Business School Lausanne

What Business School Lausanne does

Business School Lausanne (BSL) is a private Swiss business school incorporated as Business School Lausanne SA, headquartered in Chavannes-près-Renens (Lausanne) and operating additional campuses in Geneva, Barcelona, and Madrid as part of the Geneva Business School Swiss Network. The institution delivers degree programs across five tiers — a three-year Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA, offered in English across all four campuses), a 1.5-year Master of International Business (MIB) with concentrations in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Finance & Sustainability, an MBA, two Executive MBA specializations (Sustainable Business; Business Transformation & Entrepreneurship), and a three-to-six-year Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA), plus a dual doctoral program with aSSIST Korea. Teaching is anchored by a practitioner-only faculty (active executives, consultants, and entrepreneurs from organizations including Google, KPMG, and Yale/LSE) and capped at 22 students per class to preserve a personalized format. BSL operates on a tuition-driven subscription model (degree program tuition, executive education seminars, corporate custom solutions), with pricing quote-based and not publicly disclosed; DBA candidates are eligible for scholarships. Revenue is complemented by corporate seminars and an in-house research and content arm that includes the Collaboratory method, the C.A.R.L. responsible-leadership assessment instrument, the GAP Frame sustainability framework spanning 155 countries, and the quarterly Building Sustainable Legacies journal. The school holds AACSB, ACBSP, ATHEA, EFMD, CFA Institute, BGA, UN Global Compact, and PRME affiliations and is GDPR- and nLPD-compliant.

Name

Business School Lausanne

Legal name

Business School Lausanne SA

Website

https://bsl-lausanne.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Business School Lausanne is a private Swiss business school operating campuses in Lausanne, Geneva, Barcelona, and Madrid, offering BBA, MIB, MBA, EMBA, and DBA programs with a sustainability focus as part of the Geneva Business School Swiss Network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Degree Program Tuition: Revenue from tuition fees for Bachelor (BBA), Master (MIB), MBA, EMBA, and DBA programs. Fees vary by program level and format.
2. Executive Education Programs: Revenue from executive seminars, corporate training, and custom solutions for business clients and organizations.
3. Doctoral Programs: Revenue from DBA doctorate programs including tuition fees and research supervision.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Business School Lausanne is a Swiss business school that sells accredited degree programs and executive education, including a Bachelor of Business Administration, a Master of International Business, MBA and Executive MBA specializations in Sustainable Business and Business Transformation & Entrepreneurship, a Doctorate of Business Administration, and Certificate/Diploma of Advanced Studies. Programs are delivered on campuses in Lausanne, Geneva, Barcelona, and Madrid as well as online, with corporate seminars sold to organizations. Curricula embed sustainability, entrepreneurship, coding, and big-data content.

Product overview

Business School Lausanne operates as a Swiss business education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of degree and executive education programs. The core academic offerings include undergraduate (Bachelor of Business Administration), graduate (Master of International Business, MBA), doctoral (DBA), and executive education (EMBA, CAS/DAS) programs. Programs are delivered primarily through distance learning with optional on-campus components in Lausanne. The school emphasizes sustainable business, entrepreneurship, and data analytics skills across its curriculum. Executive education includes specialized EMBAs in Sustainable Business and Business Transformation & Entrepreneurship, while corporate programs offer customizable executive seminars. The institution is part of the Geneva Business School Swiss Network and partners with external organizations for specialized certificate programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) A three-year undergraduate degree program providing broad foundations in business administration, covering practical skills, managerial competencies, and interpersonal skills for the changing business world. Delivered 100% in English across campuses in Geneva, Barcelona, and Madrid, and aimed at students preparing for international business careers.
• Master of International Business (MIB) A 1.5-year (3-semester) master's program focusing on international business with concentrations in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Finance & Sustainability. The curriculum includes Coding, Big Data, and Entrepreneurial Skills components, with over 10% of the program dedicated to data analysis skills.
• MBA - Master of Business Administration A comprehensive Master of Business Administration program with a three-dimensional approach designed to empower responsible actors of change. The program is fully accredited and includes executive training and development.
• EMBA in Sustainable Business Executive MBA program focused on sustainable business practices, designed to develop leaders who can drive sustainability-focused transformation in their organizations and industries.
• EMBA in Business Transformation & Entrepreneurship Executive MBA program focused on business transformation and entrepreneurship, aimed at developing leaders capable of leading industry-wide transformation and driving entrepreneurial initiatives.
• CAS & DAS Programs Certificate and Diploma of Advanced Studies programs offered in partnership with external organizations (together and Bevel ON), providing specialized executive education credentials.
• Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) A doctoral program (3-6 years duration) combining academic rigor with field action research, designed for professionals with managerial experience who wish to contribute to professional practice in management. Essentially a distance-learning program with optional seminars in Lausanne.
• DBA BSL-aSSIST Dual Doctoral Degree A dual doctoral degree program offered in partnership with aSSIST (Korea), allowing students to earn two doctoral degrees simultaneously with international recognition.
• Executive Seminars Short three-day executive seminars covering management, leadership skills, and business sustainability topics. Available as standalone programs for individual professionals and as customized corporate training for specific organizational needs.
• Corporate Seminars & Custom Solutions Customized corporate training programs designed to address specific organizational needs and interests, available for companies seeking tailored executive education solutions delivered on-site or on a bespoke basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60+ nationalities represented in student body and faculty
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GAP FramecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017GAP Frame is a normative framework developed by BSL that translates the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into relevant measures for each nation. It serves as a strategic business tool highlighting gaps between current state and sustainability goals. The framework spans 155 countries and 24 Grand Challenges.
• Swiss Sustainability HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder initiative connecting business, government, and NGO sectors to position Switzerland as a global hub for sustainable development best practices. Founded in September 2014 with Paul Polman (Unilever CEO), Dr. Katrin Muff (BSL Dean), and Thomas Dyllick (University of St. Gallen).
• 50+20 InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative aiming to radically transform management education. The 'Collaboratory' concept originated from this visioning work involving scholars, artists, consultants, students, activists, and other professionals. BSL's Dr. Katrin Muff co-authored 'The Collaboratory' book based on this initiative.
• The Collaboratory PracticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn open-space creative method for hosting meaningful conversations where stakeholders tap into collective intelligence. Adopted by various education, business, NGO, and social enterprise communities. The method has been recognized and endorsed by thought leaders including Peter Senge (MIT) and Robert E. Quinn (University of Michigan).
• Geneva Business School (GBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the same Swiss Network of Business Schools. As of 2026, Bachelor programs are powered by Geneva Business School (sister school). Collaboration on DBA programs and shared resources.
• aSSIST (Korea)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual doctoral degree program partnership - BSL-aSSIST Dual Doctoral Degree Program allowing students to earn doctorates from both institutions.
• EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated nearby in Lausanne. EPFL is a key research institution in Switzerland. BSL benefits from proximity and potential academic collaborations.
• ETH ZurichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Listed as an institutional partner/accreditation body connection.
• AACSB InternationalcoreOthersPremier business education accreditation organization. BSL is an AACSB member, demonstrating commitment to quality business education standards.
• UN Global CompactcoreOthersBSL is a signatory member of the UN Global Compact, committing to sustainable and responsible business practices aligned with UN principles.
• PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education)coreOthersBSL is a signatory member of PRME, supporting sustainable business education globally through the UN Global Compact network.
• EFMDminorOthersEuropean Foundation for Management Development. BSL is a member, connecting with global business school network.
• CFA InstituteminorOthersPartnership for finance education. CFA Institute recognition supports BSL's finance and investment-related programs.
• Swiss Sustainability Hub Advisory Board MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board includes: Dr. Katrin Muff (BSL Dean), Thomas Vellacott (CEO WWF Switzerland), Dr. Thomas Dyllick (University of St. Gallen), Paul Polman (CEO Unilever), Peter Bakker (CEO WBCSD), Peter White (COO WBCSD), Simona Scarpaleggia (CEO IKEA Switzerland), Lorenz Isler (Sustainability Manager IKEA Switzerland), Cornelia Diethelm (Director, Migros), Seta Thakur (CEO ÖBU), Christian Zeyer (Co-CEO swisscleantech), Bruno Oberle (Director, Professor at EPFL), Res Witschi (Head Corporate Responsibility, Swisscom)

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• aSSIST (Korea): Seoul-based business school operating as BSL's dual doctoral degree partner (BSL-aSSIST Dual Doctoral Degree Program). Comparable as a private international business school offering DBA-level programs targeting mid-career professionals in Asia and globally.
• Geneva Business School: Sister school within the Geneva Business School Swiss Network. Operates private business degree programs (BBA, MBA, DBA) across Geneva, Barcelona, and Madrid with similar international positioning and is explicitly the network partner that powers BSL's bachelor programs as of 2026.
• Webster University Geneva: Private international university with Geneva campus offering AACSB-accredited business programs in English. Comparable scale, target market (international students in Switzerland), and accreditation profile to BSL.
• Schiller International University: Private international university with multi-country campuses (Heidelberg, Paris, Madrid, Tampa) offering American-style business degrees in English. Targets a similar globally-mobile student base and competes for the same international applicant pool as BSL.
• EU Business School: Private, multi-campus international business school with locations across Europe (including Barcelona, Geneva, Munich). Targets similar international student demographic with English-taught BBA, MBA, and executive programs and competes directly on the same candidate funnel.
• IE Business School: Private Spanish-founded international business school (Madrid/Segovia) offering BBA, MBA, EMBA and executive education with strong sustainability and entrepreneurship focus. Competes head-to-head with BSL for international students seeking European business credentials with an ESG angle.

Broad incumbents

• HEC Lausanne (University of Lausanne): University-based business school in Lausanne offering bachelor's, master's, MBA, and doctoral programs in business. Overlaps with BSL's local Lausanne market and shares some faculty connections (e.g., Dr. Christine Darbellay teaches at both institutions).
• IMD Business School: Top-tier Swiss business school headquartered in Lausanne offering MBA, EMBA, and executive education. Significantly larger and more established than BSL but operates in the same Swiss and international markets, particularly for executive-level candidates.
• INSEAD: Top-tier global business school with multi-campus model (France, Singapore, Abu Dhabi). Overlaps with BSL on international MBA and executive education demand and sets the upper bound of premium Swiss/European business school pricing.
• University of St. Gallen (HSG): One of Switzerland's leading universities with a major management school. Direct overlap with BSL on Swiss business education rankings; partner institution via Swiss Sustainability Hub alongside BSL's Dean and competes for master's-level applicants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/BSLSchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/182616930659
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/business-school-lausanne
• Instagraminstagram.com/businessschoollausanne
• Xx.com/bsl_switzerland

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Business School Lausanne