The Baccalaureate schools teach according to curricula which are issued or approved by the canton and are based on the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education's core curriculum for baccalaureate schools.

The basic subjects, a specialised subject and a complementary subject constitute the Baccalaureate subjects; a Baccalaureate essay must also be completed.

The following subjects are basic subjects:

All students take an introductory course in economics/law and computer science as additional compulsory subjects. The cantons can offer philosophy as an additional compulsory subject.

The specialised subject can be selected from eight subjects or groups of subjects, and the complementary subject from fourteen. Not all subjects are offered at all schools. The cantons determine which subjects are offered at baccalaureate schools.

The cantons specify the number of hours per week according to the Federal Council's Ordinance on Recognition of Baccalaureate (MAV) respectively the Regulation on Recognition of Baccalaureate (MAR) issued by the Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK). According to the MAR/MAV the proportions of time allocated to compulsory subjects are 30 to 40%, for mathematics and natural sciences 25 to 35%, for humanities and social sciences 10 to 20%, and for visual arts and/or music 5 to 10%. The total time allocated for the main specialism, secondary specialism and Baccalaureate essay is 15 to 25%.

In most cantons, there are Baccalaureate schools at which a bilingual Baccalaureate can be obtained. In addition, students can often obtain international foreign language certificates, or enrol in preparatory courses for the certificate examinations.