BA · Lucerne · 180 ECTS · Year 2/3 direct entry
Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
From à la carte to entrepreneurship — a chef’s bachelor with hundreds of hours in professional kitchens.
At a glance
Three years. Two degrees. A paycheck in every one.
Every year has the same rhythm: a six-month academic semester in Lucerne — with 460 kitchen hours in Year 2 — followed by a six-month internship. Swiss hospitality placements pay a gross CHF 2'390/month.
Joining from a US college? Year 2 entry means two years to the BA; Year 3 entry means one academic semester plus one final internship. In certain cases, you may be required to complete an additional term to fulfill the module requirements.
The curriculum you join
What Year 2 and Year 3 actually teach
Year 2 — Semester 3 modules
- A la Carte Cuisine
- Mediterranean Cuisine
- Global Cuisine
- Themes and Concepts
- Chef’s Table
- Chocolate Creations
- Food and Beverage Service Operations II
- Food & Wine Pairing
- Menu Design
- Culinary Business Analysis
- Food and Beverage Cost Management
- Supervisory Development
- Career Development and Professional Integration
Ends in the Higher Diploma (120 credits / 60 ECTS), then a six-month internship.
Year 3 — Semester 5 modules
- Managing Culinary Resources
- Creativity & Entrepreneurship
- Food Service Management
- New Food Product Development
- Academic Writing & RGU Standards: Workshop
- Career Development and Professional Integration
- Elective: Contemporary Culinary Operations or Patisserie Design and Innovation
Ends in the Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts, then the final six-month internship.
Fees
The 2026 numbers, line by line
| Per year (CHF) | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | CHF 29'100 | CHF 30'100 | CHF 31'100 |
| Operating costs | CHF 2'600 | CHF 2'600 | CHF 2'600 |
| Living expenses (24 weeks, shared room + meals) | CHF 5'900 | CHF 5'900 | CHF 5'900 |
| Application fee | CHF 1'000 | CHF 1'000* | CHF 1'000* |
| Uniform, knife sets etc. | CHF 500 | CHF 500* | CHF 500* |
| Total | CHF 39'100 | CHF 40'100 | CHF 41'100 |
*Charged in Years 2/3 only for direct-entry students starting in that year. Operating costs include mandatory health and medical insurance, visa/B-permit and local tax, e-campus and internet access, excursions and field trips, and your first airport pick-up. Fees are reviewed every year and are subject to change. Early payment (90 days before term start) earns a CHF 1'000 discount.
Compare
The other paths
Questions
Culinary Arts, answered
How is the Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts structured?
Three years, 180 ECTS / 360 UK credits. Each year pairs a six-month academic semester in Lucerne with a six-month internship in Switzerland or worldwide — Year 1 ends in a Diploma, Year 2 in a Higher Diploma, Year 3 in the Bachelor of Arts.
Can I join in Year 2 or Year 3?
Yes — that is what this site is about. Students who completed the first or second year of a hospitality or culinary arts program elsewhere join Year 2 or Year 3 after an individual transcript review; verified equivalent work experience fast-tracks you into Year 2. In certain cases, you may be required to complete an additional term to fulfill the module requirements.
What degree do I receive?
Two degrees: the Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts from BHMS and a degree from Robert Gordon University (UK) — the dual award printed on the program page.
What does it cost?
2026 all-inclusive totals: Year 2 CHF 40'100, Year 3 CHF 41'100 — tuition, shared accommodation and meals during the 24-week academic semester, Swiss health insurance, visa and permit administration, excursions and first airport pick-up. Direct-entry students pay the CHF 1'000 application fee in their entry year plus a CHF 500 uniform and knife set.
When can I start?
Printed intakes for this program: June 2026, August 2026, September 2026, November 2026, January 2027, February 2027, April 2027, May 2027. Year 3 direct entry is limited to selected intakes — confirm your target date with admissions.
Your credits got you this far. Switzerland takes you the rest of the way.
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 →