Just across the border, in the centre of Lugano

Trains run from Como San Giovanni across the border at Chiasso to Lugano on the S10, and from Varese via Mendrisio to Lugano on the S50, hourly, according to TILO. By car, the usual crossing from Como is Chiasso on the A2 motorway.

Journey times depend on the hour and the border, so check your own route on sbb.ch before you plan the daily journey. Chiasso is a border crossing: bring identity documents.

The school is at Corso Enrico Pestalozzi 9 in the centre of Lugano; how to find us has the routes.

Many families around Como and Varese keep their home in Italy while a parent works in Switzerland, with the G permit for cross-border commuters. It requires returning to the main residence abroad at least once a week.

Annual tuition for 2026/27 is CHF 16,000 in Grade 1, CHF 18,000 in Grades 2 to 5, CHF 20,000 in Grades 6 to 9 and CHF 22,000 in Grades 10 to 12, with a one-off enrolment fee of CHF 3,000 per family. Examination fees are charged separately. The fees page has the full table.

This page is general information, not advice on your individual case. For the documents the school needs for a child who lives in Italy, ask the admissions office.

In Grade 10, the Pre-DP year, students choose between A-Levels, examined by Pearson Edexcel in thirteen subjects, and the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11 and 12. The Senior School page explains both.

Swiss universities recognise International A-Levels, together with International GCSEs, on conditions that each university sets for itself and that swissuniversities publishes.

Italian universities admit holders of foreign school-leaving qualifications under rules the Ministry of University and Research publishes for each academic year; for 2026/27 they are on Universitaly, and each university assesses the qualification itself.