An MBA in hospitality management is a general management degree with hospitality as the specialisation. At BHMS in Lucerne it takes one year, is awarded by BHMS and Robert Gordon University (UK), and costs CHF 44'700 all-inclusive: about US$54,000 or ₹51 lakh at the October 2026 rate.
Most people searching this are weighing two things: whether an MBA is the right degree at all, and whether a year in Switzerland is worth it next to a programme at home. Here's what you get, what it costs and how it compares with the hospitality MSc.
How the BHMS MBA works
Semester 1 is six months on campus in Lucerne: a 120-credit block of eight core modules, 15 credits each.
- Sustainable Business Models
- Driving Innovation and Cultural Evolution
- Value Creation through Business Development
- Strategic Global Business Management
- Finance and Accounting for Informed Decisions
- Strategic Marketing and Data Analytics
- Transformational Leadership in Human Resource Management
- MBA Research Methods
Semester 2 is your specialisation: an independent research project or a business consultancy assignment inside it. During those six months you can take an optional internship in Switzerland or worldwide, or go back to full-time work while you finish the project.
What the International Hospitality Management specialisation covers
It's one of 7 specialisations. BHMS describes it as building a critical understanding of international hospitality management: business acumen, a global strategic view and leadership skills for the sector, with sustainable practice and high ethical standards running through it. In practice your Semester 2 research or consultancy project is written on a hospitality question.
The other specialisations, if you're still deciding: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Innovative Start-Up Business Strategies, Luxury Brand Management, Cybersecurity and Big Data Management, Global Marketing and Sales, Banking and Finance. If brands are your thing, see our guide to the luxury brand management master's.
MBA or MSc in hospitality management?
| MBA (hospitality specialisation) | MSc International Hospitality Business Management | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | General management, hospitality in Semester 2 | Hospitality throughout Semester 1 |
| Length | 1 year | 1 year |
| Campus | Lucerne | Lucerne & Zurich |
| Intakes | November and February | November, February, August |
| Total (2027) | CHF 44'700 | CHF 41'700 |
| Awarded by | BHMS + Robert Gordon University | BHMS + Robert Gordon University |
A simple rule: if you already know you want hotels, resorts or hospitality businesses, the hospitality MSc gives you more hospitality per month. If you want to keep doors open into general management, the MBA does that, and the specialisation keeps the hospitality thread. English matters here too: the MBA is taught at a demanding level, and the MSc is the gentler of the two. More on the MSc side in our guide to the master's in hospitality management.
Want both? The MSc and the MBA combine into an 18-month route with two master's degrees. At 2026 rates that's CHF 58'100 against CHF 84'200 taken separately; the 2027 fee table doesn't list the combined route yet, so confirm it with admissions.
What it costs, in your currency
Figures at the October 2026 rate, rounded. The Swiss franc amount is the price.
| Item | CHF | About US$ | About ₹ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | CHF 34'800 | US$42,000 | ₹40 lakh |
| Operating costs (insurance, visa/permit, e-campus, placement service, airport pick-up) | CHF 2'750 | US$3,350 | ₹3.2 lakh |
| Living expenses (24 weeks, shared room + meals) | CHF 6'150 | US$7,450 | ₹7.1 lakh |
| Application fee | CHF 1'000 | US$1,200 | ₹1.1 lakh |
| Total for the year | CHF 44'700 | US$54,000 | ₹51 lakh |
Room upgrades and a refundable CHF 1'500 room deposit come on top; every option is on the fees page. If you take a Swiss hospitality internship in Semester 2, it pays a gross minimum of CHF 2'404 a month (₹2.8 lakh), before deductions for board, lodging and social insurance.
Entry requirements and intakes
- An undergraduate degree in any discipline.
- English at IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.
- Intakes: November 2026, February 2027, November 2027. The MBA starts in November and February only.
Applying from India? Our guide to a master's in Switzerland for Indian students covers the Swiss embassy visa checklist and the documents your sponsor needs. Full programme details are on the MBA page and on bhms.ch.