The diploma
Is the exact school-leaving qualification recognised for entry to the chosen university?
SWISS MATURITÉ & UNIVERSITY PATHWAYS
Does your child meet
the entry requirements?
A school-leaving diploma does not automatically open every Swiss university. The qualification, subjects studied and grades must match the university’s requirements. We establish whether your child can apply with their existing school pathway—or what they need to complete first.
01 · UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS
The diploma is part of the picture.
The subjects matter too.
Requirements vary by university, programme and school system. We compare your child’s actual school record with the intended destination.
The subjects
Has your child studied the required subjects, at the right level and for the required number of years?
The results
Do their overall and subject grades meet the published thresholds? A strong average alone may not be enough.
Other conditions
What language evidence, assessments or programme-specific conditions must also be met?
02 · IDENTIFY THE NEXT STEP
Requirements met—or a gap to address?
THE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET
Move ahead with the application.
Your child’s diploma, subject choices and results fit the academic entry route. We prepare and coordinate the application, including language evidence and any further programme requirements.
Preparation is not an automatic extra step.
SOMETHING IS MISSING
Establish how the gap can be addressed.
A required subject, subject level or recognised qualification is missing. We clarify which additional examination or qualification the university will accept, then identify appropriate preparation.
An accepted route comes before a course recommendation.
03 · WHEN PREPARATION IS NEEDED
Complete the requirements.
Keep the university goal in view.
Preparation has a specific purpose: working towards the examination or qualification needed for the chosen entry route. Two possible routes are:
A Swiss Maturité
A recognised Swiss academic Maturité is a university entrance qualification in its own right. Preparing for it can provide a new qualification when the student’s existing school pathway does not meet the intended university’s requirements. The student must pass the examinations; programme-specific conditions still apply.
A required supplementary examination
For certain foreign diplomas, a university may require an examination such as ECUS. The university assesses the application and determines whether that route applies. ECUS is not a replacement that every student can choose for a missing subject.
When could your child prepare?
Once the accepted route is clear, we compare the timing with school commitments and the intended university intake.
ALONGSIDE SCHOOL
During the final school year.
Where the student’s background and the examination schedule allow, preparation can fit alongside their final school year. We assess the subjects to cover and the workload before recommending this timetable.
Current studies + preparationRequired examination or qualification
AFTER GRADUATION
A dedicated preparation year.
A separate year can give the student time to cover the required syllabus and prepare for the agreed examination or qualification. The actual duration depends on their starting point; some routes need longer.
Finish schoolPreparation + examination
OUR ROLE
Know what is missing.
Know how to move forward.
- 01
Check the academic record.
We review the diploma, transcripts, subjects and levels against the universities your child is considering.
- 02
Confirm the appropriate route.
We clarify the requirements to complete, the qualification or examination involved, and the effect on the intended intake.
- 03
Organise the next steps.
If preparation is needed, we help select a suitable provider and coordinate the plan with the university application. The provider delivers the teaching.
For our first conversation: your child’s diploma, recent transcripts, subject choices and university plans.
Schedule a call with a counselorQUESTIONS FROM FAMILIES
Understand the route
before choosing a course.
My child has good grades. Why might preparation still be needed?
Grades and subject coverage are separate requirements. A student can have excellent results but lack a required subject, its expected level or sufficient years of study. Some school-leaving diplomas also need an additional qualification or examination for the intended university. We identify the precise gap first.
Does my child need a Swiss Maturité to study in Switzerland?
Not necessarily. Many foreign qualifications meet a university's conditions when the required subjects and results are present. If your child already meets the entry requirements, we proceed with the application. A Swiss Maturité is one possible route when the existing school pathway is insufficient.
Can preparation be completed during the final school year?
It may be possible to begin or complete suitable preparation alongside school. We check the qualification being pursued, existing subjects and languages, workload and examination calendar. Some students need an earlier start or a separate preparation period after graduation.
Does a preparation course make the diploma equivalent?
The course prepares the student for an accepted examination or qualification; attendance alone does not establish equivalence. We confirm the recognised outcome of the route before recommending a provider. The university determines admission, and any programme-specific restrictions still apply.
Official references · Checked 1 October 2026. Requirements apply to the stated qualification, university and intake.
UNIGE · school subjects and general education SERI · preparing for the Swiss Maturité examination swissuniversities · Swiss entrance qualifications UNIGE · when ECUS applies