Abstract: The object of the research is the educational system of Switzerland, the research subject involves its structure, advantages and shortcomings. Within the conducted research the author in detail opens essence of each level of an education system, considers features of this system, the prerequisite of formation of characteristic features, the existing educational institutions, models of teaching and system of training, and also the taken positions in a world rating of quality of the higher education in 2010-2014. The special attention is paid to types of educational institutions, their characteristic. Results of the comparative analysis of systems of the higher education in Russia and Switzerland for the purpose of detection of distinctions and similarities are presented. Such general scientific methods as the description, comparison, the analysis and deduction were applied to carrying out research. As a methodological basis system approach to research acts. The main conclusion following the results of the conducted research is that the educational system of Switzerland has no uniform standards and curricula. In each canton exist not only various models of teaching, but also systems of training differing from each other, both a set of the studied disciplines, and way of carrying out examinations. All this predetermines possibility of full disclosure of potential at various groups of pupils, and also assumes various level of quality of education at the teenagers living in different cantons.The novelty of research is that some aspects of the education system of Switzerland have been considered in a new key, in particular comparison of systems of the higher education in Switzerland and the Russian Federation led to new understanding of its structure.