THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN SWITZERLAND

Thứ Ba - 16/12/2025

Swiss education is highly diverse because the Swiss Constitution assigns the responsibility of managing the education system to the cantons. The system includes both public and private schools, including many international private schools. The minimum age for entering primary school is 6 across all cantons, although most allow children to attend kindergarten from age 4 or 5. Primary school continues for 4, 5, or 6 additional years depending on the school. As a rule, the first foreign language taught is one of the other national languages, although in 2000 English was chosen as the first foreign language in several cantons.

After primary school, students are separated into different groups (usually three) based on their academic abilities. The most advanced students are placed in higher-level classes to prepare for further study and the Matura, while slower learners receive training suited to their needs.

There are 12 universities in Switzerland, 10 of which are run at the cantonal level and usually offer disciplines outside engineering. The first Swiss university was established in Basel in 1460 (initially only with a medical faculty), and Switzerland has a long-standing tradition of excellence in chemistry and medicine. The largest university in the country is the University of Zurich, with nearly 25,000 students. Two research institutes are funded by the federal government: ETH Zurich (founded in 1855) and EPFL in Lausanne (established in 1969 from an institute formerly part of the University of Lausanne). Both institutions are internationally renowned.

Primary school

Compulsory schooling typically includes primary education and lower secondary education. Before this, children often attend kindergarten, although it is not mandatory. The minimum age for entering primary school is 6 for all cantons except Obwalden, where the minimum age is 5 years and 3 months. Thurgau and Nidwalden accept 5-year-old students in special cases. Students have the right to choose which school to attend, but placement usually depends on whether they speak French, German, or Italian.

Secondary education

At the end of primary school (or the beginning of lower secondary school), students are separated according to their academic performance and career interests into several groups (usually three). Those intending to pursue academic studies enter upper secondary school (known as Kantonsschule or Gymnasium), preparing them for higher education and the Matura (to enter these programs, students must complete 12 or 13 years of schooling at age 18/19). Students planning to study commerce or tourism typically complete only three years before entering vocational programs regulated by federal law and based on cooperation between private industries and public schools, which require supplementary compulsory courses in career-oriented education.

This is known as the “dual system”, which separates academic and vocational education, and the structure continues into higher education. Students in the academic track may graduate from secondary school and proceed directly to university without entrance exams, while vocational graduates advance to practical-level programs, technical college, or Höhere Fachschule. According to PISA, 15-year-old Swiss students rank 16th out of 57 countries in scientific literacy.

At the secondary level, several models of schools and teaching methods exist. Some cantons define specific structures, while others allow local districts to choose their models.

Streaming model

Students are placed into schools according to their academic levels. This structure is based on grouping students with similar ability levels. Typically, there are two or three school types (four in a few cantons). In the 2-track model, divisions are between basic-level requirements and advanced-level requirements. In the 3-track model, divisions consist of basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. The advanced group has the highest demands and usually leads to university-preparatory schools.

Cooperative model

In this system, main classes are combined with subject-specific grouping based on ability. Each student is placed in a main class but attends certain subjects in streamed groups (which means main classes are mixed during these sessions).

Integrated model

This system does not separate schools or main classes. Students of different ability levels learn together in the same class, and this mixed arrangement is maintained across subjects.

Higher education

Access to higher education depends on the program followed in secondary school. For students completing the academic track, university study is the most common pathway. Students who followed vocational paths may obtain advanced vocational diplomas or Höhere Fachschule qualifications. Switzerland ranks second in the world for the percentage of international students enrolled in higher education, after Australia.

There are 14 public universities in Switzerland, 10 of which belong to the cantons and primarily teach non-technical subjects. The remaining 4 are managed by the Swiss Confederation and are known as the “Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology.”

Switzerland is famous for its high-quality business and hospitality-tourism-hotel management education. The International Institute for Management Development (St. Gallen) is among the world’s leading universities and business schools for MBA programs. You may also refer to the list of hospitality and tourism schools in Switzerland.

Education rankings

In 1995, Switzerland participated in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). TIMSS is an international evaluation that measures mathematics and science achievement among 4th- and 8th-grade students worldwide, developed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). In 1995, Switzerland was one of 41 participating countries, although it did not participate in subsequent rounds. Among these 41 countries, Switzerland ranked 15th overall, 8th in mathematics, and 25th in science.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), using TIMSS evaluations for 12 countries, results were similar. Swiss students who completed secondary school or studied in Gymnasium, general culture programs, teacher-training schools, or advanced vocational programs scored as follows:

Mathematics: 540 points (global average 500), ranking 3rd out of 21;
Science: 523 points, ranking 8th out of 21;
Physics: 488 points (global average 501), ranking 9th out of 16;
Advanced mathematics: 533 points, ranking 3rd out of 16.

According to the Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum 2010-2011, Switzerland ranked first overall. In pillar 5 of the report, Higher Education and Training, Swiss students scored 5.79, ranking 4th among participating countries.

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