Preparation for the advanced federal professional diploma examination

In 2021/22, almost 3700 students attended a preparatory course for an advanced professional diploma examination.¹ 42% of them were women and 9% were of foreign nationality. The advanced federal professional diploma examination enables professionals to obtain an expert qualification in their area of activity and to prepare for managing a business. The advanced federal professional diploma is awarded if this exam is passed.

Students preparing for the advanced federal professional diploma examination: change since 2005/06
	2005/06	2010/11	2015/16	2020/21	2021/22
Total	4 355	4 271	3 615	3 710	3 715
Female (%)	36.0	32.5	25.5	40.4	42.4
Foreign (%)	6.9	8.5	10.6	8.7	8.7

Source: FSO – Statistics on pupils and students (SDL)
Data as of: February 2023

The number of students enrolled in a preparatory course for an advanced federal professional diploma examination declined between 2005/06 and 2021/22 (-15%). While proportion of foreign students remained stable at between 6% and 14% of students during the period under observation, the proportion of women varied from 23% to 42%.

^{1 Students are not completely surveyed because the preparations to federal exams are not formally regulated. They often take place in modular trainings, which are only surveyed if the single module corresponds to at least half a school-year (full time equivalent).}

During the 2021/22 academic year, almost 45% of the 3715 students preparing for an advanced federal professional diploma examination were enrolled in courses in the fields of Traditional and complementary medicine and therapy (21%), Building and civil engineering (14%) and Wholesale and retail sale (10%). The distribution of students by sex varied greatly between the different fields.