wants it issued no more than 12 months before your start.
2. December 2026 – March 2027: apply. Pay the application fee: $265 (CHF 220) at EHL, $330 (CHF 275) at Glion and Les Roches, $180 (CHF 150) at SEG schools. The EHL essay is 500–650 words on one of three topics.
3. After the file review: selection. EHL uses a 20-minute online interview, three aptitude tests and a final interview; other schools usually hold a motivation interview.
4. Right after admission: first payment. EHL: $7,200 (CHF 6,000) within 15 days, non-refundable. Glion and Les Roches: $6,000 (CHF 5,000) pre-payment, non-refundable. SEG schools: $3,600 (CHF 3,000) within 30 days. All are credited to your fees.
5. Before the visa: pre-payment. EHL states that Swiss authorities require non-EU/EFTA students to pay $21,600 (CHF 18,000) before filing the visa application. SEG schools issue the enrolment letter for the visa after the confirmation payment.
6. May–June 2027: visa. EHL's visa deadline for September 2027 is 31 May 2027 (final deadline 15 June); for February 2027 it was 31 October 2026. Glion requires full payment by 15 May for fall and 15 November for spring intakes.
7. August–September 2027: arrival. Register with your commune and sort out health insurance or an exemption if the school does not provide its own plan.

Student visa and proof of funds

Non-EU/EFTA students staying more than 90 days need a national D visa, applied for in person at the Swiss representation for their country of residence. Do not travel on a tourist visa: Glion explicitly requires a type D study visa. Residents of Russia, Belarus and Uzbekistan apply at the visa section of the Swiss Embassy in Moscow by appointment (booked via moscow.visa@eda.admin.ch); residents of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan apply in Astana. Apply no earlier than three months before entry. The cantonal migration office decides, and the process takes around 6–12 weeks. In Moscow, the national visa fee is RUB 8,700.

The Moscow embassy's student-visa checklist includes three application forms, passport, photos, the admission letter, proof of tuition payment, a sponsor letter with three months of bank statements, legalised translations of diplomas, a study plan, a CV, a motivation letter and a signed commitment to leave Switzerland after studies. The embassy also holds an in-person oral language check.

The canton of Vaud adds its own rules: a private school must be recognised by the canton, and the student shows payment of at least the first semester's fees, funds for the whole programme or a solvent guarantor, and housing. For canton-by-canton amounts and documents, see the Swiss student visa guide. Russian applicants can find legal payment routes in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Common mistakes

• Comparing annual prices. Some schools include housing and food in the year's figure, others do not, and internship semesters are tuition-free. Compare the full fee sheet for the whole programme.
• Not checking who awards the degree. It affects part-time work, the right to look for a job in Switzerland after graduating, and recognition for a later master's.
• Missing the visa deadline. It falls 2–3 months before the general deadline, and the visa can take up to 12 weeks.
• Taking the English test too early. Glion needs a certificate no older than 12 months at the start date; SHMS needs one no older than a year for the visa.
• Assuming the first payment is refundable. EHL, Glion and Les Roches keep the $6,000–7,200 (CHF 5,000–6,000) paid after admission, and EHL bills the whole year if you withdraw less than 10 working days before it starts.
• Budgeting on internship pay. It depends on the country and role, and schools say it will not fund the degree.

FAQ

Sources

• swissuniversities: accredited Swiss higher education institutions
• QS: Hospitality & Leisure Management ranking 2026
• EHL: bachelor's fees 2027–2028, requirements, procedure and deadlines, internships, master's admissions
• Glion: admission requirements, fees and scholarships 2027
• Les Roches: fees 2027, bachelor's programme, requirements
• SHMS: fees 2026/27, bachelor's, admissions; University of Derby: SHMS partnership
• César Ritz Colleges: fees 2026, bachelor's; HIM: fees 2026, BBA
• BHMS: fees 2026, accreditations
• SEM: directives on foreign nationals (Weisungen AIG), sections 5.1.2–5.1.4
• Canton of Vaud: stays for study
• Swiss Embassy in Russia: where to apply, documents and timing, fees; Swiss Embassy in Kazakhstan
• Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rates of 29.09.2026 (€1 = $1.1355 = CHF 0.9461, so CHF 1 ≈ $1.2002), rounded. The embassy charges the visa fee in roubles.

For the country overview, see studying in Switzerland; for public-university programmes, see bachelor's degrees in Switzerland. To compare schools against your budget and profile, send us a request.

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