Applicants from non-European countries need to check, if their upper secondary school-leaving certificate is recognised. If this specified certificate cannot be provided, an admission exam of the HSLU can be taken as an alternative.
To check whether your upper secondary education certificate can be accepted by us, please proceed as follows:
- Call up the swissuniversities website. Select your country. Check whether your upper secondary education certificate is recognised. Orientate yourself on the admission requirements of the University of Lucerne. The HSLU essentially follows these guidelines.
- If a "Complementary Examination ECUS" or a "University Degree" is required, you will probably have to take our admission exam. This is the case for most non-European countries.
- If you are unsure, please contact us. We will be happy to check your documents without obligation and provide you with individual information on whether you meet the admission requirements with or without conditions.
Depending on your school leaving certificate you may need to take our admission exam. By passing the exam you can still get accepted to our programme, even if your certificate is not listed as recognised upper secondary school-leaving certificate. During the individual review of your admission documents, we can provide information on whether you need to take our admission exam.
The admission exam takes place all year round, except August and September. It consists of two parts, which are administered at two different times:
- Online-assessment of entrance qualifications in mathematics at Swiss upper secondary education level.
- Oral examination on general knowledge at Swiss upper secondary education level. This takes place during the online admission interview with a representative of the programme, which will be extended accordingly.
Applicants to our Bachelor programmes must provide evidence of qualifications in mathematics equivalent to those stipulated for upper secondary vocational training in Switzerland.
For this purpose, you will take an online assessment lasting 60 minutes. You will have to solve tasks from the following areas:
- Set theory
- Arithmetic
- Functions
- Equations
- Systems of Equations
The provided self-assessment test will help you in determining whether you have the skills and knowledge in the field of mathematics which we expect students to have acquired prior to studying in our BSc programmes.
With our preparation course for mathematical basics, we provide you with a supplementary learning programme with which you can prepare for the mathematics exam at your own pace, independent of time and place.
We are truly interested in learning more about you and your motivation to join the programme. The interview lasts about 15 minutes and will take place between October and July.
If you have to take the admission exam on the basis of your upper secondary education certificate, the interview will be extended by 40 minutes. These additional 40 minutes will be used to check whether your transversal competences correspond to a upper secondary education in Switzerland.
Swiss law requires at least one year of qualified full-time work experience in a study-related field for admission to a degree programme at a university of applied sciences. The HSLU bases its criteria for the recognition of work experience on the best practices of Swiss universities.
Students' various experiences from their professional practice create the basis for the practical and application-oriented teaching in the degree programme. It contributes to a successful career entry after graduation. The work experience must meet minimum quality standards. This means that it requires prior upper secondary education, it takes place in a contractually regulated work relationship under guidance or supervision and contains qualifying components. Work experience can be acquired in several companies or organisations, but at least six consecutive months must be completed in the same company.
Familiarisation
One rule is the necessity of a familiarisation period with the work processes and tasks in the company. It can be designated and scheduled as a special phase in the work experience agreement.
Supervision of the work experience
Interns are accompanied during the work experience in the company by a person who is qualified to train young people professionally.
Placement in the company according to the learning objectives
During the work experience, interns can be deployed in different areas or departments of a company according to the agreed objectives. This gives them the opportunity to gain in-depth insights into the relevant company and work processes.
Professional competences
The aim of the work experience is that persons with a gymnasium-level Matura achieve the prerequisite for admission to a Bachelor's degree programme at a University of Applied Sciences. The companies select those professional action competences that can be realised within the framework of the work experience, taking into account the possibilities in the company.
Professional theoretical knowledge
In a Swiss apprenticeship, professional theoretical knowledge is taught as part of the accompanying vocational school or in courses. In the work experience the necessary professional theoretical knowledge can be acquired through self-study with appropriate reference books. The professional theoretical knowledge can also be imparted by the accompanying supervisors of the company.
The one year’s of qualified full-time work experience in a study-related field must be confirmed to the HSLU in writing. A detailed documentation of the work experience according to the Swiss system is suggested below. The templates can be adapted to the possibilities of the companies. Persons who have already had one year's work experience can submit the documents they have already received as confirmation to the HSLU.
Work Experience Agreement
In a work experience agreement, objectives are agreed between the company and the interns before or at the beginning of the work experience (at the latest after the familiarisation period). The objectives are formulated with the acquisition of professional competences in mind. The professional competences are based on Swiss vocational apprenticeships. The sample work experience agreement lists the minimum competences to be achieved in the field of "Business". The responsibility for the concrete formulation of the learning objectives for the work experience lies ultimately with the company, in consultation with the intern.
Employment Contract
In addition to the work experience agreement, the company concludes a fixed-term employment contract with the intern. This contract regulates the usual conditions according to the labour law of the respective country. The contracting parties are generally free to determine the wage for the intern.
Documentation of the acquisition of competences
Learning journals as a continuous description and reflection of the work done and the professional competences acquired in the process. For the documentation, the interns may use the suggested Learning Journal. This documentation serves as a comprehensible reflection and presentation of one's own learning progress. They are prepared together with the supervisor of the work experience. They are discussed with supervisor of the work experience and the learning progress is assessed. At least one learning report per relevant competence should be prepared over the duration of the work experience.
Intermediate evaluations - assessment of the current situation - final certificate
The supervisors of the work experience will conduct regular assessments with the interns. The assessments will take place in accordance with the milestone planning set out in the work experience agreement, but at least once in the middle of the work experience. On the occasion of these assessments, the supervisor of the work experience also evaluates the interns' performance to date and record it in a Training Report. The interns also assess the professional competences they have achieved in each case and finally also themselves. The evaluations are discussed in meetings between the supervisor of the work experience and the intern. The template of a Training Report can be used for the assessments.
The companies' certificates of competence confirm to the successful interns that they have achieved the learning objectives of the work experience and thus have sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge of the profession to take up the BSc in International Sustainable Tourism at the HSLU. The competence certificates of the companies are valid for an unlimited period of time.