February 20, 2026 · Campus

A breath of fresh air for the Passerelle at HWZ

The Passerelle to the Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Business Administration at HWZ has been refreshed and revised in terms of content, structure, and concept. From autumn 2026, students will benefit from a modernised study model, expanded admission opportunities, and a clear focus on future skills and data competencies.

Titelbild Bachelor Betreibsökonomie Passerelle

The Passerelle – the proven springboard to a bachelor’s degree

The Passerelle is an accelerated, work-compatible degree programme designed for graduates of a higher vocational college (HF) or those with equivalent prior qualifications. It provides direct access to a bachelor's degree within two years – even without a vocational baccalaureate.

With the further development of the Passerelle, we have created a programme that not only advances HF graduates academically, but also enables them to play an active role in shaping change. This opens up new career and development opportunities for students. I am inspired to see how students’ professional experience, combined with academic strength, gives rise to new perspectives.

Helen Vogel, programme director

Depending on their higher education diploma, students follow a study programme tailored to their individual background, which specifically builds on their prior education. This ensures that existing knowledge is appropriately recognised and the course of study is precisely adapted. Further information on this can be found on the website in the section «A study model that fits your schedule».

Modernised and strategically realigned

The most significant changes concern the content structure of the programme. The Passerelle has been modernised, restructured, and further developed in terms of content, with the aim not only of imparting business management knowledge but, above all, of fostering the skills that are crucial in today’s working world. The new focus is on four key areas of competence:

Data Driven Skills provide in-depth skills for working with data. Topics such as statistics, data analytics, AI essentials and academic working methods enable participants to analyse data-driven questions, make informed decisions, and present complex relationships in a clear and comprehensible manner.
The area Future Skills & Innovation Toolkit promotes innovation skills. Agile methods such as Scrum and OKR, along with selected innovation techniques, enable participants to actively shape change and align organisations towards the future.
Personal Effectiveness & Learning Skills strengthen personal effectiveness and learning competence. Topics such as self-leadership, mindfulness, culture, as well as ethics and responsibility in organisations, support individuals in acting reflectively, taking responsibility, and continuously developing themselves.
This is complemented by well-founded Core Skills, which consolidate the foundations of business administration and systematically deepen existing advanced college-level knowledge.

This significantly broadens the profile of the Passerelle: students build on their existing HF knowledge and supplement it with data-driven, innovative and strategic skills, creating a broad, future-oriented foundation of competencies.

Study flexibly – without interrupting your career

Alongside the content realignment, the timetable model has also been revised. The Passerelle now combines supported self-study with targeted on-campus and online phases. This makes it easier than before to balance work and study «without interrupting your career». The revised study model allows for 100 % employment during the first two semesters and up to 90 % in the third and fourth semesters. As a result, obtaining a bachelor’s degree is now even more compatible with demanding professional commitments.

What particularly pleases me is the dynamism created by the new content and the flexible study schedule. The students already bring valuable professional experience with them, and we have the privilege of supporting them in their next stage of development. For me, this combination of practical relevance, future-oriented skills and personal growth makes the Passerelle truly unique.

Marigona Doda, programme administration

Extended Admission and Individual Profile Development

Another important step is the inclusion of additional HF qualifications from business-related fields. This broadens and enhances the appeal of access to the Passerelle. Details of the specific qualifications can be found in the section «Admission».

At the same time, the Passerelle offers opportunities for individualisation. By choosing a major, students can refine their profile in a targeted manner and tailor it to their career goals:

Find out more & register now!

The revised Passerelle will be available in a new format from the start of studies in autumn 2026. Those seeking more detailed information will find all the details on content, structure and admission on the programme page, as well as a testimonial video offering insights into students’ experiences.