The post-compulsory upper secondary level is divided into general education and vocational education and training. Both forms generally take three years and provide eligibility for further studies at universities and polytechnics.
The general upper secondary school provides non-vocational all-round education. Towards the end of the school, students usually take the national matriculation examination and receive a matriculation certificate in addition to the school-leaving certificate. Students in vocational education and training study for a vocational qualification. It is possible to take the initial qualification and further and specialist qualifications as a compe¬tence-based qualification, in which there are no requirements concerning the way in which the knowledge and skills were acquired.