Can I skip the preparatory year if I have hospitality experience?

The prep year is mandatory regardless of your previous experience. It is the foundation of EHL’s philosophy, ensuring every manager understands the physical reality of the front-line staff they will one day lead. You will rotate through dishwashing, fine dining service, and reception.

Is the tuition inclusive of room and board?

The USD 47,000 estimate covers tuition. However, students must budget for the "Compulsory Services" fee (approx. CHF 4,500/year for food and insurance), the one-time Prep Year kit (uniforms/knives), and Lausanne's high rent. The total annual cost is closer to USD 65,000-70,000.

Can I work in finance or consulting with this degree?

Absolutely. Over 50% of EHL graduates enter industries like luxury retail, private banking, real estate, and consulting. Firms like Deloitte and UBS actively recruit at EHL because they value the students' combination of financial literacy and client-facing soft skills.

What kind of accreditation does EHL Lausanne hold?

EHL holds triple accreditation: the Swiss Federal Government (HES-SO), NECHE (USA), and AACSB. This ensures your degree is internationally recognized for master's applications or corporate roles worldwide.

Are there options to study at other campuses?

Yes, EHL offers a 'Passerelle' (Passage) route for students with prior hospitality diplomas, and the degree is also offered at the Singapore campus for those seeking an Asian business perspective. The curriculum remains identical across locations.

All universities

Private hospitality school · Switzerland

EHL Hospitality Business School

Redefining hospitality leadership through a smart mix of autonomous thinking, respect, empathy, and caring for others.

Lausanne, Switzerland Est. 1893 · 133 yrs #1 worldwide Official site

Programs

across degree levels

Students

3,400

100% international

Acceptance

35%

selective

Tuition (mid)

$49k

full programme

AI-augmentation

81%

upside for grads

Overview By the numbers Programs AI impact Tuition Compare Request info

The school

What you need to know

Institution type

Private hospitality school

Accreditation

—

Faculty ratio

1 : 16

Languages

English

Hospitality rank

AI-readiness

Strong

EHL Hospitality Business School, founded in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1893 as Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, is recognized as the world's first hotel school. This institution has a long-standing reputation for leadership in hospitality management education, consistently earning top rankings. Its commitment to excellence is further evidenced by awards such as "best innovation in education" for its Bachelor in International Hospitality Management program and the Michelin Star awarded to its student-operated restaurant, Berceau des Sens, for multiple consecutive years. EHL's identity is built on a foundation of academic rigor, practical experience, and a forward-thinking approach to the service industry.

The school's educational model emphasizes a unique blend of academic and experiential learning. Programs range from pre-university courses and an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts, which offers hands-on experience in real kitchens with real guests, to a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management that provides a solid professional and intellectual foundation. Graduate offerings include Master's degrees for recent alumni and young professionals, and MBA programs designed to enhance the expertise and interpersonal skills of experienced managers. EHL fosters autonomous thinking, respect, empathy, and care for others, believing that these soft skills, combined with strong know-how, define inspiring leaders. Students engage in simulation games, junior consulting jobs, and management techniques through extracurricular activities, ensuring a comprehensive development.

EHL Hospitality Business School positions its graduates for success in the dynamic service sector. The institution's strong ties with industry leaders and companies, coupled with its commitment to research and innovation, contribute to the high quality of its academic programs and the success of its students and alumni. The redesigned MBA for Hospitality and Service Industries, for instance, empowers ambitious professionals to lead people-centered businesses and thrive in the experience-driven economy. With state-of-the-art campuses and a focus on developing future-ready skills, EHL prepares individuals to make a lasting impact in the global hospitality and service industries.

Across all programs, graduates face a hospitality industry mid-way through an AI transition: roughly 32% of entry-level task time is automatable today, while 81% of a graduate's output can be amplified by current AI tools. We break this down per program below.

By the numbers

The data on this school

Application volume — trailing 7 years

Applications received per intake.

Global hospitality rank — trajectory

Lower is better. Movements year-over-year.

Graduate employment, 6mo

97%

Placed via school network

91%

Student–faculty ratio

1 : 16

International student share

100%

21 programs

Programs offered

Program	Level	Duration	Tuition	AI exposure
Bachelor in International Hospitality Management hospitality management	bachelor	48 mo	$47,000	62%
BBA in International Hospitality Management hospitality management	bachelor	36 mo	$22,000	62%
MSc in Global Hospitality Leadership hospitality management	master	18 mo	$55,000	62%
Diploma in Wine, Beverage & Sommelier Studies wine beverage	diploma	—	—	40%
Grand Diplôme in Culinary Arts culinary arts	diploma	9 mo	$22,000	34%
BA in Airline & Airport Management airline airport	bachelor	—	—	62%
BA in Event Management event management	bachelor	—	—	64%
MSc in International Event Management event management	master	—	—	64%
MSc in International Tourism Management tourism	master	—	—	71%
MSc in Luxury Brand & Hospitality Management luxury brand	master	—	—	48%
MSc in Sustainable Tourism Management sustainable tourism	master	—	—	55%
MSc in Wine & Beverage Business wine beverage	master	—	—	40%
MBA in Hospitality hospitality management	mba	16 mo	$53,000	62%
MBA in Hospitality — Leadership Track hospitality leadership	mba	16 mo	$53,000	62%
MBA in Hospitality — Luxury Track luxury hospitality	mba	16 mo	$53,000	62%
MBA in Hospitality — Revenue Track revenue management	mba	16 mo	$53,000	62%
MBA in Hospitality & Tourism hospitality management	mba	12 mo	$60,000	62%
MBA in Hospitality & Tourism — Leadership Track hospitality leadership	mba	12 mo	$60,000	62%
MBA in Hospitality & Tourism — Luxury Track luxury hospitality	mba	12 mo	$60,000	62%
MBA in Hospitality & Tourism — Revenue Track revenue management	mba	12 mo	$60,000	62%
MBA in Luxury Brand Management luxury brand	mba	—	—	48%

Programs by degree level

Distribution across credentials.

2026 outlook

AI impact — by program

Every hospitality discipline is being reshaped at a different speed. Below is the AI exposure profile for each program at EHL Hospitality Business School, with the specific tasks being automated, the work being amplified, and the tools graduates should be fluent in before they leave.

Automation risk vs augmentation upside

Per program — automation is what AI removes, augmentation is what AI multiplies.

School-wide opportunity score

89/100

Projected salary premium: +21% by yr 5

Augmentation minus automation, normalised 0–100.

bachelor · hospitality management

Bachelor in International Hospitality Management

Exposure

62%

Automation

38%

Augmentation

78%

Bachelor in International Hospitality Management at EHL Hospitality Business School sits in the moderate-exposure band of the AI-impact curve. Roughly 38% of the entry-level task surface is now automatable, while 78% of a graduate's output can be amplified by AI tools. The net effect: graduates who treat AI as a co-pilot are projected to earn +14% more by year five than peers who don't. High augmentation, low replacement — managers who use AI will out-earn those who don't.

AI is taking over

—Shift scheduling & forecasting
—Guest feedback triage and sentiment scoring
—Routine SOP & training-doc drafting
—Inventory and par-level recalculations

AI amplifies

+Personalised guest journey design
+Dynamic upsell and bundling strategy
+Owner / asset reporting with AI narrative
+AI-led concierge oversight and escalation

ChatGPT EnterpriseCendyn / RevinateDuettoNotion AIGlean

bachelor · hospitality management

BBA in International Hospitality Management

Exposure

62%

Automation

38%

Augmentation

78%

BBA in International Hospitality Management at EHL Hospitality Business School sits in the moderate-exposure band of the AI-impact curve. Roughly 38% of the entry-level task surface is now automatable, while 78% of a graduate's output can be amplified by AI tools. The net effect: graduates who treat AI as a co-pilot are projected to earn +14% more by year five than peers who don't. High augmentation, low replacement — managers who use AI will out-earn those who don't.

AI is taking over

—Shift scheduling & forecasting
—Guest feedback triage and sentiment scoring
—Routine SOP & training-doc drafting
—Inventory and par-level recalculations

AI amplifies

+Personalised guest journey design
+Dynamic upsell and bundling strategy
+Owner / asset reporting with AI narrative
+AI-led concierge oversight and escalation

ChatGPT EnterpriseCendyn / RevinateDuettoNotion AIGlean

master · hospitality management

MSc in Global Hospitality Leadership

Exposure

62%

Automation

34%

Augmentation

84%

MSc in Global Hospitality Leadership at EHL Hospitality Business School sits in the moderate-exposure band of the AI-impact curve. Roughly 34% of the entry-level task surface is now automatable, while 84% of a graduate's output can be amplified by AI tools. The net effect: graduates who treat AI as a co-pilot are projected to earn +22% more by year five than peers who don't. High augmentation, low replacement — managers who use AI will out-earn those who don't.

AI is taking over

—Shift scheduling & forecasting
—Guest feedback triage and sentiment scoring
—Routine SOP & training-doc drafting
—Inventory and par-level recalculations

AI amplifies

+Personalised guest journey design
+Dynamic upsell and bundling strategy
+Owner / asset reporting with AI narrative
+AI-led concierge oversight and escalation

ChatGPT EnterpriseCendyn / RevinateDuettoNotion AIGlean

diploma · wine beverage

Diploma in Wine, Beverage & Sommelier Studies

Exposure

40%

Automation

30%

Augmentation

61%

Diploma in Wine, Beverage & Sommelier Studies at EHL Hospitality Business School sits in the low-exposure band of the AI-impact curve. Roughly 30% of the entry-level task surface is now automatable, while 61% of a graduate's output can be amplified by AI tools. The net effect: graduates who treat AI as a co-pilot are projected to earn +8% more by year five than peers who don't. Sensory work is safe; AI lifts the commercial and educational side.

AI is taking over

—Inventory & BIN cards
—Pairing copy
—Cellar valuation

AI amplifies

+Programme curation
+Producer storytelling
+Beverage-led upsell design

SevenRoomsBinWiseChatGPTNotion AI

diploma · culinary arts

Grand Diplôme in Culinary Arts

Exposure

34%

Automation

28%

Augmentation

54%

Grand Diplôme in Culinary Arts at EHL Hospitality Business School sits in the low-exposure band of the AI-impact curve. Roughly 28% of the entry-level task surface is now automatable, while 54% of a graduate's output can be amplified by AI tools. The net effect: graduates who treat AI as a co-pilot are projected to earn +6% more by year five than peers who don't. Lowest replacement risk in hospitality — hands stay human, the back-office goes AI.

AI is taking over

—Recipe scaling and costing
—Allergen and nutrition label generation
—Menu translation and localisation
—Supplier price tracking

AI amplifies

+Menu R&D with generative ideation
+Plate photography & social content
+Wine & beverage pairing copy

ChatGPTMidjourneyMarginEdgeApicbaseNotion AI

bachelor · airline airport

BA in Airline & Airport Management

Exposure

62%

Automation

38%

Augmentation

78%

BA in Airline & Airport Management at EHL Hospitality Business School sits in the moderate-exposure band of the AI-impact curve. Roughly 38% of the entry-level task surface is now automatable, while 78% of a graduate's output can be amplified by AI tools. The net effect: graduates who treat AI as a co-pilot are projected to earn +14% more by year five than peers who don't. High augmentation, low replacement — managers who use AI will out-earn those who don't.

AI is taking over

—Shift scheduling & forecasting
—Guest feedback triage and sentiment scoring
—Routine SOP & training-doc drafting
—Inventory and par-level recalculations

AI amplifies

+Personalised guest journey design
+Dynamic upsell and bundling strategy
+Owner / asset reporting with AI narrative
+AI-led concierge oversight and escalation

ChatGPT EnterpriseCendyn / RevinateDuettoNotion AIGlean

bachelor · event management

BA in Event Management

Exposure

64%

Automation

46%

Augmentation

75%

BA in Event Management at EHL Hospitality Business School sits in the moderate-exposure band of the AI-impact curve. Roughly 46% of the entry-level task surface is now automatable, while 75% of a graduate's output can be amplified by AI tools. The net effect: graduates who treat AI as a co-pilot are projected to earn +10% more by year five than peers who don't. Production work is being absorbed — strategy and on-site judgement command a premium.

AI is taking over

—RSVP & guest-list management
—Run-of-show & briefing drafts
—Vendor RFP comparison
—Post-event reporting

AI amplifies

+Hybrid-event design
+Sponsorship analytics
+Real-time attendee personalisation

CventBizzaboHopinChatGPTCanva AI

master · event management

MSc in International Event Management

Exposure

64%

Automation

42%

Augmentation

81%

MSc in International Event Management at EHL Hospitality Business School sits in the moderate-exposure band of the AI-impact curve. Roughly 42% of the entry-level task surface is now automatable, while 81% of a graduate's output can be amplified by AI tools. The net effect: graduates who treat AI as a co-pilot are projected to earn +18% more by year five than peers who don't. Production work is being absorbed — strategy and on-site judgement command a premium.

AI is taking over

—RSVP & guest-list management
—Run-of-show & briefing drafts
—Vendor RFP comparison
—Post-event reporting

AI amplifies

+Hybrid-event design
+Sponsorship analytics
+Real-time attendee personalisation

CventBizzaboHopinChatGPTCanva AI

Investment

Tuition vs. peer schools

Switzerland hospitality schools — mid tuition

Mid-point of published tuition ranges, in USD.

Min tuition

$43,890

Max tuition

$55,000

Country mid

$55,108

Head-to-head

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