Education in Switzerland

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Switzerland is a country which is well-known not only for its good financial system, banks, clocks, but also for its prestigious educational system. Switzerland consists of 26 cantons, that compose three big groups – German-speaking (Bern, Zurich, Basel), French-speaking (Geneva, Lausanne) and Italian part (canton Ticino). There is no Ministry of Education in Switzerland; all the questions regarding educational system are decided in every canton. Educational system of Switzerland is well-known for its high standards, good quality and big amount of educational programs. Education in this country is unique because Switzerland is a multinational and multilingual country. In every school or university or college students study at once some languages, and this is one of the advantages.  

School education

School education in Switzerland is divided into three levels, two of them are compulsory.

• Preparatory School – age 6-12 years (some schools can accept children at the age of 4), children begin to learn some languages
• Secondary School – age 12-15 years, there are some sections: French, Anglo-American, Italian, German, Swiss.

Compulsory school education lasts 9 years. Then, if the student would like to enter university he has to study at the gymnasium, college or lyceums. It lasts 4 years.

Types of academic programs:

• Swiss Matura – education in Italian, French or German languages
• Italian Maturita – education in Italian
• French system – Baccalaureat – education in French
• German system – Abitur – education in German
• Anglo-American system - A-level и GCSE, AP (Advanced placement) – education in English
• International Baccalaureat (IB) – education in English

Advantages of studying in Switzerland:

• Studying of some languages
• Communication with the students throughout the world
• Possibility to choose any program
• Possibility to study in English, French, German or Italian
• Good location of schools
• Possibility to be ready to enter any university in the world

There are public and private schools in Switzerland, but foreign students can study only in private schools. All the public schools are for boys and girls, private schools can be only for boys, only for girls and for both.

There are about 250 private schools in Switzerland. Private school usually is a closed territory with its own campuses, residence buildings, parks, sport complexes and sport facilities. There is day-school, half-boarding and full-boarding education.

School education in Switzerland includes round development of students, children learn multiple languages, are engaged in all sports. Each school has a lot of sport sections such as football, tennis, swimming, field hockey, in winter children go skiing and ice skating, in summer – go sailing. A lot of attention is paid to the creative development of children, there are different sections: singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, drawing, sculpture and others. Students also have a lot of different excursions – to the cities of Switzerland, to France, Italy, and Germany.

The average price for education in Switzerland is CHF 40 000 – CHF 80 000. The price includes education, residence, meals, excursions, sport activities, insurance.

Documents to be admitted into school:

• marks for the last 2-3 years (on the school blanc with signature of headmaster or form-master, with seal)
• recommendations from teachers (form-master, math teacher, English teacher)
• extract from a medical card
• birth certificate
• copy of the first page of passport
• copies or originals of all certificates
• photography
• sometimes children are asked to write essay, have some tests and interview.

Colleges in Switzerland

There are about 120 colleges in Switzerland. Education lasts 3-4 years. Switzerland is very famous for its hotel institutions. It is easier to enter Swiss college than Swiss university, so sometimes foreign students first enter colleges and then continue their studying in Switzerland.

High Schools in Switzerland

There are 12 state universities in Switzerland: 8 cantonal universities – in Zurich, Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Geneva, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, St. Gallen; University College of Lucerne in Luzern and Universita della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano; two polytechnic schools -  EPF Lausanne and ETH Zurich. Studying in the university can be held in Italian, French or German; it depends on the canton.

Switzerland is very famous for its institutions of hotel and restaurant management. They are international and studying is held in English. Depending on the educational program, its duration, students can get Swiss, British or American Diploma, they can work in every country in the world. Advantage of these institutions is possibility to have paid internship while studying. So you can get good experience even in university.

There are also very good Business Schools in Switzerland. Educational program includes the following disciplines: marketing, strategic management, finance, macro- and microeconomics, international trade.

Education in the high school is divided into three stages:

• Bachelor degree – 3-4 years
• Master degree  - 1-2 years
• Degree of Doctor – 2-3 years.