Every year of the BA · Switzerland or worldwide
Six months of study. Six months of paid work. Every year.
Every year of a BHMS Bachelor of Arts pairs a six-month academic semester in Lucerne with a six-month paid internship — up to 18 months of paid work experience inside a three-year degree.
How a BHMS year works
The internship is the other half of the degree
This is not a summer job bolted onto a program. Each academic semester is followed by a six-month internship placement — three internships across the full BA.
Year 1
Semester 1 — six months of classes on campus in Lucerne.
Semester 2 — six-month paid internship, Switzerland or worldwide.
Year 2
Semester 3 — six months of classes on campus in Lucerne.
Semester 4 — six-month paid internship, Switzerland or worldwide.
Year 3
Semester 5 — six months of classes on campus in Lucerne.
Semester 6 — final six-month paid internship before graduation.
Joining through direct entry? You slot into the same rhythm: Year 2 entrants complete two internships, Year 3 entrants complete the final one.
The money
What a Swiss placement pays
CHF 2'390
gross per month on Swiss hospitality placements, before deductions for room, board and social security
3 × 6 months
three six-month internship placements across the three-year BA — in Switzerland or worldwide
Up to 18 months
of paid work experience on your résumé by graduation — before your first full-time job
Two things to know before you count the money: deductions for room and board, social security and similar items come out of the gross figure, and non-EU students — US students included — may not work part-time off campus during academic semesters. The internship semesters are when you earn.
The placements
Guaranteed through an industry partner network
BHMS works closely with an established network of reputable industry partners to guarantee internship placements during your studies — that wording is BHMS's own, published on its internship page.
During each internship you are evaluated by your employer on an agreed set of developmental criteria, and you reflect on your professional development in a written assessment — every placement ends with documented feedback in hand.
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The fine print on languages
Swiss placements reward German, French or Italian
BHMS says it plainly: most positions in Switzerland depend very much on your German, French, or Italian language skills. That is worth knowing before you arrive — and worth acting on once you do.
The business-track BAs put a Language Elective at the top of the Year 2 module list, so you can start building a working language during the academic semester. Prefer to work in English? Placements are also available worldwide.
See the four BA programs
Joining in Year 2 or Year 3
Direct entry, same rhythm
Credit recognition places you into Year 2 or Year 3 — and the study-then-work structure of each year comes with you.
Join in Year 2
Two academic semesters, two six-month paid internships — Semesters 3 to 6 of the BA. Up to 12 months of paid experience before you graduate.
Join in Year 3
One academic semester (Semester 5), then one final six-month paid internship (Semester 6) — finish in as little as 12 months.
In certain cases, you may be required to complete an additional term to fulfill the module requirements.
How direct entry worksQuestions
Straight answers
How much does a Swiss internship pay?
BHMS publishes a gross salary of CHF 2'390 per month for Swiss hospitality placements. Deductions for room and board, social security and similar items come out of that figure, so what remains depends on your placement's arrangement.
Is the internship part of the bachelor's program?
Yes — it is built into the structure of every BA year. Each year pairs a six-month academic semester with a six-month internship placement, in Switzerland or worldwide. Across the full three-year BA that means three internships.
Are internship placements guaranteed?
BHMS states that it works closely with an established network of reputable industry partners to guarantee internships during your studies. That wording is published on its own internship page.
Do I need to speak German to get a Swiss placement?
For most Swiss positions, yes — BHMS states that most positions in Switzerland depend very much on your German, French, or Italian language skills. A Language Elective is part of the Year 2 module plan on the business-track BAs, and placements are also available worldwide.
Can I work part-time during the academic semester?
Not off campus, if you are a non-EU student — US students included. BHMS terms state that non-EU students may not work part-time off campus during academic semesters. Paid work is concentrated in the six-month internship semesters.
How many internships will I do if I join in Year 2 or Year 3?
Join in Year 2 and you complete two six-month internships (Semesters 4 and 6). Join in Year 3 and you complete one final six-month internship (Semester 6). Students on the full three-year BA complete three.
Get paid to learn the industry — in Switzerland.
Direct entry into Year 2 or Year 3 of a BHMS Bachelor of Arts — Lucerne, Switzerland. Multiple intakes through the year.
Every BA is awarded by BHMS and Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen — and each academic semester is followed by a six-month paid internship. Swiss hospitality placements pay a gross CHF 2'390/month. How the internships work →