Executive Summary

On 24 June 2026, the Federal Council adopted amendments to the Vocational Education Act, which will come into force on 1 October 2026. Graduates of higher vocational education will now receive the protected title additions «Professional Bachelor» and «Professional Master». These measures also include the protected designation «Higher Technical School», the option of English as an examination language, and more flexible postgraduate study programmes. The revision was developed jointly with cantons, labour market organisations, and higher education institutions.

Persons

  • Federal Council (collective; decision-making body)

Topics

  • Vocational education
  • Higher technical schools
  • Tertiary level
  • Legislative revision

Clarus Lead

The introduction of internationally comprehensible title additions repositions higher vocational education as an equivalent alternative to university degrees at the tertiary level. This addresses a growing skills shortage in small and medium-sized enterprises that require practice-oriented qualifications. The retroactive application to all previous graduates increases the attractiveness of this educational pathway and strengthens the competitiveness of the Swiss economy in an international context.

Detailed Summary

The Vocational Education Ordinance (BBV) will be adapted in parallel and will regulate the issuance of federal professional certificates and diplomas with the new title additions. Future graduates will receive these designations on their certificates. At the same time, the ordinance of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (WBF) on minimum requirements for higher technical schools (MiVo-HF) will be revised – in particular, the framework conditions for postgraduate study programmes will be made more flexible and the formal recognition procedure for these offerings will be eliminated.

From 1 October 2026, all holders of a higher vocational education diploma – regardless of when they graduated – may use the title addition «Professional Bachelor» (for federal professional examinations and higher technical schools) or «Professional Master» (for federal advanced professional examinations) in the official languages. This retroactive regulation creates equal treatment for earlier graduates.

Key Messages

  • Higher vocational education gains clearer international positioning at the tertiary level through new title additions
  • All previous and future graduates can use the protected designations
  • Flexibilised postgraduate study programmes and simplified recognition procedures reduce administrative barriers
  • The measure aims at securing skilled workers in SMEs and strengthening economic competitiveness

Critical Questions

  1. Source Validity: What empirical data demonstrate that new title additions actually increase the attractiveness of higher vocational education – or is the assumption primarily based on international benchmarks?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: To what extent have labour market organisations (SMEs, associations) incorporated their own recruitment interests in shaping the title additions, and how was neutrality ensured?

  3. Causality: Is it documented whether the skills shortage is primarily caused by lack of awareness or by insufficient competency development – or does the measure only address the symptom?

  4. Implementation Risks: What costs arise for higher technical schools and providers through the adaptation of diplomas, certificates, and administrative systems, and how are these distributed?

  5. International Recognition: Will the new title additions actually be recognised by employers and higher education institutions abroad as equivalent to «Bachelor» and «Master», or is there a recognition risk?

  6. Flexibilisation of Postgraduate Study Programmes: What quality standards still apply after the formal recognition procedure is eliminated – and who controls compliance?

Bibliography

Primary Source: Federal Council – Vocational Education Act: Amendment in force from 1 October 2026 – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/AqnyNTEnktUheNCP6FOoj

Supplementary Sources:

  1. State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI): Measures to Strengthen Higher Vocational Education
  2. SBFI: FAQ «Measures Package Higher Vocational Education»: Graduates
  3. SBFI: Supplementary FAQ «Measures Package Higher Vocational Education»: Providers and Higher Technical Schools

Verification Status: ✓ 24.06.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 24.06.2026