List of institutions not listed as Accredited Swiss Higher Education Institutions according to HEdA

Private business enterprises set up as higher education institutions claiming a form of accreditation with no official ties to local governments ministry fall under the category of unaccredited institutions of higher education (uHEI). Said institutions can award private degrees in accordance with the Swiss government under the HEdA. Such degrees do not confer entitlement upon the holder for which the Swiss authorities will recognize the studies offered, examinations passed, or the qualifications issued by said type of institutions.

Institutional (academic) accreditation Institutional accreditation in Switzerland is granted by the Swiss Accreditation Council after a review by the Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ). Such Confederation-accreditation grants the institution in Switzerland the right to call (use) itself a University as well receiving state grants. (Student visa rights, accommodation) Government-established Universities are institutionally accredited through the accreditation council or Ministry of Education. Some programs, especially medical fields like pharmacy and medicine, must be programmatically accredited through the accreditation council.

Private and programmatic accreditation Business schools can go to private programmatic Institutions to improve the level of their programs and quality offered to students. The so-called triple accreditation is often seen as the highest quality certification for business schools. The most well-regarded accreditation agencies are AACSB in the United States, AMBA in the United Kingdom, and EQUIS in the European Union, albeit they all accredit schools in other world regions. Many other accreditation agencies exist, but their accreditation is less well-regarded and may sometimes approach being an accreditation mill. In the accreditation guide, membership and accreditation from private accrediting agencies (IACBE, ACBSP, AACSB) do not fall under the same level of recognition. Private programmatic accreditation does not guarantee any acceptance for the degrees, titles, or qualifications awarded by uHEI; those still fall to the respected MoE the uHEI are registered.

Some private uHEI grant dual degree programs with a partnered university. The degrees from such partnerships are properly recognized if the referenced University is recognized from the respective Ministry of Education.

Scholarship and visa The Swiss Government does not provide any official support for scholarship programs and granting visas for uHEI. Some schools do offer those on their own, and they can provide students with it if they have enlisted in uHEI private programs and achieve it through these means. These scholarships are not granted by the Swiss Ministry of Education and are in no part of their own educational systems, visa included.

Non-regulated professions Private degrees from unaccredited institutions are considered to be usable only in non-regulated professions (such as a manager or journalist). In regards to employment, the valuation of these degrees falls to the employers. For certain non-regulated occupations, some employers require that applicants be registered or certified by the relevant professional association as a condition for employment.

List of institutes and companies This table is based on data from Swiss official sites Swissuniversities and Akkreditierungsrat, as well as whether the German government recognizes the institution's degrees as equivalent to German university degrees. This information may not be complete.

SchoolCity, CantonAwarding University degreesProgrammatic accreditationsMembershipsGerman recognition statusNotesAlbert Schweitzer International UniversityGenève, GE Swiss entity in liquidation.Academy of Business Management - The Open University of SwitzerlandZurich, ZH Joint/Dual Programs with University of Dąbrowa Górnicza (WSB) - Poland, Taras Shevchenko National University (KNU) - Ukraine, Central University of Nicaragua (UCN) - Nicaragua ASICAACSB"Royal Academy of Economics and Technology in Switzerland", ous.edu.eu, registered as A.B.M.S. GmbH.AEB Schweiz - Akademie für ErwachsenenbildungLucerne and ZurichAdult further-education institution, not a Swiss universityNon-university institution"Academy for Adult Education", offers diplomas, CAS, DAS, Masters, etc.. aeb.chBenjamin Franklin College BaarliquidatedliquidatedliquidatedName change, liquidated, still listed in Anabin repository.Baptistische Theologische HochschuleRüschlikonNon-university institutionPrivate theological school, does not possess AAQ .Business and Hotel Management SchoolLucerne, LUDelivers a university degree in partnership with Robert Gordon University for Bachelors & Masters, and with York St John University for MBAs.ACBSP EURHODIP, I-CHRIE, American Hotel & Lodging AssociationHas business, hotel and culinary programs and degrees.Basel School of BusinessBasel, BS IACBE Non-university institutionTheBaselSchool.chBSL Business School LausanneLausanne, VDACBSP AACSB, AMBA-BGA, EFMD BSL-Lausanne.chCesar Ritz CollegesLucerne, LUThe International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education (THE-ICE), AACSB Non-university institutionHotel & business school, not a Swiss university Cesarritzcolleges.eduCenter for Urban & Real Estate ManagementZurichAACSB, EQUIS, RICSPart of University Zurich but not recognized as University by Anabin, curem.uzh.chDas Institut für Gemeindebau und Weltmission (IGW) (see German wiki)ZurichAEM, ECTE, FreiKirchen, SEA, Non-university institutionPrivate theological school, not a Swiss university Bachelor and Master studiesEU Business SchoolGeneva, GE [Titulo propio] through academic partnerships by Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM), State-recognized University of Derby, London Metropolitan University, and Dublin Business School ACBSP / IACBEEFMD, AACSB, ABIS, IAUP, ECBEEuruni.eduEuroSwiss UniversitätNeuhausen, SHNon-university institutionNot a University in Swiss, does not possess AAQ EuroSwissUniversitaet.chEuropäische Universität für Interdisziplinäre Studien EUFISLeukEducatis AG (see German Wiki)Kastanienbaum, LU - None Private business school, not Swiss university Educatis.orgESM - Ecole de Management et Communication GenevaESM.chFern-University of ZurichChamFreie Universität Lugano für Human- und technologische WissenschaftenLugano Private business school (science/tech focus), not a Swiss universityGeneva Business SchoolGeneva, GE IACBE AACSB ACBSP Private business school, not a Swiss university GBSGE.comGeneva School of Business and Economics Geneva, GE - None None Not a Swiss university, No longer registered in Switzerland as a business under ZefixGeneva School of DiplomacyGeneva, GE - None None Not a Swiss university, Geneva School of Diplomacy Gesthotel SA Hotel Management SchoolBluche, Crans-Montana Private hotel management school, not a Swiss universityGlion Institute of Higher EducationMontreux & Bulle Memberships AACSB (member); International Center for Academic Integrity (member); Institute of Hospitality (Academic Partner) Glion – The impact of AI on marketing |url=https://www.instituteofhospitality.org/business-partner-news-glion-ai/ |website=Institute of Hospitality |date=2024-12-11 |access-date=2026-02-03}} Swiss higher education institution; institutionally accredited under HEdA as a university of applied sciences institute (Swiss Accreditation Council decision 20 June 2025; appears on swissuniversities accredited list).GSBA ZurichZurich, Zurich - Not a Swiss university, GSB.UZH.ch No longer operational, under a different nameHTMi, Hotel and Tourism Management Institute SwitzerlandSörenberg, LU Private hotel & tourism school, not a Swiss university HTMI.chIFM Business SchoolGeneva, GEACBSPIFM Business School IACBEIFM Business School Private business school, not a university IFM.chIMI International Management Institute SwitzerlandKastanienbaum, LUDual degrees with Manchester Metropolitan University. Private business school, not a university IMI-Luzern.comInstitut Technique SupérieurFribourg Not a Swiss universityInternational Hotel and Tourism Training InstituteNeuchâtel, NE Not a Swiss university IHTTI.comInternational Management School GenevaGeneva, GEAACSB Private business school, not a Swiss university IMSGeneva.ch International University in Geneva Geneva, GEACBSP, IACBE - IUN.chMontreux Institute of Business DevelopmentMontreux, VD Not in list / Not a Swiss university MIBD.chMonarch Business School SwitzerlandZug, ZGNoneNone ACBSP Not a Swiss university UMonarch.chRochat School of BusinessMontreux, VD No None Private business school, not a Swiss university Rochatsb.ch, registered as 'Sacré Coeur (Switzerland).Rushford Business SchoolGeneva, GEPrivate business school, not a Swiss university RushFord.ch. IACBE member, no IACBE accreditationSustainability Management SchoolGland, VDACBSP Private institution, not Swiss university Sumas.chSwiss Montreux Business School (SMBS)Montreux, Vaud - Private business school, not a Swiss university SMBS-Montreux.chSwiss School of Business and Management (SSBM) Geneva, GEACBSP AACSB Private business school, not a Swiss university SSBM.chSwiss Hotel Management SchoolCaux Private business & hotel school, not a Swiss universitySwiss International School of BusinessMontreux Monthey, VD+VS - None Private business school, not a Swiss university SISB.chSwiss Management Center (formerly SMC University)Zug, ZGDual Degrees with Universidad Central de Nicaragua - UCN (?) - Private business school, not a Swiss university SMC.comSwiss School of Business Research (SSBR)Zurich, ZU - Private business school, not a Swiss university SSBR-Edu.chSwiss School of Higher EducationMontreux, VD - None Private business school, not a Swiss university SSHE.chSwiss School of Tourism and HospitalityChur Private business & hotel school, not a Swiss universitySwiss School of ManagementBellinzonaNoIACBE Private business school, not a Swiss university University of Business & Finance SwitzerlandWettingen Private business school, not a Swiss universityUnited International Business SchoolZurich, ZHACBSP AACSB Private business school, not a Swiss university UIBS.orgUBIS UniversityGeneva, GE IACBE EFMD Private business school, not a Swiss university Ubis-Geneva.chVatel Martigny, Switzerland - Hotel & Tourism Business SchoolMartigny, VS Private business & hotel school, not a Swiss university Vatel.chVictoria UniversityNeuchâtel Private business school, not a Swiss university Specialized in Hotel and Management WES'SUPGeneva - None Private business school, not a university WES-SUP.chWesford GenèveAïre – Geneva - None Not a Swiss university FcWesford.chZurich Elite Business SchoolZurich, ZH -ASIC Private business school, not a Swiss university Zebs.ch

See also

Accreditation mill For-profit education Educational accreditation List of unaccredited institutions of higher education List of unrecognized higher education accreditation organizations Unaccredited institutions of higher education

References