This page compares the education systems of France and Switzerland.
Education System Overview
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public-private mix; governance is centralized, with national rules for curricula, qualifications and teacher recruitment. Regions, departments and municipalities manage responsibilities such as school buildings, equipment and local services. Most private-school students attend institutions operating under contract with the state. [French Ministry] | Public/private mix with a federal, decentralized governance model. The 26 cantons hold primary responsibility for compulsory education, while the Confederation and cantons share responsibilities in vocational education, higher education and other post-compulsory sectors. [EDK] |
| Governing Body | Ministry of National Education for primary and secondary education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space for tertiary education and research. Regional education authorities (rectorats) administer national school policy within their respective academies. | 26 cantonal education authorities; the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK); and, at federal level, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research and the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). [EDK] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 4.5% of GDP in 2023, representing government expenditure on educational institutions from primary through tertiary education under the OECD's initial-funds measure. Private expenditure on the same institutions accounted for another 0.8% of GDP. Under the broader measure covering government education expenditure both inside and outside educational institutions, France spent approximately 4.6% of GDP in 2023. These figures use different expenditure boundaries and are not directly interchangeable. [OECD] | 4.9% of GDP in 2022, the latest available value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS government-expenditure series. The separate OECD education-finance series reports 4.4% of GDP in 2023 for government expenditure on primary through tertiary education; the two indicators have different coverage. [World Bank] [OECD] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | From age 3 to age 16. A separate training obligation until age 18 applies to young people no longer covered by compulsory instruction. It can be fulfilled through schooling, apprenticeship, vocational training, employment combined with an approved support arrangement, civic service or another recognized pathway. [Éduscol] | Compulsory education generally begins at about age 4 and continues to about age 15. Starting rules and transition dates can vary by canton. [EDK] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 13 years of compulsory instruction, normally from ages 3 to 16. The subsequent training obligation extends participation in education, training or an eligible activity until age 18 but does not require every young person to remain in full-time school. | 11 years of compulsory education. [EDK] |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Compulsory from age 3. Children normally attend three years of école maternelle before entering elementary school at approximately age 6. In 2024, the schooling rate was 98.5% at age 3 and approximately 100% at ages 4 and 5. Earlier admission at age 2 is available in some schools, subject to capacity and local priority arrangements. [French Ministry] | In most cantons, the first two years of compulsory education are kindergarten or the first learning cycle. OECD data show that 50.2% of children aged 3–5 were enrolled in ISCED 0 early childhood education in 2024. Participation varies sharply by age: only 2.2% of three-year-olds were enrolled in ISCED 0, while participation becomes much more widespread as children reach compulsory-school age. [OECD] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 5 + 4 + 3: five years of elementary education (école élémentaire, CP–CM2), four years of lower secondary education (collège, sixième–troisième) and three years of upper secondary education (lycée, seconde–terminale). Pre-primary education normally adds three compulsory years before elementary school. Upper secondary pathways include general, technological and vocational education. [French Ministry] | 2 + 6 + 3 within compulsory education: two years of kindergarten or the first learning cycle, six additional primary years and three years of lower secondary education. Upper-secondary education follows as a post-compulsory route, generally lasting 3–4 years. [EDK] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | Approximately 29.3% vocational / 70.7% general and technological among students attending lycée programmes in 2025. The figures reflect 661,600 students in vocational lycée programmes and 1,599,400 in general and technological programmes. They exclude apprentices enrolled through separate apprenticeship arrangements, so the vocational share is not directly equivalent to the OECD's broader upper-secondary vocational classification. [French Ministry] | Approximately 60.7% vocational / 39.3% general among upper-secondary students in 2024. Vocational education and training remains the larger upper-secondary route, with apprenticeships accounting for most vocational participation. [OECD] |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | September. In metropolitan France, the 2026/27 school year began on 1 September 2026, except in Corsica, where classes began on 3 September. Some overseas territories follow different dates. [French Ministry] | Typically August, although the exact opening date varies by canton and local school calendar. |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | July. Summer holidays in metropolitan France begin after classes on 3 July 2027 for the 2026/27 school year. Examination schedules and overseas territorial calendars may differ. [Légifrance] | Typically June or July, depending on the canton. |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | 36 weeks, normally divided into five teaching periods separated by school holidays. Metropolitan France uses three holiday zones, A, B and C, to stagger winter and spring breaks. [Légifrance] | Usually about 38–39 weeks across compulsory education in most cantons. Individual cantonal calendars and school-level requirements may differ. [EDK] |
| Instruction Days per Year | No single nationwide number of instructional days applies to every school level and timetable. Primary schools generally provide 24 teaching hours per week, commonly distributed over four days or, where authorized, four and a half days. Across 36 weeks, these arrangements correspond to approximately 144 or 162 scheduled teaching days, respectively. Secondary-school timetables follow different weekly arrangements. Public holidays and local calendars can affect the actual number of days attended. [French Ministry] | — |
Grading System
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | The 0–20 scale is widely used in secondary education, where 10/20 commonly represents a passing average. Competency-based assessment is also used during compulsory schooling, particularly in primary education and collège. National examinations, including the diplôme national du brevet and baccalauréat, have their own assessment and award rules. | A 1–6 scale is widely used, with 6 as the highest mark and 4 generally representing a passing result. Assessment and reporting rules vary by canton and school level. |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | Commonly 0–20, with 10/20 generally representing a passing mark, subject to institutional rules for compensation between course units. Higher education follows the Licence–Master–Doctorate (LMD) structure and uses ECTS credits, normally 60 credits per full-time academic year. [Campus France] | Commonly 1.0–6.0, with 4.0 generally the minimum passing mark and 6.0 the highest grade. Individual institutions determine detailed assessment rules. [ETH Zurich] |
Language of Instruction
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | French is the principal language of instruction throughout the national school system. Authorized bilingual, European and international sections may teach specified subjects in another language. | German, French, Italian or Romansh, depending on the language region and canton. Students normally also study another national language and English during compulsory education. [EDK] |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | French is the sole nationwide official language. Regional languages may be taught as subjects or through approved bilingual and immersion arrangements, including Breton, Basque, Catalan, Corsican, Occitan and regional Germanic languages such as Alsatian. Other recognized regional languages are offered in their respective territories. These arrangements do not confer nationwide official-language status. | Romansh is used in parts of Graubünden, while bilingual German/French and other bilingual models operate in selected cantons and schools. |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 86.4% in primary education and 78.8% in secondary education in 2025. Approximately 5,315,600 primary pupils and 4,431,300 secondary pupils attended public institutions. The primary figure includes pre-primary education, while the secondary figure covers collège and lycée. [French Ministry] | There is no single public-school share that applies equally across all K–12 levels. At compulsory level, about 95% of pupils attend public schools. At upper-secondary level, public institutions educate roughly five-sixths of students. [EDK] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | EUR 0 compulsory tuition for public primary and secondary education. Families may incur separate costs for school meals, optional activities, certain supplies or transport, depending on local rules and available financial support. [French Ministry] | CHF 0; public compulsory education is free of charge. Cantonal and municipal authorities fund the standard provision, although families may still pay for some optional activities or personal expenses. [EDK] |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes, with public primary and secondary education provided throughout metropolitan France and the overseas departments and regions. Local education authorities organize school catchment areas, admissions and transport arrangements. The system included approximately 47,000 primary schools, 7,000 collèges and 3,700 lycées across public and private sectors in 2025/26. [French Ministry] | Yes. Cantons and municipalities provide public compulsory education throughout Switzerland, with local organization reflecting the country's cantonal system. [EDK] |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Approximately 13.6% in primary education and 21.2% in secondary education in 2025. Most pupils in the private sector attend schools operating sous contrat, where the state funds teacher salaries and schools follow national educational requirements. Independent schools operating hors contrat form a smaller, separately regulated category. [French Ministry] | Approximately 5% at compulsory level. At upper-secondary level, private institutions educate about one-sixth of students. These level-specific shares should not be treated as a single weighted K–12 percentage. [FSO] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | Nationwide, with particularly high concentrations in Brittany and Pays de la Loire. Private schools under contract account for a much larger share of local primary provision in these western regions than in many eastern and central departments. For example, 34.6% of primary schools in Finistère were privately managed under contract in 2025, compared with a national share of approximately 9.8% of schools. These are shares of institutions rather than student enrollment. [French Ministry] | Private schools are more common in densely populated areas. International and boarding schools are particularly visible around Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne and Basel and in established boarding-school locations. [FSO] |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | No single official national total covers all schools using international curricula, foreign-school systems and international sections in French institutions. Counts vary according to whether bilingual schools, independent international schools, French international sections and European Schools are included. The International Baccalaureate count is reported separately below. | — |
| Number of IB World Schools | 25 IB World Schools currently offer at least one International Baccalaureate programme in France. The IB country directory lists 8 Primary Years Programme (PYP) providers, 7 Middle Years Programme (MYP) providers, 22 Diploma Programme (DP) providers and 2 Career-related Programme (CP) providers. Schools offering multiple programmes are counted once in the national total. [IB] | 53 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Switzerland, according to the International Baccalaureate's country directory. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate (IB), French International Baccalaureate (BFI), international sections, Cambridge International programmes, American-style curricula and European Baccalaureate programmes, depending on school authorization. The BFI is a French national qualification incorporating international components and is distinct from the IB Diploma Programme. | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge and British qualifications, American curricula, French programs and bilingual Swiss programs, depending on the school. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | From the 2026 recruitment session, the main external teacher recruitment competitions opened at bachelor's level (bac+3), followed by two years of paid initial training for successful candidates. Transitional bac+5 competitions remain available through the 2027 recruitment session for eligible candidates following the previous route. Recruitment requirements differ for certain specialized competitions and teaching positions. [French Ministry] | A recognized tertiary teacher-education qualification appropriate to the level taught. Teacher education is provided mainly through universities of teacher education and leads to a recognized teaching diploma, usually alongside a bachelor's or master's degree. OECD reporting for 2023/24 found that 11.5% of teachers in public primary and lower-secondary education did not meet the full qualification criteria for their assigned teaching role; this category can include qualified teachers working outside their certified subject or education level. [EDK] [OECD] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | 21.1 students per elementary class in 2025. Pre-primary classes averaged approximately 21.7 pupils. These figures measure average classroom group size rather than the student-to-teacher ratio. [French Ministry] | Approximately 19 students per class in public primary education (years 3–8). Federal Statistical Office reporting for 2024 places the long-running national average at around 19.1–19.3 pupils per class, with differences between cantons. [FSO] |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | 25.7 students per collège class in 2025. [French Ministry] | Approximately 19 students per class in public lower-secondary education. Federal Statistical Office data for 2024 show a stable long-term national average of approximately 18.6–19.0 pupils per class, with cantonal differences. [FSO] |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | 30.2 students in general and technological lycée classes and 18.4 students in vocational lycée classes in 2025. These averages reflect the different organization of upper-secondary pathways. [French Ministry] | — |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. France has participated in every PISA cycle since the programme began in 2000. [OECD] | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 495 / 493 / 493. [OECD] | 515 / 484 / 495 |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 474 / 474 / 487. [OECD] | 508 / 483 / 503 [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 458 / 456 / 483. France performed close to the OECD averages of 463 in mathematics, 461 in reading and 482 in science. The OECD also reported a score of 497 for France in computational problem solving, a separately assessed PISA 2025 domain. [OECD] | 499 / 470 / 501 [OECD] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | France's 2025 scores were 16 points lower in mathematics and 18 points lower in reading than in 2022. Science fell by 4 points, a change that was not statistically clear. Compared with 2018, mathematics was 37 points lower, reading 37 points lower and science 10 points lower. The 2025 mathematics and reading results continued the decline recorded across recent PISA cycles. [OECD] | Between 2022 and 2025, mathematics and reading performance was lower, while science was about the same. Science remained broadly stable between 2015 and 2025, while mathematics and reading declined over that period. The 2025 mathematics and reading scores were the lowest recorded for Switzerland in PISA. Switzerland nevertheless remained above the OECD average in all three subjects, and its computational problem-solving score was 520 in 2025, against an OECD average of 500. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science — 483 points, followed by mathematics at 458 and reading at 456. Science was also the highest-scoring subject relative to France's other two reported averages, although scores across different PISA subjects should not be treated as direct measurements of identical skills. [OECD] | Science — 501 points, narrowly above mathematics at 499. [OECD] |
Higher Education System
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | More than 3,500 public and private higher education institutions, under the broad institutional classification used by Campus France. These include universities, Grandes Écoles, engineering and business schools, art and architecture schools and specialized institutions. France enrolled approximately 3.05 million higher education students in 2025/26. [Campus France] [Higher Education Ministry] | 54 listed entries in the current swissuniversities directory of accredited higher education institutions and other accredited institutions in the higher education sector. The directory comprises 12 universities and federal institutes of technology, 10 universities of applied sciences, 18 teacher-education institutions or units and 14 other institutions. Some entries are affiliated with larger institutions, so this directory count is not identical to the number of independent institutional operators. [swissuniversities] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 78 universities and communities of institutions in the combined institutional category cited by Campus France. This figure includes university groupings and should not be interpreted as 78 separate research universities. The French university sector also includes experimental public institutions formed through mergers or institutional restructuring, which affect how universities are counted. [Campus France] | 12 universities: 10 cantonal universities and the two federal institutes of technology, ETH Zurich and EPFL. [swissuniversities] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | No directly equivalent national university-of-applied-sciences sector. Professionally oriented higher education is delivered through Instituts universitaires de technologie (IUT), Sections de techniciens supérieurs (STS), engineering schools and other specialized institutions. IUTs generally operate within universities and offer the three-year Bachelor universitaire de technologie (BUT), while STS programmes usually lead to the two-year Brevet de technicien supérieur (BTS). | 10 universities of applied sciences. The current swissuniversities accreditation directory also lists 18 teacher-education institutions or units separately, including some affiliated with universities of applied sciences. [swissuniversities] |
| Main Institution Types | Universities; Grandes Écoles; engineering schools; business and management schools; art and architecture schools; specialized higher education institutions; IUTs and STS programmes. University degrees follow the Licence–Master–Doctorate structure, while other institutions may award nationally recognized or institution-specific qualifications. | Universities and federal institutes of technology, universities of applied sciences, universities of teacher education and other accredited higher-education institutions. Tertiary professional education operates alongside the higher-education sector. |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | Approximately 74.2% public / 25.8% private in 2025/26, according to the French higher education ministry's national enrollment statistics. Private-sector enrollment declined by approximately 1.7% from the previous academic year, while total tertiary enrollment increased by 1.1%. The private category includes business schools and other specialized providers as well as private degree-awarding institutions. [Higher Education Ministry] | Approximately 92.5% in public or government-dependent provision / 7.5% in independent private institutions in 2023. Government-dependent private institutions are included with publicly supported provision in this comparison, rather than with independent private institutions. [OECD] |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | More than 1,400 bachelor's and master's programme listings, based on Campus France's published catalogue figures of over 115 undergraduate programmes and more than 1,300 master's programmes taught wholly or partly in English. The broader catalogue contains over 1,600 English-taught offerings, including short and professional courses and summer programmes. Catalogue listings are not necessarily equivalent to unique accredited degrees. [Campus France] | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | — | — |
| Main Global Ranking Used | Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2026, commonly known as the Shanghai Ranking. [Campus France] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 4 in ARWU 2026: Paris-Saclay University (#13), PSL University (#33), Sorbonne University (#55) and Université Paris Cité (#57). [Campus France] | 3 in QS 2027: ETH Zurich (=8), EPFL (=22) and University of Zurich (=98). [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 17 in ARWU 2026, comprising the four institutions ranked within the top 100 and 13 additional institutions ranked from 101 to 500. [Campus France] | 8 Swiss institutions in QS 2027: ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Zurich, University of Basel, University of Geneva, University of Bern, University of Lausanne and Università della Svizzera italiana. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | 27 in ARWU 2026, including 10 institutions ranked between 501 and 1000. [Campus France] | 10 Swiss institutions in QS 2027, including the eight top-500 institutions plus the University of Fribourg and Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | Hcéres (High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education) evaluates higher education institutions, programmes and research units. Other bodies have responsibilities for particular qualifications, including the Commission des titres d'ingénieur (CTI) for engineering degrees. The national state authorities retain responsibility for authorizing the award of national degrees. [Hcéres] | Swiss Accreditation Council, with accreditation procedures carried out by recognized agencies including the Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ). The Council makes institutional accreditation decisions under the Higher Education Act. [Swiss Accreditation Council] |
| International Students (Total) | 443,500 foreign students were enrolled in French higher education in 2024/25, under the broad nationality-based measure reported by Campus France. A more recent but narrower measure recorded 352,790 internationally mobile foreign students in 2025/26, defined as students who moved to France specifically for higher education. The two figures are based on different populations and should not be interpreted as a year-on-year enrollment decline. [Campus France] [Interior Ministry] | — |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | Approximately 15% of tertiary students were foreign nationals in 2024/25, according to Campus France's broad definition. Under the narrower international-mobility measure, foreign students who came to France specifically to study represented 12.3% of higher education enrollment in 2025/26. These indicators should be distinguished when comparing France with other countries. [Campus France] [Interior Ministry] | 20.1% in 2024, according to the OECD's internationally mobile or foreign tertiary-student indicator, up from approximately 17% in 2015. Germany and France each accounted for about 19% of incoming international students, followed by Italy at 11%. [OECD] [OECD 2026] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | EUR 178 annually for a bachelor's degree (licence) and EUR 255 for a master's degree in 2026/27, under the standard national public registration fee schedule for eligible French, EU, EEA and Swiss students. The standard doctoral fee is EUR 398. Engineering programmes generally cost EUR 630 at institutions covered by the national engineering fee category, while specified engineering schools charge EUR 2,620. A separate EUR 105 student and campus life contribution (CVEC) normally applies unless the student qualifies for an exemption. [Service Public] | For 2026/27, published regular bachelor's and master's tuition at Swiss universities ranges from approximately CHF 870 to CHF 4,000 per academic year, before additional compulsory fees. The lower end is represented by the University of Geneva (CHF 435 per semester), while Università della Svizzera italiana charges CHF 2,000 per semester. ETH Zurich and EPFL list standard domestic tuition of CHF 730 per semester, or CHF 1,460 annually. Fees vary by institution, degree level and individual circumstances. [swissuniversities] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | EUR 2,902 annually for a bachelor's degree and EUR 3,950 for a master's degree in 2026/27 under the differentiated registration fee schedule applicable to many non-EU international students at covered public institutions. Doctoral students are generally subject to the standard EUR 398 registration fee instead. Exemptions, institutional waivers and nationality or residence-based exceptions apply, so not every non-EU student pays the differentiated rate. The CVEC may be payable separately. [Campus France] | For 2026/27, published foreign-student tuition at Swiss universities ranges from approximately CHF 870 to CHF 8,000 per academic year, before additional compulsory fees. The University of Geneva lists CHF 435 per semester for both domestic and foreign students, while Università della Svizzera italiana lists CHF 4,000 per semester for foreign students. ETH Zurich and EPFL list CHF 2,190 per semester for students subject to their higher foreign-student rate. Eligibility for different fees depends on university rules, residency or educational background and applicable exemptions; there is no single nationwide non-EU tuition rate. [swissuniversities] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | No separate national fee based solely on the teaching language. At public institutions applying the standard national schedule, eligible EU and comparable-status students generally pay EUR 178 for bachelor's or EUR 255 for master's programmes in 2026/27. Non-EU students subject to differentiated registration fees generally pay EUR 2,902 or EUR 3,950, respectively. Private business schools, Grandes Écoles and specialized programmes set separate tuition fees, which may be considerably higher. [Campus France] | — |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | No standardized national monthly rate. French-language courses are priced by provider, intensity, location and duration. As a published example, Alliance Française de Paris lists approximately EUR 730 per month for a 36-hour semi-intensive course and EUR 1,460 per month for a 72-hour intensive course. University-affiliated French as a Foreign Language (FLE) centres may charge by semester instead. These examples are provider prices rather than a national average. [Alliance Française] | — |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | France | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | France operates a centralized education system with national curricula, qualifications and teacher recruitment, while regional and local authorities manage school infrastructure and services. Compulsory instruction runs from age 3 to 16, followed by a separate training obligation until age 18. Primary and secondary education follow a 5+4+3 structure after three years of pre-primary education. In 2025, approximately 86.4% of primary pupils and 78.8% of secondary pupils attended public schools, which provide tuition-free instruction. Vocational lycée programmes accounted for approximately 29.3% of lycée enrollment, excluding separate apprenticeship arrangements. In PISA 2025, France scored 458 in mathematics, 456 in reading and 483 in science; mathematics and reading declined from 2022, while the science change was not statistically clear. Higher education includes more than 3,500 institutions, ranging from universities and Grandes Écoles to engineering, business and specialized schools. The tertiary sector enrolled approximately 3.05 million students in 2025/26, with 25.8% attending private institutions. Campus France recorded 443,500 foreign students in 2024/25, while the narrower internationally mobile student measure reached 352,790 in 2025/26. The IB directory listed 25 IB World Schools. Public university registration fees for eligible domestic and regional students were EUR 178 for bachelor's and EUR 255 for master's programmes in 2026/27, with separate differentiated fees for many non-EU students. Education changes in 2026 included the introduction of bac+3 teacher recruitment, the first early mathematics baccalauréat examination and revised mathematics programmes in seconde and première. | Switzerland has a federal, decentralized education system in which the 26 cantons hold primary responsibility for compulsory schooling while the Confederation and cantons cooperate in post-compulsory education. Compulsory education lasts 11 years, normally beginning around age four, and approximately 95% of pupils at this level attend tuition-free public schools. Instruction is mainly in German, French, Italian or Romansh according to language region. After compulsory school, vocational education and training is the larger upper-secondary route, accounting for 60.7% of enrollment in 2024. Switzerland has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. In PISA 2025, students scored 499 in mathematics, 470 in reading and 501 in science; mathematics and reading were lower than in 2022, while science was about the same. Higher education includes 12 universities, 10 universities of applied sciences, universities of teacher education and other accredited institutions. International students accounted for 20.1% of tertiary enrollment in 2024. Current developments include the 2025–2028 federal education funding period, the Swiss Education Report 2026 and the Professional Bachelor and Professional Master title additions introduced in October 2026. |