Admission based on educational qualifications
Vocational Baccalaureate (Berufsmaturität)
A vocational baccalaureate with a focus on economics and services in conjunction with basic commercial training allows direct access to the programme. There are no additional requirements.
Individuals with a vocational baccalaureate with a focus on economics and services without basic commercial training require at least one year of relevant professional experience in addition to their educational qualification.
With a vocational baccalaureate in a different subject (technology, architecture, life sciences; nature, landscape and food; design and art; health and social services) require at least one year of relevant professional experience in addition to the educational qualification.
The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts arranges a limited number of internships that meet the professional experience requirements. Information can be found here (only in German).
Please also note the general admission information and the information on preparatory courses below.
High school diploma
A secondary school leaving certificate entitles you to study at a university of applied sciences in conjunction with one year of professional experience in a relevant (commercial/business) field. Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts offers a limited number of internships that meet the professional experience requirements. You can find more information here (only in German).
Please also note the general admission requirements and the information on preparatory courses below.
Specialised Baccalaureate (Fachmaturität)
A specialised baccalaureate entitles the holder to study at a university of applied sciences in conjunction with one year of professional experience in a relevant (commercial/business) field.
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts offers a limited number of internships that meet the professional experience requirements. Information can be found here (only in German).
Please also note the general admission requirements and the information on preparatory courses below.
Diploma from a higher technical college
A diploma from a higher technical college combined with at least one year of professional experience in a relevant (commercial/business) field entitles you to enter the Bachelor's programme without having to take an entrance examination.
If you have one of the following federally recognised HF diplomas, we will credit you with up to 90 ECTS credits towards the Bachelor's programme, depending on your degree:
- Higher Technical College of Economics HFW
- Higher Technical College of Tourism HFT
- Higher Technical College of Banking and Finance HFBF
- Higher Technical College of Marketing and Communication HFMK
- Higher Technical Colleges of Hospitality or Hotel Management Schools
Please also note the general admission requirements and information on preparatory courses below.
Federal Certificate of Competence (vocational examination) Federal Diploma (advanced vocational examination)
Individuals who have passed a professional examination or a higher professional examination in conjunction with at least one year of professional experience in a relevant (commercial/business) field will be admitted to the Bachelor's programme after passing an entrance examination (only in German).
The entrance examination is based on the requirements of the vocational baccalaureate and covers German, English, accounting, mathematics and general education. Depending on the focus of the professional or higher technical examination, individual parts of the entrance examination may be waived.
Individual educational and practical achievements can be credited to the programme up to a maximum of 90 ECTS credits, provided that they are part of the programme and can be verified.
Please also note the general admission information and the information on preparatory courses below.
Foreign educational qualification
Non-Swiss European educational qualifications are generally recognised if they are equivalent to a Swiss school-leaving certificate (Lisbon Convention) and the applicant can demonstrate at least one year of relevant (commercial/business) work experience. Any special admission requirements applicable in the country of origin may be taken into account.
The same criteria also apply in principle to non-European educational qualifications. If the equivalence of the educational qualification to a Swiss Matura cannot be clearly established, admission to a university of applied sciences can be verified by means of an entrance examination (only in German). Furthermore, applicants may be required to provide a certificate of admission from a recognised university or university of applied sciences in their country of origin.
Please also note the general admission information and the information on preparatory courses below.
Other qualifications or educational achievements
Please contact us and provide us with your portfolio of achievements. We will be happy to check whether you meet the requirements for so-called sur-dossier admission (admission without formal prior education).
Please also note the general admission information and the information on preparatory courses below.
General admission information
Professional practice / work experience
At least one year of practical work experience is required by law for admission to a degree programme at a university of applied sciences. The professional experience must meet minimum quality standards (for example, pure telephone service in a call centre is not recognised). The professional experience can be gained in several companies or organisations, but at least six consecutive months must have been completed at the same company. The Lucerne School of Business arranges a limited number of work placements that fulfil the work experience requirements (only in German).
Business language
English is a compulsory part of the programme at the Lucerne School of Business. Admission to the degree programme requires the initial competencies of the vocational baccalaureate in business and services (level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Examination of the ability to study in German (for foreign language students)
German is the language of instruction at the Lucerne School of Business. What does the ability to study in German mean at the Lucerne School of Business? What are the requirements for exemption from the language proficiency test? Answers to these questions can be found in our information sheet (Verification of language proficiency in German).
Preparatory courses
The Lucerne School of Business offers the following preparatory courses. They are intended for people who do not have the knowledge and skills required for the vocational baccalaureate specialising in business and services.
Accounting
At the start of their studies, all students are expected to have mastered the basics of accounting for the commercial vocational baccalaureate. The accounting self-test (only in German) can be used to determine the current level of knowledge.
For those who have gaps in their previous knowledge or would like to refresh their knowledge, the Institute of Financial Services Zug IFZ offers various preparatory events in the area of accounting. They take place from April to August.
Information on the course in 2025 can be found here (only in German).
Mathematics
All students are expected to have mastered the maths content of the commercial vocational baccalaureate at the start of their studies. Check your knowledge and skills by solving the relevant tasks. The maths self-test (only in German) can be used to determine your current level of knowledge.
The Institute of Financial Services Zug IFZ offers a maths preparation course in Lucerne: The registration deadline for 2025 has passed. Information about the course in 2026 will be published here at the beginning of 2026.
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