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Study Abroad in Switzerland: Exchange or Degree? | BHMS
There are three ways to study abroad in Switzerland from a US community college. Which one is open to you depends on what your own college has signed.
If you want to study abroad in Switzerland from a US community college, you have three routes: an exchange semester your own college arranges, a 10-day summer program, or finishing your bachelor's there. The first one exists only if your college has an agreement. A Swiss university such as ETH Zurich takes exchange students only when their home university nominates them.[1]
How does an exchange semester in Switzerland work?
You don't apply to the Swiss university yourself. At ETH Zurich, exchange is open to students at non-European partner universities. Your home university has to nominate you and approve it.[1]
The dates show how early this starts. ETH wants nominations by 15 March for the autumn semester and 15 August for the spring semester, though some home universities set different dates. Its own application closes on 1 April for autumn and 1 September for spring.[1]
You'd stay one or two semesters, attend in person (distance learning isn't allowed) and earn 20 to 30 ECTS credits per semester.[1] That's one university's rulebook, and others write their own. But the pattern is common: the door opens from your college's side.
So the first step costs nothing. Ask your college's education abroad office whether it has a partner in Switzerland, and when its internal nomination deadline falls.
What if your college has no Swiss partner?
Then the two BHMS routes are worth a look. They don't depend on an agreement between colleges.
The 10-day summer program
Swiss Summer Abroad 2027 runs from 28 June to 7 July 2027 in Lucerne. It costs CHF 3,300 per student, or CHF 2,900 per student when 10 or more come from the same college. You can earn up to 2 US academic credits if your home institution approves them. Apply by March 31, 2027.[2]
Using the Federal Reserve rate of 0.8248 francs per US dollar on October 23, 2026,[6] that comes to about USD 4,000 and about USD 3,520.
The final bachelor's year
Direct entry puts you into Year 3, the last year of a BHMS bachelor's. You need to be 18 or older, with one year of equivalent training or two years of work experience, and IELTS 5.5 or equivalent.[3] Year 3 starts only in February, August and November. The next starts are 16 November 2026, 22 February 2027 and 16 August 2027.[3]
You spend one six-month academic semester in class, then a six-month internship, in Switzerland or worldwide.[4] If you need no extra term, that's how some students finish in as little as 12 months. BHMS and Robert Gordon University (UK) award the final-year degree together.[4]
One caveat matters: BHMS doesn't guarantee it will accept credits from another institution. It reviews every transcript individually, and sometimes you may need an additional term.[3]
The three routes side by side
| Route | Who opens the door | Length | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange semester | Your college, through a partner agreement | One or two semesters[1] | Nomination by your home university[1] |
| Summer Abroad 2027 | You, by applying to BHMS | 10 days[2] | Application by March 31, 2027[2] |
| Final year in Lucerne | You, with a transcript review | Semester plus internship[4] | Age 18+, training or work experience, IELTS 5.5[3] |
What does this mean for you?
Pick by what you want to walk away with. Want a term abroad that fits inside your current degree? Then the exchange route suits you, and it starts with a conversation at your own college. Want to see Lucerne before you commit to anything? Ten days is the smallest step. Want to finish your bachelor's in Switzerland? Then the final year is your route, and your transcript decides how it looks.
Here's the money, plainly. Year 3 for 2027 costs CHF 41'700 on the business track and CHF 42'200 on the culinary track. At the same rate, that's about USD 50,560 and USD 51,160. The price covers tuition, a semester of room and meals, health insurance, the visa and B-permit, and internship placement.[5] If you enter directly, you also pay a CHF 1'000 application fee.[5]
You can't pay for BHMS with US federal student aid: no FAFSA, no Pell Grant, no federal loans. The wider rule works the same way. Students at foreign schools aren't eligible for grants such as Pell, and federal loans reach only participating foreign schools.[7] A four-year university at home keeps real advantages: federal aid, in-state tuition if you qualify, and staying near family. Weigh those honestly against what Lucerne offers.
Your next step
Start with two questions. Does your college have a Swiss exchange partner, and what's its nomination date? Then check which BHMS route fits your calendar. The Summer Abroad 2027 page has the day-by-day program, and direct entry explains the final year. The two-minute fit check tells you quickly whether the final year suits your transcript.