Terms & Disclaimers

In Switzerland, diploma programs are structured into 8 levels, each corresponding to the 8 levels of the European Qualification Framework (EQF), with level 8 being equivalent to a doctorate level.

• Diploma programs of SIMI Swiss are professional education programs that tend to be shorter, more specialized, and may focus on practical skills or specific job-based training.
• Degree programs of SIMI Swiss are academic education programs that are generally longer and provide a broader and more theoretical education.

The type of qualification awarded by a Swiss diploma is based on the size and level of the program.

Level:

This implies that every qualification issued upon completing Swiss Diploma programs is assigned a specific level, ranging from Level 1 to Level 8. The level assigned to a qualification indicates its complexity and rigor. These levels allow for easy comparison and measurement against other qualifications—for instance, a Level 7 award is roughly equivalent to a master's level.

Size:

Thus, while the level system indicates the difficulty, qualifications are categorized by size into Awards, Certificates, and Diplomas. Each category reflects the time required to complete the qualification, with an Award requiring the least time and a Diploma the most.

• an Award is 1 - 12 credits which means 10 - 120 hours of study e.g. the Level 3 Award in Education and Training is 10 credits (100 hours)
• a Certificate is 13 - 36 credits which means 130 - 360 hours of study e.g. the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training is 30 credits (300 hours)
• a Diploma is 37 or more credits which means 370 or more hours of study e.g. the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training is 120 credits (1200 hours).