This page compares the education systems of Switzerland and New Zealand.
Education System Overview
| Category | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | 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] | Public/private mix; mixed governance. National legislation, funding and curriculum settings are combined with governance by individual state-school boards. [Ministry of Education] |
| Governing Body | 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] | Ministry of Education; Education Review Office (ERO); New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA); Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). From 1 September 2026, ERO regulates early childhood education licensing and certification, private-school registration and school-hostel licensing, while the Ministry retains state-school regulation, policy, funding and curriculum responsibilities. [Ministry of Education] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 4.9% of GDP in 2022, the latest available value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS government-expenditure series. [World Bank] | 5.2% (2023). [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | Compulsory education generally begins at about age 4 and continues to about age 15. Starting rules and transition dates can vary by canton. [EDK] | 6 to 16 years. Most children begin school at age 5. [Ministry of Education] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 11 years of compulsory education. [EDK] | 10 years. [Ministry of Education] |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | In most cantons, the first two years of compulsory education are kindergarten or the first learning cycle. OECD data show that 50.3% of children aged 3–5 were enrolled in ISCED 0 early childhood education in 2023; age-specific participation rises sharply by age 5. [OECD] | Optional. In 2025, 77% of 3-year-olds and 83% of 4-year-olds attended ECE for at least 10 hours per week; 96.8% of children participated in ECE during the six months before starting school. [Education Counts] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 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] | 8 + 5 years: Years 1–8 primary/intermediate and Years 9–13 secondary, across 13 school year levels. [Ministry of Education] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | Approximately 61% vocational / 39% general among upper-secondary students in 2023. Vocational education and training remains the larger upper-secondary route. [OECD] | — |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | Typically August, although the exact opening date varies by canton and local school calendar. | February; for 2026, Term 1 could begin between 26 January and 9 February. [Ministry of Education] |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | Typically June or July, depending on the canton. | December; schools in 2026 must finish no later than 18 December. [Ministry of Education] |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | Usually about 38–39 weeks, with cantons setting their own school calendars. | — |
| Instruction Days per Year | — | — |
Grading System
| Category | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | 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. | No single national numerical grading scale applies across Years 1–13. NCEA achievement standards use Not Achieved (N), Achieved (A), Merit (M), Excellence (E). [NZQA] |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | 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 | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | 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] | English; te reo Māori in Māori-medium education. Māori-medium education enrolled 28,382 students, or 3.3% of the school population, in 2025. [Education Counts] |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | Romansh is used in parts of Graubünden, while bilingual German/French and other bilingual models operate in selected cantons and schools. | Pacific languages are used in some bilingual and immersion provision. [Education Counts] |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 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] | 95.98% in state and state-integrated schools as at 1 July 2025. [Education Counts] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0; public compulsory education is free of charge. [EDK] | $0 tuition for eligible domestic students at state schools; other costs such as uniforms, stationery and trips may apply. [Ministry of Education] |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes. Cantons and municipalities provide public compulsory education throughout Switzerland, with local organization reflecting the country's cantonal system. [EDK] | Yes. State and state-integrated schools operate nationwide, with local enrolment schemes used by some schools. [Ministry of Education] |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Approximately 5% at compulsory level. At upper-secondary level, private institutions educate about one-sixth of students. [FSO] | 3.99% in fully registered private schools as at 1 July 2025. [Education Counts] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | 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 | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | — | — |
| Number of IB World Schools | 53 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Switzerland. [IB] | 20. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge and British qualifications, American curricula, French programs and bilingual Swiss programs, depending on the school. | IB Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme; Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE and International AS & A Level. [IB] [Cambridge International] |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | 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. [EDK] | Approved Initial Teacher Education qualification, Teaching Council registration and a current practising certificate. [Teaching Council] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | Approximately 19 students in the latest comparable Swiss reporting available for this measure; class sizes vary by canton and municipality. | — |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | Approximately 19 students in the latest comparable reporting available for Switzerland. | — |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | — | — |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 515 / 484 / 495 | 494 / 506 / 508. [OECD] |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 508 / 483 / 503 [OECD] | 479 / 501 / 504. [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 499 / 470 / 501 [OECD] | 480 / 497 / 509. [Education Counts] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | 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. [OECD] | Reading in 2022 remained below results observed in 2000–2009, while mathematics and science declined over 2012–2022. In 2025, mathematics and reading were similar to 2022; the 2025 science score was not statistically different from New Zealand's 2012–2022 science scores. [OECD] [Education Counts] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science — 501 points, narrowly above mathematics at 499. [OECD] | Science — 509. [Education Counts] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | 55 institutions are currently listed by swissuniversities as accredited higher education institutions or other accredited institutions in the higher education sector. [swissuniversities] | — |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 12 universities: 10 cantonal universities and the two federal institutes of technology, ETH Zurich and EPFL. [swissuniversities] | 8. [Universities NZ] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | 10 universities of applied sciences. Swissuniversities also lists 18 universities of teacher education as a separate higher-education category. [swissuniversities] | 10 stand-alone polytechnics operating from 1 January 2026; four additional polytechnic business divisions remained within NZIST during the 2026 transition. [TEC] [TEC] |
| Main Institution Types | 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. | Universities; polytechnics and institutes of technology; wānanga; private training establishments; government training establishments. [NZQA] |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | Approximately 92.5% in public or government-dependent provision / 7.5% in independent private institutions in 2023. [OECD] | 85.5% public providers / 14.5% private training establishments by EFTS in 2025. [Education Counts] |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | — | — |
| Main Global Ranking Used | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 3 in QS 2027: ETH Zurich (=8), EPFL (=22) and University of Zurich (=98). [QS] | 1 — University of Auckland (#67), QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 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. [ETH Zurich] | 8, QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | 10 Swiss institutions in QS 2027, including the eight top-500 institutions plus the University of Fribourg and Zurich University of Applied Sciences. [QS] | 8, QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | Swiss Accreditation Council, with accreditation procedures carried out by recognized agencies including the Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ). [Swiss Accreditation Council] | NZQA quality-assures non-university tertiary providers. Universities New Zealand — Te Pōkai Tara is the statutory body responsible for quality assurance of the eight universities, with institutional review carried out through Matatāhuna-Universities Quality Assurance Agency. [NZQA] [Universities NZ] |
| International Students (Total) | — | 59,890 tertiary students in 2025. [Education Counts] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | 19.7% in 2023, up from 17.7% in 2018. [OECD] | 15.2% of tertiary headcount in 2025 (59,890 of 395,095 students). [Education Counts] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | For 2026/27, tuition at the universities listed by swissuniversities generally ranges from approximately $1,070 to $4,910 USD per year before additional compulsory fees, based on published annualized tuition of CHF 870–4,000 and the 12 September 2026 exchange rate. [swissuniversities] | 2026 University of Auckland full-time undergraduate reference range: $4,321–$11,081, converted from published NZD 7,616.40–19,531.20 fees using the 23 September 2026 NZD/USD exchange rate; Student Services Fee excluded. [University of Auckland] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | For 2026/27, published university tuition for foreign students ranges from approximately $1,070 to $9,825 USD per year before additional compulsory fees, depending on institution and study level. Several universities charge higher fees to foreign students than to domestic students. [swissuniversities] | 2026 University of Auckland full-time undergraduate reference range: $22,821–$49,110, converted from published NZD 40,225–86,561 fees using the 23 September 2026 NZD/USD exchange rate; Student Services Fee excluded. [University of Auckland] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | — | — |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | — | — |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | Switzerland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | 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 about 61% of enrollment in 2023. 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. Current developments include the 2025–2028 federal education funding period, the Swiss Education Report 2026 and new Professional Bachelor and Professional Master title additions taking effect in October 2026. | New Zealand has a public/private education system with national legislation, funding and curriculum settings alongside local governance by state-school boards. The Ministry of Education retains responsibility for policy, funding, curriculum and state-school regulation, while ERO carries review functions and, from September 2026, specified regulatory duties for ECE, private schools and school hostels. Schooling is compulsory from ages 6 to 16, although most children begin at age 5. The 13 school year levels comprise Years 1–8 primary/intermediate and Years 9–13 secondary; ECE is non-compulsory. Most students attend state or state-integrated schools. English and te reo Māori are the main curriculum languages, and NCEA is the main senior secondary qualification. In PISA 2025, New Zealand scored 480 in mathematics, 497 in reading and 509 in science. Tertiary education includes eight universities, polytechnics, wānanga and private training establishments. In 2025, tertiary headcount was 395,095, including 59,890 international students. Current structural changes include the charter-school model operating from 2025, the redesigned VET system operating from January 2026 and the September 2026 transfer of specified regulatory functions to ERO. |