Introduction
For almost four decades, the Study Center Gerzensee has been offering a course program of continuing education for central bank economists. Since 1986, staff representing more than one hundred and fifty monetary authorities have participated in our courses. With our course program, we endeavour to offer a combination of academic rigor and central bank practice in areas ranging from macroeconomics, monetary economics, financial economics, to international finance. To do so, the Study Center also provides a unique environment for the on-campus interaction between central bankers and academics.
Relying on proven parts of our program and introducing innovations in terms of launching new topics, inviting cutting-edge researchers, and considering new teaching methods, we strive to offer courses of first-order importance to central banks. At the Study Center, we are honoured by the global recognition that our courses receive each year. Our Central Bankers Courses target two groups: First, for mid-level managers, we offer courses, which cover a broad range of key central banking topics at an introductory to intermediate level. These courses are designed for central bank staff with a background in economics or a related field and the ambition to study current economic and financial issues in depth, understand related theory, and get to know new statistical methods and tools. Second, we offer courses for analysts and research economists on specialized topics at an intermediate to advanced level.
Program
A typical course day includes classroom lectures of three hours and exercise review sessions. Participants collaborate in small groups, benefiting from the Center’s excellent infrastructure and the diverse background of their peers. Guest speakers from the Swiss National Bank or the Bank for International Settlements as well as weekend excursions to nearby tourist attractions complement the academic program. In 2026, the Study Center offers six Central Bankers Courses. Read more about the upcoming program 2026.
Funding and Organization
The courses are free of charge. The Center covers the cost of a single room with full board and the cost of the organized excursions. For information about the hotel services, see the website of the Study Center’s hotel (www.hotelschlossgerzensee.com). The restaurant offers meat, fish, and vegetarian meals and caters to special diets. The monetary authority sponsoring the participant covers travel expenses to and from Switzerland (Bern). It assures that the participant holds insurance, which fully covers medical and hospital expenses in Switzerland in case of illness or accident. Participants are responsible to obtain visas for their entire trip including transit destinations. No accompanying persons are admitted.
Admission
The Study Center invites central banks to nominate at most one candidate per course. As space is limited, the Study Center can unfortunately not admit all qualified nominees. Repeat nominations are welcome but nominees who previously attended a Central Bankers Course cannot be considered again. Nominees must be fluent in English and proficient in mathematics at the high school level at a minimum. They must hold a BA, MA, or PhD degree in economics or a related field, depending o the type of the course. A nominee's job responsibilities should relate to the course topic.
With the nomination, the sponsoring institution certifies that the nominee, if accepted:
- will receive leave of absence with regular pay for the duration of the course
- will be given no duties or assignments that might impede his/her participation
- is under obligation to attend the entire course
- is fluent in English and proficient in mathematics
- will cover his/her travel expenses
- has adequate insurance coverage