FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it easy to come to Switzerland to study?

Xiaojuan: “Switzerland has always historically been known as a welcoming State. It helps us, young foreigners who come to study here, by making administrative procedures seamless. For example, the visa procedure is quite simple to handle it..”

Are Vatel degrees official degrees?

Martin: “The French State certified Vatel degree for two main reasons: the quality of their education and training programs which respond to expectations in the profession, and the speed in which graduates obtain jobs after having finished their studies. Using the system of equivalent diplomas, Vatel degrees also allow us to follow postgraduate classes anywhere in Europe, and we can also apply to universities if we want.”

What is the weather like in Martigny?

Meghann: "The Valais has nice sunny weather in all four seasons. This is why we are able to do loads of outside activities like skiing in winter, and mountainbiking and sailing in summer. We have four distinct seasons, but each one is as nice as the other.”

Concretely how does the School help students who are looking for internships?

Xiaojuan: “In our first year of management, the School proposes different internships, both in Switzerland and in foreign countries. All we have to do is choose where we want to go, and who we want to go with. In our third year of management, if we are not going to continue with postgraduate studies, itʼs up to us to find our internship. And thatʼs also the case in the fourth year of management. But Vatel is always there to help us. Weʼre coached, just like if we were looking for a job. These are valuable courses for our future!”

Is it true that in Vatel Switzerland, real clients come and stay in the application hotel?

Martin: “Yes, it is. And this is unique in Switzerland. This is at the very core of our Vatel training. In theoretical courses, they teach us Administration, Finance, Human Resources and Marketing. And then we are able to practice in real conditions what we have learned in the classroom, with the assistance of our professors. When you cater to real clients, you have to wait on them, the food has to be good; you manage a real hotel with its rooms and its staff; you organize real seminars for 100 people lasting three days, youʼre really involved. Thereʼs no pretending. If we make mistakes, there are “real consequences” on the bottom line. Thatʼs why professionals appreciate Vatel grads so much: weʼre mature and have had a lot of professional experience while we were studying.”

Do I have to live on the campus?

Xiaojuan: “No, not at all. For the first year I think it is better to live on campus, because you donʼt yet know the area, youʼve just started school. That way we have fewer things to take care of ourselves, and itʼs basically easier. All we have to do is study, and of course, take advantage of all the different activities Vatel proposes for us! After that, if you want to be more autonomous, itʼs easy. And Martigny is a very safe city. And the School is not hidden away somewhere in the mountains, itʼs right in the middle of town. We can either rent a room in town, or decide to rent an apartment with friends, whatever. Itʼs up to us!”

And what about night life?

Martin: “Lots of things to do. The School is just a few minuteʼs walk from the city center. We can do sporting activities, visit art exhibitions, go to a café to have a drink with friends, do a little shopping, have dinner at one of the many restaurants, or go dancing! Being in the middle of the city allows us to form close bonds with inhabitants that we see often. We feel like we belong in Martigny, and itʼs a nice place to live.

And what about the week-end?

Meghann: “In winter, we all become skiing champs: skiing, snowboarding, curling...And there are just loads of things to do any time in the year. You can take a plane in Geneva for a week-end in Paris, go up to Chamonix to see the Mont Blanc, go hiking in the mountains, visit the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, encourage Ellen MacArthur or Loick Peyron in the “Bol dʼOr” sailing regatta, go down to Milan or up to Lyons to go shopping... Weʼre really lucky in Martigny: it only takes half an hour to go to the closest ski resort, two hours to go to Geneva, and about three hours to go to Lyons or Milan.

What are the student rooms on the campus like?

Xiaojuan: “Weʼve got the choice between a single or a double room. Theyʼre roomy, very well equipped, comfortable - just like you would expect in a four-star hotel! And of course everyone has Internet connection.”

Do all students in Vatel do the Marco Polo program?

Martin: “Weʼve got the possibility to go to another Vatel School to study in the academic semester of our second year in management. Of course we have to be able to understand the language that the courses will be given in, and have good grades in important subjects like management. Those of us who have participated in the Marco Polo program have come back enthusiastic: discovery of a different culture, really getting to know another foreign language, and of course, new friends. "

Are students in contact with Vatel graduates?

Meghann: “The Vatelien network is fantastic, as we use this to help find an internship or a job when weʼve finished school. Theyʼre always ready and willing to help us, and of course prefer to hire a Vatel graduate, if at all possible. Itʼs really easy to contact them and ask for advice. We have their contact details on the web-site. For example we can select them by putting in a country or a city, when weʼre targeting a precise geographical zone."

Why is there a difference in price between Vatel Switzerland and other hotel schools?

Xiaojuan: “Vatel decided to multiply the number of Schools in its group about ten years ago. There are nowadays 24 different Schools in the world, and they share academic programs, tools like the Intranet portal, the Cyberlibris library and so on. The Group thus can make large scale cost savings, and we, the students, are the first to take advantage of this. For the same quality, registration expenses and tuition cost less. And in Vatel Switzerland, we donʼt have to live on the campus, and pay for everything else that we need to study. Itʼs up to us. Right from the very beginning, the relationship we have with our School is based on transparency and freedom of choice.”