Start right. Come with an open mind and a strong sense of curiosity.

Each year’s cohort is unique because of the diversity of the students’ academic, professional, and cultural backgrounds.  Students will be enrolled in the same courses throughout most of the academic year. This model facilitates collaborative learning and encourages the class to act as a team, similar to the dynamic you find in the workplace.

The program is conducted over two semesters, a January term, and the six-week practical experience that begins in May. There is a mid-semester break in the week of October 17-23 and a winter break from December 10, 2022 to January 9, 2023.

In the spring semester, students will begin taking classes in their respective programs: Responsible Management & Climate Change or Digital Transformation or Responsible Arts Management and Cultural Heritage.

Franklin Master’s education leverages the best practices of in-class, online and on-site learning. Courses taught on the Franklin campus address contemporary managerial topics, are taught seminar-style in small groups. The online courses cover the latest, most relevant and most-applicable topics students can study and are designed and taught by industry leaders.

The practical experiences give students the opportunity to work and network in an international organization. Working on actual projects, students get the knowledge, experience and credentials to launch into the next phase of their careers.

Graduate Housing

All graduate students living on campus are housed in either Alba, Airone, or New Building B. 
Please visit the Housing page for more information.

Graduates: Pre-arrival requirements

For those students who have pre-requisite requirements, the certificate of satisfactory course completion must be uploaded to your portal 10 days before your arrival.

*Several fall courses require assignments to be submitted prior to your arrival. Watch for instructions and due dates in emails from the Graduate Studies office.

Write to sdiviani@fus.edu with your arrival itinerary by August 3. Include the arrival airport, airline, flight number, flight arrival time, and approximate time you will arrive on campus for check in on Tuesday, August 16 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Pack your bags

Lugano enjoys continental weather with all four seasons – you will need warm winter clothing, rain gear, and comfortable footwear. In Europe, cobblestone streets are common and in Lugano, there are many wooded paths and green areas. Prepare to dress comfortably in a variety of landscapes and all types of weather. The following list of suggestions is based on what our students usually bring to live in Lugano. Other items such as class materials and cleaning supplies can be purchased in local shops. 

What to Bring

Bring your laptop computer. The campus is spread out, and students can take advantage of our campus-wide wireless network.
Learn more about Information Technology at Franklin

Clothing

  • Casual: jeans, shorts, pants, comfortable shoes
  • Dress*: slacks, sport coat or blazer, tie, skirts and dresses, dress shoes
  • Athletic: sneakers, swimwear, hiking boots, skiwear
  • Winter: warm coat, sweaters, gloves, hats, scarves, boots
  • Rain: raincoat, windbreaker
  • Other: bathrobe, sleepwear, slippers

*Graduate students will need professional attire for various academic activities.

Bed and Bath

  • Bath towel and washcloth - At least one set should be packed in carry-on luggage for use on arrival - additional items can be purchased locally.
  • Toiletries - enough to get started - These can be purchased here.
  • Bed linen, pillow, and blanket - Students will receive information about the opportunity to rent linens from the University before they arrive.

Other Items

  • Travel umbrella
  • Travel alarm clock
  • Backpack, small travel bag, or book bag
  • Camera

Medications

If you need regular medication, the University requires medical documentation from your doctor. We recommend that you bring enough medicine for one month and arrange to see a Swiss physician shortly after your arrival. Swiss pharmacies cannot fill prescriptions from other countries, and some medicine may not be available here: if this is the case, medications will have to be changed or a parent will have to mail them to the student from home. Please allow at least two weeks for medications to arrive by post. Ensure that 'medications' is written on the box, that each bottle is labeled with your name, and that a copy of your prescription is in the package so that the parcel is admitted through customs at the border as efficiently as possible.

Note that some airlines have restrictions on the amount of medication that can be brought on board, so check with your airline for details and have your doctor’s prescription with you when you travel. Medication should be in clearly marked containers with your name on them to avoid confusion at each border crossing. The University requires that certain medications be kept under lock and key in the Office of Student Life and be distributed on a weekly or monthly basis.

What not to Bring

Franklin residences are furnished and most have kitchenettes or a shared kitchen with basic utensils and appliances. Your residence hall will have an oven, stove, and access to a refrigerator either in your apartment or in the common kitchen. The electrical system in Switzerland may be different than the one in your country and may render your appliances unusable or inoperable. Necessary items should be purchased locally.

Please do not bring any of the following items:

  • *Desktop Computer
  • *Electrical appliances
  • *Personal appliances like hair dryers, hair straighteners, trimmers/clippers
  • *Hot plates or kitchen supplies
  • Furniture
  • Multiple packs of toiletry items
  • Pets

* The Swiss electrical system uses 230 volts AC. The U.S. uses 120 volts. Plugging in a lower voltage appliance to a Swiss plug can ruin appliances and electrical outlets.

The Ultimate Packing List

Jessica Oglesby, a Franklin alumna, wrote The Ultimate Packing List, an article with great tips and tricks for what you’ll need here and how best to get it here. You can find this and more helpful information on the Adventures at Franklin blog.

Shipping

If you will be living on campus, you can limit what you have to bring in your luggage by sending parcels by mail. Surface mail is the cheapest way to ship personal items, and boxes generally take between four and eight weeks to get to Lugano from overseas. Thus, if you are starting in the fall semester, send your boxes no later than July 17 to be sure they arrive by late August or early September. 

Please use the second address below for any mail sent after July 17. Packages will not be received at Via Ponte Tresa 6 after August 16, and they will not be delivered to your room.

Items sent before July 17 - The Office of Student Life will deliver these boxes to students' rooms before they arrive.

All parcels must be sent to: 

Your Name and Last Name
c/o Franklin University Switzerland
Via Ponte Tresa 6
6924 Sorengo
Switzerland

Items sent after July 17 - Franklin's Reception will hold packages received after August 16 for students to pick up after they move into their residences.

All parcels must be sent to: 

Your Name and Last Name
c/o Franklin University Switzerland
Via Ponte Tresa 29
6924 Sorengo
Switzerland