Admissions AUS Swiss Business School

The admissions process at the AmericanInstitute of Applied Sciences in Switzerland (AUS) works towards a balancebetween the inclusivity and selectivity principles innate in admissionsprocesses around the world. As such, AUS is meticulous in ensuring thatstudents who are accepted have the skills and capabilities to succeed in itsprograms.

AUS welcomes applications from motivated individuals of all nationalities and backgrounds who demonstrate the academic potential, personal drive, and professional ambition to thrive in a rigorous, internationally oriented business education environment. With students representing over 40 nationalities and a faculty-to-student ratio of 1:7, AUS offers a learning community where every individual receives the attention and support necessary to reach their full potential.

Whether you are applying for one of our eight Bachelor specializations or nine Master specializations, the admissions team is committed to guiding you through every stage of the process with clarity, transparency, and care. Our rolling admissions policy means you can apply at any time, and our dedicated advisors are available to answer your questions and help you prepare the strongest possible application.

AUS aims to offer an admissions processthat is fair, transparent and provides equal opportunity to applicants.Applicants are admitted on the basis of their individual merits, abilities, andaptitudes while meeting established minimum eligibility criteria.

AUS recognizes and acknowledges that not all applicants have equal opportunity to demonstrate their full academic potential and will take into consideration the contexts and circumstances that surround individual applications.

Assessing applicants’ backgrounds isdeemed crucial in understanding aptitude differences and, as such, to balanceinclusivity and selectivity principles without seeing diversity as a substitutefor equality or considered at the expense of it.

AUS’s admissions practices consider itseducational partnerships with international institutions and the qualityassurance strategy that guides its operations.

AUS endeavors to offer clear advice andguidance to all applicants and stakeholders, such as parents or legalrepresentatives, to enable them to make informed choices and apply to programsthat are in line with their personal academic choices, interests,qualifications, prior learnings, and potential.

The admission to programs is subject toavailability and eligibility. AUS reserves the right to reject applicants whodo not meet the necessary minimum requirements for admission.

Applying to AUS is astraightforward, three-step process designed to be as clear and efficient aspossible. From your initial submission to your arrival on campus, ouradmissions and student recruitment teams are with you at every stage.

Step 1: Submit yourapplication

The first step is tocomplete and submit the AUS application form along with all required supportingdocuments. Prospective candidates that meet AUS’s eligibility requirements areinvited to submit the following:

In case any of the documents are in a languageother than English, international applicants must produce notarizedtranslations in English of all records, at their own expense, prior tosubmission of the application to AUS.

An application fee of CHF 250 is duebefore the admissions team reviews the application documents. The applicationis checked by the Student Recruitment team before being passed to theAdmissions Committee for evaluation.

Step 2: Admissions reviewand interview

Once your application has been receivedand verified as complete, the Admissions Committee will review your file. Aspart of the evaluation process, prospective students will take part in anadmissions interview conducted by video conference via Zoom or Google Meet. Theinterview assesses your ability to express your personal experiences andopinions, your creativity and originality in solving complex subjects, andqualities that cannot be assessed through grades and test performances alone.

Following the interview, the AdmissionsCommittee will reach a decision. Successful applicants will receive an OfferLetter. To confirm your place, you will need to:

• Sign and return the offerletter and student agreement
• Pay the Admissions Fee of CHF1’500

Upon completion of these steps, thestudent receives an official Acceptance Letter, which is required to begin thevisa application process. AUS will guide you throughout the visa procedure.

Step 3: Visa processing andarrival

Once you have received yourAcceptance Letter, the final step is to arrange your student visa and preparefor your arrival in Switzerland. AUS provides full support throughout thisprocess. You will need to book a visa appointment at your nearest Swiss embassyor consulate and prepare the following documents for visa processing:

• Proof of English Proficiency
• Curriculum Vitae / Résumé
• Evidence of sufficient financial means and/or sponsor letter and bank statement
• A copy of the Swiss residence permit, if applicable
• Six passport-size photographs

AUS’s Student Services team willremain in close contact with you during this period, providing any additionaldocumentation you may need and answering questions about your transition tolife in Switzerland.

AUS operates on a rolling admissionsbasis. This means that applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis anddecisions are communicated promptly, rather than at fixed decision dates. However,it is required that the complete application, all the necessary documents, andthe applicable fees must be received by the AUS Admissions Office a minimum often weeks before the start of the term. International candidates who require avisa to study in Switzerland are strongly encouraged to apply well in advanceof the published deadlines, as visa processing times can vary significantlydepending on your country of residence.

Late applications may be considered on acase-by-case basis, subject to availability and Swiss visa restrictions.Prospective students are encouraged to contact the admissions team directlywith any questions about timing or deadlines. Given the complexity and variableprocessing times associated with Swiss student visa applications, AUS stronglyadvises all prospective students to apply as early as possible to ensuresufficient time for administrative processing and a smooth transition to lifein Switzerland.

A note on accommodation

AUS Business School offers privatestudent accommodation that can support approximately 30 percent of the studentbody. Places are allocated on a strictly first-come, first-served basis, anddemand consistently exceeds availability. Students are therefore stronglyencouraged to submit their accommodation request as early as possible to avoiddisappointment.

It is worth noting that the Swiss rentalmarket is among the most competitive in Europe. Securing housing in the LakeGeneva region presents a genuine challenge not only for international studentsbut also for Swiss residents and working professionals. Early application isthe single most effective step a prospective student can take to secure theirpreferred living arrangement.

AUS accommodation is situated in a primelocation near the campus and the shores of Lake Geneva in La Tour-de-Peilz.Students may choose between private rooms and shared rooms, allowing forflexibility to suit different budgets and preferences. Accommodation is pricedat rates slightly below the local market, reflecting AUS’s commitment to makingthe student experience as accessible and affordable as possible. Full detailson room types, pricing, and the application process are available from the StudentServices team.

AUS operates three academicterms per year, providing multiple entry points for both Bachelor and Masterdegree programs. This trimester structure allows students to begin theirstudies at the time that best suits their personal and professional circumstances,without having to wait for a single annual intake.

AUS maintains clear eligibility standards for admission to its Bachelor and Master degree programs. These requirements are designed to ensure that all admitted students possess the academic foundation and language proficiency necessary to succeed in a rigorous, English-language business education environment.

Bachelor degree programs

Applicants to AUS Bachelor degreeprograms must hold one of the following qualifications:

- A Swiss MaturityCertificate (Maturität, Matura)

- A Swiss Professional Maturity Certificate(Maturité professionnelle) with “Passerelle”

- A Swiss Specialized Maturity(Maturité spécialisée) recognized throughout Switzerland with “Passerelle”

- Inthe case of foreign candidates, an upper secondary school-leaving certificateconsidered equivalent

Candidates that have completed a SwissProfessional or Specialized Maturity need to undergo a complementaryexamination in order to be eligible for admission into the Bachelor program.Candidates in this situation are kindly invited to refer to the StateSecretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), which is theinstitution responsible for the examination.

In the case of international applicants,a foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificate must correspondsubstantially to the Swiss Maturity Certificate in regards to school subjects,number of hours, and length of schooling. The recognition of foreignschool-leaving certificates is based on the Recommendations for the assessmentof foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificates of the Rectors’Conference of the Swiss Universities (CRUS), in alignment with the Conventionon the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in theEuropean Region (ETS No. 165).

Master degree programs

Applicants to AUS Master degreeprograms must hold a recognized Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualificationfrom an accredited institution. Candidates with professional experience inaddition to their academic credentials are particularly encouraged to apply, asthe Master programs at AUS are designed to build upon both academic knowledgeand real-world professional insight.

English languageproficiency

Evidence of sufficient Englishlanguage proficiency is required of all applicants whose native language is notEnglish and whose primary language of instruction in secondary or highereducation was not English. For further details about English proficiencyrequirements, please access the AUS Admission Policy.

Students that wish to pursue a DualDegree with our educational partner Tiffin University (TU) shall be subjectedto the specific TU admission requirements.

Upon successful completion of theadmissions review and interview process, accepted applicants will receive anofficial Offer Letter from AUS. This letter confirms your admission to theprogram and outlines the next steps required to secure your place.

To confirm your enrollment, you must signand return the Offer Letter along with the Student Agreement, and pay theAdmissions Fee of CHF 1’500. Once these steps are completed, AUS will issue anofficial Acceptance Letter and a Certification of Studies, which is necessaryin many countries for student visa requests.

Prior to starting the visaapplication procedure, the Admissions Fee and 50% of the first-year tuition andfees are payable. Tuition and fees must be paid in full at the time ofRegistration.

Upon notification of acceptance,AUS will provide prospective students with all necessary financialdocumentation. Fees are reviewed periodically and may change from those listedbelow. Tuition and fees include campus facilities, field trips, and industrialvisits. All prices are in Swiss Francs (CHF).

*Book and tech fees are invoicedseparately per course.

Additional expenses

Students should expect various additionalexpenses that are not covered by tuition fees. These should be accounted forseparately and may include:

*Costs are based on past students andestimations. Personal expenses are based on your lifestyle preferences.

Refund policy

Paid admission and tuitionfees are non-refundable if a student decides to withdraw from AUS. If a studentis suspended or dismissed for academic or disciplinary reasons, no refunds willbe made.

Credit transfer

The credit transfer systemat AUS is based on the principle of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL),defined as a process through which previously assessed and certificatedlearning is considered and, as appropriate, recognized for academic purposes.It can enable a student to transfer credit gained within one program of studyto another program of study at the same institution or at a differentinstitution. Should candidates for admissions wish to apply for a credittransfer concomitantly with their admissions application, they are invited torefer to the Credit Transfer Policy and Procedure and include in theirapplication the documents required for the credit transfer procedure. Uponbeing presented with an Offer Letter from AUS, a student will also becommunicated any results of credit transfer assessments, including extensiveexplanation related to the comparability of the courses transferred and thosenot transferred.