César Ritz Colleges Switzerland is a hospitality school with campuses in Le Bouveret, Lucerne, and Brig, Switzerland. It is named after Swiss hôtelier and hospitality leader César Ritz—founder of the Hôtel Ritz in Paris and the Ritz and Carlton Hotels in London.
As of 2021, it is ranked seventh in the world among hospitality and leisure schools, according to the QS World University Rankings. The school offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in partnership with Washington State University (USA) and the University of Derby (UK), and shares its campuses with sister school Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland.
César Ritz Colleges Switzerland is owned by Swiss Education Group (SEG), which is an investment of the Hong Kong-based investment management company, Summer Capital. Summer Capital acquired Swiss Education Group in 2018.
At César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, students can pursue a three-year Bachelor of Arts in International Business in Hotel & Tourism Management, a one-year Master of Arts in International Business in Entrepreneurship, and a Certificate in Wine Business Management. Degree programs are accredited in partnership with the University of Washington (USA)[11] and University of Derby (UK).
Some of César Ritz Colleges Switzerland’s industry partners include Ritz Paris, Evian Resort, Comité Champagne[12] and Switzerland Tourism.[13]
The school’s curriculum blends principles of American entrepreneurship with the ethos of Swiss hospitality. Experiential learning is a core component of each program and students “learn by doing” by participating in hands-on activities alongside lectures.[14]
The student body is made up of more than 60 nationalities and classes are taught in English. Students gain work experience during their studies through internships with industry partners.