GETTING TO IMI
1. Why should I study at IMI?
Recognition. IMI's Certificate, Diploma and Higher Diploma and BA Degree courses are recognised by the Institutes’ partner, the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), UK.
Validation. All IMI Bachelor’s Degree Programmes (BA) are taught in Switzerland and validated and awarded by the Manchester Metropolitan University.
Prestige. The Manchester Metropolitan University has one of the oldest and most respected hotel schools in the world with which IMI is associated.
Quality. IMI is one of the only schools in Switzerland that possesses the Swiss ‘EDUQUA’ quality standard; the International Standards Organization (ISO) award for quality of organizational processes; with its partner MMU, the highest possible endorsement of the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education; and recent (2002) Cantonal endorsement of the quality of its programmes including recognitions by Canton Luzern and Canton Nidwalden.
Location: The IMI campus enjoys an enviable location on the shores of Lake Luzern yet is only ten minutes by car or public transport from the thriving city of Luzern itself, some one-hour’s travelling time from Switzerland’s principal city, Zurich.
To summarize: internationally recognized qualifications, excellent career prospects, quality training in both theoretical and practical aspects of tourism and hospitality management, and qualifications granted in association with a top UK hospitality programme.
2. Do I need to have studied tourism or hospitality before if I am to come to IMI?
Not if you are joining the full undergraduate or MBA programme – for direct entry students credit will be given if you have studied tourism and hospitality at another school.
3. What kind of credit do I get for previous study?
It depends on what level you have studied to before and what relevant employment experience, if any, you may already have. All relevant documentation should be submitted to IMI who will reach a decision on a case-by-case basis.
4. What do your courses cost?
Courses vary in costs depending on entry point, and living arrangements. Please contact the IMI Admission Office for detailed information relevant to your personal situation.
5. Do I have to pay all the fees up-front before I come to Switzerland?
No, fees may be paid in installments. The first installment is 50% of due fees and shall be paid 8 weeks prior term commencement. The second installment shall be paid maximum 12 weeks after course commencement but subject to additional charges. In some countries, students are requested to make the full payment in order for visas to be released. In this case, IMI is obliged to request full payment prior term commencement.
6. Do you offer scholarships?
IMI is a private post-school institution and has no financial support from the government. Some part-scholarships are available for students who are already studying at IMI and new students may apply for partial tuition assistance.
7. How do I apply to IMI?
See the simple application procedure on our website.
8. How do I get a Visa for my studies in Switzerland and what other documentation do I need?
To obtain a student visa to Switzerland, the applicant must provide in person the following documents and information:
• Completed application form, duly signed by the applicant
• Passport, valid for at least three months beyond the planned stay in Switzerland (please provide a copy)
• Three recent passport-size photographs
• Attestation from the school that will be attended
• Attestation about the payment of the school fees
• Proof of financial means for the duration of the proposed stay in Switzerland (bank statement of applicant; bank statement of her/his parents together with a letter of sponsorship; bank statement and letter guarantee by sponsors in Switzerland etc.)
• Diploma of already completed studies
• Curriculum Vitae
• Motivation letter mentioning:
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– commitment to leave Switzerland after the requested stay |
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– reasons for choosing Switzerland as a place to study (i.e. languages, hotel, university, etc) |
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– plans of the applicant after completing his studies in Switzerland |
The Embassy will also assess the languages knowledge of the applicant.
The request for a student visa will submitted to the competent Swiss Authority for decision. Please be advised that the administrative process for the required authorisation to enter Switzerland my take up to two months.
For further information, do not hesitate to contact the Swiss Embassy.
STUDYING AT IMI
1. How long do I need to study to get my Bachelor’s Degree at IMI?
If you start at the beginning of the course, you need to study a total of 4 semesters (two years) plus a minimum of 5-6 months industry training. With prior credit, the study periods may be shorter (see ‘Getting to IMI’ above).
2. How long do I need to study to get my MBA Degree at IMI?
If you continue to our MBA after obtaining the IMI or similar undergraduate qualification, you will only need 6 months (one semester) to complete your MBA. If you enter the MBA program with an unrelated Degree in a different discipline, you will need to obtain advanced credit for those qualifications (see ‘Getting to IMI’ above) or study a total of 12 months (two semesters) plus a minimum of 5-6 months industry training.
3. Can I become a chef through studying at IMI?
Yes. If you meet the entry requirements of our European Culinary Management programs by having prior qualifications or training as a chef, you can enhance your career prospects in this highly skilled profession.
4. Can I do an in-training (internship) as part of my studies?
Yes, you must do at least one compulsory in-training if you do the four-semester course leading to the BA, you may also do other voluntary in-trainings if you wish provided that each in-training comes after a course of study (this is a Swiss legal requirement). In-training on all other courses is voluntary.
5. Will my qualifications be recognized for further study in other universities?
Students from all IMI courses have at some point successfully transferred to other schools and universities, including for Master’s study in the UK, Canada, USA, Hong Kong, China and Australia.
LIFE AT IMI
1. How many students do you have at IMI and where do they come from?
Each semester the number of students is limited to a maximum 200 – this is one element of IMI’s quality guarantee so that every student gets the attention and support they need to succeed in their studies. IMI also strictly regulates the mix of the student body to ensure that no one country or culture dominates and that every student gets a truly international experience. In any one semester there are around 35 different nationalities represented at IMI with no national group generally exceeding 20 in number. In the first semester of 2007 students came from: Bulgaria; China and Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Israel; Latvia; Malaysia; Nepal; North America (USA and Canada); Russia; Saudi Arabia; South Korea; Sweden; Thailand; the United Kingdom; and Vietnam.
2. What is your student accommodation like?
Students have the option of twin room shared accommodation with private bathroom facilities; twin roomed accommodation with shared bathroom; or single room accommodation for an extra charge. All rooms have adequate work surfaces, bookshelves, colour television, a refrigerator and telephones for receiving incoming calls. The school has wireless computer facilities accessible from all student rooms.
3. Can I choose my own roommate?
Requests may be made to share with a particular student.
4. Are meals provided?
Meals are provided 7 days a week – 3 meals per day are provided during weekdays and 2 meals per day on Saturdays and Sundays. Special diets are catered for and there is small student kitchen where you can prepare your own meals.
5. What is the social life like?
The School, with students, organizes many social events throughout the year both and the Student Representative Council, elected by the student body, organizes a regular bar. The School has pool and table tennis facilities and a weights/training room. In addition it has access to an all weather sports pitch at the local primary school in Kastanienbaum, some 500 metres distant from the campus.
6. What are the study facilities like?
There is 24 hour computer access including wireless computing in all student rooms.
IMI has one of the best specialized hospitality and tourism libraries in Europe sponsored by leading publisher Butterworth-Heinemann (part of the Elsevier Group) with over 4500 volumes, 30 journals and on-line subscriptions to several major research databases.
IMI has a state of the art training restaurant and kitchen, and pleasant and well-equipped classrooms.