After successfully completing the Bachelor's degree programme in Tourism, you have the opportunity to deepen your skills in the various Master's degree programmes at the UAS Grisons:

• Tourism and Change
• Sustainable Business Development
• New Business

You also have the opportunity to be accepted onto a Master's programme at another Swiss university of applied sciences.

Here you will find the module overview of the full-time programme.

Here you can find the curricula of the part-time study programme.

Proficiency in modern languages has an important place in the bachelor’s degree programme in tourism at the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons. Students with an international background who are interested in an international career or who have a good command of English can attend international programme where all modules are taught in English. In the German-language programme, students are taught partly in English starting in the second year, and the majority of the classes are taught in English in the third year.

The world of work places heavy demands on us all, both today and tomorrow. Qualified staff such as innovative businessmen and women, service designers, innovation managers or customer experience managers are needed, particularly in the service sector like tourism. Small and medium-sized enterprises in the service industry are looking for talented people who can adapt to constantly changing conditions and develop new services that will boost the competitiveness of their company. The “Tourism Development and Service Innovation” major is based on three dimensions: Strategy, Innovation Methods and Implementation. To successfully put innovations into practice, the needs of customers or the market potential first have to be identified. Once the relevant areas of innovation have been pinpointed, the next step is to apply agile innovation methods to develop solutions that cater to the needs of all stakeholders. Lastly, an idea can only be successfully monetised if it is sustainably implemented and anchored in the everyday life of a business. Digitalisation offers numerous ways of supporting these three dimensions. Modules such as “Service Design Methods”, “Strategic Innovation Management” or “Evidence-Based Decision-Making” prepare you in your major for proactively responding to dynamic market situations and new customer needs. You learn to develop people-centred service innovations, allowing you to stay ahead of the curve and make yourself indispensable in the service sector.

The work of a tourism manager calls for a wide range of skills and abilities to ensure success in both the short and long term. These skills involve the planning, organisation, management and control of resources, tasks and projects. For example, future tourism specialists have to be able to identify and solve problems quickly and effectively, demonstrate above-average conceptual skills and express themselves clearly. Networked and analytical thinking is essential to ensure the success of a company. The Tourism Planning, Management and Controlling major will help you to acquire these skills efficiently on a fascinating course. This guarantees you a smooth transition from university to your chosen career, for example in the field of event management, marketing or tour operating. The study programme is not just designed so you can work afterwards in Switzerland, but also prepares you for a career anywhere in the world. Our course modules such as “Tourism Marketing”, “Digitalisation in Tourism” and “Negotiation Management and Moderation Techniques” open up the multifaceted and challenging aspects of this sector to you, expertly preparing you for your very own career in this branch.

In addition to your major, which consists of predefined, freely selectable, mandatory elective modules, you must acquire at least 12 ECTS points for free elective modules. You can chose these as you wish from the courses we offer, as well as other available subjects, following clarification.

During their study programme students complete the Culture and Foreign Language Field Experience course. This course generally includes a self-managed individual stay at a destination with an unfamiliar culture lasting at least seven weeks, where possible involving the foreign language they have selected.

A culture is defined as being ‘unfamiliar’ when it differs from an individual's own culture with respect to the language that is spoken there, or its customs, norms and values.

Students are assisted with selecting a destination of their choosing. During their third semester (full-time model) they can either undertake work experience lasting several weeks, attend a language school or follow a study programme at this location. Part-time students can split this course into a maximum of three time windows over the entire study programme.

In the module Project Management in Theory, the students do not only have the opportunity to obtain the internationally popular IPMA project management certification, but to implement what they learnt on a study trip, which they also document with different media instruments. At the centre is a research question which they answer through analyses, business visits and expert interviews.

Students can put theory into practice through consulting projects and bachelor theses for companies. Furthermore, there are opportunities for students who are interested in research for supporting us during their studies as student employees in our ProFit.Team. Not only will you learn something, but also earn some money at the same time.

Furthermore, the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons has been offering interested students in their last year of study the option to network with specialist and management staff from business as part of the mentoring programme for many years. Our tourism students make active use of this offer. You can find an example of this in the interview with our former tourism student Jennifer Renggli or in the interview with Roland Schmid, mentor (only available in German).

For the English class, a level B2 language certificate (Cambridge First Certificate or similar knowledge) or higher is mandatory.

For the German-English classes, we recommend a B2 English level (Cambridge First Certificate or similar knowledge).

Prior knowledge, at the level of the Swiss Vocational Baccalaureate (orientation Economics and Services), is required for the module Mathematics. The Moodle course 'Prior knowledge of mathematics' shows you the required prior knowledge and helps you brush up on any lack of knowledge.

At the start of the study programme, accounting knowledge at the level of the Swiss Vocational Baccalaureate (orientation Economics and Services) is required. If you acquired your vocational school-leaving certificate a long time ago or you do not or no longer possess basic knowledge of double-entry accounting, we recommend that you acquire this knowledge as part of your self-study.

Work experience of one year in a full-time role is required. The work experience must be completed prior to commencing the study programme. This work experience may comprise several positions performed with different employers. The Director of Studies decides which professional experience is taken into account when determining the amount of completed work experience. Both practical and theoretical professional experience are considered here. You are required to prove your work experience by providing confirmation of employment. This confirmation must state the duration of the work experience as well as the specialist activities that you performed during this time.

Students from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) have the possibility to transfer into the second year of studies in Tourism at the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons after finishing the first year of studies in Leisure Mangement. In that case, students will receive the title 'Bachelor of Science FHGR in Tourism'.

Students from UAS Grisons have the opportunity to transfer into the second year of studies in Leisure Management at SUPSI, too. In that case, students will receive the title 'Bachelor of Science SUPSI in Leisure Management'.

For more information, please contact our study advisory team.

To arrange a transfer from another university, university of applied sciences or PET college, you must contact the Director of Studies. Credits may be awarded, in consultation with the Director of Studies, for modules already completed at another university.

You do not meet the aforementioned admission conditions for the study programme but can demonstrate that you have years of work experience and are in continual professional development? If so, you have the opportunity to apply under given circumstances. The Prorectorate and the Director of Studies decide on admissions on a case-by-case basis.

The UAS Grisons helps students to make their study time as easy and pleasant as possible. For example, we offer various services such as two cafeterias and libraries, a sports programme, counselling services, a career centre as well as language courses, various student associations, a choir and much more. Discover now

Find out more about life in Chur, nature and leisure and use our flat search (German only).

There is a one-off enrolment fee of CHF 300, which is deducted from the tuition fee for the first semester. If you do not take up the offer of a place on the programme, the enrolment fee will be forfeited.

The tuition fee per semester is CHF 960 for students with Swiss citizenship or the Principality of Liechtenstein citizenship. The tuition fee per semester for all other students is CHF 1,550.

Foreign students who have resided in Switzerland for at least two years before the start of their studies and who are financially independent and not in education may be able to benefit from the reduced tuition fee of CHF 960. The reduced tuition fee has to be reviewed and approved by the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons on the basis of documentation provided by the students.

Students not from Switzerland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the European Union or the European Free Trade Association are charged a deposit of CHF 3,000.

The tuition fees do not include teaching materials, (subject-specific) software, travel, food or accommodation in connection with field trips, multiday seminars and the bachelor thesis.

You will need a suitably powerful laptop (Windows recommended).

Find out about funding options for your studies, such as scholarships or grants. 

The Bachelor's programme lasts three years as a full-time course and four years as a part-time course. Studies begin in September (week 38). The first block week takes place before the official start of studies. One academic year consists of two semesters, each of which is usually 14 weeks long. In addition, there are examination weeks and block weeks.

The exact dates and details can be found in the academic calendar.

On the full-time programme, contact lessons generally take place five days a week; on the part-time programme, they take place on three consecutive days. The compulsory block weeks for all students generally take place between Monday and Friday. Exceptions are possible.

From the autumn semester 2024, classes start at 9:15 am and last until 4:45 pm. It is possible that individual courses, such as language lessons, may run until 18:30 at certain times. The timetable structure allows students travelling from cities such as Zurich or St.Gallen to commute easily by public transport.

Successful graduates of the Bachelor's degree programme in Tourism are awarded the title "Bachelor of Science FHGR in Tourism" with the respective specialisation. 

Spending a semester abroad can open up new horizons for you. International exchange is, of course, a tremendous asset to tourism and leisure. The University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons maintains close ties to a network of universities, technical colleges and other educational establishments worldwide and would be pleased to help you organise one or two semesters of study abroad.

Semesters abroad generally count as full or partial semesters of your prorgramme, enabling you to complete your studies within the planned period.

In the following you can find an overview of the partner universities where you can spend a semester abroad:

Whoever wants to collect more experience abroad can apply for a study year at our partner university USC in Australia. Every year, five students get the opportunity to get one of these study places. You complete (with special conditions) the second study year at the USC and, if you pass all the exams, you will receive the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration of the USC in addition to the Bachelor of Science in Tourism of the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons after the third year.

The Framework Regulations and the Study and Examination Regulations govern the Bachelor's degree programme in Tourism.

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) 
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a tool of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) for making studies and courses more transparent and thus helping students to move between institutions of higer education.

Students receive ECTS points for their learning outcomes, calculated from the workload and other framework conditions of the individual modules. One ECTS point corresponds to an average workload of 25-30 hours. In addition to attending classes, the student workload also includes the time invested in preparing and following up on learning content, examinations and self-study. At the UAS Graubünden, the Bachelor's programme comprises 180 ECTS credits, a consecutive Master's programme 90 ECTS credits.
 

Conditions for Non-EU/EFTA students

• Student requires an entry visa as well as a residence permit for Switzerland. The International Office initiates this process once the application fee and the tuition fee for the first semester has been received. The student is responsible for paying the costs for the entry visa and the residence permit.
• Student must provide a language diploma (IEL TS/TOEFL, etc.) for the visa application.
• Student must provide evidence of sufficient funds for living expenses in Switzerland (approximately CHF 2'000.00 per month) for the visa application.
• Student must have a sufficient health & accident insurance policy for Switzerland and personal liability insurance.
• After a period of 6 months living in Switzerland, students may work up to 15 hours per week during the semester and up to 100% during the semester holidays. The employer must apply for a work permit and the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons must agree that the employment workload is manageable in addition to the workload of the study programme.

Conditions for EU/EFTA students

• Student requires a residence permit for Switzerland. The International Office applies for such permits on arrival in Switzerland. The student is responsible for paying for the residence permit.
• Student must have sufficient funds for covering living expenses in Switzerland (CHF 2000.00 per month).
• Student must provide a sufficient health & accident insurance policy for Switzerland and personal liability insurance.
• Student is currently permitted to work up to 15 hours per week. The employer must apply for a work permit and the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons must agree that the employment workload is manageable in addition to the workload of the study programme.

For further information regarding the requirements for student visas, refer to website of the cantonal migration authorities (only available in German).

For general information concerning entry & residence to Switzerland please consult the website of the State Secretariat for Migration SEM.

Studying requires a high level of commitment, dedication and time resources. The combination of studying and working may sound great but is generally not suitable for everyone and needs to be planned carefully.
If work plays an important role for you, a part-time study might be a better solution than getting stuck in the middle of your studies due to too much stress.

For Swiss students and students from the EU/EFTA area

Full-time study requires a high level of commitment and dedication. We therefore advise you to concentrate on your studies, especially in the first few semesters, and not to take on professional commitments right from the start. If you want or need to work next to your studies, you must plan this carefully. The decision should be based on your own experience; we see that our Swiss and EU/EFTA students generally find some small part-time jobs from the third or fourth semester onwards.

For students who have acquired their previous education outside Switzerland (especially for nationals from non-EU/EFTA countries)

Foreign students who decide to study tourism full-time with us must be aware that the programme requires a high level of commitment and a lot of time during the entire three-year course. (Part-time study is not allowed for students coming from outside the EU/EFTA due to visa regulations).

Experience has shown that it is rarely possible for non-EU/EFTA citizens to work alongside their full-time studies; the effort involved during their studies and the political hurdles are generally considered as too high, and the opportunity to work part-time during their studies (usually a few hours) is only reserved for the very best of the class. We therefore have to conclude that it is not possible for non-EU/EFTA students to finance their own studies or living expenses during their studies through part-time work.

The University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons promotes equal opportunities and gender quality among its students. To this end, it breaks down cultural and structural barriers and supports its students in expressing their individuality. It implements legal principles of equality and prevents discrimination.

If you are living with a disability or chronic illness that makes studying difficult, you can apply for assistance measures. You can find more details on the website of Assistance Measures Office.