The Swiss education system explained
Select your language
Generated with artificial intelligence.
Listening:
The Swiss education system explained
Ever wondered how the Swiss education system works? Then this graphic is for you.
Swiss compulsory education, which includes kindergarten, primary, and lower secondary school, lasts for 11 years. After this, students typically choose between general education or vocational education and training, as shown below.
In many cantons, students aged 14-15 face a big choice after lower secondary school. About two-thirds choose vocational trainingExternal link. They train on the job and attend vocational school 1-2 days a week. This system is highly regarded internationally and is known as the gold standard of vocational training.
People taking the vocational training route can also make a great and successful career. Former apprentices have risen to lead major banks or even the country – look at current Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.
University track
Some quarters pressure children to pursue the general education route for prestige reasons. Most pupils on this track attend a Swiss high school and take the Swiss Baccalaureate, which prepares them for university. High schools generally have tougher entry requirements. In some cantons, children can apply to high school earlier, around age 12, allowing them to complete both lower and upper secondary education at a high school.
Students can take the Specialised Baccalaureate in certain areas like healthcare, teaching, and the arts. This is a hybrid between academic and vocational education.
Swiss education after secondary school: Complicated but flexible
After this level, things get more complicated. But the system is flexible.
After vocational training and diplomas, you can move on to higher vocational training, as shown in the graphic. This is a Swiss speciality that is less known abroad. It provides advanced skills and management training.
More
Switzerland seeks international recognition for those with vocational skills
From vocational to academic
If you do a Federal Vocational Baccalaureate, you can also go on to the university track. This gets you into the Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences, which is more industry-oriented. If you take an additional exam called “passerelle,” you can go to an academic university.
The general education track prepares you for university, but only the Swiss Baccalaureate gets you directly into any academic university in the country.
The Swiss system is flexible. As shown in the graphic (via the grey lines), you can move between vocational and general education with a bit of extra study to suit your career. This is what Emmen’s local councillor Brahim Aakti did. You can read more about his pathway in our 2019 archive article.
More
Can you study after an apprenticeship?
Edited by Virginie Mangin
More
What you didn’t know about psychiatry and Switzerland
More
How to vote from abroad as a Swiss citizen
More
Swiss Reddit study on fake news stirs ethics debate
More
Feline felons: The issue with Switzerland’s free-roaming cats
More
A call for ‘the courage to keep fighting for peace’ in Colombia
More
How a Swiss fund helps Global South artists connect with rest of the world
More
The Swiss mega-project to transport freight underground
More
The Swiss militia principle – what’s it all about?
More
‘Collegiality’ – a concept at the heart of Swiss governance
More
Everything you need to know to organize your move abroad
More
Artificial intelligence explained
More
Why Freddie Mercury hated then loved Montreux
More
How Swiss federalism emerged and shapes the nation
More
Truth or tale: does Switzerland send its unusable old cars to Africa?
More
What you need to know to get a job abroad
More
What does a ‘dignified death’ mean to you?
More
The consequences of cuts to Swiss foreign aid
More
Lost stem cells: the scandal of a Swiss cord blood bank
More
What World Glacier Day is all about
More
Why it’s so hard to be a working woman in Switzerland
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.