Everything you want to know about the matura.

The gymnasial matura is the upper secondary academic leaving certificate in Switzerland. It is awarded after a 3 to 4-year programme at a gymnasium, lyceum or college jointly recognised by the Confederation and the CDPE. It provides general access to Swiss universities, Federal Institutes of Technology and universities of applied sciences without additional entrance exams.

A gymnasium or school whose programme is recognised by the canton and the CDPE awards the gymnasial matura certificate directly. A private preparatory school, on the other hand, does not award the certificate itself: its students must sit the Swiss matura exam organised by SERI to obtain it. Both routes lead to a certificate of equal legal value.

The Swiss matura exam is a centralised examination organised by SERI and the Swiss Matura Commission (SMC). It allows candidates to obtain a federally recognised gymnasial matura certificate without having attended a recognised gymnasium. It is open to candidates of any age, takes place twice a year (spring and autumn), and covers the same subjects as the standard gymnasial matura.

Yes. There is no age limit for registering for the Swiss matura exam. It is accessible to adults changing careers, people who completed an apprenticeship, parents returning to study, and professionals wishing to access university programmes.

The pass rate is generally below 60%. It is a demanding examination that requires serious, structured preparation. Candidates who have followed a course at a recognised preparatory school achieve better results than self-taught candidates.

Yes. The Swiss gymnasial matura provides direct access to EPFL (Lausanne) and ETH Zurich, the two Federal Institutes of Technology, without additional entrance exams. Some highly competitive programmes may however apply selection based on grades.

At a recognised gymnasium, the programme lasts 3 to 4 years depending on the canton, after lower secondary school (end of compulsory education). For the Swiss matura exam as an adult, preparation typically takes between 1 and 3 years, depending on the chosen pace (full time or alongside professional activity) and starting level.

Yes. The Swiss gymnasial matura is widely recognised internationally. It is considered the equivalent of the French Baccalauréat, the Austrian Matura or the German Abitur. It is accepted by the vast majority of European universities. For English-speaking countries (United States, United Kingdom), additional conditions may be required depending on the institution.

To obtain the certificate at a recognised gymnasium: an overall average of at least 4.0 out of 6.0, no more than 3 failing grades (below 4), a total deficit of fewer than 2 points, and a completed and passed matura thesis. Similar conditions apply for the Swiss matura exam, under SERI regulations.

The specific subject is an in-depth subject chosen at the start of gymnasium. It accompanies the student throughout the programme with a high number of teaching hours and a significant weighting. Available options include: physics & mathematics, economics & law, biology & chemistry, languages (Latin, Spanish, Greek), visual arts, music, computer science, history & political science.

Several formats exist for combining work and preparation: evening classes at a preparatory school, intensive courses over set weeks, remote or hybrid learning. Institutions such as Collège Pierre Viret in Lausanne offer formats specifically designed for working adults.

The gymnasial matura is obtained after an academic programme at gymnasium — it provides direct access to universities and Federal Institutes of Technology. The vocational matura is obtained alongside an apprenticeship — it gives access to universities of applied sciences (HES/FH) but not directly to universities. A bridging examination ("passerelle"/DUBS) allows holders of a vocational matura to access universities.