Bachelor reform FAQ

What are the main novelties linked to the Bachelor reform?

• Flexible choice of language, French or English, for all 1st and 2nd year courses, with the possibility to change at any time from one language to the other without informing anyone of this change. The same courses will be offered during the same week in both French and English.
• 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.

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 Service des inscriptions et des immatriculations website.

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 Centre de langues. Courses are tailored to all levels of English proficiency. Information will be provided to you by the Service d’orientation et de carrières (SOC).

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 or to change at any time. At any given time, you will have the same course in French and in English in your weekly schedule and you can choose to attend either the French or the English version.

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 17-20, 2024) 

When will the Onboarding Days take place? 

From Tuesday, September 17 to Friday, September 20, 2024 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 Tuesday, September 17 to Friday, September 20 (Monday being a holiday – Federal Fast Day). 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 13, 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 13, 2024), 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 Tuesday, September 17 to Friday, September 20, 2024), 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 19 and 20, 2024) 

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 19, or Friday, September 20, 2024, 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.

Please find below important information for the 2024-2025 academic year concerning the students who are beginning or repeating their 2nd year of the Bachelor's program and who started their Bachelor's before 2023.

1. "Communication and Leadership" Course: This course is now offered on an annual basis and only during weeks 1 (Tuesday, September 17) and 8 of the fall and spring semesters. Please take this into account if you have not yet attended or if you failed this course on the first attempt. The schedule is available on the course’s Moodle page.
2. "Innovation for the Grand Challenges" Course: This course is intended only for students subject to the new Bachelor (reform). Therefore, you are not required to take this course.
3. Course Start Dates: Apart from the Communication and Leadership course (weeks 1 and 8), all other courses will begin starting from week 2, i.e., from Monday, September 23.
4. Specific Study Plan: Please consult the study plan designed for cohorts before 2023.
5. Groups: The alphabetical group distribution will be discontinued. Courses will be split and offered in either French or English.
6. Other Changes: Information regarding credit adaptations, semester changes, and other adjustments is detailed in this document.

In the first year, three types of group allocations apply to new students in first year Bachelor at HEC Lausanne:

• A or B groups for the schedules of the French version of courses, for the whole semester. 
• Color groups for the “Onboarding Days” and the course "Introduction to Sustainability". 
• Language Center groups for the course "English for Communicating in Business and Economics". 

Groups A or B (classes in French) and the same classes in English 

• The schedule for Groups A or B will take effect from the second week of the first semester for first-year Bachelor's students. The group assignments will be communicated to you by the administration a few days before the start of the academic year.
• You must respect your group's schedule for the French version of courses.
• The English version of the course is open to all 1st year students at all times. In other words, if you're in Group A and wish to attend the course given in French, you must follow Schedule A. On the other hand, you can attend English classes as you wish.

 Color Groups 

• You have been assigned to a color group for the organization of weeks 1 and 8 only.
• Your color group informs you of your schedule for week 1 (September 19 AND 20, 2023, for the Onboarding Days; and September 21 OR 22, 2023, for "Introduction to Sustainability") and week 8 (the schedule will be communicated by your professor).
• Week 1 includes the “Onboarding Days” and the first "Introduction to Sustainability" class. Week 8 is reserved for the course Introduction to Sustainability.

Groups of the Centre de Langue (Language Center)

• The groups of the Centre de Langue are formed according to language proficiency level in order to follow 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 schedule for the English language course will be communicated by the Centre de Langue to your @unil.ch address.