Which way is mine?
After the ninth school year, young people have many options open to them . They can transfer to a secondary school or immerse themselves in the world of work through an apprenticeship. The most important educational programmes at a glance.
After secondary school, young people head off in very different directions. But the paths soon converge again - and what's more, they intersect and branch out into a wide range of training and further education opportunities.
It is therefore important to devote your full attention to these first three or four years on your personal career path, in the knowledge that all options are still open afterwards. From carpenter to physiotherapist? No problem! From health specialist to teacher? Why not! With the Matura into an agricultural apprenticeship? That's also possible.
Apprenticeship EFZ
A vocational apprenticeship is the tried and tested route for anyone who wants to start their career straight away and prove themselves in the adult world. You work three to four days a week at the training company, while one or two days are spent at vocational school learning the theory of the profession and important lessons in general education. The classic apprenticeship lasts three or four years and leads to a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ).
School-based apprenticeships are unusual in Switzerland, and yet there are hundreds on offer. Some are called training workshops. Individual professions such as watchmaking or violin making can only be learnt in specialised schools.
EBA certificate apprenticeship
In many professions, there is a two-year, practice-orientated certificate apprenticeship for young people who are less strong at school. The Swiss Federal Vocational Certificate (EBA) entitles apprentices who perform well in their apprenticeship to continue it up to the EFZ. EBA graduates enter the second year of the EFZ apprenticeship. It therefore takes four or five years to obtain the EFZ if you start with an EBA apprenticeship.
Pre-apprenticeship
Young people whose skills are not yet sufficient for an EBA or EFZ apprenticeship can complete a one-year pre-apprenticeship in certain professions and companies. After this, they have access to an EBA or EFZ apprenticeship - often in the same company.
Many people appreciate the fact that they have learnt their profession from the ground up.
Vocational baccalaureate
Those who complete their apprenticeship with a vocational baccalaureate go to school half a day to a whole day more per week and can start studying at a university of applied sciences straight after their apprenticeship. Over the course of their careers, many appreciate the fact that they learnt their trade from the ground up, for example by working as a bricklayer on a building site before becoming a civil engineer. In addition, students who have completed an apprenticeship can pursue a well-paid job at any time.
In order to be able to complete a vocational baccalaureate during the apprenticeship, the training company must agree - not everyone is equally open to this. Some point out that the additional lessons leave less time for practical learning in the company. In most cantons, an entrance examination is mandatory. The vocational baccalaureate or another type of baccalaureate can also be taken after the apprenticeship via an adult course or distance learning programme.
Secondary school
The grammar school, middle school or cantonal school is the route for those who enjoy going to school. It is also the right choice for those who want to study at university later on, as well as those who need more time to find out where they want to go. However, even if secondary school is the path of least resistance for some, it is demanding: you have to learn a lot of material in various subjects, and at certain times one exam follows another. Secondary school is an exciting and challenging path to an intellectually demanding professional life - but it is not the only one.
Secondary technical school
An interesting middle ground between grammar school and vocational training are specialised secondary schools, which have a thematic focus and are designed for a university of applied sciences degree in the respective field. At three years, the path to a specialised baccalaureate is one year shorter than that to a grammar school baccalaureate. Secondary technical schools are available in the fields of health, social work, education, communication and IT, design and art, music/dance/theatre and applied psychology. In some cantons, there are intermediate business schools that offer a full-time commercial apprenticeship with a vocational baccalaureate.
Bridging programmes and interim solutions
If it becomes apparent that a young person will not be able to find an apprenticeship or gain admission to a secondary school, they and their parents should apply for a bridging programme in good time, i.e. before the spring holidays. This is not an emergency solution, but a sensible supplement to be able to start an apprenticeship or secondary school one year after compulsory schooling. The tenth school year can serve as a vocational preparation year, a career choice year or as preparation for secondary school. Other options for the first year after upper secondary school are the home economics year, the social year, the design preparatory course, the preparatory year for medical professions, the commercial preparatory course, language courses or internships. The latter should be accompanied by one day of school lessons per week.
Passerelle
Anyone who has passed a vocational or specialised baccalaureate but does not want to study at a university of applied sciences but at a university or ETH can complete the one-year passerelle. At the end of this programme, you will take the entrance examination for a university.
Some subjects can be studied at both universities and universities of applied sciences.
Study
The baccalaureate entitles students to study at a university or the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH and EPFL). There, students receive a scientific education. Some subjects are aimed directly at a professional career, such as medicine, the various engineering sciences or architecture. Students of social sciences can apply their knowledge in research institutions, in media organisations, in public administration or in private companies. Degrees are Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Some continue their studies with a doctorate.
University of Applied Sciences
The vocational and specialised baccalaureate entitles the holder to study at a university of applied sciences. There is no clear difference between these programmes and those at universities and ETH. Universities of applied sciences focus on applied sciences, for example corporate communications, facility management, physiotherapy or applied psychology.
Primary school teachers study at a teacher training college or university of applied sciences. Some subjects can be studied at both universities and universities of applied sciences, such as architecture and various engineering disciplines. Degrees are Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
Higher vocational training
Higher vocational education and training is open to those who have completed an EFZ apprenticeship. The specialised schools are often called universities of applied sciences (HF), not to be confused with universities of applied sciences (FH). There, for example, an EFZ healthcare specialist can continue their education to become an HF nursing specialist. Bricklayers or road builders EFZ can become construction supervisors HF and take on more responsibility in construction projects. Some professions, such as police officer or pilot, can only be learnt in higher vocational education and training. The prerequisite is usually a completed apprenticeship or a school-leaving certificate.
