79 students have successfully completed their Bachelor’s degree at the Department of Social Work at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Three graduates can look forward to receiving their Master’s degree. Particularly pleasing: the first 30 nursing graduates from HSLU are celebrating their graduation.
The Department of Social Work at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts celebrated its graduates at two graduation ceremonies: on February 13, 2026 at the Verkehrshaus for Social Work and on February 20, 2026 at the new "Perron" building on Walter-von-Moos-Promenade for Nursing. A total of 82 graduates received their diplomas.
Premiere for nursing degree program
A special milestone: the 30 nursing graduates are the first to complete a nursing degree at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. They all already had a diploma from a university of applied sciences (HF) and were therefore able to complete the shortened Bachelor’s degree course. "These first 30 graduates are an important step, as we will need around 400 to 450 additional nurses with a degree from a university of applied sciences in Central Switzerland by 2029. Our graduates are making a direct contribution to closing this gap," emphasizes Annette Dietrich, Head of Education at the Department of Social Work.
The Bachelor’s degree program in Nursing was offered for the first time in autumn 2024; until then, Central Switzerland was the only region in Switzerland without its own training program for nursing at university of applied sciences level. Graduates are now ideally qualified for demanding nursing tasks such as caring for intensive care patients, supporting people in palliative situations or caring for patients with chronic wounds, whether in hospitals, home care or long-term care facilities.
Social work with proven fields of study
In addition, 23 Bachelor’s graduates from the Department of Social Work chose to specialize in social work, 18 in social pedagogy and 8 in socioculture. After graduating, they work as social workers, social pedagogues or socio-cultural animators, for example in social services, advice centers, child and adult protection, socio-pedagogical institutions, schools or neighborhood and cultural meeting places.
A further three graduates received their Master’s degree in Social Work. The Master’s degree program provides in-depth knowledge of the political, economic and social aspects of social work.
First graduation ceremony in the new "Perron" building
The graduation ceremony for the nursing graduates took place in the new "Perron" building on Walter-von-Moos-Promenade. Together with Zentralstrasse 9, the building forms the Lucerne Railway Station campus and has been a place of teaching, research and work for around 400 employees and 3,000 students from the Departments of Business and Social Work since the spring semester of 2026.
More information about the new building
