In 2021/22, almost 117 500 students were enrolled in a general education programme. 59% of them were young women and 21% were of foreign nationality. The majority of students enrolled in this type of education are in a school leading to an academic Baccalaureate (64%) or in an upper secondary specialised school (19%, including specialised Baccalaureate).
2005/06 | 2010/11 | 2015/16 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 87 407 | 99 659 | 106 336 | 115 592 | 117 538 |
Female (%) | 59.1 | 58.0 | 58.5 | 58.9 | 58.6 |
Foreign (%) | 12.5 | 16.9 | 19.3 | 20.6 | 20.9 |
Vocational baccalaureate1 | 5 288 | 7 572 | 9 496 | 11 109 | 11 236 |
Female (%) | 44.8 | 47.6 | 48.7 | 50.7 | 52.0 |
Foreign (%) | 10.1 | 7.7 | 9.6 | 10.3 | 10.5 |
Baccalaureate | 68 040 | 70 821 | 70 501 | 73 261 | 74 670 |
Female (%) | 56.4 | 56.2 | 57.0 | 57.7 | 57.2 |
Foreign (%) | 12.0 | 11.8 | 13.6 | 15.1 | 15.4 |
Upper secondary specialised schools | 13 041 | 13 059 | 14 890 | 17 845 | 18 009 |
Female (%) | 78.4 | 75.0 | 73.2 | 70.4 | 69.6 |
Foreign (%) | 16.6 | 19.9 | 21.9 | 22.1 | 22.5 |
Specialised baccalaureate | . | 1 465 | 2 824 | 3 900 | 3 816 |
Female (%) | . | 81.6 | 78.3 | 74.3 | 74.3 |
Foreign (%) | . | 11.9 | 16.6 | 14.9 | 15.2 |
Teaching professions | 332 | . | . | . | . |
Female (%) | 82.2 | . | . | . | . |
Foreign (%) | 2.4 | . | . | . | . |
Other programmes of general education | 706 | 500 | 707 | 665 | 717 |
Female (%) | 59.5 | 58.4 | 54.7 | 55.9 | 53.7 |
Foreign (%) | 9.5 | 14.6 | 12.3 | 14.1 | 15.5 |
Foreign programmes of general education | . | 6 242 | 7 918 | 8 812 | 9 090 |
Female (%) | . | 50.2 | 49.9 | 49.3 | 50.4 |
Foreign (%) | . | 81.5 | 77.9 | 78.4 | 78.5 |
Data as of: February 2023
General education covers the three types of baccalaureate as well as courses in one of the upper secondary specialised schools. The academic Baccalaureate is awarded, depending on the canton, after three or four years, the vocational Baccalaureate is awarded either during or after initial vocational education and the specialised Baccalaureate is awarded one year after the specialised diploma.
Overall, the number of young people enrolled in a general education course rose by 34% between 2005/06 and 2021/22. Compared to the previous year the number of students increased by 2%.
The three specific options most frequently chosen in baccalaureate schools in 2021/22 were Economy and law, Biology and chemistry and Modern Language. The Physics and applied mathematics option showed the greatest proportion of young men whereas the Visual arts option was chosen mainly by young women.
The three occupational fields with the most students in upper secondary specialised schools (including specialised baccalaureate) were Health care, Education and Social work/Education. With one exception (Sport), young women are in the majority in all courses in this type of school.
With regard to post-apprenticeship vocational Baccalaureates, the options1 Economy and services, Health/social care and Technology, architecture, life sciences are the most popular. The Technology, architecture, life sciences option shows the highest percentage of young men, the Health/social care one the highest percentage of young women.
1 New options according to BMV (Federal vocational Baccalaureate Ordinance) 2009 collected from 2015/16
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