The university celebrated its 60th year in 2008

The school which today is known as the University of Applied Sciences at Changins (in French: "Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Changins") was created in 1948. The French-speaking cantons with Bern and Ticino wanted to develop an institution of higher learning in viticulture, arboriculture and oenology. They set up a foundation which remains responsible today for the UAS Changins. The university was established at Montagibert, north of Lausane, but it moved in 1975 to Changins, on the site of the federal agronomic research station (Agroscope-Changins-Wädenswil), with which the school has had close ties since its beginnings.

Viticulture, arboriculture and professional oenology

The professions of winemaker and arborist are generally easily understood, but that of oenologist remains a mystery for many people. The job of an oenologist is to make wines of the best possible quality while respecting natural biological processes and using the grapes that are available in a manner that shows them at their best. UAS Changins has always insisted on the need for oenologists to have a very strong viticulture base. The educational programme has been developed with this in mind.

The three schools

The University of Applied Sciences at Changins is made up of three distinct and separate schools:

• The Specialized School: viticulture, arboriculture, oenology
• The University of Applied Sciences (HES): advanced degree in oenology (Universities of Applied Science of Western Switzerland)
• The Wine School: continuing education open to all – oenology, viticulture, wine tasting, wine service.

Detailed information on our “Programmes” pages.