BHMS Business and Hotel Management School
Description of BHMS Business and Hotel Management School
Location: Lucerne, Switzerland,
Year of Establishment: 1998,
Number of Students: Approximately 1100,
Language of Instruction: English,
Type of Education: Blended.
Business and Hotel Management School (BHMS) is one of the leading schools in the field of hotel management in the world. The school is located in the heart of Lucerne, Switzerland.
BHMS is a member of the Bénédict Switzerland group of schools, which allows students to gain diverse academic and professional experience. Through its collaboration with the group and its components, students have the opportunity to earn international bachelor's and master's degrees, participate in paid internships, and visit leading universities worldwide through exchange programs.
In addition to higher education programs, BHMS offers short culinary courses, winter and summer camp programs, and preparatory English language courses. The staff provides comprehensive support to both local and international students, assisting with various matters, from visa documentation to finding their first job.
Do all universities have an ESL supportive program for foreign students? Do you think is it important?
Usually yes, in one form or another ESL is taught by the university, as well as supporting classes / seminars for foreign students, a pre-sessional English course.
Educational process
Industrial training is an integral part of any curriculum offered at the university: during each academic year, students must complete four to six months of paid internships at a BHMS-approved hotel or restaurant.
Programs and prices, tuition fees in BHMS Business and Hotel Management School
Master's programs at the university are offered in the areas:
- "Hotel Management"
- "Tourism"
- "Hospitality Industry"
- "International Management"
- "Culinary Arts".
The educational program is designed for 12 months. In addition to practical and theoretical studies on the campus, it includes an internship in the best profile institutions in Switzerland and the world (the internship is paid for, on average, 4 months).
For admission, it is necessary to present a bachelor's degree, personal resume and proof of work experience (minimum 2 years, ideally to have recommendations from the employer) and an IELTS certificate from 5.0 (or its equivalent) to the admission committee. For applicants of the direction "Culinary Art", it is allowed to present a Diploma, not a bachelor's degree, provided that the work experience is at least 2 years.
An intensive preparatory program is designed for foreign students who need to significantly increase the language and academic level in a short time. The curriculum includes special profile lessons on professional vocabulary and terminology, colloquial professional expressions, etc.
The duration of the course is 10 weeks.
Bachelor's programs in BHMS are offered in the following specialties:
- Hotel management
- International Business Management
- Culinary art.
Completely the educational program takes 3 academic years (36 months) and is divided into the following stages:
- Diploma
- Higher Diploma
- Bachelor Degree.
Each stage takes 1 academic year: 6 months students are engaged on campus and 4-6 months spend on paid practical internship in the best institutions in Switzerland and the world.
To enter the initial stage, you must provide a certificate of completion of 11 classes of secondary school and an IELTS certificate from 5.0 or its equivalent (age from 17 years). The Higher Diploma will require a higher level of language (IELTS from 5.5 or equivalent), as well as completed 1 course in the profile specialty (in BHMS or other profile institution). Accordingly, at Bachelor Degree (3 year) the requirements are even higher: IELTS from 6.0 or its equivalent, Higher Diploma plus the certificate of completion of 11 classes of secondary school.
The MBA program is offered at the university in two directions:
- Hotel management
- International business management.
The duration of study is 2 academic years (24 months): during each 6 months it is devoted to classes on the campus, and for 4-6 months students spend on paid practical internship, which allows them to acquire valuable practical skills and professional contacts and acquaintances. Please note that for this program the internship is optional (for the direction "International Management" and for the second year of the direction "Hotel Management").
Applicants must provide the admissions committee with a diploma of higher education in the profile specialty, and also pass an IELTS (or its equivalent) by at least 6.0 points.
Short-term cooking courses
- Age - from 18 years,
- The training period is 10 weeks.
Students have the opportunity to earn a standard or advanced certificate in culinary arts in one of several specializations:
- Culinary operations,
- Confectionery, chocolate, bakery products.
Within 10 weeks, students will study specialized disciplines, spend many hours in the laboratory, practicing honing culinary and baking skills, attend lectures on various topics: starting a confectionery business, developing supervisors, food safety and others.
Depending on the existing skills, the student can receive a standard or advanced certificate, the training for which does not differ in duration.
The cost of the program includes all necessary expenses, including accommodation and meals, study and laboratory materials, academic classes and lectures.
Summer & Winter Camps
- Age - from 18 years,
- Dates: July, August, December,
- The training period is two weeks.
The School of Business and Hospitality Management offers a two-week orientation program for school or university graduates where they will be able to:
- Learn about your career goals and the ideal training you need to achieve them,
- Gain knowledge of the skills and requirements for a career in the global business or hospitality sector,
- Discover Switzerland and Lucerne as a place to study.
Accommodation, meals, prices
Five student residences in Gutschstrasse, Baselstrasse, Bernstrasse, and Ladelistrasse offer accommodation in modern rooms with a bathroom, mini-kitchen, wardrobe, study areas, and Wi-Fi. All residences are secure, easily accessible to public transportation and landmarks, cafes, and restaurants. They are located in close proximity to the academic buildings, with a walk to the lecture halls taking approximately 10 minutes.
Offered amenities:
City residences: apartments for three to four people, studios,
Residence buildings on the lakeside: double rooms, studios.
Students have the option to book a meal plan, which provides three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekdays, and late breakfasts and dinners on weekends and holidays. Special dishes are available for vegetarians and those who do not consume pork or beef at no additional cost.
Subjects and sports
Activities BHMS Business and Hotel Management School
BHMS offers extracurricular activities that help students develop diverse interests, from exploring the environment and attractions of Switzerland to participating in sports competitions and joining creative groups.
Each of the proposed activities aims to channel students' active and competitive spirit towards group and individual sports, outdoor adventures, creativity, or artistic pursuits. BHMS organizes various events to balance students' academic life while simultaneously reducing stress, enhancing emotional and physical well-being, and encouraging interaction and collaboration among students of different nationalities. Weekly events include a range of activities, from arts and crafts to card games, cricket, and mountaineering. Every BHMS student can embark on mountain trips, go kayaking, practice yoga, play rugby, explore the city on excursions, or savor local cuisine in various cafes and restaurants.
Advantages
- BHMS Business and Hotel Management School with the best universities in the UK and the USA;
- Regular internships in the best institutions in Switzerland and the world - all internships are paid;
- A full disclosure of the potential of each student, his talents, personal and leadership qualities, comprehensive development as a professional;
- Current and valuable knowledge: graduates fully meet the standards of the modern international environment;
- Possibility to build an international career, job placement assistance;
- Excellent location: Lucerne is not only one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland and Europe, but also an important cultural, tourist, business center with excellent infrastructure and clean environment.
Facilities and equipment at BHMS Business and Hotel Management School
BHMS University is located in the heart of the city of Lucerne and offers its students easy access to cafes, supermarkets, bars, shops, and restaurants, as well as attractions and places for leisure activities.
The main campus is a city area that includes student residences, classrooms, administrative offices, and a large cafeteria. Here, you can find areas for relaxation and self-study, a library, and specialized laboratories designed for group and individual projects.
BHMS also has four modern educational buildings in the center of Lucerne, located within a 5-10 minute walk from each other. They are adjacent to the classrooms of other schools that are part of Bénédict Switzerland.
All university buildings are equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi. For students who do not have laptops, BHMS provides computers, allowing them to complete their academic assignments and, of course, stay in touch with their families.
Admission dates and extra charges
BHMS has implemented a unique education system, dividing the 20-week semester into four mini-semesters of 5 weeks each. This system allows students to deeply study 3-4 academic subjects simultaneously, instead of the typical 8-10 subjects in other Swiss higher education institutions. As a result, students can complete 12-14 academic subjects in 6 months without overloading and effectively mastering the material.
The total cost includes:
- Tuition fees
- Use of all study materials
- Accommodation in a double room and meal plan
- Access to the computer lab and library
- Internet access
- Visa, permit B, and local taxes
- Some excursions
- Mandatory 12-month medical insurance
Additionally, students will need to cover:
- Application fee
- Operational expenses
- Surcharge for upgraded accommodation
- Academic support and assistance
- Costs for culinary courses: uniform, sets of tools, and more
- Off-campus expenses: leisure, public transport, mobile communication, and others.
Extras:
- Registration fee (for a programme/course) 1500 CHF
Enrolment process
Step-by-step admission process:
- Filling out an online form and providing documents translated into English and bearing an official seal,
- Receiving an invitation letter from the admissions committee within 72 hours,
- Confirmation of registration: making the first payment within two weeks, processing visa documents and arriving on campus for possible entrance tests,
- Accommodation in the residence and the beginning of training.
Enrolment statistics
On average, about 91 freshmen enroll in BHMS annually.
Perspectives
Thanks to the system of paid internships, students gain applied experience and are ready to start working immediately after graduation.
Entry requirements, how to apply, what is required to enrol
Recruitment of new students of undergraduate programs takes place twice a year: in February and August. Admission to postgraduate programs is possible in one of eight months: January, February, April, May, July, August, September-November.
Incoming international students must provide:
- High School Diploma with Assessment Certificate/Bachelor's Degree,
- Certificate confirming the level of English: IELTS, TOEFL, Testpodium or equivalent. Since the training takes place in English, the future student must have a level not lower than B2: for a bachelor's degree, IELTS from 5.0, for steps above - from 6.0,
- A personal resume with existing achievements,
- Motivation letter explaining the desire to enter the BHMS,
- Personal documents: passport, health insurance, visa or residence permit in Switzerland.
Future MBA students need to have two to three years of work experience.
Literature and references
- Business and Hotel Management School — Wiki
- BA in Hospitality Management
- The Top 10 Hotel Management Schools In Europe 2019 Revealed — The CEOWORLD magazine
- Collaboration agreement with BHMS Business & Hotel Management School
- BHMS BUSINESS & HOTEL MANAGEMENT SCHOOL GUTSCHSTRASSE 2 Salaries - How Much Does BHMS Business & Hotel Management School Gutschstrasse 2 Pay?
Institution on the map
Residence permits, citizenship and other services
- Guardianship services during the studies
- Student supervision
Review about BHMS Business and Hotel Management School
Recommendations on when to apply
Language courses, schools and children's language camps | Primary and secondary education - private schools | Preparation programmes for entering universities - higher education | Higher education (after completing accredited programs A-level, IB, High School) - Bachelor, Master, MBA |
- we recommend to apply 6-9 months before the start of the course (some camps and schools offer discounts for early booking or for lengthy study programs) - there are some very popular and high demand children's camps, where the applications need to be submitted 1 year in advance (in particular Switzerland , Great Britain , USA , Canada , Austria) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the training program, - some schools have a specific time frame (September-November - please specify an individual school) - some schools require tests in several stages (UKISET, internal tests of the school: English, mathematics, logics, subjects, interview, some require a personal visit) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the program, - for Foundation and Pathway programs, IELTS and TOEFL certificates are usually required, respectively | - recommended submission one year before the start of the program, - the deadline normally closes in January, for TOP HEIs and, as a rule, in March in other universities - for a bachelor, a Foundation or Pathway preparatory program a completed A-level, IB, High School + IELTS / TOEFL are required - for Masters you need a graduated higher education, in some cases you need a pre-Masters program - MBA requires completed higher education, work experience preferably at least 2-3 years, etc. |
Sam is the Regional Director of Student Admissions at INTO Universities (Europe and Central Asia). Sam has nearly 20 years' experience in international education. Also, he has experience in student recruitment for institutions in the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand and is a qualified EFL teacher with many years of experience teaching abroad. He understands the challenges faced by international students and is aware of all these difficulties and have vast experience in helping foreign students.