Diploma

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The statistics on final examinations present the various diplomas awarded to pupils and students at upper secondary and tertiary level. The results are presented by the socio-demographic aspects of these pupils and students and their distribution across the different fields, institutions and education levels.

The profile of qualification holders changes slightly by education level. Among foreign nationals awarded a qualification from a higher education institution, the vast majority of these come to Switzerland specifically to study (foreign nationals educated abroad). The proportion of Swiss-educated foreign nationals who obtain a first diploma is far higher in advanced professional education and training, general education courses and vocational education than in higher education institutions.

At a glance

Overview of diplomas

	2005	2010	2016
Upper secondary level
Vocational education and training (VET)	59 684	68 154	69 218
General education	29 807	35 940	41 386
Tertiary level
College of advanced professional education and training diplomas (1)	4 163	8 211	9 861
Federal diplomas and advanced federal diplomas of advanced professional education and training	14 807	16 304	17 875
Final examinations of other advanced professional education and training programmes (1)	10 023	3 691	441
Bachelor's degree from a higher education institution (2)	11 499	24 125	31 583
Master's degree from a higher education institution (3)	10 477	13 368	17 924
Doctorate from a university / institute of technology	3 100	3 593	3 936
Further education, specialised and advanced training at a higher education institution	4 145	4 492	4 705

(1) Including postgraduate degrees
(2) Including UAS/UTE degrees
(3) Including licence/diplôme study at a university / institute of technology
Sources : FSO – Statistics on certificates (SBA), Vocational education and training statistics (SBG-SFPI), Students and degrees of higher education institutions (SHIS-studex)

Regardless of education level, there is a balanced distribution between the sexes. Generally, men are slightly more involved in professional training and education than women, with women more frequently represented in general education. If, at secondary level the differences are minimal, this is more obvious at tertiary level where it is mainly women who are awarded a bachelor or master degree from a university and make up the majority of holders of qualifications from universities of teacher education. They are less well-represented in diplomas of advanced professional education and training.

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