Vocational education and training (VET) - Schools

In 2020/21, almost 215 700 students were in vocational education and training. 41% of them were young women and 23% were of foreign nationality. Almost all students in vocational education and training were following a programme leading to a Federal VET Diploma (almost 93%). The remainder chose a VET Certificate or uncertified apprenticeship course (7%) or another vocational course.

Students in vocational education and training, change since 2000/01
	2000/01	2005/06	2010/11	2015/16	2020/21
Total	207 969	213 174	228 717	226 828	215 710
Female (%)	42.3	41.7	42.0	41.8	40.6
Foreign (%)	16.0	15.7	16.8	19.5	23.2
Federal VET diploma¹	176 046	180 659	205 104	212 335	199 787
Female (%)	37.7	38	41.4	41.6	41.0
Foreign (%)	15.5	14.5	15.5	18.1	20.8
Federal VET certificate	.	1 335	8 343	13 215	15 061
Female (%)	.	66.1	46.6	45.0	36.5
Foreign (%)	.	35.1	36.8	40.5	54.0
VET not governed by the VPETA	17 965	14 989	1 896	948	836
Female (%)	81.3	80.5	63.1	40.6	35.4
Foreign (%)	14.2	16.1	24.2	26.1	24.0
Upper secondary trade and IT schools	10 082	11 225	11 051	.	.
Female (%)	56.1	49.6	47.1	.	.
Foreign (%)	18.2	21.9	21.3	.	.
Basic vocational education	3 876	4 966	2 323	330	26
Female (%)	33.9	33.2	36.7	33.3	34.6
Foreign (%)	39.7	37.2	35.7	40.9	7.7

1 Including the federal vocational baccalaureate during vocational education (FVB1) Source: FSO – Statistics on pupils and students (SDL)
Data as of: February 2022

Vocational education and training mainly occurs in dual mode, i.e. in-company training along with training at a vocational school, providing both theory and the necessary general education. This is completed by inter-company courses which form the crossroads between the two areas of learning. Vocational education and training can also take place in full-time school in a small number of cases. Vocational education and training is completed with the Federal VET Certificate after two years or the Federal VET Diploma after three to four years. Since 2000/01, numbers in vocational education and training have risen by 4%. Compared to the previous year, these decreased very slightly (-1%).

The three most popular training sectors chosen by students in 2020/21 were: Business and administration (17%), Wholesale and retail sales (11%) and Building and civil engineering (7%). Some sectors are clearly gender-dominated.