EU Business School vs Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies vs Sustainability Management School - SUMAS vs University of Geneva - UNIGE vs University of Business And International Studies Geneva - UBIS

Side-by-side comparison from 273 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: University of Geneva - UNIGE (4.60)
EU Business School: wins 2/7 categories
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies: wins 0/7 categories
Sustainability Management School - SUMAS: wins 0/7 categories
University of Geneva - UNIGE: wins 4/7 categories
University of Business And International Studies Geneva - UBIS: wins 0/7 categories
International Institute in Geneva: wins 1/7 categories
Geneva School of Diplomacy - GSD: wins 0/7 categories
Comparing
Barcelona, Spain
3.90
Read more reviews
251 reviews
×
Best programme: Business Administration
Best programme: International Affairs
Geneva, Switzerland
4.60
Top
Read more reviews
9 reviews
×
Best programme: Economics and Business
Best programme: International Relations
Category ratings
Facilities
4.04
3.17
1.33
4.22
Win
Not rated
3.00
2.00
Location
4.73
Win
4.00
2.00
4.20
Not rated
3.00
2.67
Professors
4.04
4.17
3.33
4.44
Win
Not rated
4.00
3.33
Internationality
4.72
4.00
3.33
4.78
Not rated
5.00
Win
4.67
Student life
4.22
Win
2.12
1.00
4.11
Not rated
4.00
2.33
Value
3.87
3.15
1.33
4.78
Win
Not rated
3.00
2.00
Accommodation
3.42
2.82
1.00
4.25
Win
Not rated
4.00
2.50
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Helpful professors and career support
  • +Valuable practical and theoretical business knowledge
  • +Enriching overall student experience
  • +Strong academic programs with interdisciplinary focus
  • +Excellent professors and practical knowledge
  • +High reputation and valuable networking opportunities
  • +Engaging and knowledgeable instructors
  • +Relevant and practical course content
  • +Supportive and collaborative learning environment
  • +Multicultural environment and diverse colleagues
  • +High-quality faculty with industry experience and strong academic reputation
  • +Practical career preparation and enhanced job opportunities

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  • +Experienced and accessible professors from diverse backgrounds.
  • +Extensive industry connections and career opportunities.
Cons
  • -Administrative and management issues cause disorganization and lack of support.
  • -Outdated facilities and a focus on attendance over quality education are criticized.
  • -The educational program is perceived as basic and unaccredited in some regions.
  • -Excessive tuition fees and poor value for money.
  • -Ineffective and insensitive administrative and support services.
  • -Unprofessional and judgmental staff.
  • -Administrative and management issues are prevalent.
  • -Lack of transparency in grading and unresponsiveness to student concerns.
  • -The school's accreditation and recognition are questionable.
  • -Students dislike administrative and management issues.
  • -Poorly maintained and outdated facilities are a common complaint.
  • -Many students feel there is a lack of career support and networking opportunities.

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  • -Overpriced and low value for money.
  • -Unqualified or unmotivated professors.
  • -Unreliable administration and accreditation issues.
Rating summary
What students say

This institution excels in several key areas, with Location and Internationality receiving the highest marks at 4.73. Student Life also scores well at 4.22. Conversely, Accomodation stands out as the weakest area, scoring 3.42, suggesting room for improvement. Facilities and Professors are rated consistently around 4.04, while Value sits at a respectable 3.87.

Academic excellence stands out, with a high rating for professors. Location and internationality also received positive marks. However, student life and accommodation were identified as areas needing improvement, indicated by lower scores. Facilities and overall value fall somewhere in the middle, suggesting a mixed but generally positive perception of the university's offerings.

Overall, the university presents a mixed performance across various aspects. The strongest areas are the professors and internationality, both receiving a solid 3.33 rating. In contrast, student life and accommodation are the weakest points, scoring a low 1. However, facilities and value also lag behind with scores of 1.33, while location sits at a moderate 2.

An analysis of university ratings reveals a strong international focus and exceptional value, both scoring very high. The institution also excels in the quality of its professors. Among the surveyed aspects, student life received the lowest, though still positive, rating. Facilities and accommodation were also rated favorably, indicating a well-rounded student experience.

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This institution excels in internationality, receiving a score of 4.67. Conversely, its facilities and value for money are areas needing improvement, both scoring a low 2. Professors, location, and student life fall into the mid-range, with accommodation also receiving a moderate rating.

Reviews summary
Highlights

Around 74% of reviews are positive, praising professors, career services, and valuable skills gained. The remaining ~7.6% of feedback expresses concerns about disorganization and the quality of education.

With a 3/5 average rating, reviews show ~33% negative feedback. Positive comments highlight theoretical/practical knowledge and reputation, while negative feedback points to high tuition and unhelpful administrative support.

All three reviews are negative (100%), with an average rating of 1/5. Recurring themes include unrecognized degrees, poor administration with unresponsiveness and lack of transparency in grading, and disorganized, unprofessional management.

All 9 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.56/5. Students highlight multicultural environments, well-organized programs, and knowledgeable professors who are experts in their fields. The curriculum prepares students well for the job market.

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With an average rating of 2/5, approximately 67% of reviews are negative. While one positive review highlights great professors and networking opportunities, negative feedback focuses on the program being overpriced and underdelivered, with unaccredited degrees and issues with transcripts.

Rating distribution
5★
27%
17%
0%
56%
0%
0%
0%
4★
45%
17%
0%
44%
0%
0%
33%
3★
21%
33%
0%
0%
0%
100%
0%
2★
4%
17%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1★
4%
17%
100%
0%
0%
0%
67%
Most useful review
Most liked
Student-Staff relationship

As far as universities go I think EU business school comes first in terms of student-staff relationship. Every member of the staff I have encountered has been more than helpful. What i think should improve as even tho its not connected to my previous point is I think the school should have more leniency towards tuition payment specially to international students because we are here despite the challenges of having to find willing banks to exchange local currencies to Euros.

Scam for students of the global south - beware

The Graduate Institute Geneva (IHEID) is one of the worst educational institutions in Switzerland. It's important to dive into the specifics as to why. When it comes to a master’s degree in Switzerland, tuition ranges from 500–2,000 Swiss francs, however, IHEID charges foreign students a whopping 8,000 Swiss francs. While you may argue that American universities charge more and so therefore this is a bargain, you would be dumbfounded to experience some of the educational conditions in comparison to American universities. • Scholarships: For over a decade, IHEID has shown no transparency on its scholarships. At this point, it can be assumed that something terribly wrong is going on behind the scene, as they have refused to show how many scholarship packages are provided but have justified an increase in tuition in this manner. IHEID has been audited by so many governmental agencies it reeks of fraudulent governance. The institute has been financially audited, its governance has been audited, even its sexual harassment mechanism has been audited. • Student Representation: The Institute has been called out for a lack of student involvement for years, going far as appearing in front of state officials to plead their case. It is clear however that the new director enjoys this level of student participation as she cancelled her meetings with the student association for over 3 months this past 2021 summer, to punish them, for an article that was written in the independent student press. She has called members of the association intimidating and harassing when they have advocated for better housing services. The trauma some members of the association have faced has pushed them into depression, and psychotic breaks. Alumni of the association have experienced these tactics throughout generations and is an integral part of the IHEID student association experience. • Sexual and Moral Harassment: IHEID Senior administrators have been accused of sexual harassment for over ten years, while the directrice herself has recently been accused of intimidating and threatening members of the Student Association, IHEID student journalists and independent advocates. IHEID’s most valuable asset isn't its students, but its reputation and anyone that attempts to bring anything to light is disposable. As a 2014 article states, if you do not like the Institute, you can leave”. • Career Services: As a foreign student, Switzerland is a distinctively difficult country to migrate to. You are effectively competing against the Swiss/permanent residents, and then Europeans as they are legally prioritized in terms of visas. Unless you are in one of those situations, your status will be considered a third-country national (Asians, Africans, Americans). How is it them that career services only have 1–2 people on staff for a 1000 student institution? Furthermore, the IHEID does not recognize institutional racism, and it, therefore, does not provide resistance techniques to counter these policies. • No skill-based centres: Where American universities may have writing centres, IHEID does not make any effort to close the academic gap between students whose language isn't English or may have studied in another language in their bachelors. You also do not have any math, Econ, or stats centre to gain help or tutoring when needed. • The Interdisciplinary program: Additionally, if you happened to have chosen the Masters in International Development, you will soon notice that you are actually not learning much. The quality of the core courses is far below the quality promised. Essentially, you are buying a degree and you do not need to invest too much time or effort into your courses. It is also not expected; Professors in the Interdisciplinary program do not connect with you in the same way other program professors do. Actually, the program is referred to as the Cash Cow of the Institute by professors themselves. This program will not teach you IR concepts, the bare minimum of political science, such as you would in a government 101 class. ○ Students Background: Since there are no IR or Policy sci requirements to enter this program, your peers can have studied biology or English literature. This will impact the level of academic rigour you will be exposed to. • Teaching Assistants: Their salaries have not been increased in over 7 years. When they sign their contracts they are not shown internal regulations or teaching staff regulations. They are not only the least paid in the entire country when recently told they may get a raise, but their social benefits such as unemployment are also significantly reduced. The manner in which they are treated those not encourage master students to rely on them for academic support. IHEID’s priority is to build its reputation on the backs of students, particularly students of diversity. The Institute counts on students’ ties with the institution to avoid improving its services. As a student whose visa is associated with the school, I am less likely to revolt. The same can be said for students under scholarships, or employed by it. It is a terrible place to conduct one’s study and I would not recommend it to my worst enemy. Below are some of the articles written that convey the previous facts: particularly the latest developments regarding the ongoing movement; No more silencing students.

A recent drop out

1. Kindly note, it is a registered private school only, but the degrees are school-issued, not officially recognized Swiss university degrees. They are relying on the entry-tier US accreditor ACBSP itself, which is well below AACSB/EQUIS/AMBA/HEdA accreditation. So please do not be confused thinking it is a proper Swiss university. 2. Actually the school is more like a small company only, having less than 5 staff members on site. And one thing I must tell, before enrollment they are very friendly, but after joining the friendliness is finishing. 3. In the classes there are hardly 5 students at master's and bachelor's level, and many times nobody is even coming to the campus. On top of that, the teachers/staffs seemed to get fired in the middle of the semester itself. 4. One more important thing , the grades are coming from the the founder or staffs directly, very subjective and no transparency at all. The professors are not even having the right to decide the final grade!! How can this be acceptable, I am asking? 5. Now they have started selling online courses also. So I will not be surprised if one fine day they are closing the campus fully and doing only online business.

Challenging but worth it

It is true that a diploma from a Swiss university isn't easy to get, but it is totally profitable. First, this program gives us opportunities to meet prestigious Swiss businessmen and businesswomen. Plus our professors are well-known and are the best in their domain. With a diploma from UNIGE, we have a career assured, especially if we want to work in Switzerland (one of the countries with the highest wages), but also internationally. Our university is located in the international city of Geneva, we can enjoy the little but pleasant student life with students from all around the world.

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