A Bachelor’s degree or a federal certificate: which qualification should you choose to build a career in Switzerland? Apart from the qualification obtained, salary, career prospects, the cost of training and, above all, professional experience play a decisive role.
Here are the key points to compare.
The bachelor's degree is a higher education qualification, usually obtained after three years of full-time study (180 ECTS credits). Depending on the course, it can be studied at a university, a university of applied sciences (HES) or another higher education institution.
The Federal Diploma of Higher Education is part of higher vocational training. It is primarily aimed at professionals who wish to develop their skills further and advance in their field, usually whilst continuing to work.
Statistics from the Federal Statistical Office show that earnings can be high on both career paths, but the comparison must take experience into account.
Six years after obtaining a higher vocational qualification, the standardised median gross monthly full-time earnings amount to approximately 7,800 CHF for holders of a federal certificate.
For holders of a Bachelor’s degree from a University of Applied Sciences (HES), earnings vary considerably depending on the field. One year after graduation, the median annual income was approximately CHF 78,000, and amounted to approximately CHF 83,000 in the technical and IT sectors in the data from the’OFS.
Please note: these figures do not mean that one degree «pays better» than another. The people being compared do not necessarily share the same age, experience or profession.
Depending on the specialisation, the bachelor’s degree can lead directly to careers in IT, engineering, economics, healthcare, social work or communications.
The federal certificate is more focused on vocational specialisation. In particular, there are training courses in finance, human resources, accountancy, sales, insurance and management.
The choice therefore depends, above all, on the career you are aiming for.
The cost varies depending on the course and the institution.
A bachelor’s degree usually involves several years of study, which may result in a loss of income if the student is not working full-time.
The federal certificate, on the other hand, can be studied for whilst working. The Confederation may also cover the costs of 50 per cent of the course fees taken into account, up to 9,500 CHF for a federal vocational examination, subject to certain conditions.
The Bachelor’s degree may be particularly suitable for someone who wishes to pursue higher education and enter certain skilled professions.
The Federal Certificate may be of particular interest to an experienced professional who wishes to specialise or take on greater responsibilities whilst continuing to work.
In Switzerland, The role, experience and skills therefore remain key factors in determining the level of pay. The best choice depends, above all, on your background and your career goals.
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