EHL: what it's really like

Want to pursue an international career in hospitality, management, finance, or marketing? EHL might be the perfect university for you.

École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) at a glance:

 

Paula, a second year student and student ambassador at EHL studying the Bachelor's in International Hospitality Management, tells us what it's like to study there.
 

What’s the institution like? 

EHL is not your typical business school. While it’s best known for hospitality management, its graduates don’t just end up in hotels. In fact, around half of EHL bachelor’s graduates go on to build careers in fields like finance, consulting, luxury, healthcare, and tech. The EHL programme is all about customer-focused business skills, leadership, and human-centred management – skills that matter in any industry today.

What really sets EHL apart is its hands-on approach from day one. As a student, you get to dive into real projects, complete two six-month-long internships, and meet industry leaders through guest lectures, workshops, and company visits. This close connection to the industry explains why 96% of graduates land a job within six months of finishing.A surprising fact about EHL is its international reputation: founded in 1893 in Switzerland, it’s one of the world’s oldest hospitality management schools and consistently ranked among the best globally. Its alumni network spans more than 150 countries, often described by students as a lifelong ‘EHL family’.


What accommodation options are available to students? 

At Lausanne, most bachelor’s students live on campus, especially in their first year. You’ll typically stay in shared apartments or EHL's residence, usually sharing with up to three other students.

The campus is a true mix of international and local students, which makes it easy to make  friends from all over the world. Plus, dedicated student services are there to help international students from arrival to settling their residence permits.

There are also off-campus housing options available very close to EHL, with good public transport links, making the ride to class short and easy. 

The Passugg campus also offers around 160 rooms for students. The Singapore campus doesn’t offer on-campus accommodation, but partners with several housing providers to give you reliable accommodation options.


What facilities does the institution have that make it stand out from other institutions? 

At Lausanne, one of the standout facilities is our sports complex. We have Oakfield, which is our multi-sports field where you can play a variety of sports, and an indoor swimming pool complete with a cold plunge and sauna for post-training recovery. There are also tennis, paddle, and volleyball courts outside!In the innovation hub, students can bring their entrepreneurial ideas to life. It’s the perfect space to work on projects, start your own business, and collaborate with like-minded peers.

And finally, we have a range of study spaces, from collaborative areas for group projects to soundproofed rooms for focused study.

Our Singapore campus building has 2,400 square metres of space including five classrooms, four meeting rooms, a large multi-purpose hall, and lots of breakout areas. The campus is based on 1.9 hectares of land, surrounded by gardens and green spaces.

Do you offer any work placements or study abroad options for students?

At EHL, real-world experience is built into your degree through two six-month internships.

The first one’s the operational internship, which takes place during our first year of studies. It’s where we transition from our preparatory year into the field, developing skills in either Rooms Division or Food and Beverage. Then we move on to the administrative internship in our third year, where we can apply advanced management theory to corporate roles.

EHL supports you throughout the search process. Every semester, there’s a career fair bringing over 200 world-class companies to campus. We also have career business partners who guide and support us through the journey.For my first internship, I worked at the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid. But the reach is huge; other students have landed roles with brands like Six Senses, Mandarin Oriental, UBS, and Coca Cola. It’s a fantastic way to build a network before you’ve even graduated.


What do graduates say about their time at EHL?

‘I’ve always loved people, loved food, loved socialising… and I think EHL brought all those things together. Because of the international network and alumni network, I was able to attend a Career Fair that led to a couple of introductions, and ultimately led to me getting a job in Hong Kong. I think the training and experience [is unlike] anything else you’ll get anywhere in the world.’

Marina, EHL graduate

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