HEPVS - Haute école pédagogique du Valais

What you'll study

The professional-theoretical component covers school and society, school development, classroom management and climate, planning/implementation/evaluation of teaching, child development and heterogeneity, introductory didactics and stage-specific didactics for Zyklus 1 and Zyklus 2. Students complete 56 compulsory courses plus two optional courses from a selection.

The practical strand comprises six internships (one per semester) totalling 27 weeks at primary schools across the canton under supervision of PH‑VS-trained teachers; practice reflection sessions and mentor support are integrated to link theory with classroom work.

The scientific training includes preparatory courses and a final thesis on a topic chosen for deeper study; it develops skills in analysing problems from multiple scientific perspectives.

Optionally, the programme can be taken as a bilingual course (German–French). To obtain the bilingual diploma students begin at the site of their first language for three semesters then continue three semesters at the site of the second language; C1 level in the second language must be reached by the end of semester 4 (internal assessment is available).

Entry requirements

PH‑VS offers multiple admission routes: admissions without examination, admissions with examinations, admissions “sur dossier” and admissions with VAE validation. Enrolments are processed in order of receipt and, once capacity is reached, subsequent dossiers are placed on a waiting list handled in chronological order. Specific application windows and exam weeks are published by the school; example procedural material (guides and sample exam content) is provided after registration.

The school publishes specific application fees and semester charges for each admission route; candidates should consult the PH‑VS cost information for current amounts and any fees related to ECTS credits or VAE procedures.

Career prospects

Graduates receive the Lehrdiplom für die Primarstufe recognised by the EDK and a Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education (Bologna-aligned). The diploma qualifies holders to teach any primary-school class in Switzerland (Stufen 1H–8H). The bilingual diploma additionally permits teaching anywhere in Switzerland regardless of regional language and qualifies holders for bilingual primary classes.

Scholarships & funding angle

Students can apply for Cantonal scholarships (Kanton Wallis) and national support such as the Schweizerische Studienstiftung; PH‑VS provides information and links to these funding sources. Candidates with questions about admissions, scholarships or programme details can contact the programme director and academic advisory service at the addresses listed on the PH‑VS site.