Bachelor of Science in International Sustainable Tourism

In order to pursue the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals and achieve a more sustainable tourism industry on a global scale, we are looking for a class of international students who are open to studying abroad in Spain and Switzerland and have a high level of self-management and motivation to organize themselves in our highly flexible remote study year.

To be accepted at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts - HSLU, students must have at least one year of professional work experience.

Please make sure that you are eligible for a visa for your stay in both Spain and Switzerland.

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All six semesters have the same workload (30 ECTS), so that a balanced course of study is guaranteed in the best possible way. Click below for detailed information regarding the structure and contents.

Collecting practical experience in the internship semester:

During the fourth semester, students complete an internship anywhere in the world within the field of tourism. The aim of the internship is to gain subject-specific work experience, apply the theoretical knowledge gained within the first three semesters and then build on these practical insights in the final academic year in order to be one step ahead of the competition when it comes to entering the job market after graduation.

Students can test their professional orientations and learn how to build professional relationships, integrate into a team and develop skills such as enthusiasm and motivation, self-confidence, adaptability, responsibility, diligence and problem-solving in their day-to-day business.

The internship is closely accompanied by coaching in three parallel modules. These modules, entitled Corporate Innovation, Self-Leadership & Reflection and Current Issues in Tourism & Sustainability, take place online in synchronous and asynchronous formats and incorporate the experiences from the internship. Each student is supported by a trainer in the organisation and a coach from HSLU.

Students are prepared for the tourism industry holistically, i.e. the teaching goes far beyond hospitality management. The program is divided into five core subject areas:

In addition to the subject-specific expertise, the BSc in International Sustainable Tourism develops soft skills. This fosters the individual development of future professionals managers and entrepreneurs.

• Effective communication
• Problem-solving skills
• Critical thinking
• Teamwork
• Intercultural competence

Great potential in the job market

The best confirmation of the excellent qualifications of HSLU graduates is reflected in the job market and the very good career opportunities available to them. More than 95 per cent of HSLU students quickly find employment after they graduate; 70 per cent even go straight into executive-level positions.

Need for well-trained professionals

In light of the fact that this international program has been developed as a result of the urgent need for well-trained professionals in numerous markets, as identified by UN Tourism, we are confident that this will also be the case for graduates of the BSc in International Sustainable Tourism. The steadily increasing tourism trend and an awareness of sustainability in the industry and at the political level are further strong indications of positive career opportunities in the sector, for which future personnel must be qualitatively prepared.

Qualified for many industries

Students will graduate with a holistic view of the international tourism industry, experience from the internship, and a forward-looking sustainable orientation gained by first-hand insights from UN Tourism and the continuous exchange of international students, lecturers, and the broad industry network. Graduates will then be in a position to directly enter operational companies and organizations, be it in the hospitality industry, destination management organizations, airlines, tour operators, incoming agencies, national associations, and political bodies such as ministries and development agencies, or non-profit organizations across the world.

Common entry positions range from administrative work to lower and middle management levels. Graduates are also seen as valuable by entities dealing indirectly with the tourism industry such as suppliers, certification bodies, and platforms for the commercialization of tourism services. The employment potential of the public sector at various levels (local, regional, national) in the context of tourism destination development or regional development should not be underestimated, also with regard to achieving global development goals.

Many possible career paths

Graduates can conceivably take up jobs in sustainable positioning and respective marketing and communication, as well as tourism product design and development. They may also find themselves in customer relationship management or in project teams aimed at sustainable transformation.

However, the program does not just prepare students for employment. Current or future founders of, or successors to, small start-ups or family businesses are empowered with a solid basic knowledge of their entrepreneurial path in tourism.

Moreover, the degree allows graduates to build on this bachelor’s degree with a specialized consecutive master's degree, which broadens long-term career opportunities even further and qualifies graduates for higher strategic and managerial roles.