Switzerland · Master's
University of St Gallen (HSG)
Master in Strategy and International Management (SIM)
University of St Gallen (HSG)
Course Overview
St Gallen's Master in Strategy and International Management (SIM) has been ranked the world's #1 Masters in Management by the Financial Times for 13 consecutive years (2011-2024). The University of St Gallen (HSG) is Switzerland's leading business and economics university — a public university founded in 1898 — and the SIM cohort is one of the most selective in Europe, with under 80 students per intake selected from 2,500+ applicants.
Sri Lankan applicants with strong analytical bachelor's degrees and consulting / strategy ambitions use SIM as a route into McKinsey, BCG, and Bain — over 60% of SIM graduates enter top-tier strategy consulting at graduation. The 18-month structure: Term 1 + 2 in St Gallen (strategy, corporate finance, international management, leadership); Term 3 abroad at a partner school (Wharton, Tuck, INSEAD, IIM Ahmedabad, NUS, HKUST); Term 4 back at St Gallen for electives + master's thesis. Tuition at HSG is unusually low — CHF 2,200/semester for non-Swiss — making it one of the best value globally-ranked master's available.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree in business / economics / management with strong grades (typically equivalent to a Swiss 5.0/6.0 / first-class).
- check_circle GMAT 680+ recommended (median around 700) or GRE equivalent.
- check_circle Demonstrated leadership through internships, work experience, or extracurricular roles.
- check_circle Two references, CV, motivation essays, video interview, and an HSG Case Study Day for shortlisted candidates.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall (no band below 6.5).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English: C1 Advanced grade B.
- check_circle Waived if your bachelor's degree was taught entirely in English (Sri Lankan applicants qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (CHF) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, non-Swiss) | CHF 4,400 | Rs. 1,628,000 |
| Living Expenses in St Gallen (12 months) | CHF 22,000 | Rs. 8,140,000 |
| Health Insurance & Mandatory Fees | CHF 1,800 | Rs. 666,000 |
| Books, Materials & Exchange Travel | CHF 3,000 | Rs. 1,110,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | CHF 31,200 | Rs. 11,544,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
St Gallen SIM graduates report a median first-job salary of CHF 100,000-120,000 within 3 months. Switzerland's 6-month post-study job-search visa applies; the EU Blue Card opens up after a qualifying offer. Around 60% enter strategy consulting (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Roland Berger), with the remainder split across investment banking (UBS, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan Zurich), tech (Google Zurich, Microsoft Zurich), luxury (LVMH, Richemont — Geneva), and corporate strategy (Nestlé, Roche, Novartis). Sri Lankan returnees route into senior consulting at McKinsey Colombo, EY Strategy, KPMG Strategy, and into corporate strategy roles at John Keells, Dilmah, MAS Holdings, and Hayleys.
Related Programs
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Ready to Start Your Journey?
Our counsellors have helped hundreds of Sri Lankan students secure placements in Switzerland. We handle everything from applications to visa processing — and it starts with a free, in-person visit to one of our three offices.
ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.
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- location_on Rajagiriya (head office) 8th Floor, Jana Jaya City Mall, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
- location_on Jaffna 158 Hospital Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
- location_on Matara No. 474 New Tangalle Road, Matara, Sri Lanka
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