Education

Shaping the educational journey

Parents play the leading role in their children’s education. They ensure their kids are enrolled in the right school and have a handle on everyday school life - from schedules to school rules to making sure that homework is done. Parents are the key to success at school!

In Switzerland, school education is coordinated at the cantonal level, so there are about as many school systems as there are cantons. A change of residence can therefore also mean a change of school system. After completing primary school and the first half of secondary school, which are compulsory, young people have a wide range of options, including apprenticeships, higher vocational education, and university.

In the Schaffhausen area, most children attend public schools. The public schools provide an excellent basic education that serves as a very good foundation for the future. Education up to secondary level II is free of charge. Private schools can also provide an option for students and parents with specific needs or goals.

School System

Kindergarten

Primary School

Secondary Education (I) - Realschule

Secondary Education (I) - Sekundarschule

Secondary Education (II) - Berufslehre (Vocational Apprenticeship)

Secondary Education (II) - Berufsmittelschule (Vocational Secondary School)

Secondary Education (II) - Handelsmittelschule (Business Secondary School)

Secondary Education (II) - Gymnasium und Fachmittelschule (Specialized Secondary School)

Tertiary Education - Higher vocational education and continuing vocational education

Tertiary Education - Pädagogische Hochschule Schaffhausen (PHSH) (University for Teacher Education and Pedagogy)

Tertiary Education - Hochschule Schaffhausen (University of Applied Sciences)

Tertiary Education - Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences

Private Schools

Stadtrandschule Schaffhausen

Waldorf School Schaffhausen

Play-based learning for the youngest students: two years of compulsory kindergarten form the first step in the Swiss education system. Here, children learn through play and socialization aimed at fostering their development. Kindergarten lays a foundation for a lifelong learning journey by inspiring curiosity and teaching basic skills. 

Elementary school teaches basic academic skills and lasts six years. Children who are six years old as of August 1 begin primary school in the autumn of that year. After primary school, children either attend the Realschule or the Sekundarschule to continue their education.

Vocational apprenticeships are very important in Switzerland, and the quality of our vocational training is among the best in the world. About 300 different professions can be learned in a two- to four-year training period. The training ends with an examination and the acquisition of a federal vocational certificate, which is recognized throughout Switzerland for the two-year basic training.

The Realschule is a continuation of the elementary school, and is less demanding than the secondary school. The Realschule lasts three years.

The Sekundarschule provides a more challenging basic education and teaches at least two foreign languages. It lasts three years. Attending Sekundarschule is a prerequisite for transfer to the next stage of academic education: the Berufsmittelschule, the Handelsmittelschule, or the Gymnasium and Fachmittelschule.

For a company to be allowed to train apprentices, it must meet certain personnel and operational requirements, and comply with binding training ordinances and plans for each profession. These training principles are issued by the Federal Department of Economic Affairs. The implementation of vocational training is the responsibility of the cantons and is carried out by the cantonal vocational training offices. 

The Berufsmittelschule, or Vocational Secondary School, offers a broader education to high-achieving vocational learners as a supplement to compulsory education, or as a follow-up to the vocational apprenticeship. The Berufsmittelschule is open to all. Completion of the vocational high school grants a student access to universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) and other further education courses. 

The Handelsmittelschule (HMS) leads to the federal trade or business diploma. The HMS is a three-year full-time school-based vocational training program. The examinations for the business diploma are followed by a one-year internship in a company. The internship year is followed by the additional examinations for the vocational baccalaureate, which allows students admission to a university of applied sciences. After the internship year, successful graduates receive a federal certificate in business administration in addition to their vocational baccalaureate certificate.

The Kantonsschule Schaffhausen is the only academic secondary school in the canton. It leads to the federally recognized Matura (comparable to the German Abitur) and lasts four years. The Matura degree entitles the student to enroll in all Swiss colleges and universities.

The Fachmittelschule (FMS) grants diplomas in specialized subjects after three years of study, and entitles students to enroll in a Höhere Fachschule or begin in relevant professions requiring tertiary education. Following an internship (usually one year in duration) and examination, students are granted a certificate allowing entrance to a university of applied science (Fachhochschule) in their professional field.

After completing an apprenticeship, students have numerous opportunities to continue their education. Various training institutes offer continuing education courses on job-specific topics. It is also possible to complete a course (three years) at a higher vocational school while working or as a full-time course of study. 

The PHSH offers students two courses of study for teacher training: for kindergarten and lower school and for primary school. As part of the basic study program, students can also complete parts of their training for the lower secondary level in Schaffhausen. Together with the teaching diploma, the Bachelor of Art in Primary or Preprimary Education is awarded. The study program for primary or pre-primary education lasts three years, divided into six semesters, some of which include internships.

The Schaffhausen University of Applied Sciences (HSSH) offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in business administration, business psychology, and sports and event management, and the range of programs continues to be expanded.

The university implements "blended learning," in which semesters are divided into virtually guided self-learning phases and intensive classroom instruction at the Schaffhausen location. This allows students to remain employed or participate in top-level sports while studying at the university.

Over ten Swiss universities and universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) offer Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in areas of technology, sciences, business, design, and more. In addition to the Schaffhausen universities (the PHSH) and the HSSH), universities in the greater Zurich and St. Gallen area or in Germany can be easily reached via the excellent public transit connections. Swiss university diplomas are internationally recognized.

The International School of Schaffhausen (ISSH) opens the doors to a first-class, internationally recognized education for students. The all-day school accompanies children on their educational journey from nursery through primary and secondary school to the Matura. As an English-language and bilingual certified IB World School, ISSH teaches according to the international curriculum of the International Baccalaureate Organization.

With the goal of providing young people with more than just an education, the international private school was founded in 1999. An inspiring school community, small classes, holistic teaching methods with modern infrastructure in a historic school complex result in a unique school concept that develops your child both intellectually and character-wise.

The Stadtrandschule in the urban district of the Stahlgiesserei is a living and learning space for children and young people from the first to the ninth school year. At the Stadtrandschule, the diversity of the students is seen as an opportunity for learning and development.

1st to 5th grade, kindergarten, playgroup and a parent-child group. The school day is characterized by three equal areas that complement each other and offer each child an individual approach to the learning content: Craft and Movement, Knowledge and Recognition, Design and Experience.