Compare Premium International Schools in Zug, Switzerland

Schönfels 5, 6300 Zug, Switzerland

Primary School (Grades 1-6) – Bilingual Primary School; Secondary School (Grades 7-12) including Bilingual Secondary School (Grades 7-9), Swiss Gymnasium (Grades 7-12), International School (Grades 6-12)

International day and boarding school

Students come from all over the world, representing over 55 nationalities.

Switzerland

Three boarding houses provide accommodation: Grosses Haus for older boys, Haus Juventus for younger boys, and Haus Felsenegg for girls. A total of about 120 boarding students live on campus, representing around 24 nationalities, with boarding starting at age 10. Flexi-boarding is available for weeks or weekends, and boarders participate in weekend activities and trips around Switzerland.

Primary School students wear Montana School clothing during the school day, with orders placed via Unique Uniforms. The bilingual primary school specifies Montana School uniforms for everyday wear.

Dining is done in a sit-down dining hall with daily meals that include breakfast, cocoa breaks, lunch, afternoon breaks, and dinner. The menu combines served and buffet-style options, includes vegetarian dishes, and uses locally sourced ingredients, with milk supplied from the Zugerberg.

There are three boarding houses: Grosses Haus (older boys), Haus Juventus (younger boys), and Haus Felsenegg (girls). Each house has its own house manager and dedicated facilities, supporting a family-like boarding community.

The school is owned and operated by Institut Montana Zugerberg AG, the independent Swiss company that runs Institut Montana Zugerberg in Zug, Switzerland.

Institut Montana offers four academic pathways for Grades 1–12: Bilingual Primary School Grades 1–6 follows the Swiss Lehrplan 21 and is taught in English and German. Bilingual Secondary School Grades 7–9 follows the Swiss curriculum with language and subject options in English and German, and offers intensive language courses with certificates in German, French and English (Goethe Institut, DELF, Cambridge). Swiss Gymnasium Grades 7–12 leads to the Swiss Matura, with monolingual German or bilingual pathways and language support in German, French and English (Goethe Institut, DELF, Cambridge). International School Grades 6–12 uses international programmes starting with Cambridge Lower Secondary/IGCSE, progressing to the International Baccalaureate Diploma or a High School Diploma; the main language of instruction is English and English language assessment is used with EAL support. The language/certification mix includes Cambridge, Goethe/DELF, and Cambridge IGCSE; the Swiss Matura provides direct access to ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of St. Gallen and EHL; the IB Diploma offers global university entry.

Student/teacher ratio is 4:1. Average class size is 10.

IB Diploma pass rate 99% (2025). The International School serves about 170 students with an average class size of 12 and students from around 45 nationalities. The IB Diploma program is a pathway within the International School, enabling admission to universities worldwide and in Switzerland.

IB Diploma graduates have access to universities worldwide and in Switzerland. The Swiss Matura path provides direct access to ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of St. Gallen and EHL.

The admissions process is holistic and considers students' interests and talents. Co-curricular activities such as Model United Nations, Performing Arts, and Entrepreneurship Club provide outlets for talented students.

We take a holistic approach to learning and development, recognizing that overall well-being (physical and emotional) supports academic success. Emotional resilience and happiness are fostered through programmes and workshops. Confidential student support is available on-site through the Care Team and school counsellors. Early intervention and preventative counselling are part of our Care Team services. KiVa anti-bullying programme supports a safe and respectful school climate.

English and/or German are the main languages of instruction, with additional language support provided as needed.

The Care Team runs mental health and social skills workshops to help students manage stress, build self-esteem and develop healthy relationships. Confidential student support is available on-site through our guidance counsellors. KiVa anti-bullying programme supports the mental wellbeing of our community.

Anti-bullying and child protection policies uphold the emotional well-being of the community. KiVa anti-bullying programme is embedded in the curriculum. Clear guidelines focus on respect, responsibility and kindness.

The admissions process is holistic and evaluates each application beyond academic performance to understand a child's potential, motivation to learn, interests and passions, and whether they will thrive in the international community. The process has six steps: 1. 2. Interview: Visit campus for a free trial day or arrange a video meeting if you cannot visit in person. 3. Academic assessment: CAT4 Ability Test and language placement tests assess academic and language levels; depending on year group, Heads of Programmes join for a short interview. 4. Admissions evaluation: The Admissions Team and Heads of Programmes evaluate the application and advise on needed support. 5. Offer letter: Includes class placement and any required support plans; the offer letter is valid for two weeks. 6. Enrolment confirmation: After accepting, the Admissions Team assists with final documents and shares information for a successful first day; visa applications are supported for boarders. Admissions are rolling throughout the year, with a recommendation to start at the beginning of a semester; the team will help determine the best entry point for each student.

The City Campus is located in Winterthur, Switzerland, at Grüzefeldstrasse 34, 8400 Winterthur. It is about 20 minutes from Zurich Airport and just under 30 minutes from Zurich city centre.

The school offers International A Levels (upper secondary).

Boarding school.

Switzerland

A typical day starts at 7:15 with breakfast. 8:00–12:00 classes; 12:00–13:00 lunch; 13:00–14:35 classes; 14:35–14:50 afternoon snack; 15:00–16:00 classes; 16:00–17:00 supervised study time; 17:00–18:30 extracurricular activities; 18:30 dinner; 19:30–22:00 supervised study time/leisure (late snack); lights out around 22:00.

En-suite single rooms with their own shower and toilet; individual rooms have connecting doors. Boys and girls are accommodated separately, with a staff member on-site at all times. The City Campus boarding is open 44 weeks per year, closed for six weeks in summer and two weeks over Christmas.

All meals are freshly prepared daily; learners have a healthy and balanced diet.

Partnership with Academia Group and the Swiss Academy Zurich; City Campus located on the WIN4 site in Winterthur.

City Campus offers IGCSE (Years 9–10) and International A Levels (Years 11–12). English is the language of instruction, with all language classes taught by native speakers. Students study three to four subjects in depth, with a core set including English, German, Mathematics, Biology, History and Geography, and electives such as Sports, Art & Design and Life Skills. Teaching is delivered in small classes by teachers from around the world, and a Head of Academics creates tailor-made learning plans while each student has a personal learning coach.

Exams are taken in IGCSE and AS/A Level subjects, with up to three examination sittings per year. The highest IGCSE grade is 8/9 and the highest A Level grade is A & A. Some students have won Pearson Edexcel prizes for top marks in Advanced German, Science, Advanced Maths and English.

University destinations at Switzerland include ETH Zurich, University of St. Gallen, Lausanne Hotel Management, and the Universities of Basel, Bern and Zurich. Worldwide destinations include the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, University of Massachusetts, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Sorbonne Université.

A Head of Academics creates tailor-made learning plans; a personal learning coach supports each student; teaching occurs in small classes and electives such as Sports, Art & Design and Life Skills are offered.

Flexibility and individual support are core at the city campus. Teaching methods encourage learners to reach their full potential. In addition to academic knowledge, personal competencies and learning techniques are taught. Independence is promoted and an environment that enables holistic development is created. Learners study in small classes with experienced teachers and benefit from cutting-edge facilities. The aim is to help learners become well-educated, responsible people who can feel at home anywhere in the world.

The language of instruction is predominantly English. German and English are used for social interactions, and lessons are offered in other languages.

The well-being and health of the young people entrusted to us are top priorities. A family-like atmosphere is maintained and staff are available around the clock, on-site or by telephone. The boarding school also has a security service. If ill, the medBase health centre is located in the neighbouring building, with a GP nearby and Winterthur Cantonal Hospital only 10 minutes away.

The safety and safeguarding framework prioritizes the well-being of learners. Staff are available around the clock, on-site or by telephone, and a security service is in place. Medical facilities are nearby, including the medBase health centre in the neighbouring building, a GP in the vicinity, and Winterthur Cantonal Hospital about 10 minutes away.

1. Contact us for a non-binding consultation by phone, video call, or in person on campus. We admit learners only after an in-person meeting or a successful interview with the Head of School. The consultation helps determine whether Swiss Boarding Schools Disentis & Zurich is the right choice for your child.

2. If you wish to proceed, fill in the application form we send and return it with the required documents. This starts enrollment and shows your child's profile. We will confirm receipt and note any missing items.

3. Placement tests may be necessary depending on subject choice and prior education. On entry, English language level is generally expected to be B1. If B1 is not yet reached, students can begin with a reduced range of subjects while improving language skills and building vocabulary.

4. An in-person or online interview with the Head of School completes the evaluation. The interview provides an opportunity to learn more about the student and confirm alignment with the program. The outcome is a decision about admission.

5. If accepted, we send the Letter of Acceptance and the contract. We provide all documents needed for the visa application. Visa processing can take up to two months, so plan accordingly.

6. Admission usually occurs in August at the start of the school year. If places are available, admission can occur at other times after consultation with school management. Parents should coordinate with the admissions team to ensure timely enrollment.