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New Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation 2026: key changes

The new Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation (Berufsmaturitätsverordnung, BMV) will come into force on 1 March 2026 with important changes. The BMV is part of the ‘Vocational Baccalaureate 2030’ (‘BM2030’) project, which aims to make the vocational baccalaureate fit for the future. 

In the following article, we explain what vocational baccalaureate is, what the ‘Vocational Baccalaureate 2030’ (‘BM2030’) project entails and what important changes will come into force with the new Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation (BMV) on 1 March 2026.  

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Table of contents

 

What is the vocational baccalaureate?

The vocational baccalaureate is a secondary school qualification awarded by vocational baccalaureate schools. Holders of the vocational baccalaureate have a double qualification. On the one hand, they have a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ apprenticeship) and, on the other hand, they have obtained a vocational baccalaureate certificate, as they have also completed an EFZ apprenticeship alongside or prior to attending vocational baccalaureate school.

 

History of the vocational baccalaureate

The vocational baccalaureate school (BMS) has its roots in the vocational secondary school. The first classes at vocational secondary schools in the canton of Zurich began in 1970. The idea behind this new type of school at the time was to provide appropriate training for the intellectualisation of vocational professions, especially for middle management.   

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The vocational baccalaureate was introduced in Switzerland in 1993. The first vocational baccalaureate certificates were then awarded in 1994. One of the aims of the vocational baccalaureate is to make the Swiss education system more permeable. On the one hand, the vocational baccalaureate certificate allows holders to study directly at a university of applied sciences in a subject area related to their profession. On the other hand, the Passerelle supplementary examination also gives access to universities.  

Also read our article ‘Which of the BMS specialisations should I choose?’.

In addition, since 1993 it has also been possible to attend BMS after completing basic vocational training, i.e. after an apprenticeship. In addition to the option of attending vocational baccalaureate school during an apprenticeship (‘BM 1’), there was therefore a second option of attending vocational baccalaureate school after an apprenticeship (‘BM 2’). There is now a third option, ‘BM 1 flex’, which allows students to start BMS during their apprenticeship but only complete it after their apprenticeship. However, the ‘BM 1 flex’ option is only available for certain apprenticeships.

 

Statistics on BMS

In 2023, around 13,500 people obtained a vocational baccalaureate in Switzerland. In comparison, around 19,500 people obtained an academic baccalaureate.   

The proportion of the total population aged 25 and under with a vocational baccalaureate diploma is 15.5% (vocational baccalaureate rate), while the proportion with an academic baccalaureate diploma is 23.2% (academic baccalaureate rate). The technical baccalaureate rate is 4.2%. Overall, the matriculation rate in Switzerland was 42.9% in 2023.  

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Project «Vocational Baccalaureate 2030» («BM2030»)

The ‘Vocational Baccalaureate 2030’ (‘BM2030’) project was launched in 2023 and has now been completed. The aim of this project was to ensure that the vocational baccalaureate remains attractive in the future. The year 2030 is the target year by which the changes to the vocational baccalaureate should bear fruit on the labour market.  

First, the ‘Vocational Baccalaureate 2030’ project examined the need for adjustments to the vocational baccalaureate and then made the necessary changes, particularly to the Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation (BMV).

Specifically, the following objectives were set:  

  • Review and optimisation of the 2009 Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation (BMV)
     
  • Review and optimisation of the 2012 framework curriculum for vocational baccalaureate
     
  • Streamlining and digitisation of procedures for the recognition of educational programmes
     
  • Stronger cooperation between partners and improvement of information and communication regarding vocational baccalaureate (BM)

 

Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation 2026 - most important changes

The review of the need for adjustments revealed that a fundamental reform of the vocational baccalaureate was not necessary, particularly as the vocational baccalaureate already adequately prepares students for studies at universities of applied sciences. For this reason, only a partial revision of the vocational baccalaureate was carried out, involving minor adjustments and clarifications.  

The Swiss Federal Council completed this partial revision of the vocational baccalaureate on 13 June 2025 by passing the new Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation 2026.  

We have listed the most important changes to the vocational baccalaureate and the Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation (BMV) below:

  • English becomes compulsory as a third language in the vocational baccalaureate (Art. 8 BMV).
     
  • Those who do not pass or complete vocational baccalaureate school during their apprenticeship (BM 1) can now attend vocational baccalaureate school after their apprenticeship (BM 2) (Art. 13 BMV).
     
  • In the case of vocational baccalaureate school after the apprenticeship (BM 2), provisional semester promotion is now also possible if the promotion requirements are not met (Art. 16 para. 6 BMV).
     
  • Interdisciplinary work can be organised more flexibly (Art. 11 BMV).
     
  • The presentation of interdisciplinary project work (IDPA) has been expanded to include an in-depth discussion of the IDPA (Art. 23 para. 7 BMV).
     
  • The framework curriculum now also contains guidelines on combining traditional teaching and learning methods with the possibilities offered by digital media and applications (blended learning) (Art. 12 BMV).
     
  • In order to take account of modern teaching and learning methods such as blended learning, the term ‘BM lesson’ has been expanded, meaning that BM lessons no longer only refer to school attendance times (Art. 5 lit. c BMV).
     
  • The calculation of grades has been changed with regard to the applicable rounding rules for more meaningful semester and vocational baccalaureate certificates (Art. 23 BMV).
     
  • The written final examinations are now prepared and validated at cantonal or intercantonal level to ensure uniformity (Art. 20 BMV).

In addition, there are further changes to the previous Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation, which are now reflected in the new Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation. 

And by the way: there is no such thing as a ‘Zurich Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation. The ‘Vocational Baccalaureate Regulation’ is actually a set of rules for the whole of Switzerland that was passed by the Swiss Federal Council. It's also called the ‘Regulation on the Federal Vocational Baccalaureate’. According to Article 25 of the Vocational Training Act, the Federal Council is responsible for regulating the vocational baccalaureate. 

Nevertheless, the canton of Zurich has regulations governing vocational baccalaureate education and the final examinations for the vocational baccalaureate, which can be found in the Vocational Baccalaureate Rules (Berufsmaturitätsreglement, BMR).

 

Conclusion

The original aim of the vocational baccalaureate revision was to make vocational baccalaureate schools fit for the future so that BMS graduates would still be able to compete in the job market in 2030. 

However, during the preparatory work for the BMS revision, it was determined that there was no need to make any changes to the vocational baccalaureate. This is because BMS schools already adequately prepare their students for studies at a university of applied sciences, which is the main objective of vocational baccalaureate schools.

In order to optimise the programme nonetheless, the decision was made to increase flexibility in teaching and towards students. Even the new compulsory English course at BMS can be summarised under the heading of flexibility, as mastering another foreign language gives BMS graduates even more opportunities on the future job market.

Find the right BMS preparation course

 

Sources

 

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