Published on 1 February 2026

Swiss schools abroad

Swiss schools abroad are private non-profit institutions and are religiously and politically neutral. They are well-established in their host countries and enjoy an excellent reputation there. The association educationsuisse represents the interests of the Swiss schools to the Swiss authorities and provides information to Swiss schools funded by the Confederation.

educationsuisse was founded in 1942 as a committee to assist Swiss schools abroad. A merger in January 2014 allowed it to pool its resources with those of AJAS, an association founded in 1962 to support education for young Swiss people abroad.

educationsuisse aims to help Swiss citizens abroad build ties with each other and their home country, and to raise the profile of Swiss education abroad. To that end, it supports federally recognised Swiss schools abroad as well as other forms of Swiss education abroad. It also advises and assists young Swiss citizens abroad and graduates of Swiss schools funded by the Confederation with regard to their further education in Switzerland.

There are 17 federally recognised Swiss schools around the world which meet the legal requirements of the Swiss schools act and its implementing ordinance. The Committee for Swiss Schools Abroad also plays an advisory role in this context. The schools provide a standard of teaching comparable with that in Switzerland, and are assisted in this by a number of cantons which provide pedagogical support. They ensure students can be integrated into the education system in Switzerland or their host country, and offer the opportunity to obtain an international baccalaureate or a federally recognised school-leaving certificate (matura).

Swiss schools abroad are notable for their multilingual teaching provision (German, English, French and a national language of the host country). Classes are always offered in at least two languages. The schools are known for their high-quality teaching, and are often attended by students from the host country or third countries, further diversifying these multicultural institutions.

educationsuisse supports the creation of new Swiss schools abroad that are likely to receive funding from the Confederation. It also advises young Swiss citizens abroad and students at Swiss schools abroad on applying for cantonal grants, carries out public relations work, liaises between Swiss educational institutions and Swiss schools abroad, and offers consultations in cooperation with the Canton of Bern's careers advice centre (BIZ Bern).

Requesting Swiss educational support as a parent abroad

Swiss families abroad who do not live near a Swiss school but want their children to receive Swiss educational support can:

  • ask the Confederation for financial support in hiring a Swiss teacher at a non-Swiss school abroad;
  • ask the Confederation to finance classes on Swiss geography, history and culture or the teaching of a Swiss national language;
  • receive support in acquiring Swiss educational materials.

The initiative or request must in all cases be made by a Swiss parents' association or another Swiss organisation. Requests must be addressed to the Federal Office of Culture.

Contact

Innovation and Partnerships
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Consular Directorate CD
Effingerstrasse 27
3003 Bern