Higher Business Diploma (HWD): training, providers, information, tips, self-test, guide, FAQs

Glückliche Schülerin im Lehrgang hoeheres Wirtschaftsdiplom
Mit dem HWD bin ich auf dem Arbeitsmarkt sehr gefragt
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A Higher Business Diploma (HWD) with a VSK certificate is an established qualification throughout Switzerland and confirms the business knowledge required for attractive commercial management functions and leadership roles. With the diploma as a business specialist, you have the best possible follow-up opportunities after management training. If you have a basic commercial education, attend the course and successfully pass the examination, you can seamlessly enter higher vocational education and training (e.g. Higher Vocational College for Business (HFW) or Technical Business Administration with a federal certificate).

Are you looking for a higher business diploma course? - Here you will find suitable schools as well as further information, tips and resources for further education.

Would you like personal advice on the training courses on offer? Contact the provider of your choice via the "Free information on the topic..." button - without obligation, quickly and easily.

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Higher Business Diploma (HWD) with VSK certificate: Business management skills for business people and career changers

The commercial further education course leading to a Higher Business Diploma (HWD) with VSK certificate provides in-depth knowledge of business administration and management. It has a generalist focus and is particularly suitable for professionals with a basic commercial education (level VSH commercial diploma or KV EFZ) who wish to take on management tasks and aspire to a management position.

The Higher Business Diploma (HWD) creates a solid foundation for further business management training at the higher vocational education and training level, such as technical business management with a federal certificate or management specialist with a federal certificate.

The HWD training can be completed either with the VSK diploma from the Association of Swiss Management Schools or with the edupool diploma from the commercial further education centers (KV schools). Both organizations offer commercial training and further education for various target groups (VSK since 2000, edupool since 2001) and are regarded as well-established, high-quality labels. Their diplomas are recognized throughout Switzerland and are highly regarded by employers.

The continuing education program concludes with the titles "dipl. Wirtschaftsfachmann HWD/edupool" and "dipl. Wirtschaftsfachfrau HWD/VSK". Certified business specialists have knowledge of business administration, economics, law, communication, marketing, sales, leadership as well as project, personnel and process management and are therefore able to take on demanding commercial activities in all sectors.

Ambitious business people who have a basic knowledge of accounting and would like to move into or up into management, and other professionals with a basic knowledge of accounting who would like to move from the store or workshop to the office, are well on course with a Higher Business Diploma HWD.

Questions and answers

As an admission requirement for a Higher Business Diploma (HWD) with a VSK certificate, prospective students must have completed basic commercial vocational training, i.e. an apprenticeship. Or a degree from a commercial school at commercial diploma level. Persons with other basic vocational training and several years of commercial work experience are also admitted.

The training course leading to the Higher Business Diploma HWD/VSK qualifies you as a Certified Business Specialist VSK (Association of Swiss Management Schools).

If you have successfully completed all seven modules, you are entitled to use this title.

A Higher Business Diploma HWD offers graduates:

  • Generalist training - practice-oriented and wide-ranging
  • get a grip on business management instruments
  • Acquire competent basic commercial knowledge
  • become a communicative and management-oriented business specialist
  • Gain organizational flair and project talent
  • sought-after employee in the Swiss economy
  • Gain initial specialization in a specialist area or function
  • work independently on specialized tasks as an expert
  • Create optimal conditions for management training to become a professional or expert
A Higher Business Diploma HWD/VSK is offered by a large number of schools throughout Switzerland, which means that there are also a variety of different course models and course dates/times. This means that you do not necessarily have to attend a course that takes place two evenings a week, but often have the option of opting for a course that you can attend in the afternoon or morning with half an afternoon. A Saturday course is also available from almost all providers. In this way, you can schedule your continuing education, further training to become a certified business specialist in a way that best harmonizes with your professional and private life.

The following skills can be acquired through a Higher Business Diploma course with a VSK certificate:

  • understand, analyze and interpret business contexts and derive corresponding action requirements and options for their management level
  • Ability to obtain and evaluate information on current economic and economic policy issues and to make decisions based on this information
  • provide meaningful figures and financial data for individual projects/products or areas for the team or group they manage
  • understand, analyze and interpret the figures and derive corresponding needs and options for action from them
  • successfully apply modern systems and instruments of personnel management in their daily management work in the team/group by incorporating the company's existing guidelines and resources or (co-)designing them themselves
  • design processes and changes within their management area in line with tasks, individuals, teams/groups, resources and the company
  • Ability to include or plan the most important marketing instruments in the sales program
  • Ability to lead meetings and discussions/negotiations competently and master the targeted use of communication tools

All schools that offer the Advanced Business Diploma HWD / VSK are guided by the specifications and regulations of the Association of Swiss Management Schools (VSK), which clearly define the content. The 2018 regulations specify 7 modules that are examined and to which the individual schools align their course content. These modules are

  • Business administration (incl. economics and law)
  • Accounting
  • Personnel management (incl. law)
  • Process management
  • Project management
  • Marketing
  • Communication, sales and negotiation techniques, rhetoric

Some schools also offer other modules, such as leadership, accounting or German law, but these are optional subjects that are not included in the degree.

A Higher Business Diploma (HWD) is recognized by the Association of Swiss Management Schools (VSK), provided it was completed in accordance with the association's guidelines, and is therefore recognized throughout Switzerland. Please make sure that the course is marked as such when you complete your training.

Tips, tests and information on "Higher Business Diploma (HWD)"

Brief description of the course
» Profile "Advanced Business Diploma"
How well known is the "Advanced Business Diploma" course and what is its image among potential employers?
» Awareness and image
What wage increase can I expect after completing the course?
» Wage information, wage calculator
What can graduates do after completing the course? What will I gain from this further training?
» Skills and perspectives
What experiences have previous participants had with the course?
» Evaluation of training / experience
» Field report by participant Claudio Vidoni
Interview with course director and principal
» Experiences and tips Headmaster Jürg Koch
Is the "Advanced Business Diploma HWD/VSK" course the right one for me?
» Self-test for the course
What are the advantages of the course?
» 10 Advantages of the "Advanced Business Diploma"
What are the main disadvantages?
» 4 Disadvantages
What is required in the Higher Business Diploma job? How are the activities divided up?
» Information from job advertisements

Appointment test and overviews of further training in business administration

Is business administration really my vocation?
» Self-test for business administration / higher business diploma
What other further education courses in business administration are there? Where does the higher business diploma fit in?
» Infographic on business management training
What other courses in business administration are possible with my qualifications?
» Course Finder Business Administration
Educational guide with detailed descriptions of the professions in business administration
» Guide to training and further education in business administration

Redaktionelle Leitung:

Stefan Schmidlin, Bildungsberatung, Content-Team Modula AG

Quellen

Website des Schweizerischen Sekretariats für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation SBFI , Website www.berufsberatung.ch (offizielles schweizerisches Informationsportal der Studien-, Berufs- und Laufbahnberatung) sowie Websites und anderweitige Informationen der Berufsverbände und Bildungsanbieter.

Erfahrungen, Bewertungen und Meinungen zur Ausbildung / Weiterbildung

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Preview of the video «Mit dem HWD bin ich auf dem Arbeitsmarkt sehr gefragt»

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Training providers in your region

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Address:
Vulkanstrasse 106
8048 Zürich
BVS Business School - Part of the Benedict Education Group
BVS/BBS Business-School - Your career is our mission. With our further training courses, we enable you to take on new and challenging tasks and increase your position and thus your job satisfaction. Trust in tradition - dare to innovate.
» Company conditions and cooperation opportunities
Strengths: All-inclusive prices (excluding external exams), Mon/Wed or Tue/Thu or Saturday classes, above-average exam results, centrally located. Free parking (Zurich), free preliminary courses.
Region: Bern, Ostschweiz, Zentralschweiz, Zürich
Sites: Zürich, Bern, Luzern, St. Gallen (BBS Business School)
Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
Firmenangebote
Bildungsberatung
ACBSP
Bundesbeiträge
ECBE
eduQua
Hybrid-Unterricht
VSH
VSK
VSP
Address:
Vulkanstrasse 106
8048 Zürich
Benedict-Schulen Schweiz
With Benedict you will get ahead, because nothing is more important today than targeted and professional further education. Whether you are interested in the Benedict business school, language or management school or in the fields of IT, medicine or hotel management - the Benedict School is your competent and quality-conscious partner for your professional career.
» Company conditions and cooperation opportunities
Strengths: All-inclusive prices (excluding external exams), Mon/Wed or Tue/Thu or Saturday classes, above-average exam results, centrally located. Free parking (Zurich), free preliminary courses, optional subjects.
Region: Bern, Ostschweiz, Zentralschweiz, Zürich
Sites: Bern, Luzern, St. Gallen, Zürich
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Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
Firmenangebote
Bildungsberatung
ACBSP
anavant
ASCA
Bundesbeiträge
Cambridge English
eduQua
Hybrid-Unterricht
VSH
Address:
Andreasstrasse 15
8050 Zürich
HSO Business and Computer Science School
HSO's range of training courses is deliberately wide-ranging - so we can offer you the opportunity for lifelong learning. Our training and further education courses are intelligent, cleverly thought out and networked. Wherever you start and successfully complete your training with us, we offer you the connection to your next further education goal. HSO's educational offerings range from federal certificates of proficiency, professional certificates, diplomas and postgraduate diplomas to European-recognized Bachelor's courses and globally accredited Master's courses.
Strengths: Over 60 years of experience | 10 locations | 4 starts per year | Direct application in your own practice | Personal support | Lecturers are specialists | State-of-the-art teaching methods
Experiences of Swisscom employees about this course and this school. » More info…
Region: Aargau, Basel, Bern, Ostschweiz, Zentralschweiz, Zürich
Sites: Aarau, Baar, Basel, Bern, Luzern, Rapperswil, Solothurn, Thun, Zürich Altstetten, Zürich Oerlikon
Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
ACBSP
hfw
HRSE
ODEC
Swiss Marketing
edu-suisse
eduQua
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Address:
Max-Daetwyler-Platz 1
3014 Bern
Feusi Education Center
Your success is our goal. Since 1952.
Our focus is on you. In an atmosphere conducive to learning, we offer a consistent and practice-oriented range of training and further education courses at our locations in Berne, Muri-Gümligen and Solothurn. We want to support and encourage you in your development with our educational programs. We look forward to accompanying you during this phase so that together we can achieve your educational goals.
Strengths: Trial lessons. Personal advice & support. Practice-oriented. Hybrid lessons. High success rate. Good accessibility. More than 70 years of experience.
Region: Aargau, Basel, Bern
Sites: Bern, Gümligen, Solothurn
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Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
eduQua
Swiss Olympic
Address:
Bildungszentrum Sihlpost, Sihlpostgasse 2
8004 Zürich
KV Business School Zurich
As the largest commercial school in Switzerland, KV Business School Zurich offers a comprehensive range of continuing education courses at all levels - in line with the motto "no degree without a connection".

"We empower people. Today for tomorrow. Your success begins with your choice of educational partner. We have been shaping commercial and business continuing education, further training in the Zurich region for over 130 years. By working closely with all sectors of the economy, we understand the requirements and developments of the labor market. We translate these into practical, up-to-date training courses."

This includes vocational training courses with national and central qualifications as well as courses that address current topics and certify the relevant skills in a practice-oriented manner. The range is supplemented by over 120 one-day seminars on current topics. Divided into twelve educational worlds, the school covers all commercial and business management topics.
Strengths: Our training programs represent a benchmark, enjoy the highest level of recognition in the working world and create added value for everyone.
Region: Zürich
Sites: Zürich
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Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
Cicero
eduQua
Hybrid-Unterricht
KV Bildungsgruppe Schweiz
Online-Unterricht
Address:
Elisabethenanlage 9
4051 Basel
ipso! Business School
The ipso! Business School is the first address for your professional development in the fields of business administration and leadership, marketing and sales as well as finance and human resources in the whole of German-speaking Switzerland.

As part of ipso! you are guaranteed to be connected: with the federally recognized degree from ipso! Business School, you can continue your studies with us towards a Bachelor's or Master's degree, thanks to the permeable educational offer with your certificate, your diploma from our higher technical college or after your postgraduate studies.
Region: Aargau, Basel, Bern, Ostschweiz, Zentralschweiz, Zürich
Sites: Aarau, Basel, Bern, St. Gallen, Zug, Zürich
Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
IQNet
ISO 21001 SQS
Download info
SWS Schulen für Wirtschaft und Sprachen
(5.3) Very good 78 78 Ratings (98% )
Hello, you are here. We are delighted to welcome you to SWS! We have been offering EduQua-certified educational programs at our locations in Lucerne and Winterthur for 45 years. Discover training, continuing education, further training and studies at the highest level - perfectly tailored to your needs.
» Company conditions and cooperation opportunities
Strengths: Many long-standing customers, excellent ratings and extremely high success rates do not lie: at the renowned SWS you can expect quality, flexible course times and a pleasant learning environment.
Discount for Swisscom employees: 10% (when registering via this platform at «Course registration» )
Region: Ostschweiz, Zentralschweiz, Zürich
Sites: Luzern, Winterthur
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Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
Firmenangebote
anavant
EDUCA SWISS
eduQua
Hybrid-Unterricht
VSH
VSK
VSP
Address:

Lagerstrasse 102
8021 Zürich
Juventus Schools
The Juventus Schools are a foundation and have stood for outstanding services in education and training for more than 100 years. The Juventus Schools are divided into the five business divisions "Juventus Maturitätsschule", "Juventus Technikerschule HF", "Juventus Wirtschaftsschule", "Juventus Schule für Medizin" and "wittlin stauffer" and are demonstrably one of the most renowned and largest private schools in Switzerland.


The foundation stone for the success story of the Juventus Schools was laid in 1918 by the "Institut Juventus", a day grammar school that prepared pupils specifically for the Matura and the successful jump to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). Starting from this basis, the range of high-quality training and further education courses on offer was continuously expanded and supplemented, and groundbreaking milestones and benchmarks were set almost every year.
Strengths: The Juventus Schools are a foundation and have stood for outstanding services in education and training for more than 100 years. Our location offers optimal public transportation connections.
Discount for Swisscom employees: 10% (when registering via this platform at «Course registration» )
Region: Zürich
Sites: Zürich
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Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
anavant
Bundesbeiträge
ECDL
IQNet
ISO 21001 SQS
VSH
VSK
Address:

Strengelbacherstrasse 27
4800 Zofingen
Further education Zofingen
Continuing education, further training Zofingen
Because it's worth it.
Do you want to advance your career? With us, you can do so quickly and efficiently. Modern methods of adult education make this possible in all courses and training programs. Qualified lecturers teach you the material with empathy and a lot of practical relevance. You can also get advice on all courses and career planning from us on site or online - individually and free of charge.
Do you have any questions? We are here for you.

Strengths: Above-average success rates compared to other schools in Switzerland. Pleasant learning atmosphere and modern infrastructure. Easy to reach thanks to central location, also by public transport. Parking spaces in front of the building.
Strengths: Above-average success rates compared to other universities in Switzerland - Qualified lecturers teach with a great deal of empathy and practical relevance - Pleasant learning atmosphere and modern infrastructure.
Discount for Swisscom employees: 10% (when registering via this platform at «Course registration» )
Region: Aargau, Zentralschweiz
Sites: Zofingen
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Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
anavant
Blended Learning
Bundesbeiträge
HRSE
ISO 21001 SQS
kv edupool
Address:
Kreuzlibergstrasse 10
5400 Baden
e.g. Center for Education | Baden & Brugg
The zB. education center is the business school in Aargau with further education in over 14 subject areas. Here you can continue your education in a contemporary way and benefit from a personal atmosphere. The "zB." accompanies you on your first steps directly after your apprenticeship, through the professional certificate level, to study without a baccalaureate - the Higher Technical College HF.

The educational guidance and career services always provide you with an honest overview of the education market. So you can follow your own personal educational path - for the rest of your life.
Region: Aargau
Sites: Baden, Brugg
Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
Bildungsberatung
NBW Further training in business administration
Founded in 1998 and today one of the leading providers of courses in the vocational training system - a success that is no coincidence.

To achieve a top position as a young school in this highly competitive market, special qualities are required: excellent teaching staff, perfect organization and infrastructure, well thought-out training controlling and - most importantly - proximity to the customer. From the first consultation, to support during the training, right through to the graduation ceremony: the NBW school management is there for its customers.
Region: Bern, Zürich
Sites: Schönbühl, Zürich
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Address:
Landenbergstrasse 37
6005 Luzern
KV Luzern Berufsakademie
The KV Luzern University of Cooperative Education focuses on the success of its students. With a clear focus and a wide range of continuing education opportunities, we accompany you on your way to your career goal. We have only one mission: your professional and personal development.

Our recipe for success? Experience, passion and commitment. Our lecturers have many years of up-to-date practical experience and are continuously training. In this way, we ensure that you are optimally prepared for your exams and achieve above-average results together. Our students regularly graduate with excellent results above the Swiss average. Your progress counts with us - and we make it possible.
Strengths: THE largest business competence center in Central Switzerland - high success rates - 400 lecturers from the business world - 100 courses - learn today - apply tomorrow - central location
Region: Zentralschweiz
Sites: Luzern
Next start date
Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
Cicero
eduQua
hfw
HRSE
IAF
KV Bildungsgruppe Schweiz
kv edupool
SVF
Address:
Vadianstrasse 45
9001 St. Gallen
BVS St. Gallen
(5.7) Excellent 11 11 Ratings (100% )
Anyone in the region of Eastern Switzerland who is interested in professional development and continuing education should take the time to get to know BVS St. Gallen better. There are good reasons why over 1000 course participants place their trust in our further education institute every year. This pleasing growth and the constant success rates are based on our proven corporate principle: the personal well-being and goals of our participants are at the heart of everything we do.
» Company conditions and cooperation opportunities
Strengths: Personal advice & support. Practice-oriented. Hybrid lessons. High success rate. Good accessibility. 30 years of experience. Lecturers from the field.
Region: Ostschweiz
Sites: St. Gallen
Next start date Next info event
Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
anavant
Bundesbeiträge
eduQua
hfw
Hybrid-Unterricht
Innovative Ausbildungsmethoden
ISO 21001 SQS
ISO 9001 SQS
ODEC
Online-Unterricht
SVF
Swiss Marketing
VSH
VSK
Address:
Scheuchzerstrasse 2
8006 Zürich
Preview of the video «Mit dem HWD bin ich auf dem Arbeitsmarkt sehr gefragt»
Preview of the video «Mit dem HWD bin ich auf dem Arbeitsmarkt sehr gefragt»
Minerva
(5.0) Very good 25 25 Ratings (96% )
The Minerva advantage - close to the market with needs-oriented courses. Minerva is one of the leading schools in basic commercial education, where young people and adults are successfully trained and further educated. Minerva is part of the Kalaidos Education Group Switzerland, the largest private education provider in Switzerland. Whether full-time school or extra-occupational courses, Minerva offers optimal conditions for achieving the desired goals. The basis for its success is the high quality and the flexible and practical school concept, which is constantly adapting to the conditions and needs of today's world.
Strengths: Interest and motivation through innovation, bilingual courses, exclusive range of courses, intensive support and individual advice, motivating working and learning atmosphere, central location
Region: Aargau, Basel, Bern, Ostschweiz, Zentralschweiz, Zürich
Sites: Aarau, Baden, Basel, Bern, Luzern, St. Gallen, Winterthur, Zürich
Next start date Next info event
Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
anavant
eduQua
HotellerieSuisse
VSH
VSK
Address:
Verena-Conzett-Strasse 23
8004 Zürich
SIU - Swiss Institute for Entrepreneurial Training
(5.2) Very good 132 132 Ratings (96% )
Success is no coincidence - grab your chance for promotion with SIU now!

- Find the right continuing education, further training that suits you
- Benefit from excellent success rates and first-class continuing education, further training
- Our content is continuously adapted to the latest industry requirements - in collaboration with leading employers, professional associations and experienced lecturers from the field

You've laid the foundations with your apprenticeship - now it's time to move on:

- Deepen your knowledge in business, retail and electrical engineering
- Benefit from modern teaching methods such as hybrid teaching
- Start your career advancement at SIU

Your advantages at SIU:

- Part-time continuing education, further training at numerous locations in Switzerland
- Flexible offers that can be optimally combined with your job
- Continuing education, further training at the highest level, adapted to your industry
- Lecturers from the field
Strengths: High level of practical transfer, personal support, industry-specific teaching materials, lecturers from the field, proven online model, location assessments
Region: Aargau, Basel, Bern, Ostschweiz, Tessin, Westschweiz, Zentralschweiz, Zürich
Sites: Bern, Basel, Zürich, Olten, Luzern, Sargans, Winterthur, St. Gallen, Paudex
Next start date
Certifications, Memberships, Qualifications:
Bildungsberatung
Blended Learning
Bundesbeiträge
Hybrid-Unterricht
IQNet
ISO 21001 SQS
Address:
Aabachstrasse 7
6300 Zug
KBZ – Kaufmännisches Bildungszentrum Zug
In addition to vocational education and training (VET), the Kaufmännisches Bildungszentrum Zug KBZ offers continuing education, further training in the areas of finance, fiduciary and real estate, management and digital transformation, marketing and sales, human resources, languages and business school. More than 100 teachers teach over 1,200 participants each year at the KBZ in courses, seminars and at the College of Higher Education for Business (HFW Zug).

To ensure that you receive a recognized qualification, we work together with established educational partners and companies in the Zug economic region. This means you can be sure that your continuing education, further training is practice-oriented and offers real added value for the job market.
Region: Zentralschweiz
Sites: Zug
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