Master Degree in Business Administration

HBS prepares MBA students to lead and manage in today’s competitive global marketplace through application-based, experiential learning.

2 years90 CH · 120 ECTSMinimum GPA 3.0

Overview

Leadership for a competitive global market.

Our goal at the Helvetic Business School is that our MBA students are fully prepared to lead and manage in today’s competitive global marketplace. Our curriculum is application based through experiential learning and focuses on the hard and soft skills business leaders will need in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

All courses are taught in English by leading business visionaries in small dynamic cohorts. All professors have experience in successful business ventures, providing our students with real-world lessons learned and best practices. Our professors share their challenges and successes with the students, giving them a front-line education.

The curriculum links cutting-edge business theory to practical application as students are guided to solve real-world challenges. This environment emphasises collaboration and team building alongside healthy competition.

At HBS, top-tier internationally diverse classmates come together, share professional experiences and form synergistic groups where mutual commitment and joint accountability lead to highly effective teams.

Beyond the depth and breadth of knowledge gained in the classroom, the lifelong connections developed while attending HBS will be of immeasurable value. To this end, we require and actively support internship placement, on-site company visits and executive mentoring.

With our vast network of contacts at nearby, world-renowned corporate headquarters, students are sure to find opportunities tailored to meet their specific needs. Whether the aspiration is to manage a leading company, have your own business or work for a family-run business, HBS provides the tools to follow the desired career path.

Our faculty-student ratio is roughly 1:7, and the small class size of approximately 20 students per class provides students with optimum personal interaction.

Learning model

Experiential learning in every course.

Each course includes theory and hard and soft skill development through experiential learning, such as:

01

Simulations

Applied business simulations that put theory into practice.

02

Presentations

Individual and group presentations that build articulated communication.

03

Case studies

Case-based analysis of real companies, industries and decisions.

04

Projects

Individual and group projects including business plans, research projects, marketing plans and program management plans.

05

Applied deliverables

Developing a case study, building an onboarding plan, and other practical outputs.

06

Feedback and coaching

Continuous feedback and coaching from faculty who are seasoned practitioners.

Key Learning Outcomes

What MBA participants develop

  1. 01

    Demonstrate a critical understanding of the major concepts and theories in the functional areas of general management, such as accounting, economics, finance and marketing.

  2. 02

    Cultivate crucial learning skills that will aid in seeking further studies in a preferred topic in an independent manner.

  3. 03

    Possess a high degree of articulated speech and be capable of working effectively in a team.

  4. 04

    Apply acquired knowledge, as well as use abstract reasoning, to solve complex business and corporate problems.

  5. 05

    Use technological tools to analyse and interpret company or industry data to derive insights and assist in the decision-making process.

Lake Geneva and the Swiss landscape
International learning at ISM
CHSwitzerland · La Tour-de-Peilz
DEGermany · ISM campus
MBA dual degree students transferring from Switzerland to Germany10 pathways

Dual degree with ISM in Germany

Two master’s degrees, one international route.

Earn two master’s degrees: a Master in Business Administration from HBS, and a choice of ten degrees from ISM in Germany.

Year 1 is spent at HBS in Switzerland covering core master’s courses in business, strategy and leadership, plus business consulting projects and case studies and an internship.

Year 2 transfers to ISM in Germany for advanced courses and company projects. The final half-year is spent at ISM writing and defending your Master’s thesis.

Why HBS

Why study Business Administration at HBS?

01

Work Experience

Hands-on experience via internships and through close links to the industry.

02

Comprehensive Education

A holistic approach that encompasses ethics, law, sustainability and entrepreneurship.

03

Team Work

Developing creativity, communication and team building.

04

Training from Leading Experts

Professors who work within their field of specialisation provide guidance throughout and assist students in embarking on their tailored career path.

Location

Why Switzerland?

01

Banks and Multi-national Companies

Nestled in the French-speaking region of Switzerland, HBS is surrounded by a significant number of banks and multinational companies’ headquarters.

02

Less Than an Hour from Geneva

Geneva has one of the highest concentrations of banks, UN agencies, international organisations and financial institutions in the world, and we are at the doorstep of “Crypto Valley”, one of the largest regions for blockchain technology.

03

Internship and Job Opportunities

All of the above provides our students with unparalleled access to a network of leaders, researchers, internships and job opportunities, creating a foundation for successful careers.

Program facts

MBA structure

Duration
2 years
Academic terms
3 terms per year
Study mode
Full-time
Language
English
Credits
90 CH · 120 ECTS
Minimum GPA
3.0
Entry dates
September · January · April
Class size
Approximately 20

Program structure

Twelve weeks of study per term.

There are 12 weeks of study per term, plus two weeks of examinations. Examination periods usually occur in the middle and at the end of each term.

Holiday periods vary, but there is usually a four-week break in December, a break in Spring, and a longer break in July/August. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for details.

The Helvetic Business School operates on a term system with three academic terms per year. The academic year begins in September and ends in July. Fall Term runs September to December, Winter Term January to March, and Spring Term April to July.

A typical duration of study takes two years to complete. Each year consists of 3 terms. Students are expected to complete 60 ECTS (45 CH) credits per year. This amounts to six courses per term in order to complete their degree in two years.

The provision of specialisation modules in a particular term will depend on student requests and faculty availability; the listing of specialisation modules offered may change from year to year. All modules are normally for three credits in one term.

Graduate Degree Requirements

A clear path to graduation.

The conferring of an MBA degree from HBS follows only after completing the following requirements: academic credit requirements, academic performance requirements (cumulative GPA of 3.0), and attendance and residency requirements.

In addition, all outstanding accounts must be settled with the administration before graduation. Total CH to graduate is 90 CH and total ECTS to graduate is 120 ECTS.

MBA Courses

Credit distribution

CategoryCoursesCHECTS
Core185472
Elective91824
Business Plan Capstone Internship1912
Internship1912

Curriculum

Course units

  • International Accounting
  • Applied Economics
  • Behavioural Economics
  • International Finance
  • Banking and Finance
  • Human Resources Management
  • Advanced Human Resources Management
  • Management Information Systems
  • Emerging Technologies
  • International Business Law
  • Statistics 4
  • Data Analytics for Decision Making
  • Fundamentals of Corporate Strategy
  • Leadership and Team Building
  • Introduction to International Management
  • Change Management
  • International Business Strategy
  • Managing Innovation
  • Strategy Seminar
  • Corporate Governance
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Crisis and Risk Management
  • Sustainability
  • International Marketing
  • Neuro Marketing
  • Digital Marketing
  • International Operations Management

Tuition and Fees

Fees and financial policy

Application fee
CHF 150
Admission fee
CHF 1’000
Tuition
CHF 11’000 per year
Payment
Annually or in instalments

What is covered

Tuition fees include and exclude

Included

Tuition fees include

Course materials, facilities, and field trips and industrial visits.

Not included

Additional expenses

Accommodation (CHF 750+ per month), books and e-books (CHF 100 per term), health insurance (CHF 1’300 per year), social activities (CHF 200 per term) and transportation (CHF 60+ per month).

Fees and Financial Policy

Payment of fees

Upon notification of acceptance, HBS will provide prospective students with an official Acceptance Letter, which is necessary in many countries for student visa requests as well as for military deferral. Prior to starting the visa application procedure, fifty percent (50%) of tuition and fees is payable, and tuition and fees must be paid in full at the time of admission.

The deposit will be credited toward the student’s tuition, or refunded if official notification of withdrawal is received thirty (30) days before enrollment. The balance of tuition and student fees is due by Admission Day at the beginning of each term.

Payments can be made by direct bank transfer. Please be sure the student’s name is included on the bank transfer notice. Non-payment will result in the student not being accepted in class.

Continue

Dual master’s pathways

HBS × ISMMBA + M.Sc. International Management

MBA + M.Sc. International Management

M.Sc. International Management from ISM in Germany, combined with the HBS MBA.

Discover program
HBS × ISMMBA + M.A. Strategic Marketing Management

MBA + M.A. Strategic Marketing Management

M.A. Strategic Marketing Management from ISM in Germany, combined with the HBS MBA.

Discover program
HBS × ISMMBA + M.Sc. Finance

MBA + M.Sc. Finance

M.Sc. Finance from ISM in Germany, combined with the HBS MBA.

Discover program

Contact

Talk to HBS.

Our admissions team guides applicants through the application, interview, offer, enrollment and visa steps.

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Start your MBA application to HBS.