Dates: between Sept adn June
Duration: term, semester or year
Age: from 8 to 18 years
Price: year from 58.868 €
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Some of the most prestigious boarding schools in the world are found in Switzerland. Students from all over the world come here for their high academic standards, bespoke attention and cultural diversity that contribute to an international atmosphere.
You can choose among around 100 schools in different locations, from the heart of the Alps to the shores of lake Leman. You can find a wide variety of schools with a whole range of academic, artistic, musical and sporting provision, all of them mixed, boarding or secular. You can also choose to study in only English or French, or take a bilingual school year in both English and French or English and German.
It is the quintessential diverse education. Since education is delegated to the cantons, you could say there are 26 different school systems. Each canton chooses their school program, holiday calendar and language.
Primary education
It is mandatory and finishes at 10 to 12 years of age, depending on the canton.
Secondary education
It happens in the Gymnasium and it is divided in two levels: lower secondary which is compulsory, and upper secondary, which is optional. In the latter, students choose specific subjects, depending on what career they want to pursue. For access to university they need a certification called “maturité”.
Notwithstanding public schools are the choice of the majority of students in Switzerland, foreign students usually attend private schools, with an offer of Swiss system, British, American, French or the International baccalaureate.
SCHOOL CYCLES
Primary and secondary
SCHOOL SYSTEM
Swiss, British, French, American curriculum and International Baccalaureate
FAITH
Secular
AREAS
The whole of Switzerland
Accommodation in boarding schools is usually located in the school grounds. There are visits and organised activities for students on weekends. The halls of residence are like a home, and are fully prepared with facilities like living rooms, entertainment, studies, canteen and spacious shared bedrooms for younger students, double and individual rooms for the older ones. There is a person in charge of the students’ wellbeing and basic necessities.
First term: September- December
Second term: January- March
Third term: April- June
*Some schools have two semesters.
There is a half term break of about 10 days in each of the terms of the school year, when you can go back home or take part in a school activity. Then, you also have Christmas and Easter break.
School year: 58.868 € – 118.000 € (62.400 CHF – 118.000 CHF)
*Includes school fees, accommodation and meals.
*Same price as from schools, no added fees.
*Payment in euros or Swiss francs.
*Welfare services are optional.
A whole school year in Ireland can be validated seamlessly, as long as the student achieves the minimum required qualifications, as laid out by the Education Department of the country of origin. Our coordinator will make sure the student chooses the relevant subjects to comply with the set requirements, and will take care of the procedures to obtain the certification.
Students must pass the full year and the Maturité examination. This process doesn’t include the procedure to access university.
Please note that if you pass the Maturité examination, you can obtain access to university with your median grades, and opt to take the exams to raise your grades.
