International schools in Zurich: curricula, fees and how to apply
Every school on the canton of Zurich’s private-school list that teaches in a foreign language, or in German and English: what each one teaches, what it charges and when it takes applications, from the schools’ own pages.
In short
Canton Zurich has eight international schools teaching in English, French, Italian or Japanese, 25 bilingual German–English schools and 12 bilingual kindergartens. Curricula include the IB, A levels, the French Baccalauréat and Lehrplan 21. Tuition at the English-language international schools runs from CHF 13,100 to 40,300 a year (2026–27). Most schools take applications all year.
Which international and bilingual schools are there in Zurich?
The canton’s register of approved private schools, dated 23 September 2026, includes five foreign-language schools and 49 entries marked bilingual. This guide covers 45 schools: eight international, 25 bilingual and 12 bilingual kindergartens. ICS, ZIS and SIS offer the IB Diploma; ISZN and Academia teach to A levels; LFiZ teaches the French curriculum.
The tables cover every school on the canton of Zurich’s register of approved private schools (opens in a new tab) that teaches mainly in a foreign language, or in German and English, plus Academia’s upper-secondary campus in Winterthur, which the register does not cover (Volksschulamt, checked ). Schools appear in alphabetical order. Curricula, ages and languages come from each school’s own website, checked on 21 October 2026.
International schools
Zurich International School (ZIS) teaches Preschool to Grade 5 in Wädenswil and Grades 6–12 in Adliswil, in English; Grades 11–12 can take IB Diploma and Advanced Placement courses (ZIS, checked ) (IBO, checked ). Inter-Community School Zurich (ICS) in Zumikon runs the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes from Nursery (age 2) to Grade 12 (ICS, checked ) (IBO, checked ). International School Zurich North (ISZN) in Wallisellen, part of the Cognita group, follows the English National Curriculum from Pre-K to IGCSE and A levels (ISZN, checked ) (ISZN, checked ).
Academia International School teaches a bilingual lower secondary (Years 7–8) in Zurich-Oerlikon, then IGCSE and International A Levels in English there and on its Winterthur campus, which runs Years 9–12 (Academia, checked ) (Academia, checked ). Children First in Zurich-Seefeld runs a kindergarten and a new primary school on its own British–Montessori curriculum, in English and German (Children First, checked ). Three schools teach another country’s curriculum: the Lycée Français International de Zurich (LFiZ) in Dübendorf, ages 3–18, to the French Baccalauréat (LFiZ, checked ); the Japanese School in Zurich in Uster, six elementary and three junior high grades (Japanese School, checked ); and the Polo scolastico italo-svizzero, an Italian state kindergarten and primary school plus the Fermi lower secondary school, teaching in Italian and German (Scuola italiana, checked ).
Bilingual schools
Bilingual schools teach the Zurich curriculum (Lehrplan 21) in German and English, so a child can later move to a public school (zh.ch, checked ). SIS Swiss International School has three campuses: Wallisellen runs from kindergarten to the bilingual Matura, with the IB Diploma as an option, while Zurich-Wollishofen and Männedorf teach kindergarten and primary (SIS, checked ) (IBO, checked ). Freies Gymnasium Zürich (FGZ) offers a bilingual track from the Progymnasium to the Matura (FGZ, checked ) (FGZ, checked ). Tandem IMS (Zurich-Seefeld, Küsnacht) adds French and runs its own Gymnasium (Tandem, checked ). School of Tomorrow (Zurich, Uster) is an IB Diploma candidate school and plans the Diploma from 2028 (School of Tomorrow, checked ).
Lakeside School (Küsnacht, Horgen), Terra Nova (Küsnacht), KIBS (Zurich-Seebach), Academia Bilingual School (Winterthur) and ABC Schools (Regensdorf) split teaching about evenly between the two languages (Lakeside, checked ) (Terra Nova, checked ) (KIBS, checked ) (Academia Bilingual, checked ) (ABC Schools, checked ); Cantaleum adds a music focus and works with Zurich’s boys’ and girls’ choirs (Cantaleum, checked ). Seven Montessori schools teach in both languages: d’Insle and Sprungbrett in Zurich, both adding French, Lip in Zurich-Wollishofen up to Grade 9, Montessori House of Kids in Adliswil, Rietberg in Zurich-Enge, Serendipity in Zollikon and Trinity in Horgen (d’Insle, checked ) (Lip, checked ) (House of Kids, checked ) (Rietberg, checked ) (Serendipity, checked ) (Trinity, checked ). Spring Academy in Adliswil teaches neurodivergent children in Grades 3–9 (Spring Academy, checked ).
The canton lists some schools as bilingual whose own sites describe it differently: Firstclass teaches mainly in German, with English lessons from kindergarten (Firstclass, checked ), and Acton Academy Dübendorf and LMS Privatschule state no language split (Acton Academy, checked ) (LMS, checked ).
Bilingual kindergartens
Kindergarten is the first compulsory school level in Zurich, so a private kindergarten needs the canton’s approval too (zh.ch, checked ) (zh.ch, checked ). Twelve providers on the register run an approved bilingual kindergarten, most of them inside a daycare centre (Kita) that also takes younger children; the approval covers the kindergarten only (Volksschulamt, checked ). For children under four, see Kita in Zurich: costs, city subsidies and waiting lists. Dayschool and Kids Residence add French (Dayschool, checked ) (Kids Residence, checked ). The website of 7 Bears was offline on 21 October 2026, so its row shows the register’s details only.
Schools not in this guide
PASITOS in Zurich runs an approved German–Spanish kindergarten (PASITOS, checked ). OneSchool Global’s Zurich campus in Oberhasli is registered as a school with a religious focus, linked to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (Volksschulamt, checked ). Private schools that teach only in German are left out.
International schools in canton Zurich
| School | Curriculum | Ages | Campus | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academia International School | Bilingual lower secondary (Lehrplan 21), then Cambridge and Pearson IGCSE and International A Levels | Years 7–12 (Zurich); Years 9–12 (Winterthur) | Zurich-Oerlikon; Winterthur | English; German and English in Years 7–8 |
| Children First | Own British–Montessori curriculum | Kindergarten and primary (nursery from 3 months) | Zurich-Seefeld | English and German |
| Inter-Community School Zurich (ICS) | IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes | 2–18 | Zumikon | English |
| International School Zurich North (ISZN) | English National Curriculum, Cambridge Lower Secondary, IGCSE, A levels | 3–18 (nursery from 3 months) | Wallisellen | English; German and English in early years |
| Japanese School in Zurich | Japan’s national curriculum | Elementary and junior high (9 grades) | Uster | Japanese, with German and English lessons |
| Lycée Français International de Zurich (LFiZ) | French national curriculum (AEFE) to the French Baccalauréat | 3–18 | Dübendorf | French; French and German in kindergarten |
| Polo scolastico italo-svizzero | Italian national curriculum with Lehrplan 21 | 3 to lower secondary | Zurich (Kreis 4 and 9) | Italian and German in equal parts |
| Zurich International School (ZIS) | Own curriculum; IB Diploma and Advanced Placement courses in Grades 11–12 | 3–18 | Wädenswil (to Grade 5); Adliswil (Grades 6–12) | English |
From the canton register of 23 Sep 2026 and each school’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026.
Bilingual schools in canton Zurich
| School | Curriculum | Ages | Campus | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC Schools (abc-daycare) | Own curriculum with Lehrplan 21 elements | Kindergarten; Grades 1–2 | Regensdorf; Watt | German and English, half each |
| Academia Bilingual School | Lehrplan 21 and Cambridge International | Pre-kindergarten to Year 9 | Winterthur | German and English, half each |
| Acton Academy Dübendorf | Acton Academy model, based on Lehrplan 21 | 4–12 | Dübendorf | German and English (canton list) |
| Cantaleum Zürich | Lehrplan 21 with a music focus | Kindergarten to Grade 6 | Zurich (Kreis 7) | German and English |
| d’Insle Montessori School | Montessori, covering Lehrplan 21 | 3–12 | Zurich-Seefeld | German and English, plus French |
| Firstclass | Lehrplan 21 | Kindergarten to Grade 6 | Zurich-Oerlikon | Mainly German; English from kindergarten |
| Freies Gymnasium Zürich (FGZ) | Progymnasium and Gymnasium to the Swiss Matura | Grade 5 to Matura | Zurich-Seefeld | German; bilingual German–English track |
| Kid’s Island Bilingual School (KIBS) | Lehrplan 21 with IB-framework elements | Kindergarten to Grade 6 (daycare from 3 months) | Zurich-Seebach | English and German, half each |
| Lakeside School | Lehrplan 21 | 3–12 | Küsnacht; Horgen | English and German, half each |
| Lip Montessori Private School (Lipschule) | Montessori, Lehrplan 21 | 3–16 | Zurich-Wollishofen | German and English to Grade 2; then German with English and French |
| LMS Privatschule | Lehrplan 21, Montessori-oriented early years | Kindergarten to Grade 9 (Kita from 18 months) | Geroldswil | German and English (canton list) |
| Lumos School | Lehrplan 21, project-based | Grades 1–9 | Adliswil | English and German |
| Montessori House of Kids | Montessori, Lehrplan 21 | 3–12 (daycare from 4 months) | Adliswil | German and English |
| Rietberg Montessori School | AMI Montessori and Lehrplan 21 | 3–12 | Zurich-Enge | German and English |
| School of Tomorrow | Lehrplan 21 with British-curriculum English; IB Diploma candidate | About 4–15 | Zurich-Enge; Zurich city centre; Uster | German and English |
| Serendipity Montessori School | AMI Montessori aligned with Lehrplan 21 | 3–9 (infants from 3 months) | Zollikon | English and German |
| SIS Swiss International School | Lehrplan 21 with British elements; bilingual Matura; IB Diploma option | 4–18 (Wallisellen); 4–12 (Wollishofen, Männedorf) | Wallisellen; Zurich-Wollishofen; Männedorf | German and English |
| SkillForge | Self-directed learning; self-study for IGCSE and A Levels as external candidates | Lower-secondary age | Zurich (Kreis 7) | German and English |
| Spring Academy Zürich | Lehrplan 21, for neurodivergent children | Grades 3–9 | Adliswil | German and English |
| Sprungbrett Montessori School | Montessori, Lehrplan 21 | Kindergarten to Grade 6 | Zurich (Kreis 7) | German and English, plus French |
| Tandem International Multilingual School | Lehrplan 21 and UK National Curriculum; own Gymnasium | 4–12; Gymnasium 12–18 (nursery from birth) | Zurich-Seefeld; Küsnacht | German and English, French from Grade 1 |
| Tany Fitiavana | Mixed-age free learning, Lehrplan 21 competences | Kindergarten to lower secondary | Embrach | German and English |
| Terra Nova Bilingual School | Lehrplan 21; Cambridge for English | 3–12 | Küsnacht | German and English, half each |
| Trinity Montessori | AMI Montessori aligned with Lehrplan 21 | 3–9 (nursery from 18 months) | Horgen | English and German |
| ZIS Bilingual Pathway | Lehrplan 21 standards with the ZIS programme | Preschool upwards, growing to Grade 9 | Wädenswil | German first; German and English equally from Grade 3 |
From the canton register of 23 Sep 2026 and each school’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026.
Bilingual kindergartens in canton Zurich
| School | Curriculum | Ages | Campus | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Bears | Not stated (website offline) | Kindergarten | Zurich-Seefeld | German and English (canton list) |
| Colourwoods Montessori Kinderhaus | Montessori | 3–6 | Küsnacht | English and German |
| Dayschool (Trilingual Dayschool DEF) | Zurich curriculum | From 4 | Zurich (Kreis 6) | German, English and French |
| globegarden | K1–K2 kindergarten inside globegarden centres | 4–6 | Ten centres in Zurich, Uitikon, Wallisellen and Thalwil | German and English |
| KiddieLand | Lehrplan 21 | 4–6 | Zurich-Wipkingen | German mornings, English afternoons |
| Kids Residence | Lehrplan 21 | 4–7 | Rüschlikon | German and English, plus French |
| KIDSatLAKE | Lehrplan 21 | About 4–6 | Zollikon; Rüschlikon | German and English |
| Little Star Day School | Lehrplan 21 with International Primary Curriculum elements | From 4 | Zurich (Sihlcity) | German and English |
| Meadows Montessori Kindergarten | Montessori | 3–6 | Winkel | German and English |
| MIC Montessori Infant Community | Montessori | 3–6 | Zurich-Enge | Bilingual (English and German, canton list) |
| Parkside School | Lehrplan 21 (Thalwil); Montessori (Oberrieden) | From 3 | Thalwil; Oberrieden | English and German |
| Wings School | Lehrplan 21 | Kindergarten (2 years) | Zurich-Wiedikon | German and English |
From the canton register of 23 Sep 2026 and each school’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026.
What do international schools in Zurich cost?
At the English-language international schools, 2026–27 tuition runs from CHF 13,100 (ICS Nursery, half days) to CHF 40,300 (ICS, Grades 11–12); ZIS charges CHF 16,900–39,700. The Japanese School charges CHF 11,000. Full-time places at bilingual schools mostly cost CHF 25,000–34,000 a year, and kindergartens bill by the month.
Every figure in the tables is tuition as published on the school’s own fee page or price list, checked on 21 October 2026. Where a page states no school year, the table says so; where a school gives fees only on request, it says “Not published”. The sources, school by school:
- International schools: Academia International School, 2026/27, one fee for all year groups in Zurich and Winterthur (Academia, checked ) (Academia, checked ); Children First, waiting-list and application fees only (Children First, checked ); ICS, 2026–27, with IB exam fees included in Grades 11–12 (ICS, checked ); ISZN, no year stated (ISZN, checked ); the Japanese School, school year April 2026 to March 2027 (Japanese School, checked ); LFiZ, whose general assembly sets the fees and whose site offers only an estimate calculator (LFiZ, checked ) (LFiZ, checked ); Polo scolastico, the 2026/27 parents’ contribution and the Fermi fee (Scuola italiana, checked ) (Fermi, checked ); ZIS, 2026/27 (ZIS, checked ).
- Bilingual schools: ABC Schools (ABC Schools, checked ); Academia Bilingual School, 2026/27 (Academia Bilingual, checked ); Cantaleum, 2026/2027 (Cantaleum, checked ); Firstclass (Firstclass, checked ); FGZ, 2026/2027 (FGZ, checked ); KIBS (KIBS, checked ); Lakeside, price list valid from 1 November 2024 (Lakeside, checked ) (Lakeside, checked ); Lip (Lip, checked ); LMS, starting prices only (LMS, checked ); Lumos, 2026/27 (Lumos, checked ); Montessori House of Kids, 2026–2027 (House of Kids, checked ); School of Tomorrow, 2026/27 (School of Tomorrow, checked ); SIS, 2026/27, the same kindergarten and primary fee on all three campuses (SIS, checked ) (SIS, checked ) (SIS, checked ); SkillForge, 2026/27 (SkillForge, checked ); Tandem (Tandem, checked ); Tany Fitiavana (Tany Fitiavana, checked ); Terra Nova, 2026/2027 (Terra Nova, checked ); the ZIS Bilingual Pathway (ZIS, checked ).
- Fees on request only: Acton Academy, d’Insle, Rietberg, Serendipity, Spring Academy, Sprungbrett and Trinity (Acton Academy, checked ) (d’Insle, checked ) (Rietberg, checked ) (Serendipity, checked ) (Spring Academy, checked ) (Sprungbrett, checked ) (Trinity, checked ).
- Kindergartens: Colourwoods, 2026–27 (Colourwoods, checked ); Dayschool (Dayschool, checked ); KiddieLand (KiddieLand, checked ); Meadows, a three-day example only (Meadows, checked ); MIC (MIC, checked ); Parkside (Parkside, checked ); Wings (Wings School, checked ). globegarden, Kids Residence, KIDSatLAKE and Little Star publish no fees (globegarden, checked ) (Kids Residence, checked ) (KIDSatLAKE, checked ) (Little Star, checked ).
All published fees for Basel, Geneva, Zug and Zurich in one table, with a CSV download: international school fees 2026–27.
What fees usually leave out
At the international schools, lunch, transport and after-school care cost extra. ZIS lists all three as extras, and its door-to-door bus costs CHF 4,190–5,820 a year by zone for 2026/27, excluding VAT (ZIS, checked ). ICS bills the school bus, lunch (except in Nursery), after-school care and clubs separately (ICS, checked ). External exam fees are extra at ZIS and ISZN (ZIS, checked ) (ISZN, checked ). Capital or infrastructure fees apply at ICS (CHF 5,000; Nursery CHF 1,000) and ZIS (CHF 5,000 from kindergarten) (ICS, checked ) (ZIS, checked ).
Many bilingual schools and kindergartens build lunch and care into the fee: School of Tomorrow includes all-day care and lunch in kindergarten and primary (School of Tomorrow, checked ), Terra Nova four lunches a week (Terra Nova, checked ), and Colourwoods lunch and afternoon care (Colourwoods, checked ). Zurich’s tax office does not accept school fees as a childcare deduction (Zurich tax office, checked ); see international schools in Switzerland for more.
International schools: published tuition (CHF a year)
| School | Tuition a year (year) | One-off fees |
|---|---|---|
| Academia International School | 28,990, all year groups (2026/27) | Registration 600 |
| Children First | Not published | Waiting list 100; application 400 |
| ICS | 13,100 (Nursery, half days) to 40,300 (Grades 11–12) (2026–27) | Application 500; capital fund 5,000 (Nursery 1,000) |
| ISZN | 17,316 (Pre-K, half days) to 35,136 (Grades 9–12) (no year stated) | Registration 750 |
| Japanese School in Zurich | 11,000, all grades (April 2026 to March 2027) | Admission 1,000 |
| LFiZ | Not published (estimate calculator only) | Security deposit 4,000, refunded on leaving |
| Polo scolastico italo-svizzero | 1,200 voluntary contribution (kindergarten, primary) to 6,300 (Fermi lower secondary) (2026/27) | Fermi enrolment 2,000 |
| ZIS | 16,900 (Preschool, mornings) to 39,700 (Grades 11–12) (2026/27) | Application 500; infrastructure 5,000 from kindergarten |
Tuition only, CHF, from each school’s own fee page, checked 21 Oct 2026. Lunch, transport and care are extra unless the school includes them.
Bilingual schools: published tuition (CHF)
| School | Tuition (year) | One-off fees |
|---|---|---|
| ABC Schools | Kindergarten 1,550–2,000 a month (3½–5 days); primary on request (no year stated) | Not published |
| Academia Bilingual School | 25,560 (pre-K to Year 6) to 27,600 (Years 7–9) (2026/27) | Registration 600 |
| Acton Academy Dübendorf | Not published | Not published |
| Cantaleum Zürich | 20,025 (kindergarten, part-time) to 30,808 (full-time) (2026/2027) | Registration 500; deposit 2,000 |
| d’Insle Montessori School | Not published | Not published |
| FGZ | 27,300 (preparatory classes) to 33,300 (upper Gymnasium) (2026/2027) | None listed |
| Firstclass | 2,100 a month incl. meals (no year stated) | None listed |
| KIBS | 1,500 (kindergarten, 3 days) to 2,200 a month (full-time) (no year stated) | Enrolment 200–400; deposit 1,000 |
| Lakeside School | 15,720 (pre-K, 5 mornings) to 27,720 (kindergarten, Grades 1–6) (valid from 1 Nov 2024) | Registration 500; deposit 3,500 (first child) |
| Lip Montessori Private School | 21,456 (kindergarten, part-time) to 32,040 (Grade 3 to Sek 3) (no year stated) | None listed |
| LMS Privatschule | From 1,350 a month (kindergarten) and from 1,950 (Grades 1–9) (no year stated) | Enrolment 600; deposit 3 monthly fees |
| Lumos School | 29,000, all grades, first child (2026/27) | Not published |
| Montessori House of Kids | 1,530 (kindergarten, mornings) to 2,440 a month (Grades 4–6) (2026–2027) | Application 500 per family; deposit 1 monthly fee |
| Rietberg Montessori School | Not published (on request) | Admission fee and foundation contribution (amounts not published) |
| School of Tomorrow | 29,400 (kindergarten) to 34,200 (secondary) (2026/27) | Registration 500; deposit 3,000 |
| Serendipity Montessori School | Not published | Not published |
| SIS Swiss International School | 13,190–15,470 a semester, billed twice a year (2026/27) | Registration 600 (500 each further child) |
| SkillForge | 21,000 (2026/27) | None listed |
| Spring Academy Zürich | Not published | Deposit (amount not published) |
| Sprungbrett Montessori School | Not published | Not published |
| Tandem IMS | 25,320 (kindergarten, 3.5 days) to 30,360 (primary, 5 days); Gymnasium 31,800–33,600 (no year stated) | Not published |
| Tany Fitiavana | 22,800, first child (no year stated) | First meeting 150; registration 350 |
| Terra Nova Bilingual School | 22,120 (pre-K, 3 days) to 29,040 (kindergarten, primary) (2026/2027) | Registration 600 |
| Trinity Montessori | Not published | Not published |
| ZIS Bilingual Pathway | ZIS fee schedule (2026/27) | As ZIS |
Tuition only, CHF, from each school’s own fee page, checked 21 Oct 2026. Lunch, transport and care are extra unless the school includes them.
Bilingual kindergartens: published fees (CHF)
| School | Fees (year) | One-off fees |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Bears | Not published (website offline) | Not published |
| Colourwoods Montessori Kinderhaus | 22,800 (5 mornings) to 30,000 a year (5 full days) (2026–27) | Registration 700 |
| Dayschool | 1,260 (3 short days) to 2,625 a month (5 long days) (no year stated) | Registration 750; deposit 1 monthly fee |
| globegarden | Not published | Not published |
| KiddieLand | 1,995 a month, 3.5-day programme (no year stated) | None listed |
| Kids Residence | Not published | Not published |
| KIDSatLAKE | Not published | Not published |
| Little Star Day School | Not published | Not published |
| Meadows Montessori Kindergarten | 1,410 a month for 3 days, the only rate published (no year stated) | Registration 250 |
| MIC Montessori Infant Community | 2,650 a month, 5 days (no year stated) | Administration 800 |
| Parkside School | 1,687 (3 days) to 2,812 a month (5 days) (no year stated) | Registration 300; deposit 1,000 (first child) |
| Wings School | 540 (1 day) to 2,700 a month (5 days) (no year stated) | Registration 1,000 |
CHF, from each provider’s own fee page, checked 21 Oct 2026. Most include meals and care; Kita places for younger children are priced separately.
When do you apply to an international school in Zurich?
Most schools in this guide take applications all year and admit children mid-year when a place is free. ZIS and ICS fill places in a priority order, with company partners first. KIBS asks for applications by the end of February for August, and FGZ’s registration deadlines for 2027 fall on 12 and 15 February.
The tables summarise each school’s admissions page, checked on 21 October 2026. The steps rarely differ: an enquiry, a visit or call, trial days for younger children, then an offer and a one-off fee that secures the place. The admissions pages used:
- International schools: Academia (Academia, checked ); Children First (Children First, checked ) (Children First, checked ); ICS (ICS, checked ); ISZN (ISZN, checked ); the Japanese School (Japanese School, checked ); LFiZ (LFiZ, checked ); Polo scolastico (Scuola italiana, checked ); ZIS (ZIS, checked ).
- Bilingual schools: ABC Schools (ABC Schools, checked ); Academia Bilingual School (Academia Bilingual, checked ); Acton Academy (Acton Academy, checked ); Cantaleum (Cantaleum, checked ); d’Insle and Sprungbrett (d’Insle, checked ); Firstclass (Firstclass, checked ); FGZ (FGZ, checked ); KIBS (KIBS, checked ); Lakeside (Lakeside, checked ); Lip (Lip, checked ); LMS (LMS, checked ); Lumos (Lumos, checked ); Montessori House of Kids (House of Kids, checked ); Rietberg (Rietberg, checked ); School of Tomorrow (School of Tomorrow, checked ); Serendipity (Serendipity, checked ); SIS (SIS, checked ); SkillForge (SkillForge, checked ); Spring Academy (Spring Academy, checked ); Tandem (Tandem, checked ); Tany Fitiavana (Tany Fitiavana, checked ); Terra Nova (Terra Nova, checked ); Trinity (Trinity, checked ); ZIS Bilingual Pathway (ZIS, checked ).
- Kindergartens: Colourwoods (Colourwoods, checked ); Dayschool (Dayschool, checked ); globegarden (globegarden, checked ); KiddieLand (KiddieLand, checked ); Kids Residence (Kids Residence, checked ); KIDSatLAKE (KIDSatLAKE, checked ); Little Star (Little Star, checked ); Meadows (Meadows, checked ); MIC (MIC, checked ); Parkside (Parkside, checked ); Wings (Wings School, checked ). 7 Bears: canton register only (Volksschulamt, checked ).
Priority orders and waiting pools
ZIS accepts students throughout the year but warns that spaces can be limited; it ranks applicants in four priority groups, starting with company partnership agreements, and aims to reply within about ten working days (ZIS, checked ). ICS processes applications from company partners in March and all others from April, in a priority order that starts with company partners, siblings and alumni; full grades go into a waiting pool (ICS, checked ). LFiZ’s admissions committee decides at the start of each month from April, from February for kindergarten, with siblings and pupils from French schools first (LFiZ, checked ).
Dates for 2027
KIBS asks families to apply by the end of February to start at the beginning of a school year (KIBS, checked ). SIS says most families enrol between February and April and holds its Gymnasium entrance exams on 10 May 2027 (SIS, checked ). At FGZ, registration closes on 12 February 2027 for the Gymnasium, on 15 February for the Progymnasium and preparatory class 5, and on 12 March for preparatory class 6 (FGZ, checked ). Tandem holds Gymnasium entrance exams in March (Tandem, checked ). The Italian state school took enrolments for 2026/27 from 13 January to 14 February 2026 (Scuola italiana, checked ).
Kindergarten places
Kindergarten providers mostly take children whenever a place is free. MIC fills places from its waiting list (MIC, checked ), KiddieLand gives priority to children from its own preschool (KiddieLand, checked ), and Parkside requires at least three days a week in kindergarten (Parkside, checked ).
International schools: application windows
| School | Application window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Academia International School | All year; mid-year entry if places are free | Consultation and insight days; no entrance exam |
| Children First | Online form puts the child on a 6-month waiting list | Kindergarten entry also on 19 Oct 2026 and 15 Feb 2027 |
| ICS | All year; company partners in March, others from April | Priority order; waiting pool for full grades |
| ISZN | All year (rolling) | School reports, then a taster day |
| Japanese School in Zurich | Application form; school year starts 1 April | Trial days from May to February |
| LFiZ | Online; committee decides monthly from April (kindergarten from February) | Siblings and pupils from French schools first |
| Polo scolastico italo-svizzero | State school: 13 Jan–14 Feb 2026 for 2026/27 | Late applications go on a waiting list |
| ZIS | All year; places can be limited | Reply within about ten working days; priority categories |
From each school’s admissions page, checked 21 Oct 2026.
Bilingual schools: application windows
| School | Application window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ABC Schools | Not stated | Meeting, visit and a free trial day |
| Academia Bilingual School | Any time if places are free | Interview, assessment and trial days |
| Acton Academy Dübendorf | Applications open; limited places | Information pack, meeting and visit |
| Cantaleum Zürich | Any time, also mid-year | Registration fee and deposit on signing |
| d’Insle Montessori School | No deadline published | Visit, then a trial day |
| FGZ | Register by 12 Feb 2027 (Gymnasium) or 15 Feb 2027 (Progymnasium, class 5) | Written and oral exams; English test for the bilingual track |
| Firstclass | Any time; places limited | Information meeting and admission interview |
| KIBS | All year; by end of February for August | No entrance exam; trial day possible |
| Lakeside School | Any time if a place is free | Many classes have waiting lists |
| Lip Montessori Private School | Any time if places are free | Tour, then a trial week; open house 3 and 21 Nov 2026 |
| LMS Privatschule | Any time if a place is free | Visit and trial day |
| Lumos School | Rolling | Decisions every 4–6 weeks |
| Montessori House of Kids | No deadline published | Tours published monthly; kindergarten is a multi-year commitment |
| Rietberg Montessori School | All year; process takes 4–6 weeks | Trial week; open day 7 Nov 2026 |
| School of Tomorrow | Rolling; waiting list when full | Trial day; contract signed within 10 days |
| Serendipity Montessori School | Not published | Book a tour |
| SIS Swiss International School | All year; most families enrol February–April | Trial days; Gymnasium exams 10 May 2027 |
| SkillForge | Open for 2026/27, also mid-year | Meeting, then registration forms |
| Spring Academy Zürich | Places for a mid-year start | Call, documents, meeting and trial day |
| Sprungbrett Montessori School | No deadline published | Visit, then a trial day |
| Tandem IMS | Enquiry first; places checked | Trial days; Gymnasium entrance exams in March |
| Tany Fitiavana | Any time by arrangement | Trial week |
| Terra Nova Bilingual School | Mid-year entry possible | Trial days from Grade 1 |
| Trinity Montessori | Places available (October 2026) | Tour; mid-year entry possible |
| ZIS Bilingual Pathway | All year | Language assessment from Grade 1 |
From each school’s admissions page, checked 21 Oct 2026.
Bilingual kindergartens: application windows
| School | Application window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Bears | Not published (website offline) | Register details only |
| Colourwoods Montessori Kinderhaus | Not published | Contact by phone or email |
| Dayschool | Apply early for the next school year | Online form; place confirmed by contract |
| globegarden | Not stated | Place request on the website |
| KiddieLand | Any time if a place is free | Priority for children from its own preschool |
| Kids Residence | Open for 2026/27 | Information event, tour, online application |
| KIDSatLAKE | Not published | Appointment request on the website |
| Little Star Day School | Any time during the school year | Visit with a family adviser, then contract |
| Meadows Montessori Kindergarten | Rolling | Information visit, contract, settling-in |
| MIC Montessori Infant Community | All year | Places follow the waiting list |
| Parkside School | Any time during the school year | Kindergarten at least 3 days a week |
| Wings School | Waiting list if no place is free | Two meetings, contract and registration fee |
From each school’s admissions page, checked 21 Oct 2026.
Which private schools does canton Zurich recognise?
Every private school teaching compulsory-age children in canton Zurich needs a permit from the Bildungsdirektion, which publishes a register. Schools must offer an education equivalent to public school, based on the Zurich curriculum. Foreign-language schools may follow it only in part, and they admit children only on set conditions, mainly a temporary stay in the canton.
The Bildungsdirektion sets out the rules on its page on special and private schools (zh.ch, checked ):
- Every private school needs a permit and is supervised by the Bildungsdirektion. It must offer an education equivalent to the public Volksschule and orient itself to the Zurich curriculum, so pupils can switch between private and public school.
- Teachers must be adequately trained and the premises suitable. The school’s owners must disclose any links to ideological or religious organisations, which the register shows.
- The Bildungsdirektion carries out no quality control. Most of the school law does not apply to private schools, so there is no appeal against a private school’s marks or promotion decisions; the canton advises a written school contract covering fees, notice periods and rights.
- When parents choose a private school, the commune’s school authority only checks that compulsory schooling is fulfilled.
Who may attend a foreign-language school?
Five schools on the register are approved as foreign-language schools (Fremdsprachige Schulen): Children First, ICS, ISZN, the Japanese School and ZIS (Volksschulamt, checked ). A child may attend one if the parents live in the canton only temporarily, credibly plan to move to a foreign-language country, or want the child to finish schooling begun in a non-German-speaking canton or country (zh.ch, checked ) (Volksschulamt, checked ). The canton counts a stay of under five years as temporary; families resident for longer need one of the other grounds or an exception from the Volksschulamt (Volksschulamt, checked ). The rule does not apply to bilingual schools that teach the Zurich curriculum (Volksschulamt, checked ).
Upper secondary
The register covers compulsory schooling only (Volksschulamt, checked ). After it, the canton recognises seven private Mittelschulen whose Matura gives entry to Swiss universities without an exam, among them FGZ and SIS, both with bilingual German–English programmes (zh.ch, checked ). Recognition lets a school set its own Matura exams; a private Mittelschule without it can only prepare students for the Swiss Matura exam held by the federal Matura commission (zh.ch, checked ). The IB Diploma, AP courses and A levels at ZIS, ICS, ISZN and Academia are international qualifications; the Switzerland overview explains how Swiss universities treat the IB.
-
Canton register
23 Sep 2026
Date of the list of approved private schools for compulsory schooling.
-
Foreign-language schools
Under 5 years
Length of stay the canton counts as temporary for admission.
-
Private Mittelschulen
7
Recognised by the canton to award their own Matura.
Source zh.ch (opens in a new tab) ↗
How does public school work in Zurich for expat children?
Public school in canton Zurich is free and lasts eleven years, starting with two compulsory kindergarten years for every child who is four by 31 July. Children new to German get free German as a Second Language (DaZ) lessons, with intensive beginner lessons or a reception class in primary and secondary school.
The Volksschule is open to every child living in the canton, lasts eleven years and is free: two years of kindergarten, six of primary school and three of lower secondary (zh.ch, checked ) (City of Zurich, checked ). Every child who is four by 31 July starts kindergarten in mid-August (zh.ch, checked ).
In the City of Zurich, families who have registered their address receive information about their child’s school allocation; children already living there who turn four by 31 July are contacted before kindergarten starts (City of Zurich, checked ). The city’s school ambassadors answer questions in English by phone on +41 44 413 88 88 and run information events (City of Zurich, checked ).
DaZ lessons are free and take place at school: within the class in kindergarten, and as a year of intensive beginner lessons in a group or a reception class (Aufnahmeklasse) in primary and secondary school (zh.ch, checked ) (City of Zurich, checked ). After Grade 6, pupils who pass an entrance exam can move to a Langgymnasium; others can take the Kurzgymnasium exam in the second or third year of secondary school (City of Zurich, checked ). More on daily life in the city: Zurich.
Which international schools are listed on expat-services.ch for Zurich?
The directory below shows the international schools listed for Zurich on expat-services.ch, with their contact details. Bilingual schools and childcare have their own directory pages. For curricula compared, the IB rules at Swiss universities and the school guides for Basel, Geneva and Zug, see the overview of international schools in Switzerland.
See also bilingual schools in Zurich and schools and childcare in Zurich, the school guides for Basel, Geneva and Zug, and the Switzerland overview. Registering at the commune comes first: see your first 90 days in Switzerland.
International schools listed in Zurich
Academia International School
International schools · ZürichSecondary school in Zurich-Oerlikon and Winterthur: bilingual lower secondary (Years 7–8), then IGCSE and International A Levels taught in English.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Children First
International schools · ZürichBilingual English–German kindergarten and primary school in Zurich-Seefeld on a British–Montessori curriculum, approved by the canton as a foreign-language school.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Inter-Community School Zurich (ICS Zurich)
International schools · ZürichIB World School in Zumikon near Zurich for ages 2-18, offering PYP, MYP and IB Diploma, including bilingual diploma options.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Japanese School in Zurich
International schools · ZürichJapanese day school in Uster for six elementary and three junior high grades, following Japan’s national curriculum in Japanese, with German and English lessons.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Polo scolastico italo-svizzero di Zurigo
International schools · ZürichItalian–German bilingual state kindergarten and primary school plus the Fermi lower secondary school in Zurich, combining Italy’s curriculum with Lehrplan 21.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Zurich International School (ZIS)
International schools · ZürichNon-profit IB day school for ages 3-18 south of Zurich, with a primary campus in Wädenswil and a secondary campus in Adliswil; AP courses and an English/German bilingual pathway.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?What else do parents ask?
How much does international school cost in Zurich?
ZIS charges CHF 16,900–39,700 a year and ICS CHF 13,100–40,300 for 2026–27, from preschool to the final grades. Bilingual schools mostly charge CHF 25,000–34,000 a year for a full-time place. One-off fees, lunch and transport come on top. Public school is free.
Is there an IB school in Zurich?
Yes. ICS in Zumikon offers the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes, ZIS in Adliswil and SIS in Wallisellen offer the IB Diploma. School of Tomorrow is an IB Diploma candidate school.
Is there a British school in Zurich?
ISZN in Wallisellen follows the English National Curriculum from Pre-K to A levels. Academia International School teaches IGCSE and International A Levels in Zurich-Oerlikon and Winterthur. Several bilingual schools use British-curriculum English.
Can any family choose an English-language school in Zurich?
Not always. The five foreign-language schools (Children First, ICS, ISZN, the Japanese School and ZIS) admit children only if the family lives in the canton temporarily, usually under five years, plans to move abroad, or continues schooling begun outside German-speaking Switzerland. Bilingual schools are open to all.
Can my child go to a Swiss public school without German?
Yes. Public school is free and open to every child living in the canton. Children new to German get free DaZ lessons, in class in kindergarten and as intensive beginner lessons or a reception class in primary and secondary school.
When should I apply to an international school in Zurich?
Most schools accept applications all year and admit mid-year if a place is free, but grades fill for August. KIBS asks for applications by the end of February, SIS sees most enrolments from February to April, and FGZ’s registration closes on 12 or 15 February 2027.
Is there a French school in Zurich?
Yes. The Lycée Français International de Zurich in Dübendorf teaches the French national curriculum from age 3 to the French Baccalauréat, with French and German in kindergarten. Dayschool, d’Insle, Sprungbrett, Tandem and Kids Residence add French to German and English.
Sources
Last checked by the expat-services.ch editorial team
- Canton of Zurich, Volksschulamt Öffentliches Register Privatschulen: approved private schools for compulsory schooling, 23 September 2026 (PDF, in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, Bildungsdirektion Special schools: private schools, foreign-language schools and supervision (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, Volksschulamt Guidelines on admission to foreign-language schools, § 68 Abs. 2 VSG (PDF, in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, Mittelschul- und Berufsbildungsamt Recognised non-state Mittelschulen (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich Volksschule: eleven years, free of charge (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich Kindergarten: two compulsory years, age four by 31 July (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich German as a second language (DaZ) and reception classes (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Zurich Information about the school system of Zürich in English (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, cantonal tax office Zurich tax manual ZStB 34.1: school fees are not childcare costs (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- International Baccalaureate Organization Inter-Community School Zurich: IB PYP, MYP and DP (opens in a new tab)
- International Baccalaureate Organization Zurich International School: IB Diploma Programme (opens in a new tab)
- International Baccalaureate Organization SIS Swiss International School Zürich: IB Diploma Programme (opens in a new tab)
- Academia International School Academia International School Zurich price list 2026/27 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Academia International School Academia International School Winterthur price list 2026/27 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Academia International School Academia International School: educational path (IGCSE, A Levels) (opens in a new tab)
- Academia International School Academia International School: parent information and admission (opens in a new tab)
- Children First Children First: concept and curriculum (opens in a new tab)
- Children First Children First: application form and fees (opens in a new tab)
- Children First Children First: offer and kindergarten entry dates (opens in a new tab)
- Inter-Community School Zurich Inter-Community School Zurich financial regulations 2026–2027 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Inter-Community School Zurich Inter-Community School Zurich: how to apply (opens in a new tab)
- International School Zurich North International School Zurich North: fees (opens in a new tab)
- International School Zurich North International School Zurich North: A levels (opens in a new tab)
- International School Zurich North International School Zurich North: admissions process (opens in a new tab)
- Japanese School in Zurich Japanese School in Zurich: fees for school year 2026 (in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- Japanese School in Zurich Japanese School in Zurich: admission and transfer (in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- Lycée Français International de Zurich Lycée Français International de Zurich: a unique school (opens in a new tab)
- Lycée Français International de Zurich Lycée Français International de Zurich: fees (opens in a new tab)
- Lycée Français International de Zurich Lycée Français International de Zurich: financial conditions, update 12 January 2026 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Lycée Français International de Zurich Lycée Français International de Zurich: admissions (opens in a new tab)
- Scuola Statale Italiana di Zurigo Polo scolastico italo-svizzero di Zurigo: the school (in Italian) (opens in a new tab)
- Scuola Statale Italiana di Zurigo Parents’ contribution 2026/27, circular no. 22 (PDF, in Italian) (opens in a new tab)
- Scuola secondaria di I grado Enrico Fermi Scuola secondaria Enrico Fermi: fees 2026–27 (PDF, in Italian) (opens in a new tab)
- Scuola Statale Italiana di Zurigo Enrolment for 2026/2027, circular no. 11 (PDF, in Italian) (opens in a new tab)
- Zurich International School Zurich International School tuition fees 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
- Zurich International School Zurich International School admissions process (opens in a new tab)
- Zurich International School Zurich International School Bilingual Pathway: fees and admissions (opens in a new tab)
- ABC Schools (abc-daycare) ABC Schools: bilingual kindergarten fees (opens in a new tab)
- ABC Schools (abc-daycare) ABC Schools: about us and enrolment (opens in a new tab)
- Academia Bilingual School Academia Bilingual School Winterthur price list 2026/27 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Academia Bilingual School Academia Bilingual School Winterthur: what we offer (opens in a new tab)
- Acton Academy Schweiz Acton Academy Dübendorf: primary school, costs and application (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Cantaleum Zürich Cantaleum Zürich: fee schedule 2026/2027 (PDF, in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Cantaleum Zürich Cantaleum Zürich: contract conditions (PDF, in German) (opens in a new tab)
- d’Insle Montessori-Schule d’Insle and Sprungbrett Montessori schools: FAQ and fees (opens in a new tab)
- d’Insle Montessori-Schule d’Insle and Sprungbrett Montessori schools: admissions process (opens in a new tab)
- Sprungbrett Montessori-Schule Sprungbrett Montessori School (opens in a new tab)
- Privatschule Firstclass Privatschule Firstclass: costs (opens in a new tab)
- Privatschule Firstclass Privatschule Firstclass: admission (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Freies Gymnasium Zürich Freies Gymnasium Zürich: school costs 2026/2027 (opens in a new tab)
- Freies Gymnasium Zürich Freies Gymnasium Zürich: bilingual education programme (opens in a new tab)
- Freies Gymnasium Zürich Freies Gymnasium Zürich: admission process (opens in a new tab)
- Kid’s Island Bilingual School Zürich Kid’s Island Bilingual School: fees and tariffs (opens in a new tab)
- Kid’s Island Bilingual School Zürich Kid’s Island Bilingual School: FAQ and admission (opens in a new tab)
- Lakeside School Lakeside School: offer and prices (price list valid from 1 November 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- Lakeside School Lakeside School: entrance fees (PDF, July 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- Lakeside School Lakeside School: primary school and admission (opens in a new tab)
- Lipschule Lip Montessori Private School: fee overview (PDF, in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Lipschule Lip Montessori Private School: tour and admission (opens in a new tab)
- LMS Privatschule LMS Privatschule: school fees (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- LMS Privatschule LMS Privatschule: school and admission (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Lumos School Lumos School: admissions and tuition 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
- Montessori House of Kids Montessori House of Kids: fees 2026–2027 (opens in a new tab)
- Montessori House of Kids Montessori House of Kids: book a tour (opens in a new tab)
- Rietberg Montessori School Rietberg Montessori School: school fees 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
- Rietberg Montessori School Rietberg Montessori School: registration (opens in a new tab)
- School of Tomorrow School of Tomorrow: tuition and fees 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
- School of Tomorrow School of Tomorrow: secondary school and IB Diploma candidacy (opens in a new tab)
- School of Tomorrow School of Tomorrow: admission process (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Serendipity Montessori School Serendipity Montessori School (opens in a new tab)
- SIS Swiss International School SIS Swiss International School Zürich: tuition 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
- SIS Swiss International School SIS Zürich-Wollishofen: tuition 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
- SIS Swiss International School SIS Männedorf-Zürich: tuition 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
- SIS Swiss International School SIS Swiss International School: registration (opens in a new tab)
- SkillForge SkillForge: registration and fees 2026/27 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Spring Academy Zürich Spring Academy Zürich: admission (in German and English) (opens in a new tab)
- Tandem IMS Tandem International Multilingual School: tuition and fees (opens in a new tab)
- Tandem IMS Tandem International Multilingual School: admission (opens in a new tab)
- Tany Fitiavana Tany Fitiavana: financing (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Tany Fitiavana Tany Fitiavana: step by step to admission (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Terra Nova Bilingual School Terra Nova Bilingual School price list 2026/2027 (PDF, in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Terra Nova Bilingual School Terra Nova Bilingual School: enrolment and fees (opens in a new tab)
- Trinity Montessori Trinity Montessori: nursery, kindergarten and admission (opens in a new tab)
- Colourwoods Montessori Kinderhaus Colourwoods Montessori Kinderhaus: kindergarten fees 2026/2027 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Trilingual Dayschool DEF Dayschool: fees (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Trilingual Dayschool DEF Dayschool: multilingual kindergarten (opens in a new tab)
- globegarden globegarden: kindergarten (opens in a new tab)
- KiddieLand KiddieLand: bilingual kindergarten pricing (opens in a new tab)
- KiddieLand KiddieLand: FAQ and enrolment (opens in a new tab)
- Kids Residence Kids Residence: kindergarten (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Kids Residence Kids Residence: admissions (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- KIDSatLAKE KIDSatLAKE kindergarten Zollikon (opens in a new tab)
- Little Star Day School Little Star Day School: international kindergarten (opens in a new tab)
- Little Star Day School Little Star Day School: registration (opens in a new tab)
- Meadows Montessori Kindergarten Meadows Montessori Kindergarten: FAQ and fees (opens in a new tab)
- Meadows Montessori Kindergarten Meadows Montessori Kindergarten: register your child (opens in a new tab)
- MIC Montessori Infant Community MIC Montessori Infant Community: fees (opens in a new tab)
- MIC Montessori Infant Community MIC Montessori Infant Community: enrolment (opens in a new tab)
- Parkside School Parkside School Thalwil: registration and fees (opens in a new tab)
- Wings School Wings School: prices (opens in a new tab)
- Wings School Wings School: costs and enrolment (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Stiftung PASITOS PASITOS bilingual German–Spanish kindergarten (in German) (opens in a new tab)