Young people who have completed primary school, usually from the age of 16, are not subject to compulsory schooling. There are various training opportunities for them. Integration courses are offered for newly arrived adolescents and young adults from abroad who live in the city of Zurich.

For young people between the ages of 15 and 21 who are no longer required to attend school, the City of Zurich offers an integration course. In the "Vocational Preparation Year Language and Integration", they expand their German language skills and train skills for working life. You will learn to organise your everyday life in Zurich independently and prepare for vocational training. Your teacher accompanies and supports you in your search for an apprenticeship or job. Registration with a cantonal secondary school is also possible for good pupils .

Information on the vocational preparation year (in different languages) and registration can be found here. Attention: Contact the school early enough to avoid long waiting times.

For very good students with sufficient knowledge of German, it is also possible to be admitted directly to a cantonal secondary school (Gymnasium or FMS). Each school can decide for itself whether the previous academic achievements and the German language skills (as well as the French language skills) are sufficient for admission with a probationary period. More information and the addresses of the cantonal secondary schools can be found  here.