Switzerland Education System

Switzerland has a comprehensive education system that begins with primary education, followed by lower and upper secondary education, and vocational training. The country has ten cantonal universities, two federal Institutes of Technology, eight Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen), 20 universities of teacher education, and many advanced vocational colleges. Private universities in Switzerland only offer postgraduate studies. Switzerland is well-known for its advanced business education system, with several world-class universities and MBA programmes available. More than 50,000 international students, comprising 20% of the country’s total student population, choose to study in Switzerland. While the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) is responsible for education in Switzerland, the 26 cantons have primary responsibility for education and run their own education systems. Each canton has a separate curriculum, calendar, and teaching methods.