Top 10 Hotel Management Institutes in Switzerland

When we think of Hospitality Management, no matter which part of the world we are in, we think of Switzerland. The country, home to the very first Hotel Management Institute in the world, continues to attract students from all across the globe. But where to begin? Knowing about the country is one thing, but what about the colleges? What are the eligibility criteria? Here’s a look at the Top 10 Hotel Management Institutes in Switzerland.

Seven out of the top 10 best management schools in the world are located in Switzerland according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Hospitality & Leisure Management. Students at these top hotel management institutes in the world are carefully groomed, trained and interned before they go on to claim the best positions in the hospitality industry…around the world. Hotel management in Switzerland offers the best placements and global recognition. There is no doubt Switzerland is the country every student who aspires to be somebody in the hospitality Sector wishes to be.

Hotel Management in Switzerland Duration

Generally, undergraduate degree programs in hospitality management last nearly 3.5 years. There are some smaller duration courses that are essentially Higher Diploma courses. For example, the two-year Swiss School of Tourism & Hospitality has a 2-year program. This in turn requires the additional eligibility criteria of 10 months of compulsory work experience in the hospitality sector or an apprenticeship certificate. The absence of the same requires the student to take up a 1-year preparatory course, bringing the same to 3 years. Also, some institute gives a student to take up higher education in Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne or other partner institutes to transfer the credits and convert the higher diploma into a degree.

Hotel Management in Switzerland Eligibility Criteria

And finally, last but not least, the eligibility criteria. As already mentioned, all the institutes have an international program and have English-taught programs. These then, accordingly, require a minimum level of proficiency in the language which is mentioned in the tables. Other English language tests conducted by Cambridge, etc. are also accepted. You can find about the same at their respective websites. Also, apart from Language proficiency, the basic criteria remain the same which are

• Minimum 18 years of age at the time of start of the program
• High School or a minimum 12 years of secondary school education

Hotel Management in Switzerland Admission Process

And how do you go about applying for them? It’s simple. You can reach out to the institutes. Usually, they have two intakes…October and January. Also, since these are the best of the best, the admission process is selective. Some of the above institutes have a three-tier admission process which includes a preliminary selection based on your application, a selection stage and a final interview. Some might even have a written exam of sorts. They are on the lookout for people who truly share their passion for hospitality. And if you do…there is nothing stopping you.

Read:

• Switzerland Study Visa Requirements

• Cost of Living in Switzerland for Indian Students
• Average Salary in Switzerland
• Jobs in Switzerland for Indian students

Top Hotel Management Institutes in Switzerland 2024-25

These institutes are not merely in the Top 10 of Switzerland but also feature among the very best schools for hospitality management in the world.

*^{Duration refers to a Bachelor’s Degree Program like BA/BSc. / BBA in Hospitality Management.}

EHL Hospitality Business School

A world leader in hospitality education, EHL Hospitality Business School is open to everyone regardless of age and background. One may pursue various distinct courses such as hotel management courses, hospitality business courses, MBA degree courses, short courses, and pre-university courses as well. The university's sister institution, EHL Swiss School of Tourism & Hospitality also offers many professional courses. EHL has two campuses in Switzerland, in Chur-Passugg and Lausanne and a new campus in Singapore.

Highlights

• Ranked 1st among Universities for Hospitality & Leisure Studies Worldwide by QS Rankings & CEO World Magazine from 2019-2022
• Ranked 5th among Business Schools in Switzerland by QS Rankings 2023

• 96% of graduates begin working within 6 months after graduation

• More than 4000 companies hire graduates from here

SHMS – Swiss Hotel Management School

The Swiss Hotel Management School is ranked the 3rd best hospitality school globally and 2nd best in Switzerland as per QS Rankings 2023. It is known to have two exquisite campuses, which are in French-speaking Switzerland.

Highlights

• Ranked 2nd best school for employer reputation and 4th best for academic reputation
• It is the first hospitality school in the world, and the first higher education institute in Switzerland, which has obtained the prestigious “Apple Distinguished School” recognition 

Glion Institute of Higher Education

Incepted in 1962, the Glion Institute of Higher Education is among the outstanding educational institutions in the world. A top-notch hospitality and luxury management institute, 98% of its students searching for employment obtain 1 or more on the day of graduation. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, students from over 90 countries are enrolled here. Also, the teaching group consist of experts who have received prestigious awards and have gained teaching experience in reputed schools worldwide.

Highlights

• 86% of those who have passed out from here obtained a managerial role in less than 5 years 
• 82% of faculty members hold a PhD or a master's degree  
• Recognised as one of the top 5 institutions for Hospitality and Leisure Management globally

Les Roches Global Hospitality Management Education

Another top hotel management institution with a global reputation, Les Roches has partnered with the biggest hospitality brands, both nationally and internationally, for employment. Each year, around 300 visits are received to the campuses during which a large number of fresh graduates get hired.

Highlights

• Stands at the 5th position in the Overall Excellent QS Stars University Rankings, 2022
• 94% of the job-seeking graduates get employed immediately
• 1/3 alumni become entrepreneurs
• Students are hired in large number by Bloomberg, Louis Vuitton, Apple, Accor Hotels, Qatar Airways, Tesla, IHG, The Ritz Carlton, Booking.com, SOHO House & Co., Hublot, etc

Cesar Ritz Colleges Switzerland

Considered the 6th best Hospitality School in the world and the 5th best hospitality school for academic reputation as per QS Rankings, Cesar Ritz Colleges offer various top-rated hospitality and business management courses. The college campus has many options for recreational purposes such as a home cinema, hiking trails, natural pool, nightclub, table tennis and much more.

Hotel Institute Montreux

Hotel Institute Montreux is recognised among the top 10 hospitality schools in the world and the 5th best hospitality school for employer reputation by QS Rankings. The courses are taught by expert professionals and guest lecturers with a good grip over their subjects. The good part is that students can relish an international buffet thrice a day at the college cafeteria or can pick something from a menu served by fellow students in the restaurant.

Highlights

• 97% of the students obtain a job at the time of graduation
• 90% of the alumni obtain a managerial role or create their own company within 5 years of passing out
• Partners: ACCOR, Edmond De Rothschild, Tourbillion Boutique, Swiss Sustainable Finance, Four Seasons, Bluewater

Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland

Switzerland's best culinary school, Culinary Arts Academy is among the best in the world and is recognised for its quality culinary arts education. The diplomas offered at the academy are highly recognised around the world.

Highlights

• 8th best Hospitality and Leisure Management institute in the world as per QS Rankings 2023
• Faculty members have experience working in Michelin-starred restaurants and in royal kitchens
• Partners: Ritz Paris, Nestle Professional, Mane, blue horizon, Kempinski, Tibits, Ginox Swiss Kitchen

HTMi Hotel and Tourism Management Institute Switzerland

A part of SHGI Group, Switzerland's largest, Hotel and Tourism Management Institute is the Swiss centre of Swiss Hospitality Group International, which is the largest and fastest growing hospitality education, training, and management group in the world. It is recognised as one of the 12 best for employer reputation in the world in 2022. Five of its centres where students can obtain admission are The School of International Hotel and Tourism Management, The International Hospitality Research Centre Switzerland, The International Centre for Events Management Training Switzerland, The Centre for Culinary Management Switzerland, and The Centre for Career Management. 

Highlights

EHL Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality

With its focus on practice-oriented education, EHL Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality helps people gear up for leadership roles by offering federally recognised Swiss hospitality management courses. Incepted in 1966, the school was one of the first Swiss hotel which made English study programs available for the students from abroad.

Cost of UG Programmes at Top Hotel Management Institutes in Switzerland

It is important to note that a hotel management undergraduate degree program would cost you around INR 15 – INR 20 lakhs per year in tuition alone. Apart from that, a student ought to consider that there would be other expenses as well which would also include boarding and security deposits. The other expenses on average would inflate your yearly costs by around CHF 10,000 or around INR 7 lakhs. But that is not all grim. Almost all of the above-mentioned programs have in-built internship programs which pay you around CHF 2,000 during the internship. These can be then offset against the fee.

This was all about the best hotel management schools in Switzerland. If you wish to get enrolled in a university abroad, get assistance from Shiksha's Counselling Services for free.