The Swiss education system is a very varied one, due to the authorization being delegated by its constitution, to the cantons or member states for the school system. The constitution of Switzerland laid the foundation, by which the primary education is compulsory to each kid and no fees is charged in public schools and the confederation can aid or administer universities.

Of the 26 cantons of Switzerland, except in Obwalden, the minimum age requirement in primary schools is 6 years. In Obwalden is 5yrs and 3 months. Once after the completion of primary school, the students are segregated as per the capabilities and career goals. Approximately twenty percent of the students attend secondary schools after finishing, a total of 12 years in federal endorsed Matura, which offers admission to the Universities. The rest of the students are divided into two more types of schools (as per the canton) differentiating in balance of practical and theoretical learning. It is mandatory that all kids must have to study in school for a period of 9 years.

Primary education

The compulsory education system comprises of primary education (Primarschule (German), scuola primaria / elementare (Italian) and école primaire (French) and secondary education I (Sekundarstufe I (German), scuola secondaria / media (Italian), secondaire I (French)).Prior to this the kids usually attend Kindergarten, which is non obligatory. A minimum of 6 years is essential in all cantons except in Obwalden, which requires 5 years& 3 months, and in Nidwalden, Thurgau cantons, where in exceptional cases, even children of 5 years old are admitted to commence their primary education.

Secondary education

After the completion of Primary education, the students are seperated into group as per the capabilities and career goals into various (normally three) groups. Pupils, who seek academic profession goes to the high schools called as "Kantonsschule"or "Gymnasium" to get ready for additional studies and Matura (normally acquired after twelve or thirteen years of education at the age of eighteen or nineteen years.

Pupils who want aspire for a vocation or trade career finish an extra 3 years prior to entering into the Vocational education. The federal law controls the vocational education and on the basis of private business cooperation providing job positions and public schools providing mandatory school lessons approving to the on the job learning.

There are different types of model in the lower secondary education level like separate Cooperative, and integrated model,

Tertiary education

The Tertiary education is on the preferred education in secondary schools. For Pupils with Matura, the University is the most usual one. Trainees, who have done a vocational high school, will include a Höhere Fachschule or Fachhochschule to their syllabus. Next to Australia, Switzerland has the maximum rate of foreign students in tertiary education.

Fourteen generic and public universities are found in Switzerland, out of which ten are preserved at the canton level and normally offers a range of non technical subjects. Out of the remaining 4 universities, two are administered by “Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology" commonly called as the Swiss confederation.