Further education

In 2006, almost 63% of university graduates gained employment within a year after graduation. However, the transition to a professional career also depends on the chosen discipline. Graduates of medicine, pharmacy, law and technical sciences find jobs quickly. Graduates of the humanities and social sciences need significantly longer to begin a professional career.

Transition from a Bachelor to a Master course

A Bachelor's degree enables entry to the working world. It is also the prerequisite for admission to a Master course, which can be attended at the same university, or at a different one. In principle, it is also possible to change discipline. The enrolling university can demand the acquisition of additional knowledge and skills before admission. For the transfer from Bachelor to Master courses, the Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities (CRUS) has defined corresponding regulations. A change to a different type of university is also subject to certain conditions and additional performance. The 3 rectors' conferences – the Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities (CRUS), the Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences (KFH) and the Swiss Conference of Rectors of Universities of Teacher Education (COHEP)– passed corresponding regulations in a permeability agreement in 2007.

Doctorate

A Master's degree and the fulfilment of additional conditions are prerequisites for admission to a doctoral level study. A doctorate requires a comprehensive personal research project, provides preparation for research-oriented activity inside or outside the university domain and engenders the ability to assume demanding professional tasks and roles. The title of doctor can only be awarded by a cantonal university or a Federal Institute of Technology (not by a university of applied sciences). Upon achieving a doctorate, the title Dr. [corresponding discipline, e.g. phil.] is acquired; this corresponds to the abbreviation PhD.

Postgraduate studies and continuing education

Since 1990, all of the universities run offices for continuing education, which are responsible for providing postgraduate studies and continuing education courses, from short continuing education courses to recognised multi-semester degree courses (MAS, EMBA). The following recognised qualifications can be obtained: Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS): at least 10 ECTS points, Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS): at least 30 ECTS points, Master of Advanced Studies (MAS): at least 60 ECTS points.