Hospitality Study Costs in Switzerland: How to Read SHMS Tuition Fees and Build a More Realistic Budget
Switzerland can appeal to prospective Hospitality students because of its strong hotel, service, event, luxury and tourism ecosystem. But Swiss study costs need to be read in detail. Tuition is only one part of the total commitment. Accommodation, meals, infrastructure, services, deposits, travel and personal needs can significantly change the final figure.
Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS) presents its program fees in Swiss francs (CHF), separating tuition, accommodation, meals, and infrastructure and services.[1] Understanding that breakdown matters more than comparing one headline total, because each study format has a different number of semesters, internships and on-campus requirements.
Start with the total, then break down the components
For the BA & ES Swiss Diploma in International Hospitality Management, SHMS lists a total of CHF 186,500 across four semesters and two paid internship periods. Within that total, tuition is CHF 130,700; accommodation CHF 14,800; meals CHF 12,400; and infrastructure and service CHF 28,600.[1]
That figure does not mean every student will have the same personal expenditure. The fee page provides a structure for what the program includes, while flights, personal spending, deposit top-ups or room choices can create different funding needs. Put two figures in your plan:
- the official program cost from the SHMS page; and
- a personal contingency budget for costs not listed or likely to change.
This avoids a common mistake: assuming the program total is the whole cost of living and arriving in Switzerland.
An example: how a Hospitality degree fee is split by semester
In the SHMS undergraduate pathway, the first semester is listed at CHF 47,700, comprising tuition of CHF 33,100, accommodation CHF 3,700, meals CHF 3,100 and infrastructure CHF 7,800.[1] Later semesters have different compositions. During an internship, the page states that the internship is paid and there are no school fees for that period.[1]
That is not the same as saying an internship funds every need. A paid internship still needs to be considered alongside placement conditions, location, tax, visa, accommodation during the internship and personal spending. Do not reduce your budget using projected internship income until you have written information relevant to your position and period.
SHMS says Swiss internship gross salary can reach CHF 2,350 per month.[1] The word “can” matters: this is not guaranteed income for every student, is not a net-salary figure, and should not be used as certain funding.
Comparing several program formats
The current SHMS fee page lists these example totals:
- Access Foundation, 9 weeks: CHF 12,400;
- Access Foundation, 18 weeks: CHF 24,900;
- Master of Arts in International Hospitality Business Management, 18 weeks: CHF 50,900;
- the same Master of Arts, 36 weeks: CHF 63,900;
- Master of Science in International Hospitality Management: CHF 50,900;
- MBA Global, 12 months: CHF 49,200;
- Postgraduate Diploma to Master of Advanced Studies: CHF 44,500.[1]
Do not use this list as a final price list for your intake. SHMS says fees are reviewed annually and may change at any time.[1] Use the figures to understand the scale of investment and shape your questions, then request the fee schedule that applies to your offer.
What is included in the fees?
On its tuition-and-fees page, SHMS includes academic courses, final-exam fees, guest lectures, workshops, field trips, evaluated internships and personal career coaching under tuition.[1] Standard accommodation is described as a double standard room cleaned bi-weekly, with bed linen and towels; accommodation is stated to be mandatory for new students.[1]
Meals also follow a structure: weekday breakfast, lunch and dinner; weekend brunch and dinner; at campus food outlets.[1] Listed student services include sports facilities, academic advisory and coaching, health and well-being workshops, internship and career services, a digital center and lifelong alumni membership.[1]
Still check your exact program. “Included” does not mean there are no limits by term, campus, room type, holiday break or optional choice.
Deposit and optional extras: do not miss initial cash flow
SHMS lists a refundable CHF 2,000 security deposit required from all applicants. It is paid once; the page says a full refund is made six months after the last academic term, subject to possible deductions for certain use or obligations.[1]
Because it is refunded after studies, the deposit must still be treated as money available at the start, not as a reduction to first-semester cost. Optional extras include cancellation insurance, airport transfer, parking and room upgrades.[1]
Before paying, request an invoice that separates:
- program fees;
- refundable deposit;
- optional extras you selected;
- visa and travel costs;
- payments that must be received before visa processing or enrolment.
Early-bird reduction and scholarships: read the calculation base
SHMS lists a 2% early-bird reduction for students who pay fees in full 90 days before the term starts. It is calculated on tuition plus standard accommodation and meals, after scholarships or other reductions.[1]
Do not treat this reduction as a scholarship or calculate it from the total fee without checking its basis. If you receive a scholarship, read the Scholarship Letter to understand its value, duration, academic conditions and exactly which cost components it covers. When early full payment is available, compare the potential reduction against cash flow, currency exposure and refund terms.
Budget checklist before deciding
- Match the program, duration and pathway in your offer with the relevant fee table.
- Separate tuition, accommodation, meals, infrastructure/services, deposit and optional extras.
- Add visa, travel from Indonesia, personal costs, clothing, communications and a contingency fund.
- Do not use potential internship income as certain funding.
- Keep written evidence of scholarships, early-bird reduction, refunds and payment deadlines.
- Convert CHF to Indonesian rupiah only for estimates; keep a buffer for exchange-rate movement and bank charges.
Closing note
Reading SHMS fees correctly means understanding more than tuition. You need to see what is included, which costs are refundable, when payments are due and which personal expenses remain yours. With a clear budget structure, Hospitality study in Switzerland can be evaluated more realistically and responsibly.
RIM Education can help you compare Hospitality programs, read an offer and fee schedule, and build a suitable study-abroad financial plan. Start a consultation at https://rimeducation.com/en/contact-us.
Sources
[1] — SHMS Tuition and Fees 2027 — Swiss Hotel Management School