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School of Management and Law

FAQ Bachelor of Science in Business Law

Contents

Before Starting the Program

1. Why is the BSc in Business Law program at the ZHAW School of Management and Law right for me?

By completing the Bachelor’s program in Business Law, you will receive a scientifically based degree tailored explicitly to the requirements of practicing business law. You will learn from experts in the worlds of science and practice, and you will work on tasks and cases directly related to the instructors’ everyday work.

The program focuses on national and international business law, combined with key management and communication skills. Legal English and modules on law and business taught in English prepare students for work in internationally active companies. In addition, modules such as “Legal Tech” or “Data Protection and Data Management” take into account the demands of a modern, digital, and integrated working world.

The ZHAW School of Management and Law (SML) is one of Europe’s leading business schools. It places high demands on its instructors, who have extensive practical experience and are skilled at imparting new knowledge related to business and legal practice. Because the program has such a high practical orientation, you will be able to apply what you learn to your work directly after graduation. This degree program prepares you for challenging tasks at the interface of business and law.

2. How can I be admitted to this program?

The admission requirements for students with a Swiss or a foreign educational background can be found here.

3. Is there a limit to the number of students admitted?

There is no limit to the number of students admitted to this program. You will be given a place on the program if you register by the deadline and meet the admission requirements (see Question 2).

4. When does the program start?

The new course begins in the fall semester in calendar week 38, mid-September. It is not possible to start in the spring semester in mid-February.

5. What prior knowledge is required or would be an advantage for this program?

The program builds on students’ knowledge as part of the commercial vocational baccalaureate. This includes business administration and law, finance and accounting, as well as German and English. No other previous knowledge is required.

The SML offers voluntary, fee-based preparatory courses in finance and accounting. We recommend these courses to anyone who found these subjects difficult before or feels their knowledge is no longer up to date. The classes take place during the summer months (i.e., before the start of the semester).

Language is the most important tool of business lawyers, so a particular affinity for language is indispensable. You will learn how to use German and English effectively in a professional context during your studies.

6. What personal qualities are an advantage in this program?

As a business law student, you will need motivation and curiosity to explore new topics. For example, you will receive many reading assignments that you will have to deal with on your own to expand your knowledge constantly. Self-study requires self-discipline, which will also help you during the exam preparation phase. Your ability to grasp the essential problem areas, work out pragmatic solutions, and engage in networked thinking will be targeted as part of the program.

7. How can I prepare for this degree program?

You will be well prepared with the knowledge you have acquired as part of your vocational baccalaureate. You should obtain the books and materials needed for the first semester early. You will find this information in the module descriptions, which you can access by clicking on the module tables on the internet.

Enrolled students regularly benefit from discounted prices for textbooks at various bookstores or dealers who specialize in reselling used teaching materials. For more information, please contact the respective providers directly.

In terms of logistics, you should equip yourself with the necessary tools, especially a laptop (see Question 8).

8. What tools do I need to get before I start the program?

You will need a mobile computer (laptop, tablet, etc.) to study. Communication outside the lecture halls takes place via the online learning platform Moodle, which is used to give assignments, share documents, and provide further information. The program is, therefore, “paperless.”

These are the minimum requirements for your device:

Minimum requirements with Windows

Minimum requirements with Apple

Enrolled students regularly benefit from discounted prices for hardware offered by various electronics dealers. For more information, please contact the respective providers directly.

ZHAW offers its students Microsoft Office (including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) free of charge. You can find more information here (in German).

9. How much does this program cost? Is it possible to apply for a scholarship?

For information on the cost of the Bachelor’s program, click here.

For information on scholarships awarded by the Swiss cantons, click here (in German).

For advice on financial and other issues in the context of your studies, click here.

10. What is the Campus like?

The SML campus in Winterthur is spread over various locations in the city center. For details, click here. Most classes in the Business Law program take place in the Volkart Building at St.-Georgen-Platz 2 in Winterthur.

For a 360° view of the various ZHAW campuses, click here.

Doing the Program

11. What is the difference between studying full-time and part-time?

The full-time option takes six semesters (three years) to complete. Classes usually take place between three and five days a week. The part-time option allows students to work part-time (up to 60 percent). 

12. To what extent can I work part-time (or even full-time) while studying?

Part-time study allows you to have a part-time job of up to 60 percent. You will take modules worth an average of 22.5 ECTS credits per semester, which corresponds to a workload of 675 hours of study per semester (38 hours per week). 1 ECTS credit represents 30 hours of study, which includes class attendance.

A job while studying full-time is not recommended. You will take modules worth 30 ECTS credits per semester, corresponding to 900 hours of study per semester (50 hours per week).

You will have time to work during the semester break in the summer.

13. How much studying do I have to do? Do I still have free time besides my studies?

In addition to on-site classes (approximately 24 weekly lessons for full-time study; about 18 lessons for part-time study), 26 hours of self-study per week for full-time study and 20 hours per week for part-time study must be expected. This includes preparation, follow-up (reading assignments, revision), and exam preparation.

The individual study effort varies depending on your learning type and the achievement level you are aiming for. It is advisable to plan a generous amount of time for self-study, especially at the beginning of your studies. After the first two semesters, most students can reasonably estimate how much they will have to study to pass the exams. If you plan your time well and implement your plan in a disciplined manner, you will also have some free time to relax. 

14. What does the curriculum look like? What characterizes it?

The curriculum is interdisciplinary and includes legal, business, and language modules. The focus on different disciplines requires students to think in a networked manner to recognize interrelationships and solve problems in an integrated way. Some emphasis is placed on linguistic expression both verbally and in writing.

15. How are the modules structured?

With the 6-ECTS modules, a double-lesson of lectures takes place in the large class group (approx. 100 students), followed by a double-lesson of exercises in the small class group (approx. 30 students). This approach allows the theoretical concepts of the lectures to be directly applied and practiced in the exercises.

With the 3-ECTS modules, a double-lesson usually takes place in the small class group (approx. 30 students).

Lessons in the small class group are characterized by the close supervisory relationship between student and instructor. This approach enables you to participate actively and promotes an interactive design of the classes.

16. What does the class schedule look like?

If you have chosen the part-time program option, you will have classes on a maximum of two working days per week. To enable you to plan ahead, the days when you have classes are already predefined for your first three years of study. For an overview of the attendance requirements for part-time students, click here(PDF 90,9 KB).

The class schedule in the first semester of the part-time program option might look like this:

The class schedule in the first semester of the full-time program option might look like this:

The class schedule is created each semester for each class. Accordingly, the modules may fall on different days of the week and be arranged differently.

17. Can I commute to Winterthur from where I live? Is student accommodation available?

Thanks to its central location, Winterthur is easy to reach by public transport from all over German-speaking Switzerland. From Zurich or St. Gallen, it takes just under 20 and 30 minutes, respectively, to get here. The travel time is usually less than an hour from the neighboring cantons. From Basel, Bern, and Lucerne, you can reach Winterthur in less than 1.5 hours.

For information on student accommodation, click here.

18. Is there an attendance requirement?

As a rule, attendance is not compulsory. You are responsible for working through the module content yourself. It is up to you whether you take advantage of the classes for this purpose - which is, of course, highly recommended.

Some modules have performance assessments that must be completed during the semester. These may require compulsory attendance.

19. What are the exams and the exam period like?

The end-of-module (EOM) exams take place at the end of each semester over a period of about three weeks (usually from mid-January and mid-June). The EOM exams test the entire material covered in the previous semester. Most are one- or two-hour written exams. However, you may also have oral exams taken individually or in pairs. The design of the EOM exam varies and may consist of a case, questions about theoretical concepts, multiple-choice questions, or a combination of different question types.

20. What is the best way to prepare for the exams?

Exam preparation is crucial if you want to succeed in your studies. The 14 weeks of classes (for which you prepare and do follow-up work on an ongoing basis) are followed by two weeks of exam preparation. You need to use this time to review and consolidate what you have learned during the semester. It would be best if you did not do any other work during this time to concentrate fully on exam preparation.

You need to find the learning method(s) that suit you best. You could, for example, use flashcards, write summaries, read the literature, or form a study group. A combination of different methods can be very effective.

21. What are the requirements for completing the program successfully?

To pass the first-year period (Assessment), you must achieve an average of at least 4.0. No module grade can be a 1.0, and you can have no more than 12 minus ECTS grade points. Minus ECTS grade points are calculated as the difference between an unsatisfactory grade and a 4.0, multiplied by the module’s ECTS credits. Example: A final module grade of 3.5 in a 6-ECTS module will result in 3 minus ECTS grade points (0.5 x 6 = 3).

To pass the main study period (Hauptstudium), you must achieve at least a 4.0. No module grade can be a 1.0, and you can have no more than 18 minus ECTS points. After completing the first year (Assessment), the minus ECTS grade points start at 0 once again. The module “Integration” and the Bachelor’s thesis must both be passed; compensation for unsatisfactory grades is not possible in these two cases.

Grade calculation templates can be found for the First-Year and Main Study periods (SML Intranet).

22. What infrastructure can I benefit from at ZHAW?

PC workstations, copiers, scanners, and printers are available to students on the SML campus in Winterthur. The main building of the SML (St.-Georgen-Platz) houses a Cafeteria (Mensa) with approx. 180 seats.

The ZHAW University Library in Winterthur gives students access to a large selection of literature, book scanners, research stations, PC workstations, and approximately 700 study (individual or group) spaces, as well as a cafeteria.

For the university’s sports infrastructure, please refer to Question 23.

23. What sports are offered at ZHAW?

The ASVZ Sport Center in Winterthur has a spacious weight training and cardio area, three gyms for group fitness, BodyMind, and dance courses, and a dojo for martial arts. A total of 34 sports, from badminton and kickboxing to Pilates, are offered through ASVZ (Academic Sports Association of Zurich) in Winterthur.

For general information about the sports offered by ASVZ, click here.

24. Can I do a study semester abroad, and what are the criteria?

The SML has an extensive network of more than 190 partner universities in 52 countries where you can spend a semester abroad or attend a summer school. A study exchange is uncomplicated, inexpensive, and possible almost anywhere.

An interactive map with all partner universities of the ZHAW School of Management and Law can be found here (under Partner Network).

After Completing the Program

25. Can I enter the working world directly after graduation?

The Bachelor’s program in Business Law enables you to enter the working world directly. This is one of the many advantages of studying at ZHAW, which focuses on practice and application. For portraits of some of our graduates, click here.

Even during your studies, you will receive active support from Career Services if you have questions about starting your career. You can benefit from job exchanges, consulting services, and CV checks.

26. Where (in what fields and job roles) can I find employment after graduation?

With a BSc in Business Law, you have, among other things, excellent career opportunities in all professional fields at the interface between law and business. Many graduates work, for example, in auditing, taxation, compliance, administration, human resources, and corporate legal departments.

For more information on your career opportunities with a Bachelor in Business Law, click here.

27. What does the ZHAW Alumni program look like?

Alumni Service regularly organizes events such as the Alumni Homecoming Day, sports tournaments or "Töggeli" (table football) tournaments. These events are aimed at current and former students / alumni of the ZHAW School of Management and Law.

Alumni ZHAW is the interdepartmental alumni organization of the ZHAW. It also organizes events and provides access to a large network of former ZHAW students.

28. What continuing education opportunities will I have after completing this program?

- Professional practice / Continuing education (e.g., tax expert): After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree and gaining relevant professional experience, you can enroll in a range of specific Swiss federal diploma programs without obtaining a specialist certificate (Fachausweis) first. For example, the path to becoming a Swiss certified tax expert, fiduciary expert, or auditor is open to you.

For more information, visit the websites of the respective providers, such as ExpertSuisse.

- Master: For information on continuing education opportunities regarding Master’s programs, click here.