Federal diploma of higher education

In 2022, some 15 629 federal diplomas of higher education were awarded after a federal examination. The federal professional diploma examination is aimed at initial specialisation and enhancement of knowledge following vocational education. Students who pass this are awarded a federal diploma of higher education, the qualification usually required for admission to the advanced federal professional diploma examination.

Federal diplomas of higher education, change in numbers since 2000
  2000 2010 2015 2020 2022
Total 8 932 13 137 14 835 13 012 15 629
  Male 5 795 8 028 9 178 7 768 9 177
  Female 3 137 5 109 5 657 5 244 6 452
Source: FSO – Statistics on certificates (SBA)
Data as of: June 2023

The number of federal diplomas of higher education increased overall by around 75% between 2000 and 2022. The increase was more marked for women: almost twice as many women obtained a diploma in 2022 than in 2000. Nevertheless, the proportion of women in federal professional diploma examinations is only about 40%.

The five educational fields with the most diplomas (Management and Administration, Wholesale and retail sales, Protection
of persons and property, Finance, banking and insurance, Building and civil engineering
) account for around half of all federal professional diploma examinations. The first two educational fields show a more or less even gender distribution, as one would expect from commercial activities. In contrast, areas for instance in the fields of electricity and energy or building present a clear male dominance, as in the vocational education and training.

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