SSTH Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality

SSTH Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality

SSTH Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality started to its hand in hospitality since 1966 with the motive of producing professional manpower in the hospitality industry.
All of our programs, at all educational levels, have a strong emphasis on practical experience. Thanks to their well-founded knowledge and practical work experience, the graduates are immediately employable and ready to accept responsibility.
The members involved for the well founded school of hospitality are well educated and professional people.Knut G Rupprecht is the director of the school.Similarly Ulrike Kuhnenn is Dean and Jutta Zimmermann is the Resident Manager. Gion Martin Fetz is the Executive Chef , Marco Haas is Finance/IT incharge and Claudio Kaufmann is Head of Sales & Marketing.

The pass out of SSTH are highly demanded in the market because throughout their SSTH education, are well informed about competent service know-how and they develope courteous and efficient manner,students also get to support local hotels at special events and banquets.

Alongside external events, students also have the opportunity to be involved in banquets and other activities organized in "THE SCHOOL HOTEL". These can be for up to 200 guests, or even over 2000, as is the case with our annual Food Festival. Taking place each spring, the Food Festival attracts visitors from far and wide to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere filled with music and shows, and accompanied by the multi-cultural dishes prepared and served by  students.

All of this practical experience gained at school is the foundation for the management skills that graduates are well known for. As much as the first two semesters are filled with operational experience, the final two semesters set the students in supervisory and management tasks that are invaluable for understanding and learning the skills needed for the future careers.

With only around 300 students, personal contact within our close-knit community of students, staff, and faculty is one of the main strengths of SSTH. School set a high value on our learning environment, which involves a combination of trust, respect and professionalism.

Why to study at SSTH

Among the various Hospitality Schools,SSTH stands out in the crowd because of genuine arguements.

1. THE Swiss School
   SSTH enjoys a world-renowned reputation for hospitality education. Founded in 1966, SSTH was one the first hospitality schools in Switzerland to offer programs in English for international students.
    
2. Careers and concept
   School 's concept  "learning for life" will teach you to role play across three different levels of management. Hotel of school serves as the learning center, and managerial skills are fine-tuned in cross-department training programs and through hands-on practical experience. It is the perfect environment for you to realize your ambitions, develop your skills and become a leader.
    
3. Global recognition
   SSTH is the only hospitality management school whose Professional Degree program in both English and German is accredited by the Swiss Federal Government.       
                         
4. Applied management
   The SSTH learning approach is a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, allowing you to apply the acquired management training immediately to the hospitality industry. The business angle of curriculum will train you in management know-how, finance, revenue, and cost planning, as well as how to analyze the results and plan for the future.
    
5. International community
   With over 105 nationalities having graduated from SSTH, and more than 20 nationalities currently on campus, the  majority of whom are Swiss, SSTH is truly a Swiss school with an international flair.The students value, respect and adapt to international cultures on a daily basis, while gaining a real Swiss experience.
    
6. Multinational/multicultural faculty
   Most members of  Swiss and international faculty have had long term work experience as leading managers in the hospitality industry. They are distinguished, multi-lingual, well qualified professionals, dedicated to sharing their experiences with you. Because of small size, faculty and staff know each student by name, taking an interest in both your academic and personal success.
    
7. Location
   The SSTH campus is located just over an hour away from Zurich by road or by train. Our state (canton) is called Graubünden which is Switzerland's no.1 holiday destination. Not only is SSTH located in Switzerland's largest state (canton), but it is also situated close to Switzerland's oldest and most historic city, the city of Chur.
    
8. Internships
   Internships are an integral part of curriculum. Future employers are impressed by SSTH students, because they bring with them practical experience and strong work ethics. Career placement team counsels and helps place students individually. At least one of the internships must be completed in Switzerland, usually the first (operational). The management internship can be done anywhere in the world, and is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door with a company you would like to work for after graduating.
    
9. Campus - Live the experience
   Students live and learn together in a classic belle époque style former spa hotel. The majority of the 140 rooms provided are single rooms. Conference rooms, a recreation center, a business center, state of the art classrooms, modern kitchens, a gym, discotheque, speciality restaurant, banquet hall, and a library are all part of the SSTH campus.
    
10. Optimal care @ SSTH
    With a maximum class size of 30 students, the focus on individual care has remained unchanged since SSTH’s founding. As global as the hospitality industry is, the more diverse the opportunities and cultures are we encounter throughout a lifetime. We at SSTH believe it's all about attitude and personal approach

Programs offered at SSTH

Preparatory Year

In your preparatory year you gain the hospitality work experience necessary to successfully start your Swiss Professional Degree in Hospitality Management.The school follows the strict quality standards of our Swiss accreditation, one year of work experience in hospitality is a pre-requisite to join the program. If you do not fulfill the requirement,school offers a preparatory year consisting of 18 weeks on campus, followed by up to seven-months paid internship at one of our Swiss hotel & restaurant partners and under our supervision.Before enrolling in program make sure to obtain a work permit, you must be registered in the Swiss Professional Degree Program.

Swiss Professional Degree in Hospitality Management

Accredited by the Swiss Federal Government

The course offered at SSTH is the professional and is the first and only English language hospitality management program.This course is accredited by the Swiss Federal Government.The strength of SSTH is that it produces professionals with strong people skills, intercultural competence and entrepreneurial thinking are in high demand in the international hospitality industry. An essential feature of the skill-based management training at SSTH is the focus on bringing together business and practical thinking into action. Being highly motivated, responsible and self-dependent are requirements for this rigorous training.

After completion of the Swiss Professional Degree, continuing on with the prestigious Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management, designed by Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, is also an option.The age bar required for the applicant is they must have crossed 18.The requirement set for the applicants are following;

• High School Certificate, or
• International Baccalaureate, or
• BTEC qualification level 3, or
• Gymnasium, or
• Other higher secondary educational qualifications are accepted if they lead to university admission in the country where you have completed your education

If you wish to apply before completion of your final year at secondary or high school education,you can assess your results from previous years. For this you are required to submit certified transcripts. The results of your final exams and diploma can be submitted later, but always before the start of your studies at SSTH.

Hospitality Work Experience

• Candidates applying for school are required to have at least one year full-time work experience in the hospitality industry anywhere in the world before entering this program. Anyone possessing an apprentice certificate in a hospitality vocation already fullfills this requirement, and may even be eligible for a reduction of required courses.
• All applicants who do not have the pre-requisite work experience can be matriculated into this program by first taking the Preparatory Year at SSTH, thereby fulfilling this requirement and gaining one year of extra work experience in Switzerland.
• You can send your application before the accomplishment of this work experience.

Language Requirements

Skill required for the applicants is that they must be excellent  in written and verbal command of English. You need to submit one of the following international English certificates as a proof

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) - minimum score of 5.5
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) - minimum score of 455 (paper-based), 135 (computer-based), 46 (internet-based)
• TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) - minimum score of 605
• Cambridge First Certificate

Extra needed Documents, Interview and Testing

• Letter of Recommendation: At least one letter of recommendation from a former teacher, school counselor or employer.

• Motivational Letter: A statement of motivation for entering the hospitality industry, and SSTH in particular.

• Personal Interview: Our admissions officer will schedule the appointment as soon as all documents have been received.

Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management

Internationally renowned

Graduates of the new Swiss Professional Degree in Hospitality Management (Dipl. Hôtelière-Restauratrice HF/Dipl. Hôtelier-Restaurateur HF) are now able to continue their education by completing the last three semesters of the highly regarded Bachelor HES-SO in International Hospitality Management, designed by Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), being taught on campus at SSTH.

Accreditations
The Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne is the only hospitality management school recognized as anHES institution (University of Applied Sciences), which guarantees the educational excellence provided in all their programs. 

Consequently, the HES-SO Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management is the only bachelor degree in the hospitality field that is accredited by the Swiss Federal Government. This BSc degree is also compliant with the Bologna accords, which ensures recognition all over the world. The door is also open for graduates to eventually continue with Master studies at EHL.

Applicants for acceptance into the Bachelor program must:

• Must have graduated from the Swiss Professional Degree program (Dipl. Hôtelière-Restauratrice HF/Dipl. Hôtelier-Restaurateur HF)
• Have a minimum English competency of Cambridge Advanced Certificate (with a minimum grade B), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), academic module - minimum band score 7.0, or equivalent.