Author
Basic education is mandatory until the age of 16 and must be available to all children in Switzerland. The cantons are responsible for the system of school education and state schools are free of charge.[1] As long as the children are accommodated in a federal reception centre (first phase of the procedure), schooling is mainly organised within the centres. To meet the requirements of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, particularly as regards access to education until the age of 18, law and practice would need be adjusted. For teenagers who arrive just at or above the age of 16 years, access to education can be challenging.[2] No major obstacles are reported regarding the access to education until the age of 16.
Recognised refugees have the same rights concerning access to education as Swiss nationals, including special education for people with disabilities. According to the Federal Constitution, cantons shall ensure that adequate special needs education is provided to all children and young people with disabilities up to the age of 20. As the system of school education depends on the canton, the implementation differs. Refugees can also apply for scholarships for higher education. It must be noted that normally, when being granted a scholarship, social assistance will be cut.[3]
A study of the educational opportunities available to young refugees in Switzerland published in 2024 shows a mixed picture. Although the federal government, cantons and municipalities agree that access to education should be promoted, in practice there are major obstacles and differences depending on the canton and municipality.[4]
In March 2025, it was announced that Swiss universities[5] and the SEM want to increase the chances of recognised refugees and temporarily admitted persons to complete a university education in Switzerland as part of a joint pilot project. The project aims to enable refugees with the relevant potential to access higher education over the next four years. This corresponds to a strategic goal of the Swiss Integration Agenda adopted by the federal government and the cantons.[6]
[1] Article 62 Federal Constitution.
[2] For further information: Report on “Access to education regardless of legal status” by the Swiss Observatory for on asylum and foreigner law (SBAA), 2021, available in German (and French) here.
[3] See for further information (in English) here.
[4] Swiss Forum for Migration and Population Studies (SFM), “Unterschiedlich unterwegs” – Mapping der (Aus)Bildung für junge Geflüchtete mit Fokus auf spezifischer Integrationsförderung (IAS/KIP), February 2024, available here.
[5] The umbrella organisation of Swiss universities, more information available here.
[6] More information on this can be found here in French and German.