Top-ranked hospitality business school in Lausanne, Switzerland

Discover École hôtelière de Lausanne EHL Hospitality Business School

École hôtelière de Lausanne, better known as EHL Hospitality Business School, is one of the most established names in hospitality management education in Switzerland. Founded in 1893, EHL combines Swiss hospitality heritage, rigorous business education, hands-on training, international mobility and strong industry exposure for students aiming at careers in hospitality, luxury, consulting, entrepreneurship and wider service-driven industries.

Location Lausanne, Switzerland
QS ranking No. 1 worldwide in Hospitality & Leisure Management from 2019 to 2026
Bachelor format 4 years including the Preparatory Year, with an optional semester in Singapore
International community 125+ nationalities and more than 3,000 students on Campus Lausanne
A benchmark for hospitality business education in Switzerland

About EHL Hospitality Business School

EHL is widely regarded as a reference point in hospitality management education. The school’s positioning today is broader and sharper than the original text you shared: it is not only about hotel operations, but about hospitality business, customer-centric leadership, service innovation and career preparation across multiple sectors connected to the experience economy.

The current academic portfolio is also more diverse than the original page suggests. Alongside its flagship Bachelor in International Hospitality Management, EHL now highlights master’s degrees, MBA and Executive MBA formats, a Doctor of Business Administration, pre-university courses, executive education and a wider ecosystem of hospitality, culinary and professional programmes.

For families comparing top hospitality schools in Switzerland, EHL stands out for combining academic rigor, operational immersion, business expertise and high employability. Its Lausanne campus remains the flagship academic hub, while international exposure is reinforced through Singapore mobility, a global master’s format and executive programmes with multiple delivery models.

EHL Hospitality Business School learning environment in Lausanne

School at a Glance

A concise overview of the academic structure, campus profile and key information families usually want first when exploring École hôtelière de Lausanne.

Location

Lausanne, Switzerland, on EHL’s flagship campus with access to an international student environment and an optional mobility semester in Singapore for the bachelor.

Institution type

Private hospitality business school founded in 1893, with university-level, graduate, executive and professional hospitality education pathways.

Academic offer

Bachelor in International Hospitality Management, master’s degrees, MBA, Executive MBA, DBA, pre-university courses, executive education, online learning and professional diplomas.

Flagship bachelor

Bachelor in International Hospitality Management, 4 years including the Preparatory Year, taught in English, with 25 hands-on workshops, two six-month internships and optional Singapore mobility.

Graduate programmes

Master’s in Hospitality Management, Master’s in Global Hospitality Business, MBA for Hospitality and Service Industries, Executive MBA and Doctor of Business Administration.

Language of instruction

Primarily English. The bachelor is taught in English, while a French section also exists for eligible applicants. Graduate and executive degrees are taught in English.

Student community

125+ nationalities and more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students on EHL Campus Lausanne.

Fees

Application fee: CHF 220.
Bachelor full compulsory fees for international students: CHF 177,050 (approx. USD —*).
Minimum housing estimate across the full bachelor: CHF 27,035 (approx. USD —*).

*Fees vary by programme and selected options. Billed in CHF.

Why students choose EHL Hospitality Business School

EHL attracts students who want a strong hospitality management school in Switzerland with real business depth, operational practice and broad career relevance beyond hotels alone.

Global academic reputation

EHL’s long-standing position at the top of QS hospitality rankings reinforces its visibility among students, families and employers looking for one of the world’s best hospitality business schools.

Business education rooted in hospitality

The school combines hospitality operations, service culture, strategy, management and customer-centric business thinking in a way that gives the degree broader relevance across service industries.

Hands-on learning from the start

The bachelor includes a semester of practical courses, 25 hands-on workshops and two six-month internships, which makes the student experience much more applied than a purely classroom-based business degree.

International pathways

Students can access mobility in Singapore at bachelor level, while EHL’s graduate offer also extends into multi-country formats, hybrid delivery and executive programmes for professionals.

Strong campus ecosystem

EHL Campus Lausanne is designed as a full academic and student-life environment with food and beverage outlets, student committees, sports and a highly international peer network.

Broader career outcomes

EHL graduates are prepared for hospitality, luxury, finance, real estate, entrepreneurship and other people- and service-driven sectors where business acumen and customer understanding matter.

Programmes and academic pathways

The academic offer is broader and more current than the original page. Presenting it clearly helps families understand what EHL actually offers today.

Bachelor in International Hospitality Management

EHL’s flagship undergraduate programme combines hospitality skills, business expertise, academic rigor and real-world experience over four years including the Preparatory Year. It includes practical courses, two six-month internships, entrepreneurship options and an optional semester in Singapore.

Master’s degrees in hospitality

The current graduate offer includes a Master’s in Hospitality Management in Lausanne and a Master’s in Global Hospitality Business delivered across Lausanne, Hong Kong and Houston for students seeking a more international management trajectory.

MBA, Executive MBA and advanced study

EHL also offers an MBA for Hospitality and Service Industries, an Executive MBA, a Doctor of Business Administration, executive education and additional learning pathways for students, professionals and senior executives.

Practical learning and student experience

One of EHL’s strongest differentiators is the way academic teaching, operational exposure and business thinking are integrated throughout the student journey.

Applied bachelor structure

  • Preparatory year followed by academic and professional progression
  • 25 hands-on workshops and practical hospitality exposure
  • Two six-month internships in hospitality and business settings
  • Real-world business projects and entrepreneurship options
  • Final-year elective customization for stronger profile alignment
  • Optional semester in Singapore for international mobility

Campus Lausanne environment

  • More than 3,000 students on the main Lausanne campus
  • 125+ nationalities in an international higher education setting
  • Food and beverage outlets integrated into campus life
  • Student committees, sports and leisure facilities on site
  • Learning spaces designed to connect academics and student life
  • Residential options available on and near campus

International and graduate outlook

  • Master’s study options in Lausanne and across three continents
  • MBA and EMBA formats for working professionals and executives
  • DBA pathway for senior leaders seeking research-driven advancement
  • English-taught learning across current graduate programmes
  • Industry-facing live projects and applied business challenges
  • Career development built into the graduate experience

Internships and industry exposure

EHL is not only academically prestigious, but also strongly connected to practical training and employability.

Hands-on experience throughout the degree

  • Two six-month internships built into the bachelor curriculum
  • Practical workshops before deeper academic progression
  • Student business projects linked to industry realities
  • Live projects in graduate programmes
  • Opportunities to develop entrepreneurial projects
  • Operational and managerial exposure rather than theory alone

Career preparation and employer relevance

  • Graduate pathways into hospitality, luxury, finance and service sectors
  • Strong emphasis on customer-centric leadership and business execution
  • Career support embedded in the academic journey
  • International mobility that strengthens employability
  • Business-oriented training for service-led industries
  • Profile-building through electives, projects and internships

Career opportunities after EHL

EHL is best presented as a launch platform into hospitality and premium service industries, with graduate outcomes extending well beyond traditional hotel operations.

Hospitality and hotel management

Graduates can move into hotel operations, guest experience, food and beverage management, rooms division, management training and wider hospitality leadership roles.

Luxury and premium brand environments

EHL’s customer-centric and service-oriented model is also relevant for luxury, retail, experience design and high-end consumer-facing sectors.

Finance and real estate

The school explicitly connects graduate pathways to finance and real estate, which broadens the profile for students who want more than a classic hotel route.

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurial project options, business exposure and operational grounding make EHL relevant for students planning to launch or grow their own ventures.

Consulting and service strategy

The combination of business, hospitality and customer experience can also be valuable for advisory, consulting and strategic service-design careers.

Wider service industries

EHL’s programmes are designed for the broader experience economy, where human interaction, leadership and service excellence remain strategic differentiators.

Discover EHL in video

A recent school video to give families a clearer sense of the campus atmosphere, academic positioning and student experience.

We strive to provide our students with experiential education, a social learning context, and an appreciation for lifelong learning.

Dr Inès Blal

Frequently asked questions about EHL

Useful answers to some of the most common questions families ask when evaluating École hôtelière de Lausanne as a hospitality management school in Switzerland.

Is EHL only for students who want to work in hotels?

No. EHL remains deeply rooted in hospitality, but the school also prepares students for wider service industries such as luxury, consulting, finance, real estate and entrepreneurship.

What is the main undergraduate programme at EHL?

The flagship undergraduate route is the Bachelor in International Hospitality Management, a four-year programme including the Preparatory Year, practical training, two six-month internships and optional mobility in Singapore.

Does EHL offer graduate and executive pathways too?

Yes. EHL currently highlights master’s degrees, an MBA for Hospitality and Service Industries, an Executive MBA, a Doctor of Business Administration and executive education formats for professionals.

Who is EHL best suited to?

EHL is often a strong fit for students who want a highly regarded hospitality business school with strong practical exposure, international mobility and career pathways that extend beyond traditional hotel operations.

How Edelweiss Panorama International helps students and families

We help families go beyond the EHL brand name and assess whether the school is truly the right academic, financial and strategic fit for the student’s profile.

Clarifying the right pathway

We help determine whether the student should target the bachelor, a graduate programme, an MBA route or a pre-university option depending on age, background and objectives.

Understanding EHL’s positioning

We explain where EHL sits in the Swiss hospitality school landscape and how it compares with other leading institutions in terms of brand, academic style and career direction.

Admissions preparation

We support students with profile review, application timing, document preparation and a more strategic presentation of their candidacy.

Strategic school comparison

We compare EHL with Glion, Les Roches and SHMS so families can make a more informed choice based on profile fit, learning environment and long-term goals.

Would you like to explore whether EHL is the right fit for your project?

Choose the contact option that suits you best. We can help you assess fit, compare programmes and understand the next admissions steps.

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Visit the official EHL website

Families who would like to review the school’s official information, campus material and programme pages directly can also consult the official EHL website.

Comparable hospitality schools to explore

Students considering EHL often compare other leading hospitality schools in Switzerland depending on the balance they want between prestige, practical learning, campus atmosphere and programme structure.

Glion Institute of Higher Education

A relevant comparison for students looking at another internationally visible Swiss hospitality school with a premium positioning and a different campus identity.

  • Strong global brand recognition
  • Useful benchmark for luxury positioning
  • Different academic rhythm and student atmosphere
  • Often compared with EHL by international families
Discover Glion

Les Roches Global Hospitality Education

Les Roches is another close comparison for students who want Swiss hospitality education with strong employability, practical learning and an international student profile.

  • Close benchmark on internships and career orientation
  • Different institutional narrative and campus culture
  • Strong alternative within the same broad segment
  • Helpful for comparing learning style and fit
Discover Les Roches

SHMS

Swiss Hotel Management School can also be relevant for students who want a different type of Swiss hospitality education with its own style, campus setting and programme experience.

  • Different campus atmosphere and student experience
  • Useful for comparing programme style and environment
  • Alternative route within Swiss hospitality education
  • Relevant for families reviewing several top options
Discover SHMS