Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. SUMAS's Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Master of Arts in Management (MAM) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs, including their online versions, have held programmatic accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) since 2016. ACBSP is recognized in the United States by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). SUMAS is also a registered member of the Swiss Private School Register, a membership that covers every SUMAS program, including the DBA and the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS).

No, and this is a matter of legal category rather than academic quality. Under the Swiss Higher Education Act (HEdA, in force since 2015), institutional accreditation by the Swiss Accreditation Council is what entitles an institution to call itself a university, a university of applied sciences or a university of teacher education. That framework was built around publicly funded, research-intensive institutions and is optional for private schools. SUMAS is a private, practice-oriented business school: it does not use the university title and does not hold HEdA accreditation. Its quality is assessed internationally by ACBSP and locally through the Swiss Private School Register.

Because ACBSP measures what a business degree is chosen for. Swiss state accreditation of universities gives significant weight to research output such as academic publications and citations. ACBSP is a practice-focused framework that evaluates teaching excellence, student learning outcomes and workplace readiness, and it requires accredited schools to publish their student achievement results. It accredits business programs at more than 1,000 campuses in over 60 countries, which makes it a credential that employers and authorities can check well beyond Switzerland.

It matters mainly inside the Swiss public system. A degree from a private school without HEdA accreditation is not automatically recognized for admission to a Swiss public university, which assesses such applicants case by case, and it may not qualify you for professions regulated at federal level in Switzerland. For a career in business, in international organizations or outside Switzerland, employers and foreign authorities typically assess the degree through its accreditor, here ACBSP and its CHEA recognition. If you plan further study at a Swiss public university or a regulated profession in Switzerland, check that institution's requirements before you enroll.

No. The Swiss Private School Register is a quality register run by a foundation established in 2006 by the Swiss Federation of Private Schools (SFPS), hotelleriesuisse and the Foundation for the Advancement of the Rudolf Steiner School. Membership attests that a private school meets the register's standards of educational quality and operational integrity. It complements, but is not the same as, federal accreditation under the Higher Education Act.

Yes. The SUMAS Milan campus, at Via Solari 11 in the city's fashion and design district, opened in February 2020 and offers the same programs as the Swiss campus, including the BBA and the MBA. ACBSP granted programmatic accreditation to the Milan campus in 2023, so programs taken in Milan carry the same ACBSP accreditation as those taken in Switzerland. Campus details are on the Milan campus page.

ACBSP accreditation covers the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), the Master of Arts in Management (MAM) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA), including their online versions. The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) are outside the ACBSP scope; both fall under the school's membership of the Swiss Private School Register. The full breakdown and the mandatory ACBSP public disclosures are on the accreditation page.

The application fee is paid online at the end of the application form, either by card or by bank transfer. If you choose bank transfer, the bank details and your personal payment reference are shown on screen and emailed to you.

Once you are accepted, you receive a detailed invoice stating the tuition pre-payment and its due date.

Yes. If your student visa is refused, all fees paid are refundable, except the application fee.

Yes, within limits set by the host country.

• In Switzerland (canton of Vaud), international students can apply for a part-time work permit after six months of residence. The application needs the school's support, and students may not work more than 15 hours per week during the semester.
• In Italy, EU students need no work permit and non-EU students need a student work permit; in both cases the limit is 20 hours per week.

• By train: Geneva Airport has its own railway station (follow the signs "CFF" / "Gare"). Trains run to Geneva Cornavin, where regular regional trains continue to Gland in about 15 minutes. Timetables and fares are on sbb.ch.
• By taxi: taxis wait outside the arrivals hall. The ride is comfortable but expensive.
• SUMAS transfer: SUMAS can arrange a pick-up for newcomers from Geneva Airport to Gland, for approximately CHF 250–300. Transfers must be requested in advance.

SUMAS offers on-campus student residences; details and costs are on the Lake Geneva campus page. These rooms are in high demand, so contact us as soon as your place is confirmed.

If the residences are full, rooms in shared flats, rooms in landlord-occupied homes, student residences and studios are listed on Swiss portals such as Homegate, ImmoScout24, Comparis and Anibis. Students who want help can fill in an accommodation request stating the type of property, budget and any specific needs.

Indicative monthly rents:

• Room in a shared flat: from CHF 800 in Gland, CHF 900 in Lausanne, CHF 1,200 in Geneva.
• Apartment or studio: from CHF 1,200 in Gland, CHF 1,400 in Lausanne, CHF 1,500 in Geneva.

Most leases require a security deposit equal to two months' rent, paid with the first month.

Plan on at least CHF 1,350 per month excluding accommodation and health insurance. Costs depend heavily on your lifestyle and on where you live (Gland, Lausanne or Geneva). A typical monthly budget:

• Food: CHF 800
• Personal expenses: CHF 250
• Internet and phone: CHF 100
• Study-related expenses: CHF 100
• Local transport: CHF 100

In your first weeks, also budget around CHF 250 for your residence permit.

Health insurance is not required to enter Switzerland or to obtain a long-term student visa, but every resident must hold valid health and accident insurance, so you must take it out after arrival. Student insurance typically costs CHF 70–100 per month.

If you hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), send a copy of both sides to the cantonal health insurance control office: Organe cantonal de contrôle de l'assurance maladie et accidents, Chemin de Mornex 40, 1014 Lausanne (+41 21 557 47 47, mornings). If you have equivalent non-EU coverage, check it with the same office on arrival. Otherwise, SUMAS helps you find an insurer with suitable student rates.

Prepaid SIM cards are sold at the post office at Geneva Airport and at the newsagent in Gland near the school (Route de Suisse). A monthly phone contract requires a residence permit.

It is recommended, to avoid carrying cash; PostFinance, for example, offers student accounts. Opening one requires a residence permit. Until then you can use your current card, although foreign transaction fees can be high. Most shops accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro, sometimes with a minimum purchase.

From mid-October to mid-April the weather ranges from cool to cold. Bring a warm winter coat, sweaters, gloves, a hat and a scarf, and winter footwear with good grip: sneakers give little traction on snow.

Yes. Your SUMAS student ID card gives discounts at cinemas, shops, museums, theatres and some bars and restaurants. Students under 25 also qualify for reduced public transport fares. Carry your card with you.

Yes. Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area, so a valid Swiss residence permit lets you travel to the other Schengen countries without a visa. The permit can take up to two months to be issued, so do not plan trips abroad before you have received it.

Register with the residents' office of your municipality on arrival, then submit to the cantonal population service:

• the arrival announcement,
• a copy of your passport or identity card,
• your birth certificate,
• the school's enrolment certificate stating the length of studies,
• proof of sufficient, ongoing financial means, or a guarantee signed by a guarantor with supporting documents,
• scholarship documents, if any (amount, duration).

Service de la population, Avenue de Beaulieu 19, 1014 Lausanne, +41 21 316 46 46.

Non-EU/EFTA students studying in the canton of Vaud submit the following to the cantonal population service:

• the completed and signed residence permit application form,
• the school's attestation of definitive enrolment, confirming you have the academic level and language skills required,
• proof that at least the first semester's tuition is paid, or the school's confirmation that you can pay it,
• a signed letter of intent explaining why you chose to study in Switzerland and your plans after graduation,
• a CV listing schools attended with dates, with copies of diplomas and certificates,
• proof of financial means: a bank statement, a guarantee from a solvent guarantor (attested by the Swiss embassy if the guarantor lives abroad), or a grant or loan decision,
• your accommodation details (lease, landlord confirmation or school residence, with the monthly rent),
• a signed, dated commitment to leave Switzerland at the end of your studies,
• for minors, a document from the legal representative naming who has custody,
• identity documents: a copy of your passport and visa application if filed abroad, or your passport, visa, arrival report and two photos if filed in Switzerland, plus your birth certificate.

Service de la population, Avenue de Beaulieu 19, 1014 Lausanne, +41 21 316 46 46. Allow up to two months for the permit to be issued.

From Milan Malpensa (MXP):

• By train: the Malpensa Express runs from Terminals 1 and 2 to Milano Cadorna, Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi (malpensaexpress.it).
• By bus: Terravision, Malpensa Bus Express and Malpensa Shuttle connect both terminals with Milano Centrale.
• By taxi: call the city taxi number +39 02 7777 or use the MiT (Milan in Taxi) app.

From Milan Linate (LIN):

• By metro or bus: metro line M4 (blue) links Linate to the city centre; ATM bus 73 and the Linate Shuttle also serve the city.
• By taxi: +39 02 7777 or the MiT app.

From Milan Bergamo (BGY):

• By bus: several coach lines run to Milano Centrale (milanbergamoairport.it).
• By taxi: Radiotaxi Bergamo, +39 035 4519090.

The campus is at Via Solari 11, a 10-minute walk from Porta Genova.

• From Milano Centrale: take metro line M2 (green) towards Abbiategrasso or Assago and get off at Porta Genova.
• From the Duomo: take M1 (red) towards Rho Fieramilano or Bisceglie to Cadorna, then M2 to Porta Genova. Alternatively, take tram 14 towards Lorenteggio from Via Torino and get off at Piazza del Rosario.

Milan's ATM network covers metro, tram and bus lines, plus the BikeMi bike-sharing service. Routes and tickets are available in the ATM Milano app and on atm.it.

The Milan campus team can put you in touch with its accommodation partner, ReBoutique, which offers rooms in shared apartments, beds in shared rooms with private or shared bathrooms, and private apartments. Contact the campus as soon as your place is confirmed: details on the Milan campus page.

Plan on at least EUR 650 per month excluding accommodation; Milan is one of the most expensive cities in Italy. A typical monthly budget:

• Food: EUR 200
• Personal expenses: EUR 250
• Internet and phone: EUR 50
• Study-related expenses: EUR 100
• Local transport: EUR 50

Also budget around EUR 250 for your residence permit and, for non-EU students, health insurance.

Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, in Italy TEAM) gives access to necessary treatment through the Italian National Health Service (SSN). For full coverage, obtain the S1 form before leaving your country, then register with the SSN free of charge at your local health office (ATS). Bring your enrolment certificate, your Italian tax code (codice fiscale), a copy of your passport or ID card, the S1 form and the name of the general practitioner you choose.

Without an EHIC or S1 form, you can register voluntarily with the SSN for a fee, following the procedure for non-EU students.

You need health insurance to enter Italy and obtain a long-term student visa. Before leaving, buy a private policy with international validity, certified by the Italian diplomatic representation and translated into Italian or English; it becomes valid once you apply for your permit of stay.

You can also register voluntarily with the SSN: pay the annual registration fee set by the Region of Lombardy (ask your local ATS for the current amount), use the receipt in your permit-of-stay application, then register at the ATS with your enrolment declaration, the permit application receipt, your codice fiscale, a copy of your passport and the fee receipt.

From any Italian mobile provider (TIM, Vodafone, WindTre, Fastweb, Iliad), in their stores at the airports, the railway stations and across the city, or online.

It is recommended, to avoid carrying cash, and requires a residence permit. Until then you can use your current card, although foreign transaction fees can be high. Most shops accept Visa and Mastercard, sometimes with a minimum purchase.

Winters are cold and damp: averages of 5–10 °C, lows around −2 °C, frequent rain and occasional snow. Summers are hot, usually 25–30 °C and up to 35 °C; spring and autumn are mild at 10–20 °C. Bring a warm winter coat, sweaters, gloves, a hat and a scarf, as well as light clothes for spring and summer.

Yes. Your SUMAS student ID card gives discounts at cinemas, shops, museums, theatres and some bars and restaurants, and students under 26 qualify for reduced public transport fares.

Yes. Italy is part of the Schengen Area, so a valid Italian residence permit lets you travel to the other Schengen countries, including Switzerland, without a visa. The permit can take up to three months to be issued, so do not plan trips abroad before you have received it.

The codice fiscale is an identification code issued by the Italian Ministry of Finance, generated from your name, date and place of birth; you need it to open a bank account, sign contracts and register for health care. The easiest route is to request it from the Italian embassy or consulate in your country before you leave. In Italy, apply at the local Agenzia delle Entrate office with your passport, a photocopy of it and form AA4/8.

EU citizens do not need a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno). You must instead register with the civil registry office (anagrafe) of the municipality where you live.

Apply for your permesso di soggiorno within eight days of arriving in Italy. Get your codice fiscale first, ideally from the Italian embassy or consulate in your country, then submit the application at an authorised office following the procedure published by the Polizia di Stato. The permit can take up to three months to be issued.

Yes. SUMAS runs paperless classes, so buy a laptop before your classes begin: a recent Windows laptop or MacBook with Microsoft Office (or equivalent), an up-to-date browser and Wi-Fi. If you cannot get one in time, contact SUMAS and we will help you order one.

Most reading material (academic journal articles, online magazines and databases) is available in the SUMAS Resource Center (SRC); the Academic Officer gives you your login when you register for your first term. Professors may occasionally ask you to buy a printed book when no e-book exists. Bring your own notebooks and pens if you use them.

No, there is no uniform. The style is generally casual: come as you are.

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