Within each group, the teams would play a double round-robin to decide their league position.
The four group winners and the four runners-up then contested a play-off for the three promotion slots.
The four third-last placed teams would compete a play-out against the ninth relegation spot.
The play-out match for twelfth position was played on 24 May 1988 in Stadion Neumatt in Burgdorf.
The decider was played on 24 May 1988 in St. Gallen FC Rorschach win and advance to play-offs.
The decider was played on 24 May 1988 in Kilchberg FC Dübendorf win and continued in the play-outs.
Urania Genève Sport rejected the offer to play a championship final, thus FC Emmenbrücke were declared as 1.