Zurich school system - explained simply

The school system in Zurich is complex, as it consists of a large number of school levels, school types and qualifications.  

Below, we explain how the school system in the canton of Zurich is structured and introduce the various school levels, school types and qualifications.  

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Table of contents

• Basic structure of the Zurich school system
• The individual school levels and school types or qualifications
  • Early education
  • Kindergarten/ Lower level
  • Primary level
  • Secondary level I
    • Secondary school
    • Long-term grammar school
  • Secondary level II
    • Vocational basic education: Apprenticeship or Apprenticeship and BMS (Vocational Secondary School)
    • Vocational secondary schools: HMS and IMS
    • Comprehensive secondary school: FMS
    • Secondary school: Short-term grammar school
  • Tertiary level
    • Higher vocational education
    • Universities
  • Quaternary level

Basic structure of the Zurich school system

The school system in Zurich, i.e. in the canton of Zurich, is broadly divided into the following seven levels: 

• Early education 
• Kindergarten/lower level
• Primary level
• Secondary level I 
• Secondary level II 
• Tertiary level
• Quaternary level 

Within the Zurich school system, a distinction is also made between compulsory schooling and non-compulsory schooling. Compulsory schooling, i.e. the period during which school attendance is compulsory, begins in kindergarten and ends with secondary level I. Compulsory schooling lasts a total of 11 years. 

However, compulsory schooling is not only an obligation, but also a right for children to attend public primary school, provided that they reside in the canton of Zurich. Public primary school is divided into two years of kindergarten, six years of primary school and three years of secondary school; it is free of charge, politically neutral and religiously neutral.

A distinction is also made between public and private schools. Provided that the requirements are met, compulsory schooling can also be fulfilled by attending a private school or by participating in private tuition or “homeschooling”.

Infographic copyright: Lern-Forum | Lern- und Sprachsysteme Mühlebach AG (use of infographic permitted only with our consent); data source: Education statistics for the canton of Zurich

The individual school levels and school types or qualifications

The Zurich school system can be divided into different levels, with several types of schools or qualifications available at each level.

Early education

Early education precedes kindergarten. It is up to parents to decide whether they want to prepare their children for school through early education. This could involve participating in playgroups or attending family meetings, for example.

Kindergarten/ Lower level

Compulsory schooling in Zurich begins with kindergarten, and applies to all children. This is also referred to as the lower level or entry level. Specifically, all children who have reached the age of 4 by 31 July must start kindergarten at the beginning of the school year (mid-August), which then lasts for two years. In addition to the transition from learning through play to playful learning, teachers already provide age-appropriate lessons in kindergarten.  

Primary level

After kindergarten, the Zurich school system continues with primary school, which is divided into lower primary (years 1 to 3) and middle primary (years 4 to 6). Primary school lasts a total of six years.

Secondary level I

After completing the sixth year of primary school, pupils in the canton of Zurich can either transfer to secondary school or to a long-term grammar school. However, transfer to a long-term grammar school is only possible if the pupil has passed the central entrance examination (grammar school entrance examination).  

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Secondary school

Secondary school lasts three years, unless pupils transfer to a short-term grammar school or commercial secondary school (HMS) after the second year of secondary school, in which case they must pass the central entrance examination for both of these secondary schools.   

Depending on the municipality, there are two departments (A, B) or three departments (A, B, C) at secondary school, which have different requirements in order to accommodate the different performance levels of the pupils. To register for the BMS BM 1, FMS, HMS, IMS and short grammar school examinations, department A or B is required, in addition to other registration requirements.

Long-term grammar school

The long-term grammar school (academic high school) lasts a total of six years. The first six months are a probationary period. Unlike the short-term grammar school programme, Latin is compulsory at the long-term grammar school for the first two years. In the Zurich school system, however, it is also possible to transfer to grammar school (short-term grammar school) later, after the second or third year of secondary school. It is also possible to transfer to HMS after the second or third year of secondary school.

Secondary level II

Upon completion of the third year of secondary school, pupils in the Zurich school system have the following options in particular: 

• Basic vocational training: apprenticeship or apprenticeship and BMS
• Vocational secondary schools: HMS and IMS 
• General secondary school: FMS 
• Grammar school: short grammar school

Vocational basic education: Apprenticeship or Apprenticeship and BMS (Vocational Secondary School)

On the one hand, after the third year of secondary school, pupils can begin basic vocational training in the form of an apprenticeship; either an apprenticeship for an EBA profession, which lasts two years, or an EFZ apprenticeship, which lasts three to four years. Apprentices learn practical skills in the company where they are trained, while theoretical knowledge is taught at a vocational school. There are over 200 different apprenticeship professions in the canton of Zurich.  

In the case of an EFZ apprenticeship, apprentices can attend vocational school as well as vocational baccalaureate school (BMS) during their apprenticeship in order to obtain a vocational baccalaureate (BM 1) in addition to the federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ). There is also the option of attending BMS after the apprenticeship (BM 2) or, with the flex option, completing BMS partly during and partly after the apprenticeship (BM 1 flex). However, to attend BMS, you must pass the central entrance examination.  

For pupils who have not yet found an apprenticeship or do not know what career they want to pursue, there are public or private bridge programmes after secondary level I. Public bridge programmes include the vocational preparation year (BVJ) and the pre-apprenticeship. Private bridge programmes include, for example, the preliminary course, the social year, the internship or work placement.

Vocational secondary schools: HMS and IMS

Those who have not already transferred to commercial secondary school (HMS) after the second year of secondary school can also do so after the third year, provided they have passed the relevant entrance examination. HMS is a vocational secondary school that leads to the Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ) in Commerce and a vocational baccalaureate.  

Another vocational secondary school is the IT secondary school (IMS), which can only be transferred to after the third year of secondary school once the entrance exam has been passed. The IMS leads to the EFZ IT specialist qualification and the vocational baccalaureate.

Comprehensive secondary school: FMS

The Specialized secondary school (FMS) is a secondary school offering general education and personal development, where students specialise in a particular field (profile) after completing a foundation year. There are three profiles to choose from: health and natural sciences, education, and communication and information. To attend the FMS, students must first pass the FMS examination.

Secondary school: Short-term grammar school

As with HMS, the following applies to short-term grammar schools: students who have not already transferred to a short-term grammar school after the second year of secondary school can also do so after the third year, provided they have passed the relevant entrance examination. The short-term grammar school lasts four years and, like the long-term grammar school, concludes with the federal grammar school leaving certificate.  

Those who did not make it to grammar school during secondary level II can, under certain conditions, take the adult grammar school leaving certificate at the Cantonal Maturity School for Adults (KME) as an adult through adult education. 

Tertiary level

At tertiary level, the Zurich school system distinguishes between higher vocational education and universities.

Higher vocational education

After obtaining a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ) or a school leaving certificate (FMS, BMS, HMS, IMS, Gymnasium) and, in most cases, relevant professional experience, the path to higher vocational education is open.   

Higher vocational education includes, on the one hand, higher technical colleges (HF), which can be completed with an HF diploma (federally recognised). On the other hand, higher vocational education also includes higher technical examinations (HFP) (federal diploma) and professional examinations (BP) (federal professional certificate).

Universities

Universities are divided into universities of applied sciences (FH), universities of teacher education (PH), universities and federal institutes of technology (ETH).  

Universities of applied sciences (FH) are open to students who have completed their vocational baccalaureate at a BMS, HMS or IMS or their specialised baccalaureate at an FMS. Those who wish to study at an FH with a grammar school baccalaureate also need one year of professional experience. Both bachelor's and master's degree programmes are offered at FHs.  

Teacher training colleges (PH), universities and federal institutes of technology (ETH) are open to pupils who have obtained a grammar school leaving certificate, but also to pupils who have passed the passerelle supplementary examination after obtaining a vocational baccalaureate or specialised baccalaureate. At PH, university and ETH, you can complete a bachelor's and/or master's degree. At universities and ETH, it is also possible to do a PhD/doctorate.

Quaternary level

Finally, the Zurich school system also offers what is known as the quaternary level, with further education and training after vocational training or university studies.  

BMS instead of grammar school: Start preparing for BMS now!

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