While the International Management (IM) programme boasts all the advantages of a regular and rigorous Swiss Bachelor degree, it offers a range of additional features ensuring students can offer potential employers significant added value upon graduation.

Language Competence

For a smooth launch into IM studies, conducted entirely in English, a high proficiency in the language is highly recommended. Regular requirements for entry to a Swiss University of Applied Sciences apply so no additional proof of English competency is mandatory. (Requirements) The semester abroad frequently enables acquisition of greater proficiency in either English or another foreign language. IM students study at least one foreign language, many study more than one.

Experience Abroad
IM graduates have international experience. Fulltime students are required to study at least one semester abroad. They typically spend the third semester at one of our 120 partner universities in Europe, Asia, the Americas or Australasia or suggest a destination of their own (subject to agreement). Some extend their studies abroad with a further semester on yet an other continent. In the part-time-program this experience can be gained by a number of different ways: Either by a semester abroad or internships, a Summer School or other intercultural projects.

Intercultural Competence

Today even local is global. Successful operation in teams which increasingly include international members requires cross-cultural awareness and skill. These vital competencies are gained and consolidated during the semester abroad but also during regular semesters: Many home students come from international backgrounds and each semester they are taught alongside exchange students from our many partner institutions.

International Environments

Joint programmes with partner universities and international guest lecturers offer challenging opportunities. Throughout the curriculum, reference to international business practice is paramount. During the final year of studies, students are themselves exposed to such practice by working on business projects provided by companies with international dimensions.

As an additional unique programme feature, selected IM students manage unique seminars on doing business in China, India or the USA under a professor's supervision. Tasks include the search for sponsors to finance the study trip for a group of selected fellow students, the acquisition of speakers and companies as the seminars’ content and the organisation of the trips.  Such projects, as well as the semesters abroad, the visiting exchange students plus the active alumni organisation, establish valuable networks for future careers.

Practice Orientation

A key feature at all universities of applied sciences is the consistent application of theory to practice be it in projects, assignments or classroom tasks and discussion.  The added dimension in IM, of course, is that this application extends to global case studies, customer-generated tasks and international practice. Consummate examples are the bachelor theses with external customers setting comprehensive tasks where the student may conduct research off-site at companies abroad.