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Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Academic and Intellectual, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
International School Basel is a not-for-profit, co-educational day school delivering the International Baccalaureate across Reinach, Aesch and Fiechten. The school serves students aged 3 to 18 and teaches entirely in English, with an English–German Dual Language Programme available in the Junior School and German, French and Spanish offered as second languages. It offers the IB Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme, with over 65 academic courses in Senior School and university counselling. Its multi‑campus design is linked by Basel's tram network, with classroom, science labs, robotics workshops, art studios and performance spaces, plus well‑equipped gymnasia, fields and wellbeing facilities. The curriculum emphasizes inquiry, social, emotional and physical development, and the school features robust co‑curricular options—from music concerts and theatre to Model United Nations and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The school fosters environmental stewardship and community involvement through its Vision 2030 framework and Making a Difference initiatives.
International School Basel has 1,200 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English, German.
Location
ISB operates on three campuses in the Basel region of Switzerland: Aesch Campus at Arlesheimerstrasse 7, 4147 Aesch; Fiechten Campus at Fiechtenweg 72, 4153 Reinach; Reinach Campus at Fleischbachstrasse 2, 4153 Reinach. The Aesch Campus is in the municipality of Aesch, while the Reinach Campuses are in Reinach, Basel-Landschaft. Public transportation is convenient via BLT tram line 11, with Arlesheimerstrasse stop for Aesch Campus, Reinach Süd stop for Fiechten Campus, and Reinach centre stop for Reinach Campus.
Stages
The school is divided into three levels: Junior School for ages 3–11, Middle School for ages 11–14, and Senior School for ages 14–18.
Type
The school is not-for-profit, co-educational day school and an IB World School offering three IB programmes (PYP, MYP, Diploma) taught in English, with an English–German Dual Language Programme available in the Junior School.
Pupil Nationality Mix
1200 students representing 60+ nationalities across three campuses.
Additional learning support
English as an Additional Language (EAL) is provided to support students not yet proficient in English. EAL specialists assist with reading, writing, listening and speaking, with three learning stages: Emerging, Developing and Consolidating. There are no additional fees payable for EAL support.
Country affiliation
Switzerland
School day structure
Opening hours are 07:45–18:00 during term. Drop-off is 07:45–08:20; classes run 08:20–15:50; pick-up is 15:50–18:00.
Bus service
Public transportation is available via BLT tram 11 (and related rail connections) to stops at Arlesheimerstrasse (Aesch Campus), Reinach Süd (Fiechten Campus), and Reinach centre (Reinach Campus); no dedicated school bus service is listed.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees
Annual tuition at International School Basel ranges from CHF 14,270 to CHF 37,680 for 2026/27.
Application & admission fees
- Development Fee (one-time, payable when a place is offered): CHF 4,500. This fee is non-refundable and is not deducted from tuition.
- Waiting-list Deposit (when placed on a waiting list): CHF 1,000. Once a place is offered this deposit is offset against tuition; if no place is offered within eight months the deposit is refunded.
Annual tuition fees (by school level and EC1 flexible options)
- Early Childhood 1 (EC1) — flexible enrolment options (annual amounts): - 5 mornings (minimum): CHF 14,270. - 5 mornings + 1 full day: CHF 16,130. - 3 mornings + 2 full days: CHF 17,990. - 2 mornings + 3 full days: CHF 19,860. - 1 morning + 4 full days: CHF 21,720. - 5 full days: CHF 23,780. - Ad-hoc full day (until 15:00): CHF 100 per day.
- Early Childhood 2 (EC2): CHF 23,780 per year.
- Early Childhood 3 – Grade 5 (Primary Years Programme): CHF 27,970 per year.
- Middle School (Grades 6–8, Middle Years Programme): CHF 32,010 per year.
- Senior School (Grades 9–10): CHF 33,370 per year.
- Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12): CHF 37,680 per year.
Reductions and family discounts
- Second child from same family: CHF 1,000 discount per year. - Third child from same family: CHF 2,000 discount per year. - Fourth (and additional) child: CHF 4,000 discount per year.
Billing schedule and payment terms (how tuition is billed and typical payment plans)
- A tuition invoice is issued per household for the school year; invoices are sent electronically (paper copies available for a CHF 5 charge). ISB accepts payments in Swiss francs (CHF) only; any bank charges must be paid by the sender.
- Standard payment options for privately paid tuition (arranged annually with Finance Office): - Option 1: 100% of the annual tuition due before 15 July. - Option 2: 70% due before 15 July; remaining 30% due before the last day of school before the Fasnacht break or 15 February, whichever is earlier. - Option 3: 10 monthly instalments due on the 15th of each month from 15 July through 15 April; this option carries an administration surcharge of 2% per year.
- Company-paid tuition: 100% of annual tuition is due before 15 July.
- Late-enrolment and initial-payment rules for students starting mid-year (examples): - Enrolment from 1 June to 31 December: 100% of annual tuition is due; private payers also pay a minimum down payment of 20% at least two working days before the student starts. - Enrolment from 1 January to last day of Spring Break: 60% of annual tuition is due, plus a minimum down payment of 20% before the student starts; remainder invoiced within 30 days. - Enrolment after the first day of classes following Spring Break: 30% of annual tuition is due, plus a minimum down payment of 20% before the student starts; remainder invoiced within 30 days.
Withdrawal, re-enrolment and refund rules
- Development Fee is non-refundable in all circumstances. Waiting-list deposits are refunded if no place is offered within eight months.
- Re-enrolment withdrawals (examples of charges when a returning family confirms re-enrolment and then withdraws): - Withdrawal between the re-enrolment deadline and 31 March: no tuition fees due. - Withdrawal between 1 April and 31 May: late withdrawal fee of CHF 3,000 per student. - Withdrawal between 1 June and 15 July: late withdrawal fee of CHF 5,000 per student. - Withdrawal after 15 July: standard early-withdrawal rules apply (below).
- Early withdrawal from the school after the school year has started (tuition owed based on date of written notice): - Withdrawal between 15 July and 31 December (with at least two months' written notice): 55% of the annual tuition fee is due. - Withdrawal between 1 January and the last day of Spring Break (with at least two months' written notice): 85% of the annual tuition fee is due. - Withdrawal after the first day of classes following Spring Break: 100% of the annual tuition fee is due. - In Payment Option 3 (monthly instalments) partial annual tuition amounts are due 30 days before the date of withdrawal. ISB may withhold school records until outstanding balances are settled.
- No refund is provided for tuition in the event of school closure for force majeure events, for expulsion, or for leave of absence due to illness, accident or mental illness.
Late payment and collection
- Late payment charge: 2% per month on outstanding balances or an administration fee of CHF 50, whichever is greater. ISB may refuse entry to class, withhold records, and engage debt-collection third parties for unpaid invoices.
Other costs and fees (charged separately)
- Costs not included in tuition (examples that are invoiced separately): additional or replacement textbooks; damage or loss of school equipment; field trips, camps and excursions; external examinations (for example IB exam costs); IB DP online courses; psycho-educational evaluations; some therapies and evaluations; extra-curricular programme fees; 1:1 teacher assistant costs; and meals. Such items are invoiced separately and are subject to the payment terms on each invoice.
- After-school and holiday childcare (EC1–Grade 5): - Extended School Day (15:00–18:00) — Trimester registration: CHF 30 per day; Drop-in registration: CHF 60 per day. - Holiday Childcare (07:45–17:00 on selected holidays) — Pre-registration: CHF 90 per day; Drop-in registration: CHF 150 per day. Ad-hoc EC1 full-day rate (until 15:00): CHF 100 per day.
- Paper invoice fee (if paper invoices are requested): CHF 5 per invoice. Special billing or changes to payment frequency may incur administration fees (e.g., CHF 100 per change request or special billing).
Boarding / residential provision
- ISB operates as a co-educational day school for students aged 3–19; there is no boarding provision and no boarding fees.
Fee payment options and bank details
- Payments are accepted in Swiss francs (CHF) and may be made by bank transfer. Any bank charges are the responsibility of the payer. The school's bank details for CHF transfers are provided for tuition payment (Bank Cler AG, Basel; IBAN: CH79 0844 0697 0092 9000 0; SWIFT/BIC: BCLRCHBB). Parents should indicate family name and student names when making transfers.
Key administrative provisions
- Parents/guardians must maintain health, accident and liability insurance for each enrolled student. ISB reserves the right to invoice separately for any additional costs described above and to take action for overdue accounts as set out in the financial regulations.
Academics
International School Basel teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 19.
Curriculum
ISB offers the International Baccalaureate across three programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3–11; Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11–16; and the Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16–18. The school is English-language. The PYP is offered in English with German as a second language, and a Dual Language Programme (English and German) is available for younger students. The MYP provides an eight-subject-group framework and includes a co-curricular Z-Block for Grades 6–8. The IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous university-preparatory course offered through ISB's Senior School, with ISB offering over 65 academic courses. ISB uses Continuums—subject guides that ensure a seamless educational experience across its three campuses.
Exam Results
IB Diploma results show strong performance. In 2025, 158 students completed the IB Diploma Examinations. Of the 147 students who completed the full Diploma, ISB achieved a 96.6% pass rate and an average of 34.4 points (out of 45), with 17% achieving 40+ points. Diploma Programme Courses: For the 11 students who took Diploma Programme Courses, they completed 48 courses with an average of 4.1 points per course. MAP test results measure reading and mathematics progress for Grades 3–10; Fall 2025 results are posted.
Higher Education Progression
ISB's Pathways to Swiss Universities explains that the IB Diploma earned at ISB is fully recognised by Swiss universities as equivalent to a Swiss Matura, provided it meets the required criteria. The Swiss admission framework includes six IB subject groups (first language, second language, humanities, natural science, mathematics, and an elective) and HL requirements for some universities (e.g., ETH Zürich and EPFL). Most bachelor programmes at Swiss universities are taught in German, French or Italian, with some courses in English; admission decisions are made by the individual universities. ISB provides a dedicated university counselling team to guide Swiss and international applications and hosts annual university fairs with representatives from universities worldwide.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions
Admissions
1. Explore: Learn about ISBasel's personalised approach to education and schedule an individual consultation in person or online to understand how ISBasel can support your child. The school outlines three levels—Junior School (ages 3–11), Middle School (ages 11–14), and Senior School (ages 14–18)—which you can discuss during this consult. This initial exploration helps families determine fit before moving to the next steps.
2. Visit: ISBasel's doors are open year‑round. Schedule a visit or call, and you will be welcomed for an individual tour at your convenience. During the visit you can explore the school in depth and meet key staff members. This visit is designed to give you a first‑hand sense of the school environment and community.
3. Register & Apply: The Admissions Team is here to assist you every step of the way. ISBasel enrols students throughout the year, dependent on space and fulfillment of entry requirements. They provide personalised support and guidance on documentation, application forms, and admission criteria. You can ask questions about the process and receive help with next steps as you prepare your dossier.
4. Documentation and join requirements: Complete all application forms; all documents must be in English or officially translated (submit both original and translation). Additional assessment outcomes may be required; the level of English proficiency and any student support needs will be reviewed. Availability of space in classes and option groups, sibling availability, and the Director's and Principal's discretion also influence admission decisions.
5. English proficiency and placement: Grade 6 and above require an online English test to determine proficiency, sometimes with an interview. Seniors may have a tailored curriculum if enrolled in external English programs, and they transition as language skills improve. ISB uses the CEFR framework to outline minimum English proficiency by grade: Grade 9 A2/B1; Grade 10 A2/B2; Grade 11 B1/B2; Grade 12 B1/B2 (Only for students currently in the IB Diploma Programme).
6. Student support: ISB provides tailored learning support for mild to moderate learning needs, with close collaboration with families to ensure proper placement and resources. Conditional enrolment may be offered with agreed services and extra costs. In rare cases where the school cannot meet a student's needs, a decision is explained and families are guided toward alternative options.
School Events
The school has not added events
FAQs
What curriculum does International School Basel offer?
International School Basel offers IB, French, International Baccalaureate curriculums. ISB offers the International Baccalaureate across three programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3–11; Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11–16; and the Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16–18. The school is English-language.
What age range does International School Basel cater for?
International School Basel accepts students from age 3 to 18. The school is divided into three levels: Junior School for ages 3–11, Middle School for ages 11–14, and Senior School for ages 14–18.
What are the fees at International School Basel?
**Application & admission fees** - Development Fee (one-time, payable when a place is offered): CHF 4,500. This fee is non-refundable and is not deducted from tuition. - Waiting-list Deposit (when placed on a waiting list): CHF 1,000.
Where is International School Basel located?
International School Basel is located in Switzerland. ISB operates on three campuses in the Basel region of Switzerland: Aesch Campus at Arlesheimerstrasse 7, 4147 Aesch; Fiechten Campus at Fiechtenweg 72, 4153 Reinach; Reinach Campus at Fleischbachstrasse 2, 4153 Reinach.
Is International School Basel co-educational?
International School Basel is a co-educational school. The school is not-for-profit, co-educational day school and an IB World School offering three IB programmes (PYP, MYP, Diploma) taught in English, with an English–German Dual Language Programme availa.
How do I apply to International School Basel?
The admissions process at International School Basel: 1. Explore: Learn about ISBasel's personalised approach to education and schedule an individual consultation in person or online to understand how ISBasel can support your child.
Does International School Basel offer boarding?
Day school; no boarding is offered.
What learning support does International School Basel provide?
International School Basel provides learning support services. English Language Support provides a nurturing environment for students who have little English knowledge. A continuum of support is offered for students with mild and moderate learning needs to ensure a quality and equitable education.
Does International School Basel offer English as an Additional Language (EAL) support?
The Dual Language Programme offers instruction in English and German as an alternative to the English Language Programme in the Junior School. The programme is currently available to students aged 3 to 10, with plans to extend to Grade 5 in 2026/27.
What facilities does International School Basel have?
ISB operates across three campuses in Reinach, Aesch, and Fiechten, connected by Basel's tram network and located near the A18 motorway. The campuses feature dynamic, innovative learning spaces with flexible layouts and integrated technology. Indoor and outdoor multipurpose sports facilities include Sports facilities include: ISB offers multipurpose indoor and outdoor sports facilities to support a range of activities.
What extra-curricular activities are available at International School Basel?
International School Basel offers a range of extra-curricular activities. Artistic expression is central to ISBasel and is organised through Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts. Music includes regular concerts and choirs with on- and off-campus performances. Drama and Theatre feature annual productions and special performances.
What languages are taught at International School Basel?
English is the language of instruction. German, French and Spanish are offered as secondary languages. The Junior School provides an English-German Dual Language Programme, and older students may study German, French and Spanish as secondary languages. The school offers an English-German Dual Language Programme in the Junior School.
Who is the head of International School Basel?
The head of school at International School Basel is Bradley Roberts.
How many students attend International School Basel?
International School Basel has approximately 1200 students. The school serves students from age 3 to 18.
When was International School Basel founded?
International School Basel was founded in 1979. ISB was founded in 1979 by Janet Galli with 15 students. It is a not-for-profit, co-educational day school offering three IB programmes (PYP for ages 3–11, MYP for ages 11–16, and DP for ages 16–19) across three campuses.
What accreditations does International School Basel hold?
New England Association of Schools and Colleges; International Baccalaureate Organization.
Where do graduates of International School Basel go to university?
ISB's Pathways to Swiss Universities explains that the IB Diploma earned at ISB is fully recognised by Swiss universities as equivalent to a Swiss Matura, provided it meets the required criteria.
Does International School Basel have a uniform policy?
There is a dress code rather than a formal uniform. Must Wear: a shirt/top with straps or sleeves, pants/jeans or the equivalent, and shoes.
What is the parent community like at International School Basel?
All ISB parents and staff are members of the ISB Community Association. The Association welcomes new families, supports educational enrichment, and maintains an active dialogue between parents and ISB The ISB Community Association includes all ISB parents and staff.
