The University of St.Gallen (HSG), with its practice-oriented study programmes in economics, law and social sciences, has an excellent reputation that extends well beyond the country’s borders. It was founded as a commercial academy in 1898, the golden age of the embroidery industry in St.Gallen. Thanks to an optimum balance between research and practice, as well as a close relationship with over 150 international partner universities, the HSG is today one of Europe’s leading economic universities. Over 7,000 students are educated in the fields of economics, law and social sciences, as well as international affairs, and are prepared for subsequent leadership roles.
OST Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences
The OST offers different study programmes for the six cantons of Eastern Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. It is one of the most important educational hubs in and around St.Gallen, with approximately 3,800 students in six departments, 1,500 professionals in executive education, and more than 1,000 ongoing research projects. The OST brings together 170 years of tradition in education and research.
St.Gallen University of Teacher Education (PHSG)
The PHSG trains teaching staff for kindergarten, primary and secondary levels. The PHSG campus comprises four college buildings in St.Gallen, Rorschach and Gossau (SG) and is attended by around 1,300 students and nearly 2,000 course participants in the area of continuing education.
State schools are publicly run, and they are free to attend. Boys and girls are taught together in all classes.
Playgroups
Before starting kindergarten, three-year-old children have the opportunity to attend a SpiKi playgroup in their area once or twice a week for a year. SpiKi playgroups are provided by the city of St.Gallen. The aim is to enable children to make the most of their time before kindergarten.
Kindergarten
At kindergarten, the child’s development is promoted through playing, experiencing, and creating things together within the group. Attendance at kindergarten is compulsory and generally lasts two years.
Primary schools
Primary school passes on knowledge, thus helping the children to form into independent personalities. In primary school, children attend the subjects German, mathematics, people and environment, art, learning and working, music as well as sport and religion. Lessons take place in High German. English is taught from the third year onwards, French from the fifth.
Secondary schools
There are four different school types at the secondary level, based on achievement: “Sekundarschule”, “Realschule”, small classes at “Realschule” and “Untergymnasium”. Children who are particularly gifted in the area of sport, music or art have the opportunity to attend the “Talentschule”
Rosenberg Institute
Students can attend German, Italian and Swiss secondary education programmes as well as British A-Levels or the American high school diploma or AP courses, which aim to prepare students for further studies at colleges and universities after graduation. Day care is also available.