Further education

The 3-or-4-year basic vocational education and training leading to a federal certificate of vocational education and training prepares the adolescents for professional practice. Holders of a federal certificate of vocational education and training can undergo higher vocational education and training (colleges of higher vocational education and training, federal PET diploma examinations and advanced federal PET diploma examinations) or attend vocationally oriented continuing education courses.

Universities of applied sciences

The vocational baccalaureate enables professional practice, but also provides admission to courses at universities of applied sciences. Admission to universities of applied sciences occurs without examination, if the vocational baccalaureate has been attained in combination with basic vocational education and training in a profession related to the chosen course of study. Holders of a vocational baccalaureate without basic vocational education and training in a profession related to the chosen course of study are admitted without examination if they can prove that they have at least 1 year's work experience. According to the Passerelle Regulation (regulation on the recognition of vocational baccalaureate certificates for admission to cantonal universities and Federal Institutes of Technology), holders of a vocational baccalaureate may also study at a cantonal university or a Federal Institute of Technology by passing an additional examination. The additional examination covers the following subjects: first national language, second national language or English, mathematics, natural sciences, as well as humanities and social sciences. The manner of preparation for the additional examination is freely selectable. It can occur by means of self-directed study, or in a 1-year course offered by private or public educational institutions. The certificate from the additional examination does not legally constitute a matura certificate. However, if combined with the federal vocational baccalaureate, it enables admission to cantonal universities and Federal Institutes of Technology. Admission to a university of teacher education is possible by passing an additional examination in accordance with the Passerelle Regulation, or with professional experience and passing another additional examination with evidence of equivalence to a specialised matura for the vocational field of education.