About 20% of young Swiss continue their secondary education at the type of school known in German as Gymnasium and in French as gymnase, which offers a general education, leading to the school leaving certificate, or Matura (maturité in French). This qualifies them to go to university or to one of the two Federal Polytechnics. In 2001 18.5% of Swiss 19 year olds gained their Matura.

There exists a second type of general education school at Secondary II level, which prepares students who wish to go on to further studies in the areas of healthcare, social work and the arts.

The general education option is more popular among women than among men, and among French and Italian speakers than among German speakers.