University of St. Gallen facts for kids
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Universität St. Gallen
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| Motto | From insight to impact |
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| Type | Public |
| Established | May 25, 1898 |
| Budget | CHF 251.3 million (2019) |
| President | Manuel Ammann |
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Academic staff
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105 professors (2019) 73 assistant professors (2019) |
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Administrative staff
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3,335 |
| Students | 9,047 (2020) |
| Undergraduates | 4,952 (2020) |
| Postgraduates | 3,443 (2020) |
| 617 (2020) | |
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Other students
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35 (2020) |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | Urban (Rosenberg hill) |
| Newspapers | HSG Focus, Prisma |
| Colors | Green, White and Black |
| Affiliations | CEMS, APSIA, EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA, Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs |
| Website | www.unisg.ch |
The University of St. Gallen (often called HSG) is a top university in St. Gallen, Switzerland. It's known for its excellent programs in business, economics, law, international affairs, and computer science. The university was started in 1898.
HSG is one of the best business schools in Europe. Even though it's one of Switzerland's smaller universities, it has the largest group of business teachers in the country. It's also part of important international groups like CEMS and APSIA. The university's campus is even considered a special national heritage site in Switzerland.
University History: How it Started
Early Years and Growth (1800s-1900s)
In May 1898, the local government of St. Gallen decided to create a school. This school would teach about trade, business, and how to manage things. It started giving classes in 1899, making it one of the first schools of its kind in the world.
In 1911, the school changed its name to Handels-Hochschule. Later, in 1939, it gained the right to give out doctoral degrees. This meant students could earn the highest level of education there.
In 1963, the university moved to new buildings. It also changed its name again to Hochschule für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften. The new buildings were designed for 900 students. However, by the end of 1963, more than 1,150 students were already enrolled!
The university added a law department in 1978. By 1989, a new library building opened, and over 3,900 students were attending. In 1994, the school was officially renamed Universität St. Gallen, which means University of St. Gallen. The short name HSG stayed the same.
Recent Changes and Updates
In 2001, the University of St. Gallen updated its study programs. It was one of the first universities in Switzerland to offer bachelor's and master's degrees. This change helped students move more easily between universities in Europe.
In 2005, the university opened its Executive School. This school offers special programs for adults who are already working, like MBA degrees. Around the same time, the people of St. Gallen voted to renovate and expand the university. This big project updated the buildings from the 1960s and improved the school's facilities.
Exploring the Campus
The University of St. Gallen is located on Rosenberg Hill. From here, you can see the old town of St. Gallen and the beautiful Alpstein mountains. The campus is famous for how it combines art with its buildings. The area around the university is great for outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, climbing, and sailing.
The Main Building, designed by Walter Foerderer, is a great example of 1960s architecture. It features many artworks as part of its design. The Library Building, opened in 1989, also has many artworks that fit with its unique style. You can find works by famous artists like Arp, Miró, Calder, and Giacometti on campus.
In 1995, a special center for conferences and executive education opened near the main campus. It was expanded in 2007 and has many rooms for meetings and learning. The university also has international centers in Singapore and São Paulo. These centers help connect students, teachers, and businesses around the world.
In 2019, people in St. Gallen approved building another campus in the city. This new campus will make space for 3,000 more students and is planned to open in 2027.
In February 2022, the new HSG Learning Center "SQUARE" opened. This building is a modern place for students and teachers to learn and work together. It was built with money from over 800 donors.
What Students Study
Schools and Research
The University of St. Gallen has five main schools:
- School of Management (SoM-HSG)
- School of Finance (SoF-HSG)
- Law School (LS-HSG)
- School of Economics and Political Science (SEPS-HSG)
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS-HSG)
Even though programs are linked to a specific school, teachers from different schools often work together. The Executive School (ES-HSG) is a special part of the university. It offers MBA and other advanced programs for professionals.
The university also has about 40 institutes and research centers. These centers help connect what students learn in class with real-world problems. They also help young academics grow in their careers. Many professors and lecturers work at the university, sharing their knowledge with students.
Study Programs and Degrees
Since 2001, the university has offered Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral degrees. This system is part of the Bologna Process, which makes degrees similar across Europe.
Since 2013, all bachelor's students start with an "Assessment Year." This year helps students decide what they want to specialize in. They can choose to study in German or English. After this year, students can pick one of five main subjects for their bachelor's degree:
- Business Administration
- Economics
- International Affairs
- Law
- Law and Economics
Many master's and doctoral programs are taught in English. Students can also get double degrees with other universities around the world, like Bocconi University or HEC Paris.
University Rankings
The University of St. Gallen is highly ranked, especially for its business programs. Here are some of its recent rankings:
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT – European Business School | 5th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 7th | 6th | 5th |
| FT – Master in Management (HSG Program) | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | |
| The Economist – Master in Management | - | 5th | - | 2nd | - | ||
| FT – Master in Management (CEMS Program) | N/A* | 9th | 9th | 8th | 13th | ||
| FT – Master in Finance | 8th | 10th | 6th | 6th | |||
| FT – Master of Business Administration (MBA) | 60th | 59th | 60th | 69th | 68th | 64th | |
| The Economist – Master of Business Administration (MBA) | - | - | - | 92nd | - | 53rd | |
| FT – Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) | 46th | 45th | 55th | 44th | 47th | ||
| FT – Executive Education – Open | 38th | 28th | 28th | 24th | 26th |
*In 2016, CEMS chose not to be part of the yearly FT Ranking. The program returned in 2017 at 9th place.
Student Life and Activities
About 25% of the students at the University of St. Gallen come from other countries. This is a limit set by the government.
There are around 130 student clubs at HSG! One very well-known club is the International Students' Committee. This group organizes the yearly St. Gallen Symposium. Since 1970, this event has brought together important leaders from business, science, and politics with students from all over the world.
AIESEC St. Gallen is another club that helps students find international internships. The Helvetian Investment Club is the largest club at HSG, with over 1,450 members. It focuses on careers in finance. DocNet is a large club for doctoral students, with more than 600 members. They organize an annual DocNet Management Symposium.
Other clubs include sports clubs, cultural groups, and associations for students from different countries or regions. There are also clubs related to specific subjects taught at the university.
HSG Alumni is the official group for former students. With over 19,000 members and 80 clubs worldwide, it's one of Europe's biggest alumni groups. They help former students stay connected to the university and to each other through events and information.
Famous People from HSG
Many successful people have studied or taught at the University of St. Gallen.
Notable Alumni
Some famous alumni in the financial world include:
- Paul Achleitner, Chairman of Deutsche Bank
- Josef Ackermann, former CEO of Deutsche Bank
- Martin Blessing, former CEO of Commerzbank
- Walter Kielholz, Honorary Chairman of Swiss Re
- Peter Wuffli, former CEO of UBS
- Valentin Stalf, current CEO and founder of N26
Business leaders in other areas who attended HSG include:
- Ola Källenius, CEO of Daimler AG
- Nick Hayek, Jr., CEO of Swatch Group
- Ulf Mark Schneider, CEO of Nestlé
- Peter Fankhauser, former CEO of Thomas Cook Group
In politics, notable alumni include:
- Christoffel Brändli, a Swiss politician
- Prince Hans-Adam II, the leader of Liechtenstein
- Hans-Rudolf Merz, a Swiss politician
- Adrian Hasler, former Prime Minister of Liechtenstein
- Klaus Tschütscher, former Prime Minister of Liechtenstein
Faculty and Staff
Important people who have taught or worked at the University of St. Gallen include:
- Juliane Kokott, a judge at the European Union's highest court.
- Miriam Meckel, a professor of corporate communication.
- Sir Peter Jonas, an art director.
- Walter Hunziker, who helped develop the study of tourism.
- Ota Šik, an economics professor and a key figure in the Prague Spring.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de San Galo para niños
- List of largest universities by enrollment in Switzerland
- List of modern universities in Europe (1801–1945)
