Vocational education and training (VET) - Schools

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.

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

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

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. Since 2000/01, numbers in vocational education and training have risen by 6%.

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.

Related topics

Diploma - Vocational education and training (VET)