More opportunities with a dual diploma: From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, secondary school graduates in Luxembourg will have a new pathway to obtain a Professional Aptitude Diploma (DAP).
Professions such as baker, carpenter, chef, pastry chef, landscape gardener, industrial mechanic, or beautician will become accessible after completing secondary school. Currently, shifting to such a skilled trade requires a three-year vocational course. Starting in autumn 2026, the new one-year “Première-DAP” programme will offer an accelerated alternative, as announced on Monday by Minister of Education Claude Meisch and the supporting professional chambers.
Minister Meisch assured that the programme’s quality and standards will be upheld. The assessment remains identical, and graduates will receive the same DAP diploma. However, he noted that the compressed timeline makes the training intensive.
Unlike standard full-time vocational students – who typically do not work 40-hour weeks and have school holidays – participants in this programme can expect up to 40 hours of weekly commitment, with school holidays often dedicated to work placements. “It’s something that requires a great deal of personal commitment”, Meisch stressed.
He expressed confidence in the target group, stating that secondary school graduates “learn differently” and are often accustomed to balancing academic and work responsibilities. “These candidates can do that. They have essentially developed that skill set. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have graduated”, he added.
Initially, the programme will be offered in seven professions at the National Centres for Continuing Professional Development (CNFPC) in Esch-sur-Alzette and Ettelbruck, as well as at the Agricultural School in Gilsdorf. Registration is required, with six places available per course for a total of 42 candidates. Minister Meisch described this as a pilot phase, with plans to expand the Première-DAP offerings in the future.
