Luxembourg

General education in Luxembourg begins with early education (optional, from age 3) and becomes compulsory with primary education (enseignement fondamental), which spans 9 years and typically includes children aged 3 to 11. The system is organized into four learning cycles rather than traditional grade levels, promoting developmental progress over age-based progression.
Cycle 1 (ages 3–5) refers to pre-primary education and comprises two stages: éducation précoce (early childhood education and care) for children aged 3–4, and éducation préscolaire (preschool education) for those aged 4–5. Attendance in the first year is optional. Cycles 2 to 4, covering ages 6–11, correspond to primary education.

Luxembourg’s primary education is unique for its strong multilingual focus: children are introduced to Luxembourgish in early education, followed by German and then French. Core subjects include literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies, with a strong emphasis on cultural diversity and integration. Successful completion of primary education leads to orientation towards secondary education, based on academic results and teacher assessments.

Secondary education in Luxembourg typically begins at age 12 and lasts for seven years. It is divided into two main tracks: classical secondary education (enseignement secondaire classique), which prepares students for university studies, and general secondary education (enseignement secondaire général), which is oriented toward practical and technical fields. Admission into these tracks depends on academic performance and teacher recommendations from primary school. The classical track emphasizes languages, mathematics, and sciences, while the general track includes more applied subjects, offering smoother transitions to vocational training or employment.

Vocational training in Luxembourg is a key part of the general secondary education track and aims to prepare students for skilled employment. It follows a dual system that combines school-based learning with apprenticeships in companies. Programs are offered at different qualification levels, including the Diplôme d’aptitude professionnelle (DAP) and Certificat de capacité professionnelle (CCP). These pathways enable students to acquire both practical work experience and theoretical knowledge. After completing vocational training, students may also access further professional qualifications or higher education under certain conditions.

Higher education in Luxembourg is relatively young but expanding. It is centered around the University of Luxembourg, which was founded by law in 2003 and has ever since been the only public university in Luxembourg. It offers first and second cycle study programmes, and is the only institution allowed to offer doctoral studies. Its study programmes leading to Bachelor’s (EQF Level 6), Master’s (EQF Level 7), PhD’s (EQF Level 8), as well as Specialized medical diplomas and Doctor of Medicine degrees (EQF Level 8) are automatically recognised by law as leading to national higher education diplomas;

According to the amended Law of 27 June 2018, the University of Luxembourg is evaluated every four years. The Minister of Research and Higher Education commissions a foreign agency to perform an evaluation reviewing the institution, its research as well as its learning and teaching activities, whereas the institutional level is an integral part of the evaluation and the other areas are being reviewed alternately.

Secondary schools, known as – lycées – can, upon programme accreditation, offer higher education short cycle training leading to the advanced technician's training certificate – brevet de technicien supérieur (BTS) (EQF Level 5). The certificate itself is issued by the Ministry of Research and Higher Education.

The Law of 21 July 2023 on the organisation of higher education provides for external quality assurance and accreditation procedure for short cycle programmes offered by secondary schools leading to the BTS, as well as for specialised higher education institutions and their study programmes leading to Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
In order to obtain ministerial accreditation, short cycle study programmes (BTS) as well as specialised higher education institutions and their programmes are evaluated by the Dutch-Flemish accreditation agency NVAO, which is registered with EQAR and holds affiliate membership with ENQA.

Also, some private specialised higher education institutions accredited in Luxembourg are offering accredited study programmes at bachelor (EQF Level 6) and master (EQF Level 7) level.

General Education

Vocational Education and Training

Higher Education

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