Yes, international students can take a master's in Switzerland in English, and at BHMS it takes one year. Each of the eight MSc degrees costs CHF 41'700 all-inclusive (about US$50,500 at the October 2026 rate), is awarded by BHMS and Robert Gordon University (UK), and leaves Semester 2 open for an optional paid internship.
Below: why the one-year format matters, what the money covers, how the internship works, and the visa steps if you don't hold an EU or EFTA passport.
Why a one-year master's?
If you've looked at two-year programmes, a 12-month master's changes the maths. You pay one year of living costs and you're back on the job market a year earlier. At BHMS the year has two halves:
- Semester 1: six months of classes on campus in Lucerne or Zurich (60 ECTS).
- Semester 2: six months off campus for an independent research project (30 ECTS), with an optional six-month internship in Switzerland or worldwide.
Total: 90 ECTS / 180 UK credits, and two degrees at the end, one from BHMS and one from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. BHMS is ranked #12 in Hospitality & Leisure Management in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
Which master's can you study?
| Programme | Campus | Next intakes |
|---|---|---|
| MSc in Global Business Management | Lucerne & Zurich | November 2026, February 2027, August 2027 |
| MSc in International Hospitality Business Management | Lucerne & Zurich | November 2026, February 2027, August 2027 |
| MSc in International Tourism Management | Lucerne | November 2026, February 2027, August 2027 |
| MSc in Wine and Beverage Business Management | Lucerne | February 2027, August 2027, November 2027 |
| MSc in Business, Sports and Event Management | Zurich | November 2026, February 2027, August 2027 |
| MSc in Business, Banking and Finance | Zurich | November 2026, February 2027, August 2027 |
| MSc in Business and Airline Management | Zurich | February 2027, August 2027, November 2027 |
| MSc in Culinary Entrepreneurship | Lucerne | November 2026, February 2027, August 2027 |
| MBA with Specialisation | Lucerne | November 2026, February 2027, November 2027 |
All of them are taught on campus. There's no online version.
How much does a master's in Switzerland cost?
2027 fees. Dollar and euro figures are rounded, at the October 2026 rate.
| Item (MSc) | CHF | About US$ | About € |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | CHF 31'800 | US$38,500 | €34,500 |
| Operating costs | CHF 2'750 | US$3,350 | €2,950 |
| Living expenses (24 weeks, shared room + meals) | CHF 6'150 | US$7,450 | €6,650 |
| Application fee | CHF 1'000 | US$1,200 | €1,100 |
| MSc total | CHF 41'700 | US$50,500 | €45,000 |
| MBA total | CHF 44'700 | US$54,000 | €48,500 |
Operating costs cover mandatory health and medical insurance, the visa/B-permit and local tax, e-campus and internet, the internship placement service and your first airport pick-up. The room included is a shared standard room on the LakeSide Campus in Lucerne; upgrades and the Zurich rooms cost extra, and there's a refundable CHF 1'500 room deposit. See the full fee breakdown and the campus and rooms.
Can you work while you study?
If you need a visa, not on the side: BHMS students who need one may not work outside the internship built into their programme. The internship itself is the earning part. Swiss hospitality placements pay a gross minimum of CHF 2'404 a month (about US$2,900) before deductions for board, lodging and social insurance. On the MSc it's optional; see how Semester 2 works.
Visa basics for non-EU students
Switzerland issues a national visa, category D, for stays over 90 days, and education is one of the purposes it covers. The steps, in order:
- Apply to the school and get your letter of acceptance. You can't file the visa without it.
- Apply for the D visa at the Swiss embassy or consulate responsible for the place where you live.
- The embassy sends your file to the cantonal migration office where you'll study (Lucerne or Zurich), which decides. The embassy can only issue the visa once that office says yes.
- Expect to show who pays and that the money is there; your embassy publishes its own checklist.
BHMS notes that visa requirements differ for applicants aged 30 and over. The visa/B-permit fee is already inside the operating costs. EU and EFTA citizens skip the visa and register with the local residents' office within 14 days of arriving. Applying from India? Read the guide for Indian students, which walks through the embassy checklist.
An MBA in Switzerland instead?
The MBA with Specialisation is the general management option: eight core modules in Lucerne, then a Semester 2 project in one of 7 specialisations, for CHF 44'700. It starts in November and February. If hospitality is the plan, compare it with the MSc in our MBA in hospitality management guide.
How to apply
You need the application form, a CV, a motivation letter, your bachelor's degree (or your latest university transcripts if you haven't finished), and a passport scan, all in English; a simple translation is enough for transcripts. Admissions replies within 72 hours, and there's nothing to pay before your letter of acceptance. Start your application, or read BHMS's own answers on the bhms.ch FAQ. Not finished your bachelor's yet? Our sister site shows how to finish your bachelor's in Switzerland.