Bachelor reform FAQ
Source: https://www.unil.ch/hec/en/home/menuinst/bachelor/faq.html Parent: https://www.unil.ch/hec/en/home.html
What's new in the reform
What are the main novelties linked to the Bachelor reform?
- Choice of language, French or English, for all 1st and 2nd year courses.
- Mandatory English course in the first year (year-round, bi-weekly) for all students, including English speakers.
- Introductory teaching on sustainability: transversal and integrative teaching on sustainability with face-to-face activities during the 1st and 8th week of the semester (first two years of the curriculum).
- Onboarding days: during the first days of the first semester (week 1), you will participate in 4 workshops, which will facilitate your integration into university studies, and familiarize you with the requirements of our curriculum as well as with the values of HEC Lausanne.
Admission to the program and registration for courses - the question of languages
I don't speak French, can I do a Bachelor at HEC?
To be admitted to one of the Unil programs, you need a level of French B1 and this is valid for our Bachelor program, even if you only want to follow courses in English. For more details on admissions, visit the Admission Service (SII)
I am bilingual in English and French, which language course should I take during the first year?
You must enroll in the 3-credit English for communicating in Business and Economics course at the Langue center. Courses are tailored to all levels of English proficiency. Information will be provided to you by the Language center.
Do I have to register for a course that is taught in English or French?
No, you register for a course and are free to take that course in either French or English.
First Week of the semester: Onboarding Days and Introduction to Sustainability
There are two activities that you are OBLIGATORY to attend during the first week of the semester: the Onboarding Days and the Introduction to Sustainability course (3 credits).
Onboarding Days (September 15-19, 2025)
When will the Onboarding Days take place?
From Monday, September 15 to Friday, September 19, 2025, according to a group-specific schedule.
When do the Onboarding Days and the orientation days take place?
The Onboarding Days are mandatory and will take place during the first week of the semester, over the first four days, from Monday, September 15 to Friday, September 19. You will receive a personalized email with your group assignment and your schedule (timing and locations of the workshops) for the Onboarding Days. The “Welcome days” of Unil are another type of event that take place before the semester begins. They are scheduled for HEC on Friday, September 12, according to the invitation sent out by the SOC.
What is the purpose of the Onboarding Days?
They are designed to help you integrate into university studies and to familiarize yourself with the requirements of our curriculum, our values, and our campus.
How will the Onboarding Days be conducted?
You will be assigned to a group, and each group will participate in four workshops over the four days.
How will I know which group I belong to for the Onboarding Days?
Along with the invitation to the “Welcome Days of Unil” on the Friday before the semester begins (September 15, 2025), you will receive a personalized email indicating (a) your group assignment for these two days, (b) your schedule for the entire first week of the semester (from Monday, September 15 to Friday, September 19, 2025), and (c) the locations where your activities will take place during this week.
In what language will the Onboarding Days be conducted?
The workshops will be a mix of English and French, and everyone can speak in their preferred language (either French or English). However, it is expected that students understand the other language.
Who should I contact in case of difficulties or for additional information?
For any questions related to the HEC Onboarding Days, please contact hec-onboarding@unil.ch)
Introduction to Sustainability: Transversal Course on Sustainability (September 18 and 19, 2025)
What are the objectives of the Introduction to Sustainability course?
The HEC Faculty is committed to a 3D approach (Diversity – Sustainability – Digitalization), and the goal of this course is to introduce you to the challenges related to sustainability.
How will the Introduction to Sustainability course be conducted in the first year?
This course is delivered on the entire year rather than just one semester. It is conducted in person during weeks 1 and 8 of the fall and spring semesters. The remaining weeks of the academic year will be dedicated to online activities, which you will complete asynchronously.
When will the Introduction to Sustainability course take place in the first year?
The Introduction to Sustainability course (3 credits) in the first year will take place during weeks 1 and 8 of the fall semester and weeks 1 and 8 of the spring semester. After being assigned to a group, you will receive a specific schedule indicating when and where you and your group members must attend one of the sessions of the Introduction to Sustainability course. The first session will take place on Thursday, September 18, or Friday, September 19, 2025, depending on the schedule and group assignment received via email.
In what language will the Introduction to Sustainability course be conducted?
The course can be followed in French or English, except for the first session, which will take place during the week of the Onboarding Days. This session will be a mix of English and French, and everyone can speak in their preferred language (either French or English). Therefore, it is expected that students are capable of understanding both languages. Please note that all course materials, including those from the first session, will be available in both languages.
Allocation of students by group
In the first year, there are different types of group allocations for new first-year Bachelor students at HEC Lausanne:
Colour Group
A colour group applies only during Week 1 of the autumn semester (Onboarding Days) and the first session of the course Introduction to Sustainability.
- You have been assigned a colour group for the organisation of Week 1 of the autumn semester only (Onboarding Days). • Your colour group will inform you of your schedule for Week 1.
- Week 1 of the autumn semester therefore includes the Onboarding Days and the first session of Introduction to Sustainability.
Three Types of Groups
Valid throughout the academic year:
- Groups A or B according to alphabetical order, for compulsory courses taught in French, for the entire semester.
- Language Centre groups for the course English for Communicating in Business and Economics.
- Workshop groupings for the course Introduction to Sustainability, which will take place in Week 8 of the autumn semester and Weeks 1 and 8 of the spring semester.
Groups A or B
- The timetable for Groups A or B applies from Week 2 of the first semester for first-year Bachelor students. Group allocations will be communicated by the administration a few days before the start of term to your @unil.ch email address.
- You must follow your group timetable for courses taught in French.
- Courses taught in English are open to all first-year students at any time. In other words, if you are in Group A and wish to attend a course taught in French, you must follow the Group A timetable. However, you are free to attend courses taught in English as you wish.
Language Centre Groups
- Language Centre groups are formed according to language proficiency level and are used for the course English for Communicating in Business and Economics.
- An online test will be used to place you in a group according to your level of English.
- The timetable for the English course will be sent by the Language Centre to your @unil.ch email address.
Groupings for the Course Introduction to Sustainability
- The grouping you are assigned to will determine the workshop times you must attend, which will take place in Week 8 of the autumn semester and Weeks 1 and 8 of the spring semester.
- All necessary information regarding groupings and workshops will be provided during the introductory session of this course in Week 1 of the autumn semester, and throughout the academic year via the course’s Moodle page.
Bachelor Reform for 3rd-Year Students
The reform targeting the third year will be implemented as of September 2025. It primarily introduces greater specialization through the restructuring of the course catalogue into sub-modules, more course options in both French and English, and more creditable practical experiences.\ \ As a third-year Bachelor student at HEC Lausanne, you must choose between two distinct curricula: a Bachelor in Management or a Bachelor in Economics.
Management Track
- Module 3.1 – Managerial themes divided into sub-modules (54 credits)
- You must select 54 credits from a list of elective courses.
- To signal your interest and competences to the job market, you are advised to take three 12-credit sub-modules. However, you can also distribute credits across multiple sub-modules if you prefer.
- Free elevtive course: Max 18 crédits
- Module 3.2 – Practical experiences (6 credits)
Economics Track
- Module 3.1 – (54 credits)
- You must acquire at least 24 credits from the "fundamentals"sub-module 3.1 and at least 6 credits from the "Specialization"sub-module.
- Free elevtive course: Max 12 crédits
- Module 3.2 – Practical experiences (6 credits)
A Note on Module 3.2: Practical Experiences
This module aims at bridging the gap between the university and the field, enabling you to develop hand-on experiences, and getting recognition forthem. Here is a non exhaustive list of activities from which you can choose from:
- Projet d’intervention dans une ONG: A new year-long consulting course for NGOs.
- Environmental Challenges and Energy Markets
- Start-Up Launch and Development: Analysis methods and applied experience