Coordination of higher education sector
The federal government has funded cantonal universities since 1968 and universities of applied sciences since 1995. The Higher Education Act (HEdA) provides a common basis for the funding and coordination of the Swiss higher education sector.
Higher Education: Accreditation
The Federal Act of 30 September 2011 on the Funding and Coordination of the Higher Education Sector (HEdA) introduced a system of mandatory institutional accreditation for all higher education institutions wishing to use a legally protected designation.
Qualifications awarded by Swiss higher education institutions
All institutions within the Swiss higher education sector award Bologna-compliant qualifications based on three levels of study: Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD. This three-tiered system is described in the Swiss Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (nqf.ch-HS). A qualifications framework serves the purpose of mapping out the various qualifications within the national education system. Descriptors are used to indicate the minimum requirements for each level.
Protection and recognition of the titles of higher education qualifications
In Switzerland, protection of the titles of higher education qualifications is determined by the applicable legal bases, which depends on which authority is responsible for the given higher education institution. The protection of the titles of higher education qualifications awarded by cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education is thus determined by cantonal or intercantonal legislation.