Why so many international students choose Switzerland?

Switzerland is known for mountains & lakes, banks, innovation, watches and chocolate. Swiss education is ranked among the best in the world. Public schools have a good reputation and Swiss private boarding schools and international day schools are exceptional and rank in the top levels internationally.

High reputation

Switzerland is the home of some of the world’s finest and most prestigious boarding schools. Swiss boarding schools, while being expensive compared to other countries, are renowned for their very high reputation and academic excellence. Students come from all over the world to study in a truly international and safe environment.

Selection

With over 100 international schools, there is a very high concentration of international education, for a fairly small country of only 8 million people. Parents whose children study in Switzerland appreciate the safe learning environment, the high academic standards, the international and cultural diversity, the language focus and the top extracurricular program.

Academic Standards

Many expats and local parents send their children to international schools in Switzerland, despite the quality of its public schools. Swiss international schools are among the best in the world. Typically, they offer international diploma, such as the International Baccalaureate, British Curriculum, American, French or Swiss curriculum. (See also: how to choose the right curriculum for your child)

Many schools offer a combination of the different curricula. You will find day or boarding schools in most of the larger cities, where international companies and organisations are located. Especially the lake Geneva region has a high international school density.

Ideal Location

Switzerland’s location in the heart of Europe makes it the ideal place to learn about different cultures and study languages. With four national languages; shared borders with Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein; and a highly international population, Switzerland helps students develop into world citizens.

Outdoor Adventures

With mountains, rivers, and lakes a plenty, Switzerland offers unlimited opportunities for students to engage with the outdoors. Whether they are into hiking, trail running, rock climbing, canyoning, kayaking, rafting, or cycling, students will inevitably emerge from their time at a Swiss boarding school with a heightened appreciation for the outdoors and a better understanding for what it takes to succeed in challenging environments.

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Top Boarding Schools in Switzerland

Schools in alphabetical order, no ranking:

A+ World Academy

A+ World Academy is a boarding school on a Tall Ship – “high school on a boat”. Up to 60 students in grades 11 and 12 live and work the ...
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Aiglon College

Education should be a way of life. School should be about the development of the whole person. When John Corlette founded Aiglon College in 1949, he had a unique vision: ...
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Brillantmont International School

Brillantmont International School is one of the oldest schools in Switzerland. It was founded in 1882 and is still owned by the founding family. What makes Brillantmont special is not ...
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College Alpin Beau Soleil

Founded in 1910 Beau Soleil is one of the oldest private boarding schools in Switzerland. It provides a full boarding education for students from over 40 different nationalities aged 11-18 ...
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College du Leman – International School

Collège du LéŽman is an international university preparatory school located in Geneva, Switzerland and offers individual growth, academic excellence and life-long learning to students from Pre-K through Grade 12. Collège ...
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Ecole Lemania

Ecole Lemania was founded in 1908 by Dr Paul Du Pasquier and is now one of the major important private schools in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland. Ideally located ...
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Institut auf dem Rosenberg

Institut auf dem Rosenberg is a Swiss international private boarding school for boys and girls aged 6-19 years. Passionate about education and the development of meaningful learning and free-time experiences, ...
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Institut Montana Zugerberg

Institut Montana Zugerberg is a fully accredited Swiss international boarding school for 90 years now and since 1987 an official IB World School. We offer four academic programmes: The Bilingual Elementary School ...
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Institut Monte Rosa

Since 1874, Monte Rosa has been offering a wide range of academic programs in both general subject areas and intensive language studies, taught by enthusiastic teaching experts, in a family-like ...
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La Garenne International School

Founded in 1947, La Garenne International School is one of the leading primary/middle boarding schools located on the balcony of the Swiss Alps. Owned and managed since two generations by ...
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Le Régent College

Le Régent College is a British International boarding and day school in the Swiss Alps town of Crans-Montana, for children aged 4-18. WE AIM TO Produce well-rounded, internationally-minded young men ...
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Leysin American School in Switzerland

Located in picturesque Leysin, facing the panorama of the Southern Alps, LAS has both a strong academic ethos and an inspirational setting! The school combines an American educational philosophy with ...
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Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz

The Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz, founded in 1904, is a Swiss international boarding school set in spectacular alpine landscape near St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Lyceum campus occupies an extensive site with ...
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Préfleuri International Alpine School

Préfleuri is an exclusive international boarding school in the Swiss Alps that caters for children from 3 to 13 years of age. Since 1948, Préfleuri has been a loving home ...
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St. George’s International School

St. George’s International School is an independent international Day and Boarding School community, of over 400 boys and girls aged between 1.5 and 18. Approximately 20% of our students are ...
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Surval Montreux

Set in a stunning location overlooking Lake Geneva, Surval Montreux is a unique private international boarding school for girls between the ages of 12 and 19. Founded in 1961, the ...
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TASIS The American School in Switzerland

Founded by international education pioneer M. Crist Fleming in 1956, TASIS The American School in Switzerland is a day and boarding school committed to creating global citizens through education, travel, ...
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Request information

The demand is very high and the popular schools have long waiting lists. We advise you to apply early in order to secure places, so make sure, that you start investigating well in advance. Then start approaching the schools’ admissions offices or use the world schools request function.