Links & factsheets
There are a number of factsheets that can help answer important questions about education and skills development, whether it be vocational or scholastic options. These factsheets also provide links to additional information. You can read these factsheets online or print them out. Take along the factsheets that interest you most to a vocational, educational and career counselling office in your canton of residence.
Each factsheet posted on this webpage has a number assigned to it. This number allows you to find the same factsheet in a different language. By clicking on the link French, for example, you will find a list of the same factsheets with the same numbers, but in French.
Compulsory education
In Switzerland, compulsory education is provided by the different cantons and regulated at a cantonal level. As a result, compulsory education is structured in different ways, depending on the canton. The Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) provides an overview in German, French, Italian, Romansh and English: www.cdip.ch.
Structures scolaires cantonales en Suisse et dans la Principauté du Liechtenstein [PDF, 7.14 MB]
More details on cantonal school systems can also be found on the websites of the cantonal education departments.
- Factsheet 1 Transition from primary school to lower-secondary school [PDF, 62 KB]
Swiss education system
- Factsheet 2a The Swiss education system (diagram) [PDF, 30 KB]
- Factsheet 2 Transition from school to the labour market [PDF, 251 KB]
Vocational education and training (VET)
- Factsheet 3 What is VET? Three learning locations [PDF, 229 KB]
- Factsheet 4 Pre-vocational tasters [PDF, 81 KB]
- Factsheet 5 Aptitude tests [PDF, 400 KB]
- Factsheet 6 Looking for an apprenticeship [PDF, 254 KB]
List of apprenticeship positions
- Factsheet 7 Interviews for apprenticeship positions [PDF, 238 KB]
- Factsheet 8 How to deal with rejection [PDF, 67 KB]
- Factsheet 9 The apprenticeship contract [PDF, 308 KB]
- Factsheet 10 Pre-apprenticeships [PDF, 192 KB]
- Factsheet 11 Doing a job or pursuing a career? [PDF, 119 KB]
General education
- Factsheet 12 The scholastic option [PDF, 97 KB]
Other topics relating to skills development
- Factsheet 13 Education and training costs and financing in Switzerland [PDF, 95 KB]
- Factsheet 14 Recognition of foreign certificates and diplomas [PDF, 310 KB]
- Factsheet 15 Language learning and skills development [PDF, 171 KB]
Information guide
If you would like more detailed information in your language about education and training pathways in Switzerland, illustrated through testimonials from migrants and locals, refer to the guide entitled "What happens after school?"
Information in French
The website orientation.ch offers a great deal of additional information as well as databases on occupations and skills development in Switzerland. This information is available in German, French and Italian. Here are a few important links in German:
- Detailed information on different occupations: Rechercher une profession
- Vocational education and training: Apprentissage
- Academic studies in Switzerland: Hautes écoles
- Learning one of the local languages: Cours de langue