Admissions at the International School in Lugano
From first enquiry to first day. We welcome families all year round, into Grades 1 to 12, in English and Italian.
Who we welcome
The International School of Switzerland takes students from Grade 1 to Grade 12. Families come to us from across Ticino, from the border towns around Como and Varese, and from further afield when a parent relocates to Lugano for work.
Lessons are taught in English and Italian, with German offered as an additional language. Children do not need to arrive fluent in both. Placement follows the Common European Framework, and students who need it receive English as an Additional Language support alongside their normal timetable.
Applications are accepted throughout the year, including mid-year when a family relocates. Applying early gives a place the best chance, particularly in year groups that fill quickly.
Admissions at a glance
- Grades 1-12
- One school from primary to the diploma years
- EN + IT
- Two languages of instruction, German as an option
- Year-round
- Applications accepted at any point in the school year
- A-Levels + IB
- Two routes to university in the final years
How to apply, step by step
Get in touch
Call or email us, or send us an enquiry. We will invite you to see the school with lessons in progress and to meet the principal, at an information evening, a Taster Day or an individual appointment.
Apply online
Applications are made through our admissions portal. There you create an account, upload the documents we need and follow the progress of your application.
Assessment and conversation
Every applicant sits an assessment suited to their age group and meets us for a conversation together with the family. This is how we place a student in the right year and see whether any language support is needed. We do all we can to make it comfortable.
Offer and enrolment
If we can offer a place, you receive the offer in writing. Returning the signed enrolment forms together with the deposit secures it.
What a place costs
Tuition is a single annual figure per child, published in full for the 2026/27 school year on our school fees page. Alongside it there is a one-time enrolment deposit of CHF 3,000 per family for new families, and a computer and book levy of CHF 1,000 per student per year. Camps and excursions are compulsory and invoiced separately.
Questions families ask about admissions
How do we apply to the International School of Switzerland?
In four steps: an enquiry and a visit to the school, an online application through our admissions portal, an assessment and a conversation, then a written offer of a place.
What year groups do you accept?
Grades 1 to 12 - from the first year of primary school through to the diploma years.
When should we apply?
Applications are accepted year-round. Applying early gives priority consideration, particularly in year groups that fill quickly.
Does our child need to speak Italian to apply?
No. Lessons are taught in English and Italian, and students who need it receive English as an Additional Language support. Placement follows the Common European Framework, so every child works at the level that fits.
What happens in the entry assessment?
Applicants sit an assessment appropriate to their age group and meet us for a conversation. It helps us place a student in the right year and see whether any language support is needed.
Can our child join partway through the school year?
Yes. We regularly welcome students who move to Ticino mid-year, subject to a place being available in the year group.
Do you accept international students?
Yes. Our families come from across Ticino, from the Italian border region around Como and Varese, and from further afield.