Conditions for admission
General conditions for admission to universities of teacher education
In order to be accepted on a course of study at a university of teacher education (UTE), according to the regulations of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Directors of Education (EDK) and depending on the chosen course of study, students are required to have passed the academic maturity examination, possess a teaching diploma recognised by the EDK or a degree from a university of applied sciences. Candidates who possess a specialized maturity certificate with a pedagogical orientation may also be admitted to certain courses of study (teacher training for preschool and primary levels).
To be accepted on a teacher training course to teach at Secondary II level students must have completed a recognised Master degree course in one or two teaching subjects.
To be accepted onto a specialised teacher training course (focussing on early years or special needs) students must have a diploma for teaching standard classes or a degree in speech therapy or psychomotor therapy (at least at Bachelor level) or a Bachelor in an associated study area. The EDK regulations on recognition of diplomas provide information about minimum admission requirements.
For all courses of study, the teacher education institutions may impose additional admission requirements. You will find more detailed information on admission requirements on the websites of the various universities of teacher education. For all other study courses in the field of professional training, Master in Disciplinary Didactics and all other Master degrees, we recommend that you apply directly to the university of teacher education concerned.
Admissions procedure for persons without the academic maturity certificate or without a specialized maturity certificate with a pedagogical orientation
Holders of the professional maturity qualification, a certificate awarded by a specialised middle school (Fachmittelschule, école de culture générale ECG), a diploma from a diploma middle school (Diplommittelschule/école du degré diplôme EDD) or a diploma from a higher commercial school (höhere Handelsschule / école supérieure de commerce ESC) may be admitted to a course of study if they can demonstrate that their level of knowledge is equivalent to that acquired for a specialized maturity certificate with a pedagogical orientation or academic maturity qualification. During the admissions procedure it is determined whether or not the candidate has the level of general cultural knowledge required for the proposed course of study. Several universities of teacher education require candidates to sit an entrance examination and/or offer a preparatory course in order that they may acquire the necessary knowledge.
Furthermore, it is possible to enter the teaching profession having previously practised another profession. In general, the EDK rules regarding admission requirements must be met. To find out more about the admission procedures, we recommend that you contact directly the university of teacher education concerned. We recommend that you find out the exact details regarding admission procedures from the UTEs some time before applying.
Access for foreign students
The universities of teacher education decide independently on their own admissions procedure; these must conform with the conditions of access to the universities of teacher education. Students must be fully competent in the language of instruction.
Foreign students who wish to attend a university of teacher education in Switzerland should apply directly to the institute of their choice, if possible a year before they wish to begin their studies. For students in possession of a foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificate, the official admission list of the Federal Institutes of Technology and the cantonal universities of the Rector’s Conference of the Swiss Universities CRUS (in French and German only) applies.