Graduate Survey (EHA)

Who is surveyed?

The survey is an exhaustive one. All graduates from Swiss higher education institutions who have received one of the following qualifications in an even graduation year are interviewed:

• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Diploma/licentiate/state examination
• PhD

Swiss higher education institutions comprise universities, the Federal Institutes of Technology, universities of applied sciences, and universities of teacher education. Graduates are interviewed on two different occasions. The first interview takes place about one year after graduation, the second roughly five years after.

Am I required to participate in the survey?

No. Participation in the Survey of Higher Education Graduates is voluntary. There are no fees or legal consequences if you choose not to participate. However, by taking part in the survey, you make an important contribution to the production of reliable statistical information for education, higher education, and labour market policy in Switzerland.

Why is it important to participate in the survey?

Diverse groups can benefit from your experience and opinions:

• Higher education policy makers and the higher education institutions themselves
• Study and career advisors as well as future generations of students
• Businesses and the Swiss research community

And finally the data collected also provides you with the possibility of comparing your career path with that taken by other graduates.

The results can only reliably reflect the problems and variety of life paths if as many graduates as possible take part in the interview.

For this reason it is extremely important that you take part in the interview, regardless of your current or previous career and life situation.

Where did you obtain my contact details?

The address collection is based on the Ordinance of 30 June 1993 on the Conduct of Federal Statistical Surveys. Under this ordinance, the FSO is entitled for the purposes of the Swiss Graduate Survey to obtain the addresses of graduates from a particular graduation year in Swiss institutions of higher education. The contact details are used solely to contact respondents and are not linked to the survey results. The addresses are deleted after the second survey has been completed.

In which languages is the questionnaire available?

The questionnaire is available in German, French, Italian and English.

Who is responsible for operating the online questionnaire?

The technical operation and maintenance of the online questionnaire is provided are handled by MIS Trend on behalf of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). Its implementation is carried out in accordance with the FSO's technical requirements and data protection regulations. The contract was awarded to MIS Trend in accordance with Swiss public procurement law.

What can I do if the information about my higher education qualification is incorrect?

To reduce the response burden, information about your degree (e.g. the date of graduation and the qualification level) has been obtained from the Swiss Higher Education Information System. If the information transmitted by your higher education institution to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) is not correct, please contact us by phone using the toll-free number 0800 800 246 or by email at info@abseb.ch or info@abszb.ch.

Can I receive the questionnaire in paper form or complete it by phone?

No. The questionnaire can only be completed online.

As the survey is intended for higher education graduates, it is assumed that participants have access to the internet and possess the necessary digital skills. Conducting the survey exclusively online also enables more efficient data collection and processing.

Do I need any documents to complete the questionnaire?

Generally, no. However, it may be helpful to have your current CV/résumé and, if applicable, your employment contract available while completing the questionnaire.

Are the results also accessible to the general public?

The results of the survey of higher education graduates are publicly available. The website of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) provides numerous summary results (charts, tables). Anonymized individual data are made available for research projects upon conclusion of a data protection agreement.

Tertiärstufe-Hochschulen

Federal Statistics Act of 9 October 1992 (FStatA)
Fedlex - The publication platform for federal law
https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1993/2080_2080_2080/en

Verordnung über die Bundesstatistik vom 30. April 2025 (only available in German, French and Italian)
Fedlex - The publication platform for federal law
https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/oc/2025/318/de

Federal Act of 25 September 2020 on Data Protection (Data Protection Act, FADP)
Fedlex - The publication platform for federal law
https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2022/491/en

Ordinance of 31 August 2022 on Data Protection (Data Protection Ordinance, DPO)
Fedlex - The publication platform for federal law
https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2022/568/en