Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts


The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts is a public university of applied sciences funded by the six cantons of Central Switzerland. Founded in 1997 as the University of Applied Sciences Central Switzerland, it is the largest educational institution in the region. It fulfils the mandate assigned by the contributing cantons in the areas of education, continuing and executive education, research, and services. As a university of applied sciences, it is practice-oriented and generally open to candidates with a vocational, specialized or academic baccalaureate at the HSLU. Barbara Bader has served as President since 1 December 2022.
The HSLU has campuses in Lucerne, Horw, Emmenbrücke and Rotkreuz. It previously also maintained a small campus for Financial Services in Zug, which have since moved to the Rotkreuz campus.

History

The university was founded in 1997 as the University of Applied Sciences Central Switzerland, based on the Federal Act on Universities of Applied Sciences and funded by the six contributing Central Swiss cantons of Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zug.
In its founding year, 293 students were enrolled across the initial fields of study of engineering and architecture, and business. Design, film and art, social work and music were added later.
Since 15 October 2007, the constituent Schools of the former University of Applied Sciences Central Switzerland have also been using the shared name Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Initially, the Schools of Engineering and Architecture, Business, and Design, Film and Art were funded by the Canton of Lucerne, whereas the Schools of Music and Social Work were financed by foundations. With the adoption of a new universities of applied sciences agreement on 1 January 2013, responsibility for all Schools was transferred to the contributing cantons.
The School of Computer Science and Information Technology was established in 2016.
In the 2018 autumn semester, the HSLU announced its bachelor’s programme in yodeling. This drew extensive press coverage because the German term Jodeldiplom, which was coined in a 1970s TV comedy sketch and culturally stands for a useless or vanity degree.

Schools

The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts consists of six Schools. The University offers English and German-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes as well as continuing and executive education programmes in subjects ranging from Design to Music, Fine Arts, Animation 2D/3D, Object Design, Banking and Finance, International Management and Economics, and Sustainable Energy Systems.

Engineering and Architecture

The School of Engineering and Architecture is based in Horw near Lucerne and offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Civil Engineering, Building Services Engineering and Energy, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Energy Systems, Innovation and Technology Management, Medical Engineering, and Applied Sciences and Humanities. It conducts applied research and development across multiple institutes and cooperates with industry and business partners.
Manfred Huber has served as Dean since 1 August 2025.

Courses

The School offers eleven bachelor's degree programmes in Engineering, Architecture and Construction:
  • Architecture
  • Interior Architecture
  • Civil Engineering
  • Digital Construction
  • Building Technology | Energy
  • Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Digital Engineering | Robotics and Big Data
  • Business Engineering | Innovation
  • Medical Engineering | Life Sciences
  • Energy and Environmental Systems Engineering
The School also offers three masters' degree programmes: Engineering, Architecture, and Integrated Spatial Development.

Computer Science and Information Technology

The School of Computer Science and Technology, located in Rotkreuz in the Canton of Zug, was established in 2016. It was formed through the merger of the Computer Science unit of the School of Engineering and Architecture with the Business Information Technology unit of the School of Business. Key topics include data science, AI, blockchain, immersive realities, software engineering, security, and digital business.
Sarah Hauser has served as Dean since 1 September 2025.

Courses

The Lucerne School of Computer Science and Transformation Technology offers eight bachelor's degree programmes:
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Computer Science
  • Digital Ideation
  • Immersive Technologies
  • Information Technology
  • Information and Cyber Security
  • International IT Management
  • Business Information Technology
The School also offers the following master’s degree programmes:
  • Digital Ideation
  • Engineering
  • IT, Digitalization and Sustainability
  • Information and Cyber Security
  • Music and Digital Creation
  • Business Information Technology

    Business

The School of Business, located in Lucerne and Zug, offers degree programmes and continuing education across business and management disciplines, including Banking and Finance, Communication and Marketing, Management, Regional Economics, and Tourism and Mobility.
Christine Böckelmann serves as Dean. The School obtained AACSB accreditation in 2021.

Courses

The Lucerne School of Business offers six bachelor’s programmes:
  • Business Administration
  • International Business Administration
  • Business Psychology
  • Economics and Data Science in Mobility
  • Hospitality Management
  • International Sustainable Tourism
In addition, six Master of Science programmes with various specialisations are offered:
The School of Social Work offers degree programmes in Social Work, Social Pedagogy and related social professions.
The earliest precursor institution of today’s School of Social Work was the Swiss Social-Charitable Women’s School, established in Lucerne in 1918. In 1943, it was officially recognised by the canton, and in 1952 it was renamed Soziale Frauenschule Luzern . It was again renamed in 1960, when it became the School of Social Work Lucerne , at which time men were admitted for the first time. In 1990 it was renamed Higher Technical School of Social Work.
In 1995 the HFS merged with the Evening School of Social Work and the Higher Technical School of Sociocultural Animation. In 1999, the institution was integrated into the then University of Applied Sciences Central Switzerland, and in 2007 it became one of the HSLU’s Schools.
Dorothee Guggisberg serves as Dean of the Lucerne School of Social Work. With 135 members of staff, 870 students in degree programmes and around 1,900 participants in continuing education, it is one of the larger schools of social work in Switzerland.

Courses

The following bachelor’s degree programmes are available:
  • Social Work
  • Sociocultural Animation
  • Social Pedagogy
  • New Concepts and Innovation
The School also offers a master’s degree programme in Social Work, as well as a range of continuing education programmes in areas including:
  • Work Integration
  • Disability and Quality of Life
  • Education and Care
  • Deviance, Violence and Victim Protection
  • Urban and Regional Development
  • Child and Adult Protection
  • Methods and Procedures in Social Work
  • Prevention and Health
  • Social Management, Social Policy and Generations
In addition, the School offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in Nursing.
Contributions to the theory and practice of social work are published by the School’s own interact imprint.

Design, Film and Art

The School of Design, Film and Art teaches creative and artistic subjects and offers degree programmes in disciplines including design, art, film and animation. Founded in 1877, it is the oldest art school in Switzerland. The Nidwalden painter Johann Melchior Wyrsch proposed the establishment of a drawing school to the Lucerne council in 1783 and began teaching in 1784. One of his successors, drawing teacher Seraphin Weingartner, developed a new school concept and in 1877 transformed the drawing school into the School of Applied Arts Lucerne. In its founding year, training programmes were offered mainly for professions such as carpentry, woodturning, wagon building, metalworking and stonemasonry.
Influenced by Bauhaus teaching methods, the profile of the Swiss schools of applied arts changed after World War II. Courses in visual communication, fine arts and aesthetic education were introduced to the detriment of programmes more focused on vocational training.
From 1972, the institution was called the School of Design. From 1984, it offered tertiary-level programmes as the Higher Technical School of Design. The first diploma at this level was awarded in Lucerne in 1988. In 1995 the School obtained university of applied sciences status as the University of Design and Art and has been part of the HSLU since 2007.
Jacqueline Holzer has served as Dean since 1 March 2022.

Courses

  • Foundation Course in Design
Three bachelor’s degree programmes:
  • Design
  • Film
  • Art and Art Education
Seven master’s degree programmes in three areas:
  • Master of Arts in Design, including Digital Ideation, Service Design and Eco-Social Design
  • Master of Arts in Art, with the majors:
  • * Knowledge to Society
  • * Critical Image and Situated Practices
  • * Art Teaching
  • Master of Arts in Film and Master of Arts in Animation

    Music

The School of Music offers degree programmes in music and music education. Covering classical and applied subjects alike, it prepares students for professional activities in music or music teaching. The School was established in 1999 under the name Lucerne School of Music through the merger of the Conservatory, the Academy of School and Church Music and the Jazz School Lucerne.
Since September 2019, the President of the Lucerne School of Music has been Valentin Gloor. He succeeded Michael Kaufmann.
In 2020 the School brought together its previously four locations under one roof. The new building is located on the Südpol Campus in Kriens. Its cultural activities include collaborations with institutions such as the Lucerne Festival Academy, the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra and the Lucerne Theatre.