Are you interested in attending a culinary school in Switzerland but you are residing outside Switzerland, they are culinary schools in Switzerland that welcome international students who want to become professionals in the culinary industry.
What could be more enticing for aspiring chefs worldwide than the blend of culinary excellence and breathtaking landscapes offered by Swiss culinary schools?
Switzerland is a country that is ranked third when it comes to the number of Michelin-starred restaurants per capita and is also the home and foundation of some of the best culinary schools in the world at large.
As an aspirant in the culinary industry, I advise you to also try getting a culinary degree from one of the prominent culinary schools in Switzerland like a Swiss culinary school, getting a degree in the culinary industry will expose you to great opportunities in the culinary industry.
In this blog post, I have carefully compiled a list of the best culinary schools in Switzerland for international students, the advantage of attending one of the best culinary schools in Switzerland for international students, and also diplomas you can also consider getting as an aspirant in the culinary industry.
Table of Contents
Advantages of attending culinary schools in Switzerland
Attending culinary schools in Switzerland offers several advantages that make it a highly sought-after destination for culinary education. Here are some of the key advantages:
Culinary Reputation:
Switzerland has a long-standing reputation for culinary excellence. The country is home to renowned culinary traditions, exquisite ingredients, and a strong focus on quality. Swiss culinary schools benefit from this rich heritage and maintain high standards of culinary education.
World-Class Hospitality Industry:
Switzerland is famous for its hospitality industry, which is closely intertwined with the culinary field. Swiss culinary schools often have strong connections with prestigious hotels, restaurants, and luxury resorts. This provides students with excellent networking opportunities and potential internships or job placements in top establishments.
International Faculty and Student Body:
Culinary schools in Switzerland attract a diverse group of students and faculty from around the world. This multicultural environment enhances the learning experience by exposing students to different culinary traditions, techniques, and flavors. It promotes cultural exchange and helps students develop a global perspective on the culinary arts.
Practical Training and Apprenticeships:
Swiss culinary schools emphasize hands-on training and practical experience. They often offer apprenticeship programs that allow students to work in professional kitchens alongside experienced chefs. This practical approach helps students develop their skills, gain real-world experience, and build a strong foundation for their culinary careers.
International Recognition:
Swiss culinary schools enjoy international recognition for their excellence. Many establishments are affiliated with prestigious culinary organizations and have achieved accreditation from respected industry bodies. Graduating from a renowned Swiss culinary school can enhance your career prospects and open doors to opportunities worldwide.
It’s important to note that while attending culinary schools in Switzerland offers many advantages, the choice of culinary school should be based on individual preferences, career goals, and specific program offerings.
List of culinary schools in Switzerland for international students
- Ici international culinary arts schools
- Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland, Lucerne
- École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL)
- B.H.M.S culinary arts school Lucerne
- Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS)
- Istituto Internazionale di Cucina e Pasticceria (IICP)
- Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (Le Bouveret), Monthey
1. Ici international culinary arts schools
Ici international culinary arts School is one of the best culinary schools in Switzerland for international students, this culinary school is recognized as one of the leading culinary in Switzerland that offers quality culinary arts education to international and national students.
This culinary school has the vision of equipping the next generation of chefs into becoming great chefs in the culinary industry, this culinary school is intentional about the innovation of courses, culinary techniques, and new food-related technologies.
Having perfection in mind they have employed professional chefs from all over the world which means you will be exposed to different culinary experts who are ready to share their knowledge with you, these chefs have acquired years of real-life experience in the culinary arts and are also certified.
ICI international culinary arts school offers different courses, classes, and culinary programs which involve diplomas in global culinary arts, professional culinary arts, and chef catering courses, the courses offered by this school also enlighten students about food business management, and also the art of customer service.
This culinary school also makes sure that they are able to ignite the passion for cooking in each of the students, depending on the course you are taking up this culinary school offers certificates at the end of most of their programs, and students are also given the opportunity to go for internships where they are able to apply their knowledge in real life situations.
Fees and Scholarships offered by this culinary school
Higher diploma in international culinary arts
- Course duration: twenty-two weeks
- Cost of tuition: CHF twenty-four thousand, five hundred plus registration, meal, and room fees
Diploma in international culinary arts
- Course duration: twenty-two weeks
- Cost of tuition: CHF twenty-four thousand, five hundred plus registration, meal, and room fees
Bachelor of arts with honors in international culinary arts
- Course duration: twenty-two weeks
- Cost of tuition: Twenty-six thousand plus registration, meal, and room fees
2. Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland, Lucerne
Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland, Lucerne is a recognized culinary school for international students, are you a novice or a little bit experienced in the culinary arts but have the burning passion to not just hone but also perfect your culinary skills, this culinary school will welcome you with an open arm.
This culinary school offers so many culinary courses, their classes are organized in a way that they are taught both theoretically and practically, practicals are where students are allowed to practice what they have learned during their theoretical classes in a well-equipped kitchen.
Culinary arts academy has a solid culinary background it’s a place where a lot of students have built their culinary careers and is a place that will continue to nurture students who aspire to become great chefs in the next few years to come.
The chef in this culinary school is very innovative with the way they teach their students essential details about the culinary arts like the techniques used in making different contemporary dishes, menu planning and design, kitchen safety rule, food sanitation, and also food safety.
Programs offered by Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland, Lucerne
- Bachelor of Arts in culinary arts
- Master of Arts in culinary business management masters in the culinary arts
- Swiss grand diploma in vegetarian culinary arts
- Swiss grand diploma in the culinary arts
- Swiss grand diploma in Pastry and chocolate arts
Fees
Tuition fees at Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland for local citizens start from 40,784 USD per year. For international students, the cost of study differs — from 38,399 USD, the tuition can vary it all depends on the course or diploma you are interested in taking up.
3. École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL)
École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) is one of the leading culinary schools in the world that welcome international students, as the name of this school implies it’s not just a culinary school but also offers classes that are related to the hospitality industry.
This school is recognized as an award-winning school and also one of the world’s best hotel management schools, this school according to research is a Michelin-star school in 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 for the Berceau des Sens, and they have also received the award of best innovation school in education.
The students in this culinary school are taught the art and science of cooking in an innovative way, students are also allowed to operate in the restaurants near their campuses where students perfect their cooking skills by putting them into practice and also strive to be creative.
École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) offers different programs in the culinary arts, and hospitality arts, these courses are designed to give students in-depth knowledge about the culinary and hospitality arts, this institution believes that soft skill paired with great knowledge is what defines hospitality.
This school also offers scholarships that are related to their programs they offer scholarships like Swiss HES scholarships, the EHL foundation for scholarships honorary loans, and international scholarships which according to the name is open to international students.
Address: Rte de Berne 301, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland
4. B.H.M.S culinary arts school Lucerne
B.H.M.S culinary arts school Lucerne is one of the best culinary schools in Switzerland for international students who are interested in attending a culinary school in Switzerland in pursuit of a culinary career, this culinary school has a solid culinary education which makes it an ideal culinary school for students.
This culinary school is located in Lucerne which is the heart of Switzerland, these students are taught how to make different continental dishes, and the chefs also teach the students the culinary traditions and skills of Switzerland and even neighboring countries like France and Italy.
This culinary school offers quality culinary courses, and diplomas in the culinary arts, this culinary school teaches students mostly through hands-on classes to culinary operations where students are allowed to get creative with their culinary skills and also your recipe techniques.
B.H.M.S is one of the leading culinary and hospitality schools in Switzerland, the chefs in this culinary are highly qualified chefs who are experts in the culinary industry, and they are passionate about teaching students about the culinary arts, they have the student’s best interests at heart.
Students are given the opportunity to meet different professionals in the culinary industry, this school will teach you different skills and tricks on how to plan your menu, time planning presentation of meals, substitution of recipes, and other contemporary skills.
Fees
Course fees are going to cost you CHF 24,100. With each academic year that passes, a sum of CH 1000 is added to the tuition fee. For the application fee, you have to pay CHF 500.
5. Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS)
Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS) is recognized as one of the best culinary schools in Switzerland for international students and it is also ranked the third-best school in the world, this school will give you in-depth knowledge about the hospitality industry.
This culinary school is committed to producing students who are ready to face the hospitality industry, the students trained in this institute are well-equipped with real-life knowledge about the hospitality and culinary arts.
The degrees offered by this institute expose students to different opportunities in the hospitality and culinary arts, this institute offers hands-on experience for its students because there is a popular saying that practice makes perfect.
They also offer diplomas in the hospitality arts, and they also have campuses where international and national students can live, living on campus makes learning easier as you have the opportunity to work on your projects with like minds.
Address: Av. Léopold de Reynier, 1854 Leysin, Switzerland
6. Istituto Internazionale di Cucina e Pasticceria (IICP)
Istituto Internazionale di Cucina e Pasticceria (IICP) is one the culinary school in Switzerland for international students, who are interested in becoming renowned chefs in the culinary industry, the culinary students who attend this are open to different opportunities.
This culinary school is designed for international students, the program offered has a duration of one year, and the programs offered by this school cover both fundamental culinary arts and also the advanced part of the culinary arts.
In this culinary school, the chefs who teach these students give them the best and also the most advanced cooking techniques, the programs offered by this culinary are all accredited, and the courses are all quality culinary courses that are designed to give students in-depth knowledge.
This school also offers students direct admission to their school, the students are also taught how to make different dishes by there selves, and they are also allowed to become visits different places of culinary excellence and also meet different prominent people in the culinary industry.
7. Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (Le Bouveret), Monthey
Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (Le Bouveret), Monthey is one of the best culinary schools in Switzerland for international students, this school was founded in 1991, and this school has different solid ties with other institutions that will benefit them.
Culinary arts academy offers varieties of different degrees which include bachelor’s degrees in the culinary arts, a Swiss grand diploma in pastry, and other culinary-related courses that are all focused on giving the students quality culinary education.
Fees for the Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (Le Bouveret) are around $20,000-$65,000 per year and include the required cooking utensils, uniforms, meals, and accommodations students need.
The school has well-equipped kitchens and the students are opportune to make trips to France for culinary-related lessons and real-life experience, students are also trained to learn about the collection of recipes, and also make research about the substation of recipes.
Scholarships and Fees:
Bachelor of Arts in culinary arts
- Course duration: 3 years
- Cost of tuition: CHF 103900 (plus additional charges)
Swiss grand diploma in culinary arts
- Course duration: 3 terms (1 year)
- Cost of tuition: CHF 44100 (plus additional charges)
Address: Rte Cantonale 51, 1897 Le Bouveret, Switzerland
Are the programs taught in English or do I need to know another language?
Many culinary schools in Switzerland offer programs taught in English to accommodate international students.
However, it’s beneficial to have a basic understanding of French, German, or Italian, as these are the official languages of Switzerland and may be useful in day-to-day interactions.
What are the admission requirements for international students?
Admission requirements vary among culinary schools, but they typically include submitting an application form, academic transcripts, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and sometimes a demonstration of culinary skills or a portfolio.
Are there scholarships or financial aid options available for international students?
Some culinary schools in Switzerland offer scholarships or financial aid options for international students.
It’s recommended to check with the specific school or explore external scholarship opportunities that may be available for international students studying abroad.
Conclusion
In conclusion, culinary schools in Switzerland provide international students with a unique and exceptional culinary education experience.
The country’s culinary reputation, world-class hospitality industry, multicultural environment, practical training opportunities, emphasis on quality ingredients, and international recognition make it an ideal destination for aspiring chefs.
By attending a culinary school in Switzerland, international students can gain invaluable skills, expand their culinary knowledge, and establish a solid foundation for a successful career in the global culinary industry.
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