United School for Liberal Studies
Associate in Liberal Studies
- Barcelona, Spain
- Brussels, Belgium
Associate Degree
DURATION
600 hours
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
CHF 36,900 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus, Blended
* price may be different based on location
Key Summary
About: Associate in Liberal Studies (ALS) at the United School for Liberal Studies offers a flexible degree. It runs 1.5–2 years (90 ECTS / 60 US credits). The quarter system uses 20 credits (600 learning hours). You can start eight times per year and study on-campus, online, hybrid, full- or part-time across nine center campuses with transfer options.
Career Outcomes: The programme pairs liberal arts and global studies with dedicated career services: seminars, guest speakers, CV reviews and 24/7 job and internship portal. Graduates take jobs in business, communications, NGOs or international services, or pursue further undergraduate or professional study.
Program duration: 1.5 up to 2 years, full-time
Program format: Full-time, Part-time, On-campus, Online, Hybrid
Program language: English
Degree awarded: Associate in Liberal Studies (ALS)
Deadline: no deadline to apply
Locations: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona, Brussels, Geneva, Madrid, Milan, Tokyo, Zurich
Starting dates: 8
Program duration
Associate degree programs consist of 90 European credits, equivalent to 60 American semester credits. Courses are assigned a number of credits, indicating the estimated workload. Each credit equals up to 30 learning hours, including contact hours, exam hours, self-study hours, and group-study hours. The workload of a typical full-time undergraduate student amounts to 20 credits and 600 learning hours per quarter. The workload of a part-time student depends on the number of credits attempted per quarter.
Kick-start your studies up to 8 times per year
Students can choose between multiple starting dates in the fall, winter, spring, and summer of each academic year. Our modular course design and program structure allow for optimal further education planning.
Because of the program's flexible structure and modular design, multiple starting dates are available throughout the academic year in October, November, January, February, April, May, July, or August. All campuses follow the same academic calendar.
Study destinations
Students can transfer between campuses on a quarterly basis with guaranteed program compatibility. Our quarter-based academic calendar allows for a continuous study abroad experience across Europe and Asia.
Our 9 global campus locations are based in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona, Brussels, Geneva, Madrid, Milan, Tokyo, and Zurich.
Our campuses are all located in the city center of several exciting destinations. Students are encouraged to transfer between campuses for one or more quarters, but may also choose a single campus as their destination of choice. Students who prefer shorter periods abroad can join our seminar courses taught by visiting professors at several of our campuses throughout the academic year.
Accreditation
Our Associate in Business Studies (ABS) degree program is programmatically accredited by the US-based Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Teaching schedule
Courses are available in various formats, including daytime courses between 8.30 and 18.30, seminar courses with visiting professors on consecutive days, and several online courses available 24/7, or any combination in a blended format. Courses are scheduled typically in sessions of 3 hours each. Connect with an admissions advisor, or refer to the course planning once enrolled to find out more about course availability in specific formats throughout the academic year.
Program requirements
UIBS Quality: Accreditations & Global Rankings
United International Business School (UIBS) is dedicated to academic excellence, holding prestigious international accreditations and consistently ranking as a top-tier business school.
Programmatic Accreditations
Our business programs meet rigorous global standards, ensuring your degree is recognized worldwide:
- ACBSP Accredited: Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (USA).
- ECBE Accredited: Accredited by the European Council for Business Education (Europe).
Quality Certifications
- eduQua Certified: Our Zurich and Geneva campuses hold the Swiss quality label for further education.
- ISO 9001:2015: Certified for high-standard Quality Management Systems.
Global Rankings (CEO Magazine)
UIBS is recognized as a leader in business education:
- Tier One European MBA Program.
- Top-ranked Global Online MBA.
- Premier Global Executive MBA.
Academic Memberships
We are proud members of leading educational associations, including AACSB, EFMD, and CEEMAN.
Upon successful completion of the study program students receive an international private Associate in Studies degree awarded by the school's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, based on the recommendation of the faculty of the local campuses where credits were earned. Learn more about the school's academic degrees and accreditation.
Scholarships are limitedly available, in the form of a fee reduction of the total program fees. Students can apply for a scholarship based on previous academic merit (minimum average grade of 80% or more). Scholarships are only available for full-time, on-campus students.
Scholarships are limitedly available, in the form of a fee reduction of the total program fees. Students can apply for a scholarship based on previous academic merit (minimum average grade of 80% or more). Scholarships are only available for full-time, on-campus students.
For more information about scholarships, please visit the institute website.
Career preparation and job placement
Our Careers Department supports our students in planning their career paths by:
- organizing several career seminars
- offering the possibility of meeting with business professionals interested in recruiting
- maintaining job and internship listings on our Careers Portal.
Our study programs are designed to meet the demands of a broad range of business professions. Students are also assisted with finding attractive internships and jobs with local as well as multinational companies and organizations. In addition, we also review our students' CVs and provide useful tips for job interviews.
Dedicated career services
With the help of our dedicated career services and our online career center, students and alumni get the career support they need to help their professional careers take off.
Our dedicated career department organizes relevant career seminars and guest speaker events on a quarterly basis, and our online career center provides 24/7 access to the latest job offers and internship opportunities and to a wide range of videos and articles with helpful tips and advice.
Professional career perspectives
Our professional study programs prepare students for a wide range of professions across a wide range of industries. Important to note is that our programs do not aim for access to regulated professions or government employment. While access to government employees may be limited because of the private nature of our degrees, several alumni do work for government authorities in a number of positions.
To sign up for the event, make sure to fill out the form to receive the joining link.
Our truly global community of students, faculty, and staff, is made up of 95+ different nationalities from around the world, with students showing great appreciation for cultural diversity and entrepreneurial initiative.
Program duration
Associate degree programs consist of 90 European credits, equivalent to 60 American semester credits. Courses are assigned a number of credits, indicating the estimated workload. Each credit equals up to 30 learning hours, including contact hours, exam hours, self-study hours, and group-study hours. The workload of a typical full-time undergraduate student amounts to 20 credits and 600 learning hours per quarter. The workload of a part-time student depends on the number of credits attempted per quarter.