FAQ - the most frequently asked questions about the Bachelor
The decision (acceptance, rejection or invitation to the selection procedure for foreign applicants) will be emailed to you around four weeks after your completed online application has been submitted. If you need to complete the selection procedure for foreign applicants, you will receive the final decision within 14 days of your interview. Admission
You need to hold a qualification equivalent to a Matura from a Swiss grammar school, such as the German university-entry qualification. When assessing your international qualification, we take the subjects, number of hours and length of schooling into account. Admission
For Swiss nationals, tuition fees are CHF 1,229 per semester; this is CHF 3,129 per semester for students from outside Switzerland. HSG is a public university and receives funding for Swiss students so it can fulfil its public educational mandate. As a result, the tuition fees for foreign students are higher. In terms of the cost of living, we recommend working on the basis of CHF 2,200 per month, including tuition fees, for Swiss nationals, and around CHF 2,500 for foreign students. This comes to an average of CHF 25,000 to CHF 30,000 per year. Financing studies
You do not have to submit evidence of linguistic proficiency with your application. You are responsible for ensuring you have sufficient language skills to successfully complete your studies. One of HSG’s key features is the fact that the university operates bilingually in English and German: German as the language of administration and culture, and English as the language of business and academia. Knowledge of at least two foreign languages will also make it easier for you to interact with HSG’s global community and help you get the most out of your studies, including on a linguistic level. The Assessment Year with a specialisation in Economic Sciences (Business Administration, Economics, International Affairs, Law and Economics) can either be taken fully in English or in German. The Assessment Year in Law or the Assessment Year in Computer Science can only be completed in German at present. Before you start your studies, we recommend reaching at least C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in all the languages required. Discover more
Citizens of Switzerland or Liechtenstein and applicants with Swiss permanent residence permit C can be admitted directly to the course of studies if they possess a recognised international qualification. Conversely, places for foreign applicants are limited by law. If the number of applicants exceeds the places available, foreign applicants (with recognised international qualifications) may be admitted to the University of St.Gallen via a selection procedure. Only the best marks in the selection procedure count, not the marks from qualifications (e.g. marks in school-leaving examinations). You must complete the selection procedure in the same language as your Assessment Year Assessment Year Admission
No. The Assessment Year is the first year of undergraduate studies, which last a total of three years. The standard study period after the Assessment Year is four semesters. But this is just a baseline. On average, students require 5.7 semesters to complete their Bachelor's degree after the Assessment Year. The maximum period of study after the Assessment Year is 10 semesters.
HSG is a traditional university whose vitality depends on the academic exchange between students and academic teaching staff. Most courses and assessments therefore take place on campus. While attendance is not mandatory, there are courses in which your attendance is expected. In exceptional cases such as the Covid-19 pandemic, lectures/seminars may be held online or in a hybrid form, with courses being conducted both on campus and online or as recordings.
Undergraduate studies at HSG are a full-time commitment. For many lectures/seminars, your personal attendance on campus is expected. Work commitments are not considered grounds for absence. A few hours of work in a side job or working during holidays should be carefully planned. You also have the option of pausing your undergraduate studies for an internship semester or extending your studies due to a regular job. The maximum period of study for undergraduate studies is 10 semesters (not including the Assessment Year). For foreign students with a B permit, regular work activity may not exceed 15 hours per week (internships excepted).
The Advice Center for Study Funding provides information about your funding options and can help you with your budget planning.
No. For this reason, there are also no credits granted for practical experiences during your undergraduate studies (exception: Bachelor’s in International Affairs). To do an internship, you can request a semester leave with highly reduced tuition fees. The Career Centre at HSG has a large network of contacts to companies and can help assist you in your search for an internship.