Vocational education and training (VET) - Schools

In 2018/19, almost 220 900 students were in vocational education and training. 41% of them were young women and 22% were of foreign nationality. Almost all students in vocational education and training were following a programme leading to a Federal VET Diploma (93%). The remainder chose a VET Certificate or uncertified apprenticeship course (almost 7%) or another vocational course.

Students in vocational education and training, change since 2000/01
	2000/01	2005/06	2010/11	2015/16	2018/19
Total	207 969	213 174	228 825	227 477	220 894
Female (%)	42.3	41.7	42	41.8	41
Foreign (%)	16	15.7	16.8	19.5	21.6
Federal VET diploma¹	176 046	180 659	205 519	213 299	205 726
Female (%)	37.7	38	41.4	41.7	41.1
Foreign (%)	15.5	14.5	15.4	18.1	19.7
Federal VET certificate	-	1 335	8 343	13 215	14 352
Female (%)	-	66.1	46.6	45	39.2
Foreign (%)	-	35.1	36.8	40.5	47.6
VET not governed by the VPETA	17 965	14 989	1 481	480	592
Female (%)	81.3	80.5	67.2	41.3	30.1
Foreign (%)	14.2	16.1	28	37.1	33.1
Upper secondary trade 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	2 431	483	224
Female (%)	33.9	33.2	36.8	33.7	39.7
Foreign (%)	39.7	37.2	35.4	37.7	33

1 Including the federal vocational baccalaureate during vocational education (FVB1) Source: FSO – Statistics on pupils and students (SDL)
Data as of: February 2020

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 6%. Compared to the previous year, these decreased very slightly (-1.3%).

The three most popular training sectors chosen by students in 2018/19 were: Business and administration (18%), Wholesale and retail sales (11%) and Building and civil engineering (8%). Some sectors are clearly gender-dominated.