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 guidance 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 German, for example, you will find a list of the same factsheets with the same numbers, but in German.
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: edk.ch.
Kantonale Schulstrukturen in der Schweiz und im Fürstentum 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, 97 KB]
Swiss education system
- Factsheet 2a The Swiss education system (diagram) [PDF, 30 KB]
- Factsheet 2 Transition from school to the labour market [PDF, 180 KB]
Vocational education and training (VET)
- Factsheet 3 What is VET? Three learning locations [PDF, 197 KB]
- Factsheet 4 Pre-vocational tasters [PDF, 142 KB]
- Factsheet 4a Getting initial exposure to the world of work [PDF, 597 KB]
- Factsheet 5 Aptitude tests [PDF, 188 KB]
- Factsheet 6 Looking for an apprenticeship [PDF, 132 KB]
List of apprenticeship positions
- Factsheet 7 Interviews for apprenticeship positions [PDF, 174 KB]
- Factsheet 8 How to deal with rejection [PDF, 116 KB]
- Factsheet 9 The apprenticeship contract [PDF, 359 KB]
- Factsheet 10 Pre-apprenticeships [PDF, 126 KB]
- Factsheet 11 Doing a job or pursuing a career? [PDF, 139 KB]
General education
- Factsheet 12 The scholastic option [PDF, 129 KB]
Other topics relating to skills development
- Factsheet 13 Education and training costs and financing in Switzerland [PDF, 122 KB]
- Factsheet 14 Recognition of foreign certificates and diplomas [PDF, 158 KB]
- Factsheet 15 Language learning and skills development [PDF, 107 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 German
The website berufsberatung.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: Berufe suchen
- Vocational education and training: Lehre und Lehrstellen
- Academic studies in Switzerland: Hochschulen
- Learning one of the local languages: Sprachkurse