Editorial guide · Updated 5 October 2026 · Editorial approach & affiliation
Start with the whole qualification
A first-year fee is not the cost of a degree. Our comparison uses the full published programme where the schedule supports that calculation, then divides by the course length for an annual average. This average helps compare scale; it is not the amount invoiced in any particular year. HTMi has a semester quote in our evidence, so a full degree or annual average is left unverified rather than guessed.
Tuition, services and living provision are different
EHL separates tuition from infrastructure and service fees. Its food-and-beverage credit and accommodation are separate lines. BHMS publishes tuition, operating charges, and a shared-room/meals bundle for 24 academic weeks per year. Health insurance is included in BHMS operating charges; EHL lists it separately with exemption possible. These differences matter more than a single headline price.
Use the right category and intake
The EHL source currently covers September 2027 and February 2028, while BHMS links a 2026 schedule. These are the current sources verified for this edition, not identical intake quotes. Swiss/HES-SO-eligible students have a substantially different EHL rate. A fair decision should use written offers for your actual intake and eligibility category.
Separate net cost from cash needed now
Refundable deposits and payments credited against tuition are not the same thing as additional charges. Keep a cash-flow calendar showing what must be paid before enrolment and what falls due later. Do not use expected internship wages to erase a bill due before the internship begins. Add living costs during the placement even if campus accommodation appears in the school package.
Ask for a quote you can check
Ask admissions for the full route from your starting year, every compulsory charge, the room category, the weeks of board included, insurance dates and the refund policy. Record any scholarship separately with its written conditions. Keep the fee document, the date and the programme title together so a revised website does not silently change the comparison.
Compare the published school costs
| School | Fee year | Full programme | Average per year | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHMS | 2026 schedule | CHF 116'800 | CHF 38'933 | Full regular-entry BA · 3 years · 24 campus weeks/year · Source ↗ |
| EHL | Sept 2027 / Feb 2028 | CHF 211'280 | CHF 52'820 | Full international BSc · Prep + 3 bachelor years · Source ↗ |
| Glion | Unverified | Not verified | Not calculated | Request a current written quote · Source ↗ |
| Les Roches | Unverified | Not verified | Not calculated | Request a current written quote · Source ↗ |
| SHMS | 2026–27 | CHF 186'500 | CHF 62'167 | Full BA / Swiss Diploma pathway · 3 years · Source ↗ |
| César Ritz | 2026 | CHF 163'200 | CHF 40'800 | Full BSc · 4 years · Source ↗ |
| HTMi | September 2026 | Not verified | Not calculated | One undergraduate academic semester · 20 weeks · Source ↗ |
| Culinary Arts Academy | 2026 | CHF 175'300 | CHF 58'433 | Full BA · 3 years · Source ↗ |
Questions students ask
Are these annual tuition fees?
No. The table separates full-programme school costs from annual planning averages. Tuition is one component; the averages are not annual invoices.
Why can EHL fees look much higher than BHMS fees?
Comparing a BHMS first-year quote with EHL’s four-year total exaggerates the difference. Use the same basis and the correct EHL international or HES-SO eligibility category.
Are paid internships already deducted?
No. The cost comparison does not assume employment, net income or employer-provided accommodation. Model supported net income separately.
Read next
Turn the questions into a comparison.
Use the school profiles for linked programme and fee evidence. The comparison table keeps unknowns visible so you can ask for the information that is still missing.
Compare SchoolsPrimary fee evidence: BHMS 2026 PDF ↗ · EHL 2027/28 PDF ↗ · BHMS fee inclusions ↗. Further reading: Swiss higher education register ↗ · QS subject ranking methodology ↗ · Official programme and fee sources in each school profile. Immigration information: Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs ↗.