Bilingual schools in Bern

German is the language of instruction in the city's public schools, and French-language public schooling is offered by the cantonal French-language school (ECLF) (bern.ch, checked 21 Oct 2026) (ECLF, checked 21 Oct 2026). Support measures include courses for pupils who speak another language (City of Bern, checked 21 Oct 2026).

In Canton Bern, compulsory schooling can also be completed in a private school, which needs a licence from the Bildungs- und Kulturdirektion under Articles 64 to 71b of the Volksschulgesetz (Canton of Bern, Bildungs- und Kulturdirektion, Schulaufsicht, checked 21 Oct 2026). A licence for a private school is required for more than ten children, and permission for private tuition when fewer than five are taught (Canton of Bern, Bildungs- und Kulturdirektion, Schulaufsicht, checked 21 Oct 2026).

The application goes through the regional school inspectorate and must state the language of instruction; a school with an international orientation shows how its curriculum allows a transfer into the public school systems of other countries (Canton of Bern, Bildungs- und Kulturdirektion, Schulaufsicht, checked 21 Oct 2026). Only in-person teaching is licensed, and each school gives the commune a list of its pupils within four weeks of the school year's start (Canton of Bern, Bildungs- und Kulturdirektion, Schulaufsicht, checked 21 Oct 2026).

Foreign nationals register at the Einwohnerdienste, Migration und Fremdenpolizei (EMF) at Predigergasse 5, whose counter is open Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 16.00 and until 18.00 on Thursdays (City of Bern, checked 21 Oct 2026). Registration is due within 14 days of arrival, by web form for EU/EFTA citizens and by posted paper form for other nationals (bern.ch, checked 21 Oct 2026). The cantonal tariff lists CHF 25 for entering the registration (Canton of Bern, checked 21 Oct 2026). See registering at your commune.