Study history in Switzerland - 22 institutions

History in Switzerland has different status in the education systems of individual cantons. Differences between cantons are mainly related to curricula, number of hours, offerings for additional subjects, and whether the subject is included in the Matura exam. The federal framework conditions are governed by the provisions on the recognition of the MAR school-leaving certificate (1995) and the recommended framework curriculum for Swiss Matura schools (1994). Accordingly, history is a compulsory basic subject for all students in Swiss secondary schools, which, together with other humanities and social sciences (geography, possibly economics and law and/or philosophy), accounts for 10% to 20% of all lessons. Lessons should be competence-oriented and are mainly devoted to topics of the early modern period and contemporary history. Cantonal regulations provide for the study of civics (political education) in history lessons in Swiss schools.

Primary level

1. German-speaking Switzerland: Department of Nature, People, Society (NMG)

According to the curriculum 21, historical education is assigned to the department «Nature, People, Society» (NMG) as a learning component. The NMG department includes four thematic areas:

• Nature and Technology (NT),
• Economics, Work, Household Management (WAH),
• Times, Societies (RZG),
• Ethics, Religions, Community (ERG).

By the end of primary school, these four content-related perspectives are combined into a single subject. The main focus is on competence-development action aspects rather than content. In the NMG department, students learn to perceive the world, discover it for themselves, develop new perspectives on it, navigate it, and act within it.

2. Romandy (French-speaking Switzerland): Humanities and Social Sciences

The study plan provides for the subject area «Human and Social Sciences» for the 1st cycle (grades 1–4). In addition to geography and civic sciences, history is an integral part of this department. Within the subject «History», students work on cycle 1 topics: observing and comparing time periods, understanding the different stages of life (birth, childhood, adulthood, and death) and traces of time.

3. Tessin / Ticino (Italian canton): Environmental dimension

According to the Piano di studio in the canton of Ticino, humanities and social sciences together with natural sciences form the subject environment at the primary level. History in a narrower sense is taught in this subject from the 2nd cycle (grades 3–5). The main focus here is on comparing traditional rural society with modern urban society, and on technological, economic, and social changes in the course of the industrial revolution.

History lessons at the lower secondary school level

History lessons in lower secondary school cover the topics «times — spaces — society», as a result of which the subjects of history and geography are combined. Children acquire knowledge about orientation in space and time, and basic information on civics.

History lessons in upper secondary school

History lessons in upper secondary school (general education schools) are developed exclusively at the cantonal level. Individual gymnasiums and their student councils, as well as individual teachers, traditionally have some freedom regarding the content of history lessons.

History lessons in upper secondary school (vocational schools) are regulated at the national level. The share of civic education (political education) is higher than in general education schools, teachers have a high degree of creative freedom, and topics of the early modern period and contemporary history dominate.

• St. George's School Montreux,
• College Du Leman,
• Brillantmont International School,
• College Champittet,
• Surval Montreux boarding school for girls

Studying history in Switzerland for international students opens up broad career prospects. Graduates of history departments work in a wide range of professions: in the field of research, public administration, private industry, journalism, media/communications, or teaching in schools. Employers particularly value the thinking of history graduates, their ability to quickly grasp the essence of things, their ability to independently handle complex tasks and convincingly present the solutions they have chosen. This makes them sought-after employees who can make their mark in a dynamic work environment thanks to their resourcefulness and structured approach to work.