Continuing education and training for adults

There are many continuing education and training programmes in Switzerland. Try using the search engine for finding continuing education and training programmes (website available in German, French, Italian and Romansh). In addition, you can contact the cantonal vocational, educational and career guidance offices. These offices also provide information on who gets financial aid for continuing education.

If you have already been working for some time, but do not have an apprenticeship qualification, you can still obtain one (Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training or Federal Certificate of Vocational Education and Training). Your practical experience will be taken into account.

For more information, contact the cantonal office for vocational education and training (website available in German, French and Italian). The office also decides whether you are admitted to a specific programme.

If you would like to study at a university, but don't have an academic baccalaureate, you will, in most cases, have to complete a vocational baccalaureate or an academic baccalaureate for adults (website available in German, French, Italian and Romansh). You can also obtain a vocational baccalaureate by taking the Federal Vocational Baccalaureate Examination (website available in German, French and Italian).

If you have trouble reading, writing, doing maths or using the computer well and it’s creating problems at work or in your private life, check out the website on improving your skills (available in German, French and Italian) which offers a number of interesting courses.

If you have completed an apprenticeship or a study programme and ideally have a few years of professional experience, you may be interested in acquiring additional qualifications to improve your chances on the job market.

If you have a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training or an equivalent vocational qualification, you can acquire further skills in professional education and training programmes. You can specialise in your field. Or you learn how to lead a team. Professional education and training comprises colleges of higher education, and examinations for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education and the Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education.

Once you have obtained a qualification from a college of higher education, this entitles you to undertake continuing education/training programmes offered by universities and higher education institutions.