What are the main disadvantages of the vocational baccalaureate?

The vocational baccalaureate makes it possible to combine vocational knowledge with a more in-depth general education. This makes the vocational baccalaureate a suitable basis for access to tertiary-level schools and numerous further education courses.

The main disadvantages of a vocational baccalaureate are:

  1. The vocational baccalaureate is offered in five subject areas: Technology, Architecture and Life Sciences / Nature, Landscape and Food / Business and Services / Design and Art / Health and Social Affairs. These naturally also prepare students for further education in the corresponding specializations. However, some specializations are only offered in certain cantons.
  2. The general focus areas are language-based and require mathematical skills. In addition, there is the chosen focus area and supplementary areas such as history and politics, technology and the environment as well as economics and law. You therefore need a broad interest in general education and specific specialist knowledge. This is relatively demanding and challenging.
  3. The pressure to learn during the apprenticeship and the pressure to pass the final exams are high. You have to deliver to the point across all subjects. During the apprenticeship, you spend one day less in the company and can gain slightly less practical experience.
  4. The vocational baccalaureate paves the way to the UAS and confirms a good general education. However, you can only really get started and boost your career with a subsequent course of study at a university of applied sciences. This in turn means three to four years of study, which is associated with costs, possible loss of salary and limited free time.

 

Holders of a vocational baccalaureate have the right to examination-free access to a professionally related course of study at a university of applied sciences. In addition to the formal admission requirements, additional admission requirements such as internships, aptitude tests, etc. may apply.

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