International schools in Switzerland

Search for the best international schools in Switzerland; you can find a list of selected schools at the bottom of this page. Use the search filters to select only girls' or boys' schools, prep schools, senior schools or sixth forms; or you can search for schools that offer a particular curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate, the UK national curriculum, a US-style model or the International Primary Curriculum. 

A small, independent nation at the heart of Europe, Switzerland offers a wide range of distinguished international schools in a stunning natural environment. Most are clustered around Zurich, Basle, Lausanne and Geneva, which is the home of the International Baccalaureate office.

There are 57 IB World Schools, of which 53 are authorised to teach the IB Diploma and nine offer all three stages of the IB curriculum.

Switzerland’s top private boarding schools have been offering international education since the early 20th century. Today, they draw around 80 per cent of students from abroad, while many day schools serve the country’s cosmopolitan city dwellers. Schools follow the curriculums of Britain, America, France, Germany and Switzerland, often in combination with the IB. 

Education is devolved to Switzerland’s cantons, with some regional variation. Generally, it is compulsory for nine years, from age six to 15. Public education is free up to first degree level and state schools teach in French, German, Italian or Romansh depending on the region, with all students taking a second Swiss language plus English. 

Primary school typically runs from age six to 12. Junior secondary education is selective and takes three years. Students are then allocated to academic Gymnasium, which prepares them for the Matura exam, or to vocational schools. Switzerland has 12 public universities, which take a high proportion of international students, and boasts territorial links with 116 Nobel Laureates.

If you are looking specifically for International Baccalaureate World Schools in Switzerland, you can find selected schools on our sister website: www.ibyb.org.