Programmes outside the Bachelor and Master structure: tertiary level professional education

Tertiary level professional education (Höhere Berufsbildung) covers the professional non-university sector of the tertiary level (tertiary level B). It awards the qualifications needed for a demanding professional activity with specialist or management responsibility. The courses of education and training are varied as regards content, requirements and maintaining bodies and are marked by their consistent orientation to the needs of the labour market.

The Confederation, the cantons and the professional organisations (OdA) are working together to achieve high-quality vocational and professional education and training. This principle of an alliance based on the Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act (VPETA) also proves successful in tertiary level professional education.

Compared with vocational education and training (VET), tertiary level professional education involves a higher financial commitment from students and employers. In particular, the federal examinations and the associated preparatory courses are largely paid for privately. However, the public sector is also playing an increasingly important role in funding. Since 2018 the Confederation has been directly supporting graduates of preparatory courses for the Federal and Advanced Federal Diplomas of Higher Education.

Since 2015/16, the cantons have been providing the public sector funding of courses of education at colleges of higher education through the Intercantonal Agreement on Contributions to Courses of Education at Colleges of Higher Education (HFSV). (see Bildungsfinanzierung)

Tertiary level professional education is a specific feature of the Swiss education system. In many other countries corresponding types of training are carried out at higher education institutions. Differences in the various vocational education and training systems make it difficult to classify the leaving qualifications of tertiary level professional education properly when comparing with other countries. The National Qualifications Framework for Vocational and Professional Qualifications (NQF VPQ) and the accompanying diploma supplements or certificate supplements are intended to improve the international comparability of vocational education and training (VET) and, in particular, of tertiary level professional education.

To strengthen tertiary level professional education, the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), together with its partners in vocational and professional education and training, has adopted new English titles for vocational and professional education and training qualifications (englische Titelbezeichnungen)

• the Federal Act of 2002 on Vocational and Professional Education and Training (Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act, VPETA),
• the Ordinance of 2003 on Vocational and Professional Education and Training (Vocational and Professional Education and Training Ordinance, VPETO), and
• the EAER Ordinance on the Minimum Requirements for the Recognition of Courses of Study and Post-Graduate Programmes at Colleges of Higher Education (MiVo HF) of 11 March 2005.

Tertiary level professional education is divided into the following two areas:

• examinations for Federal and Advanced Federal Diplomas of Higher Education
• colleges of higher education

The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) provides an overview of all possible tertiary level professional education qualifications (SBFI Berufsverzeichnis).

Branches of study and organisation of study

Tertiary level professional education covers the non-university sector of the tertiary level (tertiary level B) and is geared primarily to professionals with several years’ professional experience.

Federal and Advanced Federal Diplomas of Higher Education

Examinations for Federal and Advanced Federal Diplomas of Higher Education (Eidgenössische Berufsprüfungen und höhere Fachprüfungen) - traditionally known as master examinations in commercial and industrial occupations - are held by professional organisations (OdA) active throughout Switzerland. These guarantee a focus on the needs of the labour market and ensure a direct relation to professional practice.

• Federal Diploma of Higher Education examinations are aimed at those with several years of professional experience who already have in-depth professional abilities and wish to specialise in their area of activity;
• Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education examinations are geared to proving professional expertise and/or company management ability.

There are currently around 240 examinations for Federal Diplomas of Higher Education and 170 examinations for Advanced Federal Diplomas of Higher Education. The different federal examinations and the relevant examination regulations are listed in the professional register (SBFI Berufsverzeichnis). The preparatory courses for the examinations are not regulated and are not subject to state control. Depending on the area of study the preparatory courses may be held in the form of evening classes, at weekends or on working days. They are designed exclusively as part-time courses to be attended while in employment, and last 3 to 4 semesters.

The most popular diploma examinations are Specialist in Business Administration and Applied Technical Management, Police Officer, Chartered Specialist in Accounting and Financial Management, and HR Specialist. In the advanced diploma examinations most qualifications are awarded for the Swiss Certified Accountant, Licensed Electrician, Chartered Expert in Financial and Managerial Accounting and Reporting, and Complementary Therapist.  

Colleges of higher education

Colleges of higher education (Höhere Fachschulen) provide students with the skills needed to perform technical and managerial tasks in their particular specialist area autonomously. Alongside specialist and theoretical training at school, the accompanying professional experience (part-time study) and the internships integrated into the training (full-time study) form an important component of acquiring the extensive ability to act in a vocational capacity. The most popular courses at colleges of higher education are Nursing, Business Administration and Social Work.

Unlike the federal examinations, at colleges of higher education the courses are regulated and recognised by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).

The Confederation regulates the recognition of the courses of education and post-diploma courses in the following areas:

• Engineering
• Catering and Hotel Industry, and Tourism
• Business
• Agriculture and Forestry
• Health
• Social Affairs and Adult Education
• Arts and Design
• Traffic and Transport

Full-time education lasts a minimum of two years including internships, while part-time education takes at least three years. The courses of education are based on framework curricula, which are issued by the professional organisations (OdA) in cooperation with the schools. Here too a strong orientation to the needs of the labour market is guaranteed. The framework curricula (Rahmenlehrpläne) contain the professional profile, the competences to be achieved and the times allocated to each of the fields of education. There are 57 recognised branches of study offered by 450 different state-run or private educational institutions throughout Switzerland. The colleges of higher education also offer post-diploma studies. These allow students to specialise further and deepen their knowledge, and are recognised by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). The graduates receive a diploma and may use the corresponding title (e.g. “dipl. Hotelmanager/-in NDS HF”).

Source: Facts and figures: vocational and professional education and training in Switzerland

Admission requirements

Federal and Advanced Federal Diplomas of Higher Education

Professionals with a Federal VET Diploma or another at least comparable qualification can sit Federal and Advanced Federal Diploma Examinations. A number of years of professional experience in the field relevant to the examination is required. If there is both a Federal Diploma Examination and an Advanced Federal Diploma Examination in the same professional field, the Advanced Federal Diploma Examination is the higher qualification. In such cases a Federal Diploma Examination or a college of higher education diploma can form the prerequisite for admission to an Advanced Federal Diploma Examination.

An examination regulation regulates the admission requirements for the individual examinations, the professional profile, the competences to be achieved, the qualification procedure and the corresponding legally protected title. The maintaining bodies for the examinations submit the examination regulations to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for approval.

Colleges of higher education

For admission to colleges of higher education, in addition to the upper secondary level leaving certificate (Federal VET Diploma, Federal Vocational Baccalaureate, upper secondary specialised school certificate, baccalaureate) professional experience and an aptitude test may be asked for. Further admission requirements are regulated for the various fields in the Annex to the EAER Ordinance on the Minimum Requirements for the Recognition of Courses of Study and Post-Graduate Programmes at Colleges of Higher Education (e.g. budding pilots have to undergo a medical test). The scope and content of the aptitude tests are laid down by the education providers.

Course contents

Federal and Advanced Federal Diplomas of Higher Education

In the case of the Federal and Advanced Federal Diploma Examinations the Confederation only recognises the corresponding leaving certificate (qualification profile). The candidates do not have to complete a standardised course of education and can therefore prepare themselves for the examination as they choose. However, various institutions offer preparatory courses which last one to two years as a rule (part-time, in parallel to employment).

Colleges of higher education

Each course of education at the colleges of higher education is based on a framework curriculum which applies throughout Switzerland and is developed by the education providers in cooperation with the professional organisations (OdA). The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) approves the framework curricula. These contain the professional profile and the competences to be achieved, the fields of education and the times allocated to them, and the content of the qualification procedure (final examinations). The semester schedule, the number of lessons per week and the holidays are regulated by each institution offering the courses. The language of instruction is the language used locally. Bilingual teaching is possible, and classes may be taught in English.

Teaching methods

Federal and Advanced Federal Diplomas of Higher Education

Candidates may prepare for the Federal Diploma Examinations or the Advanced Federal Diploma Examinations as they choose. Alongside voluntary preparatory courses taught in the form of modules, autonomous individual examination preparation is possible.

Colleges of higher education

The most common form of teaching is classroom teaching, supplemented, depending on the course, with internships, and with an autonomous project in all courses of education. The project, written up and assessed in the form of a project report, is carried out in cooperation with companies and is accompanied by the schools. The internships are accompanied and assessed. Practical relevance is emphasised in teaching. The training can be carried out in modules and lasts a total of between 5 and 7 semesters.

Employability

Professionals who pass an examination in tertiary level professional education improve their professional prospects with the proof that they can ally their solid practical abilities with sound theoretical knowledge.

The qualification profiles (examinations and framework curricula) are laid down by the professional organisations (OdA) and therefore guarantee training aligned to labour market requirements. Tertiary level professional education qualifications enjoy a very good reputation in the world of employment and are in high demand. Practical relevance and orientation to the labour market allow students to make a seamless entry into the labour market or to continue to work part-time while training. Unemployment among graduates is extremely low.

The significant contribution by employers to the costs of the training can be interpreted as showing that companies regard tertiary level professional education as highly valuable. The costs of taking part in tertiary level professional education are higher than the study fees at universities and universities of applied sciences. As a rule, however, the investment pays off extremely quickly, as tertiary level professional education leaving certificates lead to higher salaries, usually giving graduates a foothold on the career ladder, and training can in most cases be combined with a job.

Student assessment

Federal and Advanced Federal Diplomas of Higher Education

The professional organisations (OdA) regulate the qualification procure, the contents and titles of the examinations for Federal and Advanced Federal Diplomas through the examination regulations. The Confederation recognises the examination regulations through the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and is responsible for supervision of the examinations. Those completing the examination compile a project or specialist paper depending on the profession and sit examinations in written, oral and practical form depending on the profession.

Colleges of higher education

The education providers adopt their own degree regulations. As a general rule the qualification procedures consist of at least a practice-oriented dissertation or project paper and oral or written examinations. The professional organisations (OdA) are involved in the final qualification procedures through experts.

Certification

Federal and Advanced Federal Diplomas of Higher Education

Examinations for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education lead to a Swiss Certificate. The profession name is supplemented by the words “mit eidgenössischem Fachausweis” for “with a Swiss Federal Certificate” (e.g. for a computer scientist: “Informatiker/-in mit eidgenössischem Fachausweis”).

Examinations for the Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education lead to a Swiss Federal Diploma. The relevant profession name is supplemented by the word “diplomiert” (e.g. for a graphic designer: “diplomierte/-r Grafik-Designer/-in”) or “mit eidgenössischem Diplom” for “with a Swiss Federal Diploma” (e.g. for a food technologist: “Lebensmitteltechnologe/-in mit eidgenössischem Diplom”) or Meister/-in (e.g. for a master gardener: “Gärtnermeister/-in”).

The examinations are under the supervision of SERI. Around 17,300 Swiss Federal titles are issued each year.

Colleges of higher education

The courses of education at colleges of higher education lead to a federally recognised diploma. In the diploma the corresponding title is specified with the abbreviation “dipl.” and the letters HF (for “Höhere Fachschule”, i.e. college of higher education). Each year around 9,100 such diplomas are issued.

The colleges of higher education also offer post-diploma studies. These allow students to carry out further specialisation and consolidation and are recognised by SERI. The graduates receive a diploma and may use the corresponding title (e.g. “dipl. Hotelmanager/-in NDS HF”).

Permeability for graduates of tertiary level professional education

A tertiary level professional education leaving certificate allows students to enter a university of applied sciences even if they do not have the Federal Vocational Baccalaureate. The course of study must be chosen in the same or a related professional field as the baccalaureate. The existing knowledge and skills from tertiary level professional education may be accredited to a Bachelor degree programme.

To promote mobility and lifelong learning in the European training environment permeability between different training systems is essential. With the Ordinance on the National Qualifications Framework for VPET Qualifications, the basis was laid for the classification of all formal vocational and professional education and training qualifications in a National Qualifications Framework for Vocational and Professional Qualifications (NQF). With the help of the European Qualifications Framework drawn up by the EU, which serves as a kind of translation tool, Swiss qualifications can be compared with those of other countries.