Graduates of the HF course in business administration with a federal diploma are awarded the federally recognized title:

"Graduate in Business Administration HF".

The following intermediate degrees are available at schools as part of the Business Administration HF program:

• Higher Business Diploma VSK (HWD)
• BEC Vantage / Higher Diploma
• Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Business Administration, Level 6 of the National Qualifications Framework for Vocational Education and Training (NQF)
• Professional Bachelor ODEC
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) Business Administration Dual Degree (Swiss/UK)
• IREB (Requirements Engineering)
• Cambridge English: Business Vantage
• IPMA Level D

As a qualified business economist HF, there are numerous opportunities for further development in the area of higher professional examinations, higher technical colleges or universities of applied sciences, for example:

• Shortened Bachelor of Science (FH) degree course in Business Administration with various specializations
• Expert in organizational management with a federal diploma
• Certified expert in accounting and controlling
• Graduate Head of Human Resources
• Certified public accountant
• Certified fiduciary expert
• Certified tax expert
• Postgraduate courses at universities of applied sciences and universities of applied sciences in the fields of accounting and finance, marketing and sales management, real estate management, leadership and management, etc.
• Further courses at higher technical colleges and universities of applied sciences for further training in business administration HF / Betriebswirtschafter HF

The opportunities for further training are therefore numerous and the degree course can lay a good foundation for your future career. All-rounders are sought after in all areas of management and all sectors. And you can also start building up your own company after completing this HF course.

When the education platform Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch asked prospective students as part of a survey, 37% stated that they had done so following a recommendation. 30 %, on the other hand, already knew the school before this inquiry for the HF Business Administration course. A further 33% enquired about a school after reading an online evaluation. Optional self-written responses from the education survey provided us with further reasons for enquiring about schools:

• "Geographical location"
• "I have a good impression of the technical business management training"
• "Found via Google and has good references - is therefore very attractive"
• "came across it on the Internet"
• "Distance"
• "Location"
• "Online offer as a hybrid course"

Higher technical colleges (HF) belong to the tertiary level of higher vocational education and training and offer courses with direct practical relevance in which specialist knowledge in the respective field is imparted. In addition, higher technical colleges promote participants' specialist and management skills.

HF courses - e.g. certified business economist HF - are aimed at people with an upper secondary level qualification and relevant professional experience in the respective field. They generally last between two and four years (part-time or full-time). Courses at higher technical colleges are recognized by the federal government and conclude with a protected title. With a diploma in business administration HF diploma, admission to a university of applied sciences is possible.

The federal government currently regulates 8 HF areas: Business, Engineering, Hospitality/Tourism/Home Economics, Agriculture and Forestry, Social Services/Adult Education, Health, Traffic/Transport, Arts/Arts/Design.

Business management courses offered by schools or technical colleges, which only last a few days and end with a course certificate, are suitable for very different groups of people. For example, depending on the focus of the course, business management courses are suitable for junior staff who will soon be taking up a management position, self-employed people from all sectors, accounting staff, managing directors or HR managers. Each seminar at each school is aimed at a different target audience, depending on the focus of the course.

The training to become a business economist with a federal diploma is aimed at people who have a basic commercial/business management qualification, for example as a technical business management assistant or a higher business diploma HWD/VSK, and who also have several years of professional experience. This course is ideal for anyone who wants to run an SME in the future.

The continuing education, further training to become a federally certified business economist CHE is suitable for anyone who is already firmly established in the commercial sector and is looking for a higher management position. Depending on the focus of interest, different specializations can be chosen here, so that the general business management knowledge imparted is expanded by knowledge of the specialization.

A degree course is suitable for all those who want to lay the foundation for their professional career with a degree in business administration or business economics, because with a degree from a university, especially a university degree, graduates can quickly make it into top management. The Bachelor of Science UAS in Business Administration (BBA UAS) can also be completed on a part-time basis.

Postgraduate courses such as CAS, DAS or MAS are particularly suitable for experienced professionals who have a higher level of education and would like to continue their training in a more specialized way.

The business economist advanced training course (HF) for business economists with a federal diploma provides comprehensive knowledge in the following areas:

Business administration, corporate management, production, procurement and logistics, controlling, human resources, taxes, financing and investment, IT, communication, marketing, project management, organizational design and development, quality, environment, safety, law, statistics, team leadership, economics, business English, financing and investment, IT, communication, marketing, project management, organizational design and development, quality, environment, safety, law, statistics, team leadership, economics and business English

The HF Business Administration course normally lasts a total of 6 semesters. However, if you meet certain conditions, it is also possible to complete a shortened version. In this shortened version, the course only lasts two years.

As a rule, the following admission requirements must be met in order to be admitted to the shortened course:

• Federal diploma for technical business people, management specialists, management assistants, business organization specialists, higher business diploma or similar qualification

And

• EFZ as a commercial clerk and at least 2 years of relevant professional experience

Or

• Federal diploma for technical business people, management specialists, management assistants, business organization specialists, higher business diploma or similar qualification

And

• 3-year basic training (EFZ) in another profession or high school diploma with a focus on business and at least 3 years of relevant professional experience

The admission requirements may vary from provider to provider, so it is best to obtain information directly from the provider of your choice. In addition, admission is usually granted "sur dossier".

According to graduates, you can achieve the following with a Business Administration CHE course:

• Solid continuing education, further training to build up a sound knowledge as a generalist in business administration
• Achieve the highest qualification in business administration in accordance with the Federal Vocational Training Act
• Holistic view of a company's business management issues
• acquire a broad knowledge of business, finance, marketing and process management
• Further development through the Business Economist CHE training in a personal and business environment
• apply the know-how you have acquired directly in your job thanks to its high practical relevance
• Achieve a goal- and customer-oriented, systematic and entrepreneurial way of acting
• Take on responsibility and management tasks in SMEs or large companies in operational management and in the business process or in support processes
• Take a leading role in projects of simple to medium complexity
• recognize economic, social and ecological change processes and develop solutions for sustainable development
• contribute to the achievement of corporate goals through a business-supported process optimization
• communicate with the relevant internal and external stakeholders
• Recognize influences and trends in the economic and marketing context and define measures on this basis
• Degree in Business Administration CHE with federal recognition and at NQF level 6
• Use contacts and established network in everyday working life
• Self-determined study focus through specializations in the 3rd year of the CHE Business Administration course
• Follow-up options through a shortened Bachelor's degree (UAS) at a University of Applied Sciences or postgraduate studies

Continuing education, further training in business administration (CHE) takes 3 years (6 semesters). However, there is also a shortened version. Holders of a federal certificate (or HWD) can complete the College of Higher Education in Business Administration (HFW) in just two years in this shortened version.

The education platform Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch conducted a survey to clarify this question and came to the following conclusions:

• 67 % are still clarifying whether further training in business administration suits their needs
• 25 % are interested in further training in business administration based on a recommendation
• 8 % are interested, however, because the degree is required in job advertisements

The additional comments from survey participants provide even more reasons for their interest in continuing education in Business Administration HF:

• "Description of a school about further education"
• "As a technical business graduate, I would like to take advantage of the Passarelle opportunity because I am interested in advancing within the company"
• "I informed myself"
• "Due to the assumption of management tasks in the company"

Graduates of the Advanced Diploma of Higher Education (Attention: English as Diploma) in Business Administration for SMEs (formerly Advanced Diploma of Higher Education (AFPE)) are awarded the federally recognized title of "Business Economist for SMEs with Federal Diploma".

As a qualified business economist HF, you have the following opportunities for further development:

• Higher professional examination as an expert in accounting and controlling, head of human resources, expert in organizational management, auditor, fiduciary expert, tax expert, etc.
• Bachelor of Science FH in Business Administration with various specializations. Various universities of applied sciences offer HF graduates the option of a shortened course of study.
• Postgraduate courses at universities of applied sciences and universities of applied sciences in the fields of accounting and finance, marketing and sales management, real estate management, leadership and management, etc.

The "Betriebswirtschafter / Betriebswirtschafterin HF" and "Betriebswirtschaft NDS HF" courses can be distinguished as follows:

• HF courses, such as Business Administration HF, provide generalist specialist and management knowledge within the respective specialist area.
• Postgraduate courses in HF offer the opportunity for further specialization and in-depth study as well as the acquisition of additional specialist knowledge.
• HF courses generally last between 2 and 4 years.
• NDS-HF courses usually last 1 year.

What both have in common is that they are recognized by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).

The following criteria must be met for admission to continuing education, further training in Business Administration for SMEs (AFPE) (formerly Business Administration for Trade (AFPE)):

• The Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Business Management for SMEs or a Federal Diploma of Higher Education from another Federal Professional Examination and at the same time has completed all six module qualifications in Business Management for SMEs and can demonstrate at least 3 years of practical experience in a management function in an SME.

or

• A diploma from an Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE), a diploma from a College of Higher Education, a degree from a University of Applied Sciences or a Universities (with at least 350 lessons in the fields of business management, leadership and personnel management, organization, accounting, marketing and law) and at least 3 years of practical experience in a management function in an SME.

The following admission criteria apply to continuing education, further training in Business Administration CHE:

• Federal VET Diploma commercial clerk or Federal VET Diploma retail specialist (direct access)

or

• Federal VET Diploma in another profession with at least 3 years of basic training and at least 2 years of professional experience in the commercial/business administration field (with an employment level of 80%)

or

• Baccalaureate or Specialized School and 2 years of professional experience in the commercial/business management field (with an employment level of 80%)

Further conditions:

• Employment of at least 70 % in the commercial/business administration area during continuing education, further training in business administration.

or

• An employment of at least 50% in the commercial/business administration area during the business administration training, if an employment of at least 80% in the commercial/business administration area was exercised for 2 years before the beginning of the continuing education, further training.

For further details, please contact the College of Higher Education.

During the preparatory course for the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) in Business Administration for SMEs (formerly Business Administration for Trade and Industry (AFPE)), participants prepare intensively for the AFPE. During the examination, the topics "Corporate Management and Strategic Management", "Leadership and Management of Employees", "Innovation and Growth", "Finance and Accounting, Controlling" and "Marketing" are examined in writing. The diploma thesis is also part of the final examination, is weighted in terms of content, presented in a presentation and discussed in a specialist discussion.