The aim of the catalogue of branches is to classify the courses of study and fields of activities of universities of applied sciences, including universities of teacher education in a uniform system. It makes it possible to compile national statistics on universities of applied sciences and to compare various institutions or fields of study. For international comparability, the catalogue’s fields of study are assigned to the fields of education of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED13, established by UNESCO).
Between 1997 and 2014, the catalogue of fields of study largely depended on recognition of branches of study applied by the Confederation and the cantons. From 1.1.2015 onwards, the studies offered at universities of applied sciences – like those of universities – has been integrated into the list of the Swiss university information system (SHIS).