About IMI

• IMI Switzerland is a private hospitality & management institute located on a lakeside campus in Kastanienbaum near Lucerne, Switzerland.

• The institute emphasises combining Swiss hospitality expertise, practical training and UK-validated degrees (through Manchester Metropolitan University, UK) for selected programmes.

• The website highlights a “global family” (many nationalities), strong career support, small classes, and internships/placements as core strengths.

 

Why Study the BA (Hons) in International Culinary Management

• This programme blends culinary skills (kitchen, pastry, baking, food production) with management theory (business, entrepreneurship, menu & product development) so that graduates are equipped to operate in a kitchen and manage a culinary business. 

• The paid industry internships (minimum 12 months) provide valuable real-world experience, boosting your CV and global employability.

• The UK-validated degree means you get the recognition of a British honours degree combined with Swiss practical training — attractive for international careers.

• Switzerland’s hospitality and culinary reputation adds value (e.g., Swiss cuisine, Swiss standards, mountain/lake environment) and international exposure.

• For students from India (or other countries) wanting a global credential and on-site practical experience, this kind of combination is a strong option.

 

Level of Study

• Undergraduate level: Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA Hons) in International Culinary Management.

• The award is UK-validated via Manchester Metropolitan University.

 

Campus Location

• Main campus: Kastanienbaum (near Lucerne), Switzerland. It is described as lakeside, scenic, 15 minutes from Lucerne centre.

• All classes, practical kitchens and major facilities appear to be onsite (in Switzerland).

 

Mode of Learning

• Onsite / in-person: The programme emphasises hands-on kitchen training + classroom lectures delivered on campus. For example, practical kitchen modules form part of the core units.

• I did not find specific reference to a blended (online + offline) version for this BA Hons programme — the emphasis is clearly on onsite, practical training.

• Thus, if you enrol you should plan to live in Switzerland and attend onsite classes and practicals.

 

Duration of Programme & Credits/Structure

Duration:

• You can “gain your BA (Hons) award in under three years.”

• This includes study semesters + required internships.

• For example the degree progression is: Diploma semester → Higher Diploma semester → BA (Hons) semester (each followed by paid placement) → total length combining all phases + internships.

 

Credits/Structure:

• For the Diploma Semester: 120 credits (units such as Food Purchasing & Merchandising, Fundamentals of Pastry & Baking, Kitchen Essentials, Managing Restaurants etc.)

• For the Higher Diploma Semester: 120 credits (units like European Cuisine, Commercial Kitchen Management, etc.)

• For the BA (Hons) Semester: 120 credits (units like International Gastronomy & Culture, Food Informatics & Technology, New Product Creation Project)

• Internship requirement: A minimum 12 months of paid work experience is required to complete the degree.

 

Intake Dates

• The programme page lists Start Dates: February, May, August, November.

• Note: On the Diploma semester page it says entry onto first semester possible in February and August.

• For international students I recommend checking with Admissions for the exact start date you’re eligible for (and whether you join Diploma first or direct entry).

 

Entry Criteria (for international students)

Typical requirements:

• High School / A-levels / IB or equivalent minimum certification. For first semester entry: “IMI Certificate / High School / IB / A Levels or equivalent”.

• Age: 18 years or older.

• English proficiency: Minimum IELTS score (or equivalent) of IELTS 5.0 (or equivalent) for the first semester.

• For direct entry into later semesters (Higher Diploma or BA semester) there may be additional requirements (prior education, work experience) — contact IMI for full details.

 

Subjects / Topics & Programme Structure

Here’s a breakdown of what you study (modules/units) in each phase:

Diploma Semester (First Study Semester) – 120 credits:

• Study Skills at University Level

• Fundamentals of Pastry & Baking

• Kitchen Essentials

• Managing Restaurants

• Nutrition, Food Hygiene & Safety

• Oenology & Beverages

• Food Purchasing & Merchandising
   

Higher Diploma Semester (Second Study Semester) – 120 credits:

• Talent Management & Development

• Consumer Behaviour & Market Research

• European Cuisine

• New Product Development & Menu Design

• Commercial Kitchen Management

• Contemporary Cuisine

• Culinary Career Development
   

BA (Hons) Semester (Final Study Semester) – 120 credits:

• International Gastronomy and Culture

• Professional Development

• Culinary Entrepreneurship

• Advanced Practical Culinary Applications

• Food Informatics & Technology

• New Product Creation Project (30 credits)
   

Internships/Placements:

• Minimum 12 months of paid work experience (in Switzerland or abroad) organised by IMI Careers team.

 

Disciplines / Specialisations Offered

• The programme is broadly “International Culinary Management” or “International Culinary Arts” — i.e., culinary + management.

• While not heavily separated into many “specialisations”, the BA semester offers units like Culinary Entrepreneurship, Advanced Practical Culinary Applications, Food Informatics & Technology — enabling a student to specialise in entrepreneurial/innovation aspects within culinary.

• If you are interested in a specific niche (e.g., pastry, bakery, beverage management) you might want to ask IMI Admissions whether electives or additional focus are available.

 

Scholarships Offered

• I found that IMI offers partial/targeted scholarships (for example “Early Application Scholarships”) but the exact amounts and criteria must be confirmed with IMI. For example one site mentions a scholarship of up to CHF 10,000 for new students for a previous intake.

• The official IMI scholarships page lists awards, but does not publicly publish all nationality-specific values in full detail (you must request).

• Practical tip: When applying, ask IMI for the “Scholarship Brochure” for your nationality/intake, submit your application early, include strong motivation and CV.

• Also investigate external scholarships (your home-country government, international foundations, student loans) because these can often be used for study at IMI.

 

Highlights & Unique Points

• UK-validated honours degree (via Manchester Metropolitan University) + Swiss hospitality/culinary training.

• Minimum 12 months of paid internships (Switzerland or global) — great for real-world experience.

• Scenic Swiss campus environment (mountains + lake), international student community (35+ nationalities).

• Strong career support (“IMI’s dedicated Careers team”) and employer network.

• Good flexibility of start dates (four per year) helps international students with planning.

 

Career Outcomes

Graduates of this BA (Hons) in International Culinary Management can expect roles such as:

• Kitchen/culinary operations: Chef de Partie, Sous Chef, Head Chef, Pastry Chef etc.

• Culinary business/entrepreneurship: owning or managing a restaurant, café, culinary start-up.

• Food product innovation & menu development roles.

• Culinary operations manager, commercial kitchen manager, F&B manager with culinary expertise.

• International placements: since the programme includes global internships, you may find jobs in Switzerland, Europe, Middle East, US, etc.

• Because of the combination of culinary + management modules, the degree is more versatile than pure cookery training.

 

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• According to IMI’s main site, the “last places” for the November 2025 intake are available and next intake is February 2026.

• On the culinary programme page, note that entry into later semesters (Higher Diploma or BA semester) may be possible if you have prior relevant education/experience.

• Internship portion: The paid internship placements are mandatory for graduation — so you must be willing to do work placements in Switzerland or internationally; visa/work permit for internships may be required.

• English language: While entry is IELTS 5.0 for first semester, always check whether later semesters/transfer require higher English or prior experience.

• Some residency/visa/work rules apply (see visa section below) – international students should check for their country’s requirements and Swiss immigration rules.

 

Fees & Funding

• The website indicates that course fees are published but exact amounts vary by intake and semester. Example: on the programme page it says “Click here for the full list of programme fees”.

• According to a third-party page (Rise Higher Education) there was a scholarship offer up to CHF 10,000 for August 2024 intake.

• Because fees change, I recommend: request the official fee schedule for your intake from IMI (including tuition, registration fee, etc) and ask for the payment schedule. Also consider living costs (accommodation, meals, health insurance, transport, etc) in Switzerland.

• Funding: In addition to IMI scholarships, look into external sources — e.g., government/student loans in your country, international scholarship foundations, or educational loans for studying abroad.

 

Visa & Immigration Requirements (for international students)

• After you receive the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) or Provisional Letter of Offer from IMI and pay registration fee you must apply for a Swiss student visa / residence permit (depending on your nationality).

• Since the programme includes paid internship placements, you must check the work permit / internship permit rules for international students in Switzerland (non-EU/EFTA nationals often have restricted work hours during term and need authorization for internships). IMI’s Careers team supports students with visa application/placement preparation.

• Recommended timeline: allow 6-8 weeks or more for visa processing. Confirm with Swiss embassy/consulate in your country.

• Important: check your country’s visa regulations (for example, Indian students must meet Swiss embassy requirements such as financial proof, health insurance, accommodation, etc).

• Health insurance / travel insurance / accommodation deposit/proof of funds will likely be required — ask IMI for their “international students visa checklist”.