Semester 2 · Switzerland or worldwide
The six months that put you inside the industry
Half of a BHMS master's happens off campus: an independent research project, and alongside it an optional six-month industry internship.
Read this first
Optional on the MSc. Built in on the diploma.
Different BHMS programmes treat the internship differently, and it is worth being precise about which one you are applying to.
| Programme | Semester 2 | Internship status |
|---|---|---|
| All eight MSc programmes | Independent research project (30 ECTS) | Optional six-month internship alongside it |
| MBA with Specialisation | Research project or business consultancy | Optional — or return to full-time employment |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Business & Hospitality Management | Six-month internship | Standard component of the programme |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Culinary Arts | Six-month internship | Standard component of the programme |
If a guaranteed placement inside the programme matters more to you than the master's title, the Postgraduate Diploma route — which then progresses to an MSc — is the structure that gives you both, in sequence.
The money
What a Swiss placement actually pays
CHF 2'390
gross per month — the figure BHMS publishes for a Swiss internship placement, before deductions for accommodation, board and social security
≈ CHF 1'500
typically left after taxes, meals and insurance in countryside placements where the employer provides accommodation
≈ CHF 800–CHF 1'000
typically left in major-city placements without accommodation, after taxes and rent
Two caveats BHMS states plainly, and so do we: the minimum salary is not guaranteed if the placement is outside hospitality, and net take-home varies with the kind of placement you take. Third-party sites quote other numbers — CHF 2'390 gross is the official one.
The network
40+ partner brands
BHMS lists over 40 major hospitality brands as industry partners, including Accor, Four Seasons, Hilton, Hyatt, Kempinski, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton and The Chedi.
BHMS follows the Swiss dual vocational education model — each academic semester is followed by a six-month placement — and states that it guarantees internship placements through this partner network, supporting students with both the internship contract and the visa process.
That guarantee is published on the general Swiss internship page, which does not specify whether master's students are covered. Confirm your own case with admissions.
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The roles
Where placements happen
Positions run across the operation, front of house and back office alike.
- Food & Beverage Service
- Front Office
- Night Audit
- Housekeeping
- Kitchen
- Sales & Marketing
- HR & Finance
- PR & Reservations
Swiss positions require German, French or Italian language skills. Placements worldwide do not.
If the placement is the point
The diploma route builds it in
On the Postgraduate Diploma in Business & Hospitality Management, Semester 2 is a six-month internship — not an option alongside a research project. The programme then progresses directly to the MSc in Global Business Management or the MSc in International Hospitality Business Management.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business & Hospitality Management 1 year · 120 credits / 60 ECTS · CHF 38'600
Questions
Straight answers
Is the internship part of the master's programme or not?
Every BHMS MSc describes Semester 2 as an independent research project plus an optional internship in Switzerland or worldwide. So it is available to you, but it is not a compulsory component the way it is on the Postgraduate Diploma, where the six-month internship is a standard part of the programme.
How much does a Swiss internship pay?
BHMS states the gross salary for a Swiss internship placement is CHF 2'390 per month, before deductions for accommodation, board, social security and other benefits. BHMS also states the minimum salary is not guaranteed if the placement is outside hospitality.
What is actually left after deductions?
According to the BHMS FAQ, roughly CHF 1'500 remains after taxes, meals and insurance for countryside placements where the employer provides accommodation; roughly CHF 800–CHF 1'000 remains for major-city placements without accommodation, after taxes and rent.
Do I need to speak German to get a Swiss placement?
For Swiss positions, yes — BHMS states Swiss placements require German, French or Italian language skills. Placements worldwide do not carry that requirement. German language modules are available alongside the academic programme.
Does BHMS find the placement for me?
BHMS states on its Swiss internship page that it guarantees internship placements through an established network of reputable industry partners, and that it supports students with the internship contract and the visa process. That page does not specify whether master's students are covered by the placement guarantee — confirm your own case with admissions before you rely on it.
One year. Two degrees. Switzerland.
Intake dates differ by programme — most run August, November and February. Lucerne & Zurich, Switzerland.
Every MSc is awarded by BHMS and Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen — and Semester 2 can be spent on an optional six-month industry internship. Swiss hospitality placements carry a gross minimum of CHF 2'390/month. How the internship works →