Degree programme at a glance
You are fascinated by travel and languages, are a people person and want to make your passion your profession? The tourism degree programme certified by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is practice-oriented, with an international focus. You will obtain an international business degree with cutting edge content and methods.
Switzerland is a dynamic tourism destination that has learnt how to reinvent tourism in its urban centres and alpine playgrounds. At the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons you live and breathe the spirit of the tourism pioneers who brought tourism to St. Moritz. It is the ideal surrounding to become an expert in tourism yourself.
Brochure
Degree
Bachelor of Science FHGR in Tourism with respective majorStudy model
Full-time More about the study modelDuration of study programme
3 yearsPlace of study
Chur, semester abroad optional More about the place of studyBegin of study programme
13 September 2021Teaching language
English or German/EnglishDirector of Studies
Arn Patric More about Arn PatricApplication deadline
30 April Apply now!
Admission requirements
You must meet the following requirements for admission to the international class of the Bachelor of Science in Tourism at the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons. Please contact us if you have any questions about the admission requirements. We will be happy to help you.
Do you have one of the following diplomas?
- A Swiss school leaving certificate (Berufs-, Gymnasial- or Fachmaturität)
- A recognised international school leaving certificate. Further requirements may be applied if the school leaving certificate deviates considerably from the Swiss school leaving certificate.
Do you have work experience?
- You need at least one year of work experience in the economic and/or services sector, either through an apprenticeship, internship or full-time employment.
Knowledge of English
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).
Knowledge of mathematics
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.
Knowledge of accounting
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
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.
Transfer from SUPSI
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.

Transfers from other universities
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.
Exceptions
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.
Programme content
The desire to see the world inspires people all over our planet to travel both close to home and far afield. Furthermore, the business world is becoming increasingly mobile. As a result, tourism has become an exciting growth market. A simple comparison illustrates the potential. Today, the tourism and leisure industry is larger than the oil industry or the car industry and currently employs around 11% of the world's population. The industry certainly offers professionals fantastic career development opportunities – in both ordinary and exotic destinations.
The Bachelor in Tourism introduces you to tourism as a business discipline and helps you to successfully create customer-focused offers that include a consistently high level of service. The University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons draws inspiration from Switzerland's visionary thinkers, who were the first to recognise our country's special resources. They created unique tourism opportunities that appeal to visitors from all over the world.


Curriculum
On the assessment level (first year of studies), you acquire a foundation in business studies and self-management skills and are introduced to the basic methods of (academic) problem-solving.
On the bachelor level 1 (second year of studies), you receive a comprehensive introduction to the tourism industry and further develop your understanding of business studies. You also learn how to think and act in a more international context.
On the bachelor level 2 (third year of studies), you build on your knowledge of the tourism industry and develop targeted professional skills for your chosen major. You also broaden your knowledge through a wide variety of elective subjects, chosen according to personal preference. In your third year, you spend six months writing your bachelor’s thesis for a client on the subject of a practical issue faced by the company or organisation. The current bachelor thesis brochure (in German/English) gives you an impression of possible topics for your thesis.
Full-time study programme (6 semesters / 3 years)
Language concept
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.



Majors
In the third year, you choose one major subject. All majors are taught in English except for Leadership.
eCommerce and Sales in Tourism
You learn how to actively develop offers, prepare them in a timely manner and allow customers to book them directly. You are taught the strategy and basic principles of the hard sell, both in theory and practice.
Possible job functions could be
- Content manager
- Sales representative
- Social media manager
Marketing and Product Development in Tourism
You learn how to develop and market innovative, practical tourism offers through creative techniques and communication strategies.
Possible job functions could be
- Marketing project manager
- Product manager
- Content manager
Leadership and Change
You learn specific methods essential for managerial staff in small and medium-sized businesses that allow you to deal with a variety of management situations, including employee management, conflict resolution and stress management.
Possible job functions could be
- Project management roles
- Personnel management roles
Event Communication
You learn how to plan and run events and to develop concepts for exciting events. Further topics are team leadership, production planning, venue layout and event staging.
Possible job functions could be
- Project coordinator
- Event manager in the tourism industry or at events agencies
Sustainable Tourism and International Development
You learn the role and importance of tourism as a tool for sustainable economic development, be it in a general business context or related to international development cooperation.
Possible job functions could be
- Product manager for sustainable destinations
- NGO employee
Mandatory elective modules
You take at least one of the following mandatory elective modules. These are primarily taught in English. In addition to your major and these mandatory elective modules, you can also select up to 8 ECTS credits from the wide range of free electives modules offered by UAS Grisons.
Media and Public Relations
You receive an introduction to how the media work. You learn about the latest developments in the industry and in active corporate PR management.
Designing Memorable Experiences
You learn how to develop new services in a sustainable manner to create thrilling, unusual and profitable experiences for tourists.
Hospitality Management
You explore the hotel industry in all its different forms and learn the basics of hotel management. You are prepared specifically by the minor for a career in the accommodation sector.
Aviation Management
Using theoretical knowledge, you learn about the aviation industry from a practical perspective and obtain a better understanding of the special characteristics of this industry. You will also get to know how companies in the aviation industry are managed.
Niche Tourism
You learn to identify innovative niche tourism products, to understand the environment in which they can exist and how to successfully assess the challenges involved in turning them into reality.
Mountain Tourism Management
You master the challenges of marketing and managing Alpine destinations and cable cars with corresponding solutions learnt in practice.
Sports Tourism
You examine the relationship between sports and tourism on both a conceptual as well as on an industrial level. You will get to know the different stakeholders and analyse the social, economic and environmental impacts of sports tourism.
Service Quality Management
You analyse a wide range of quality management models and learn how to design and implement quality structures and processes.
Applied Research in an International Context
Students will engage in research projects and will write an academic paper. The module also foresees participation in the International Tourism Students Conference (ITSC).
Health Tourism Management
You learn about the importance and drivers of health tourism, how to develop health tourism strategies and how to design and implement suitable offers in tourism companies.
Leisure Managment
You learn about the fundamental drivers of demand in the leisure industry and the associated challenges faced by service providers in this field with interesting inputs from practice.
Integrated Mobility Management
You obtain background information on the relevant aspects relating to mobility in the tourism industry. This minor course covers, in particular, land-based transport systems and explores the challenges faced by integrated mobility systems.
Retail Management
You study and apply basic concepts in retail management and learn how to position shopping as an important part of the tourist experience.
More than lectures
The Bachelor of Science in Tourism is research-based and practically oriented, as is typical for a university of applied sciences. During the programme, you undertake numerous field trips. At the centre stands the transfer of theoretical knowledge and the practical implementation.
Distinguished Speakers Series (DSS)
In the module Distinguished Speakers Series you listen to exceptional personalities in tourism, who have achieved incredible milestones with their thinking and behaviour and have contributed to the development of tourism.
In 2015, the first event of the series was dedicated to the NZZ-journalist Christoph Zürcher and the internationally known photographer James Robertson, who have brought hope and happiness to a war-disabled zone in the north of Afghanistan with the Afghan Ski Challenge.
Study week abroad
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.
Knowledge transfer
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.
Certification
The UAS Grisons was awarded the top grade by the World Tourism Organization UNWTO for the 'Bachelor of Science in Tourism' and the 'Master of Science in Tourism and Change' and received the UNWTO.TedQual certification. UNWTO.TedQual, the most important certification for higher educational programmes in tourism studies worldwide, aims at improving the quality of tourism education, training and research programmes.
Organisational information
How much are the study fees for the bachelor’s programme at the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons? Where does the programme take place? How many ECTS credits will I receive? On what days will I have lectures and seminars? What degree will I be awarded after completing the programme?
Tuition fees
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 textbooks, travel, food or accommodation in connection with field trips, multiday seminars and the bachelor thesis.
You will need a suitably powerful laptop (Windows recommended).
Grants
The universities of applied sciences are recognised by the Swiss Confederation and the cantons, which means students may be entitled to grants. For further information, please contact the grants department of the Department of Education for the canton in question.
Students from outside Switzerland can contact the relevant public funding institutions in their home country.
Place of study
The taught modules of the study programme are held in Chur, Switzerland. Individual events may take place in other locations and will be communicated in good time.
Semester abroad
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:
Double degree with the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia
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.
Duration of the study programme
The bachelor’s degree programme takes three years when completed on a full-time basis. The programme begins in September (week 38). An introductory week will take place prior to the official commencement of studies. One study year comprises two semesters, generally made up of 14 weeks each. There are also examination weeks and individual block weeks.
Exact dates and details can be found in the academic calendar.
Teaching hours
Lectures are given from Monday to Friday. Some classes are held in blocks or on Saturdays. Lessons are held between 8.15 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Exceptions are possible.
ECTS credits
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. ECTS credits are awarded based on the student workload required to achieve the objectives of a course or a programme. ECTS credits are the basis for the recognition of course or programm achievements and diplomas between institutions of higher eduction.
ECTS Credits
An ECTS credit point corresponds to a student workload of 30 hours. The student workload includes the lectures but also time needed to pre- and postprocess the lectures, prepare exams and for self-studying. 60 credits a year are acquired in a full-time study course, which corresponds to a student workload of 1800 hours. At University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons a bachelor's degree course is comprised of 180 ECTS credits, a consecutive master's degree of 90 ECTS credits.
Study and examination regulations
The Framework Regulations and the Study and Examination Regulations govern the Bachelor's degree programme in Tourism.
University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons
Switzerland is the land of the Alps, Heidi and yodelling, right? If this is your perception, you’re in for a big surprise. Sure, St. Moritz might have been one of the world’s first destinations to develop tourism. But Switzerland is still playing a leading role in defining global tourism as it is today. The UAS Grisons is an innovative and entrepreneurial higher education institution with around 1,700 students and places great emphasis on individuality.
The UAS Grisons offer various services to support your studies and to guide you in your personal and professional development. Take advantage of the wide range of sports opportunities, make use of the job and housing exchange or seek advice.
Future prospects
A degree in tourism will open up many opportunities for you: you could take on roles in marketing such as managing projects, products, content or social media. You could work for an agency as a sales manager or a consultant. You could become an event manager or a project coordinator in the tourism industry or at an event agency. Or you could go into management in a sports association or sponsorship department. Your degree will also make you eligible for positions in corporate or price development, or for managerial roles and jobs in HR management.
Following the bachelor’s degree programme in tourism, you also have the option to complete a master’s degree either in Switzerland or abroad. The Master of Science in Business Administration with a Major in Tourism and Change offered by the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons is aimed at highly motivated graduates of the bachelor’s programme with a very good degree.
Alumni
The UAS Grisons fosters contact with students of the Bachelor of Tourism degree programme even after they have completed their studies. For this purpose, a group dedicated specifically to graduates is managed on LinkedIn, the largest professional social media network. Alumni can build and expand their network by establishing contacts with other alumni, UAS Grisons staff and representatives of the private sector. In addition, a wide range of national and international jobs and internships by leading players in the tourism and leisure industry are advertised, and current and curated news from the tourism world is shared.




Application and advice
Application
If you would like to apply for a place on the programme, please send your completed application form and the required documents to the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons.
Application deadline
The deadline for applications is 30 April in the year you intend to start your course of study.
Applications received after the application deadline may also be considered if there are still places available on the programme. Please contact the programme administrator for information.
Advice
Do you have any questions about the study programme? Would you like any advice, or are you still unsure? Do you have any administrative questions? We will be happy to help you.
University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons
Comercialstrasse 22
7004 Chur
Switzerland
Telefon +41 81 286 24 56
E-Mail tourismus@clutterfhgr.ch
Director of Studies
Information and Advice
Administration and Admissions
Information events
Our information events are held in German.