Bachelor of Science HES-SO (BSc) in Tourism

Travelling from communication to management

The HES-SO Bachelor's degree programme in Tourism provides a comprehensive insight into the tourism industry and offers a modern, practical education that focuses on key skills such as management, digitalisation of services or sustainability. 

Discovering the world

Multilingualism is also a high priority: Students can take lectures in German, French and English, and from the second year onwards, they can participate in international exchanges.

Learning by doing

Thanks to concrete projects and courses carried out in cooperation with external partners such as companies, administrations and associations, students acquire professional skills that greatly improve their career prospects. Almost 100 % of graduates find a job immediately after their studies.

Promising career prospects

Holders of a Bachelor's degree in Tourism have promising career prospects in leading positions in the tourism and service industry (marketing, tourism management, communication, event management, service design, project management, etc.). Graduates of the Bachelor's degree in Tourism can aspire to management positions such as project manager, communications manager, event manager, head of a tourism information office, digital marketing manager, etc.

Would you like to find out if a Bachelor in Tourism is right for you? Take our quiz to receive a personalised answer. I want to take the quiz.


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Date of course start
15 September 2025
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Qualification awarded
Bachelor of Science HES-SO in Tourism
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Course duration

6 semesters (full-time)
8 semesters (part-time)

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Where you study
Sierre
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Teaching language
English | French | German
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Date of course start
15 September 2025
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Qualification awarded
Bachelor of Science HES-SO in Tourism
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Course duration

6 semesters (full-time)
8 semesters (part-time)

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Where you study
Sierre
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Teaching language
English | French | German

Study programme

The Tourism bachelor degree programme is a three-year full-time programme (6 semesters) or a four-year part-time programm. The study plan is based on 13 basic skills: Tourism, Economics and Finance, Marketing, Digitalisation, Management, Communication, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Languages, Cognitive Flexibility, Emotional Intelligence, Sustainability and Social Policy.

During the first part of their studies, students acquire fundamental knowledge which they then consolidate in applied projects in cooperation with companies and the Institute of Tourism. 

NEW: Part-time studies (8 semesters)

Part-time studies are designed for students who wish to combine their studies with a different occupation, a high-level sporting or artistic activity, or with family commitments.

Companies in the Tourism sector are looking for part-time students who want to put their knowledge into practice and gain significant work experience during their studies. To apply for part-time jobs in the tourism sector, consult our partner jobs platform by filtering by Job Type > Jobs for part-time students.

Courses at the university of applied sciences take place three days a week. No courses are held during the study holidays.

Those who have already obtained an Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in tourism will have 90 ECTS recognized, so that these students can start their studies in the 5th semester.

For those with an Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in a similar field, 60 ECTS are recognized, so that these students enter the training in the third semester.

The admission to the part-time studies occurs on request. Contact us for further information: admissions.heg@hevs.ch



Major options

In the last two semesters, major and minor options allow students to specialise according to their individual preferences. The School of Management in Sierre currently offers major options in English, French and German.


Open modules and specialisations

The open modules of the bachelor's degree in tourism are offered in the second year, and main and minor options in the third year. They allow students to customise their curriculum and to specialise in specific subject areas. Students can choose from topics such as service design, event design, entrepreneurship and business creation, travel packages and the development of soft skills (leadership, emotional intelligence, cognitive flexibility).

The modules are offered in English, German and French to improve the students’ language skills. They can also obtain a bilingual diploma provided they earn the required credits.


ePortfolio

The online platform Portfolium enables students to showcase their course-related work and projects, the professional skills and knowledge they have acquired and their personal experiences. This individual portfolio helps them customise part of their curriculum according to their intended specialisation and career plans. The portfolio can also be shared with future employers.


Bachelor's thesis

In their final year, students write their Bachelor's thesis in cooperation with companies or research institutes, which greatly improves their employability. 

Access to published Bachelor's thesis

The title Bachelor of Science HES-SO is nationally and internationally recognised and legally protected. The Bachelor's degree completes the first study cycle and corresponds to 180 ECTS credits. 



Skills
Professional perspectives

The Bachelor's programme is based on different key areas that enable students to acquire the following skills:

Professional skills

Tourism - Economics and finance - Marketing - Digitalisation - Management - Communication


Environmental skills

Sustainability - Social policies


Social and personal skills 

Leadership - Entrepreneurship - Languages - Cognitive flexibility - Emotional intelligence

ePortfolio is an individual skills portfolio that enables students to customise their learning experiences according to their specific interests and their career aspirations. On this online platform, they can showcase their skills, projects and personal experiences.

HESso real
School of Management - Degree programme Tourism
Rte de la Plaine 2
PO box 188
3960 Sierre