Academia International School Zurich vs International School of Central Switzerland

	A Academia International School Zurich Zug, Switzerland	I International School of Central Switzerland Zug, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 28,800 - 32,800	Fees / year CHF 27,200 - 32,800
Age range	Age range 12 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils 100	Pupils 150
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 15
Instruction language	Instruction language German, English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2019	Opened 2008
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The Zurich Campus is located at Binzmühlestrasse 15, 8050 Zurich, centrally located and easily accessible, just steps from Oerlikon train station. Kindergarten & Primary are hosted at Terra Nova campus in Küsnacht. Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary are part of the Zurich campus, offering bilingual instruction in the lower years and English-language programmes in the upper years. Academia International School Zürich is part of Academia International School, which operates across Basel, Zurich and Winterthur.	Location The school is located in Cham, Canton of Zug, Switzerland, at Lorzenparkstrasse 8 (CH-6330 Cham). The Lorzenpark area is adjacent to the school grounds.
Stages	Stages Kindergarten & Primary (Pre-K to Year 6) at Terra Nova in Küsnacht; Lower Secondary (Year 7–8) bilingual; Upper Secondary (Year 9–12) English-language, with IGCSE & A Level pathways.	Stages Primary School, Middle School, and High School (Private Gymnasium).
School type	School type International school	School type Private international day school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix More than 35 nationalities are represented at ISCS.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support The Guidance Counselor provides learning support with Individualised Educational Plans (IEPs) to support students' needs.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation Switzerland.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Opening hours Monday–Friday 8:00–17:00.	School day structure The school day typically starts around 8:15–8:30 and ends at 15:30; after-school clubs run 15:30–16:30 and after-school care is available 15:30–18:00.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details The school offers a school bus service for local routes within the canton of Zug.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Registration Fee - Registration (one-time): CHF 500. Tuition fees (per student) - Tuition fee per school year: CHF 28,800. - Tuition fee per semester: CHF 14,400. - Tuition fee per quarterly instalment: CHF 7,200. - Monthly instalment plan (10 monthly payments, includes an administrative surcharge of 3%): CHF 2,965 per month. - Tuition including the German Booster programme: CHF 32,800 (annual). Billing schedule and payment terms - School fees are invoiced in advance. - Payment may be made as a one-off payment in advance or by instalments; instalment options shown include semester, quarterly and a 10-month plan which carries an administrative surcharge. The time allowed for payment on invoices is 30 days unless otherwise specified. - If one or more instalments are not paid by the agreed deadline after lessons have started, the student can be excluded from the school programme until outstanding instalments are paid; continued non-payment after reminders may lead to contract withdrawal and fees due as described under cancellation. Interest and collection costs apply to overdue amounts. Boarding fees - Boarding is not listed as part of the Zurich campus fee schedule; no boarding fees are included in the published fees for the Zurich campus. Other costs and optional charges - Teaching materials and most electives and extra-curricular activities are included in the school fees. Examination fees, school trips and camps are charged separately. If a pupil joins during the school year, school fees are calculated pro rata temporis. - Private lessons (optional, charged separately): CHF 140 per 60 minutes. - Sibling discount: For self-financing families with more than one child enrolled at the same time, a 10% sibling discount is available on the youngest child's school fee. Refund, cancellation and deposit conditions - If an entire course of study is definitely cancelled, fees already paid shall be refunded; reimbursement of further costs is excluded. - If the student does not attend despite a concluded school contract, the school is entitled to an administrative fee and a cancellation fee equal to three months' school fees. In the event of withdrawal following payment reminders and non-payment, the school is entitled to an administrative fee and a cancellation fee of three months' school fees in addition to the fee for tuition provided; deposits may be forfeited in specified circumstances. Notice and probationary-period provisions in the contract affect refund and termination outcomes. Fee payment options (as published) - Invoices are issued and the school fee payment deadlines and instalment options are set out in the billing; published materials do not specify a detailed list of accepted payment methods (for example, specific card types or bank details are not shown in the publicly available price summary and terms). Payment is expected within the stated invoice terms. Note on the available published information - The published price information provides the fee amounts, instalment variants, optional extra charges and the school's contractual payment and cancellation rules. Published materials do not list separate boarding fees for the Zurich campus and do not specify the exact payment channels on the publicly available fee documents.	Fee details Application / Registration Fees - Early Years and Primary (Ages 3–12): CHF 3,000 one-time non-refundable registration fee per student. - Middle School and all High School years (IGCSE / A-Levels; Ages 12–18): CHF 4,000 one-time non-refundable registration fee per student. Tuition fees by year group (annual, per-term and per-month breakdown) For the 2025–2026 academic year the annual tuition and the calculated billing breakdowns are: - Early Years (Ages 3–6) - Annual tuition: CHF 27,200. - Per-term (3-term billing): CHF 9,066.67. - Per-month (10 monthly instalments): CHF 2,720.00. - Primary School (Years 1–6; Ages 6–12) - Annual tuition: CHF 28,200. - Per-term (3-term billing): CHF 9,400.00. - Per-month (10 monthly instalments): CHF 2,820.00. - Middle School (Years 7–9; Ages 12–14) - Annual tuition: CHF 29,250. - Per-term (3-term billing): CHF 9,750.00. - Per-month (10 monthly instalments): CHF 2,925.00. - IGCSE (High School Years 10–11; Ages 14–16) - Annual tuition: CHF 30,300. - Per-term (3-term billing): CHF 10,100.00. - Per-month (10 monthly instalments): CHF 3,030.00. - A-Levels (High School Years 12–13; Ages 16–18) - Annual tuition: CHF 32,300. - Per-term (3-term billing): CHF 10,766.67. - Per-month (10 monthly instalments): CHF 3,230.00. Notes on these amounts: the annual tuition figures above are the published year-group tuition fees; term and monthly figures are the annual tuition divided into 3 or 10 equal instalments to match the school's available billing options (3-term or 10-month plans). Sibling discounts and other fee reductions - First sibling discount: 25% off tuition for the first sibling. - Additional siblings: 50% off tuition for each additional sibling. - Early payment discounts: 5% discount for annual payment by 30 May (Early Bird); 4% discount for annual payment between 1 June and 1 December; 2% discount applied for termly payments (3 payments on the dates shown by the school). Billing schedule and payment terms - An invoice for the annual fees is issued before the start of the new school year; annual fees are due on August 15 and payment must be received before the student attends school. - The full annual year-group fee is payable in advance unless an alternative instalment arrangement has been agreed in writing. - Payment options published by the school include: annual payment, termly payment (three instalments), or monthly instalments (ten instalments, August–May). Families seeking payment plans must sign a formalised payment schedule agreement. - Overdue balances may incur an annual interest charge of 5% plus collection fees. - If a new student is enrolled but does not take up the confirmed place on the agreed start date, 25% of the annual tuition fee becomes immediately due. Additional costs and optional services - School lunch (annual / instalment options): - 1 instalment: CHF 2,375.00. - 3 instalments: CHF 817.00. - 10 instalments: CHF 250.00. - School transport (Cham routes): - 1 instalment: CHF 1,995.00. - 3 instalments: CHF 686.00. - 10 instalments: CHF 210.00. - School transport (wider Kanton Zug): - 1 instalment: CHF 2,850.00. - 3 instalments: CHF 980.00. - 10 instalments: CHF 300.00. - School transport (Kanton Luzern and Sins): - 1 instalment: CHF 3,135.00. - 3 instalments: CHF 1,078.00. - 10 instalments: CHF 330.00. - Corporate fee packages (annual tuition + lunch + transport) are published as fixed annual amounts by year group and by catchment (Cham, Kanton Zug, Kanton Luzern & Sins). Examples: Early Years corporate fee (Cham) CHF 30,210.00; A-Level corporate fee (Kanton Luzern & Sins) CHF 36,195.00. Items expressly not included in tuition - Textbooks (where indicated on book lists), official IGCSE/AS/A-Level external exam fees, school and PE uniforms, school lunch and transport (when not included in a corporate package), after-school care / academy fees, replacement cost for lost/stolen/damaged school materials (including laptops), and one-to-one exam, language or music lessons. Tuition does include exercise books, laboratory practicals, school laptop provision, classroom educational resources, SEN support, career advice and internal clubs as published. Uniforms - School uniforms are not included in tuition and are handled through the school's uniform supplier arrangement; uniform purchase is an additional cost and is not covered by the tuition fee. Boarding - The school does not operate a regular boarding provision in Switzerland. ISCS publishes an international boarding experience through SAGE College in Spain (an exchange/boarding opportunity) rather than a Swiss on-site boarding house; therefore ongoing boarding fees are not applicable to standard ISCS enrolment in Zug. Refunds and withdrawal charges - Notice requirement: a minimum of three months' written notice is required to withdraw a student unless the signed contract specifies otherwise; failure to provide the required notice may result in the school charging one term's tuition in lieu of notice. - Refunds for prepaid fees beyond the withdrawal date will only be considered when the required notice period has been observed. No refunds are given for short-term absences or withdrawal without proper notice. - Any overpayment will be refunded within 30 days following the student's final day of attendance once financial clearance is completed. Fee payment options and practical notes - The school issues invoices for registration and annual fees; the published due date for annual invoices is August 15 and payment must be received before the student's first day. - The school states that alternative payment methods may be available and that families wishing to use instalment plans must enter a signed payment agreement; the school may apply interest and collection fees to overdue accounts. Specific accepted instruments (for example, which credit cards or bank account details) are not listed in the published fee documents. Brief note on completeness of published fee information - The school's 2025–2026 published fee schedule provides annual tuition by year group, registration fees, payment schedule options (annual, termly, monthly), early-payment and term-payment discounts, additional service pricing for lunch and transport, corporate-package figures, and the school's withdrawal/refund rules. The published materials do not list specific payment instrument details (for example explicit credit-card acceptance or IBAN/BIC for bank transfers) nor a Swiss on-site boarding tariff because standard ISCS enrolment in Zug is day-school only; an international boarding experience is offered via SAGE in Spain.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements The school has an international boarding experience in Spain. This program is branded as SAGE College Boarding School in Spain.
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement Uniforms are required. There are academic and sports uniforms; all items must be purchased from the designated uniform provider with the school logo. Shoes must be closed and socks must be black.
Food options	Food options —	Food options ISCS-The British School of Zug offers catered hot lunches for students in all year groups. Meals are prepared from local fresh produce, meet Swiss nutritional standards, and include a salad buffet, a main course, and fruit or dessert; water is provided.
House system	House system —	House system The school has a house system with four houses and runs monthly inter-house events and competitions.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership Part of Academia International School.	Governance and ownership ISCS is privately authorised to provide private education by the Canton of Zug and by the Cham Local Authority. It is Cambridge International Education accredited and a member of the Swiss Group of International Schools (SGIS). It is authorised to deliver the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The Zurich campus offers Pre-K to Year 6 at the Terra Nova campus in Küsnacht, with Year 7 to Year 12 on the Zurich campus. Lower Secondary is bilingual and provides a direct, exam-free entry to the IGCSE/A-Level stream after Year 8. Upper Secondary / College delivers IGCSE and A Level courses in English, with a focus on individual strengths and university readiness for higher education in Switzerland and abroad. The learning approach emphasizes Voice and Ownership, with design thinking and active student participation, supported by regular reflection sessions and personalised tutoring to foster self-efficacy, responsibility and personal growth. Campus life includes clubs such as Model United Nations, Cooking and Business, and the campus is centrally located near Oerlikon train station with modern classrooms and a rooftop terrace. The campus hosts over 100 students with about 22 teachers.	Curriculum details The school provides a broad and balanced Cambridge International Curriculum as part of British International Education. It promotes development across the academic, social, cultural, physical and moral dimensions and prepares children for adult life while encouraging them to become good citizens with a global mindset and respect for others. The school enables proficiency in both English and German for all students, regardless of their mother tongue.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results IGCSE and A‑Level exam results reflect student and teacher effort, with a 100% A-Level pass rate in Year 13. These results support university access in many countries around the world.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression Students are prepared for university in the USA, UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and many other countries.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning ISCS fosters social and emotional development through the House System and the Student Council. The House System creates a positive atmosphere where children feel safe, happy and secure and helps them develop self-discipline and self-esteem. The Students Council represents the student voice and supports peers and staff in daily school life.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) The Guidance Counselor uses assessments and Individualised Educational Plans (IEPs) to address each student's non-academic and academic learning needs. An IEP is created after admission assessments, and student progress is monitored formally and informally during the school year. Parents receive progress updates twice per school year.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language English is the language of instruction at ISCS. English as an Additional Language is an IGCSE qualification designed to support non-native English speakers by helping them access instruction across subjects and achieve English IGCSEs.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing ISCS nurtures health and emotional wellbeing from Early Years onward. Early Years focuses on nurturing health and emotional wellbeing. In Secondary, PSHE supports wellbeing, with leadership programmes and activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award contributing to personal development and wellbeing.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding A Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy is included in the Downloads and Policies section.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The Zurich campus is centrally located and easily accessible, just steps from Oerlikon train station. It features modern classrooms, a welcoming common room with a rooftop terrace, a laboratory, an auditorium, and a reception area. Kindergarten and Primary are taught at Terra Nova campus in Küsnacht. Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary programmes are offered at the Zurich campus, with English-language instruction at Upper Secondary and bilingual entry at Lower Secondary.	Facilities overview The story of ISCS is ongoing, and the learning spaces have developed with growth. Classrooms are bright and well-resourced, and technology is integrated with personal laptops for students from Grade 1 and interactive whiteboards in classrooms. The school has specialist classrooms for Art, Drama, Science, Music, German and learning support, and a spacious, well-stocked library. The location offers access to a wide range of outdoor spaces and local amenities, and strong ties with the Cham community enhance learning experiences. ISCS students enjoy daily outdoor play in Lorzenpark, adjacent to the school.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities ISCS offers a broad PE program including Athletics, Fitness, Gymnastics, and Games such as Football, Basketball, Badminton and Tennis, plus Outdoor and Adventure activities and Swimming. ISCS Wolves participate in inter-school sport competitions. For PE, ISCS uses local facilities including Sportplatz Röhrliberg sports hall, a track and a swimming pool, nearby wanderweg trails, Puregym, Seeweg Baadi, and the football club SC Cham. PE is built on the principles of variety and diversity rather than early specialization.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Our Zurich campus offers Kindergarten & Primary at Terra Nova in Küsnacht. The Lower Secondary School is bilingual and provides direct, exam-free entry to the IGCSE/A-Level stream after Year 8. The Upper Secondary School / College delivers an English-language programme focused on university readiness for higher education in Switzerland and abroad. Learning is supported through regular reflection sessions and personalised tutoring. Design Thinking and student participation are central to the school culture.	Academic facilities ISCS has specialist classrooms for Art, Drama, Science, Music, German and learning support. There is a spacious, well-stocked library. Classrooms are bright and well-resourced, and technology is integrated with personal laptops for Grade 1 and above and interactive whiteboards in classrooms. This combination supports diverse learning experiences.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Clubs such as Model United Nations, Cooking and Business are a regular part of campus life. Joint projects, creative presentations, excursions and school celebrations also contribute to student life. Students are encouraged to participate in activities that extend learning beyond the classroom.	Extra curricular facilities Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is offered at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels to pupils aged 14 and older. Trips and Events include visits to cities, universities and museums, plus residential trips to London, Berlin, Sicily, Rome, Vienna, the Netherlands, and a ski trip to Verbier. After School Clubs run year-round, offering sporting, artistic and scientific activities designed to build aspirations, transferable skills, and friendships. ISCS Talks provide career talks across sectors such as Business, IT, Engineering, Science, Pharmacy, Law and Economics. Our Local Community program connects students with well-resourced clubs (soccer, swimming, martial arts, orchestra, art and craft) and supports library use and community excursions.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Campus Zurich was founded in 2019 and has grown to host over 100 students from Year 7 to Year 12. The Head of School is Celina Steiner. The campus employs 22 teachers. The Zurich campus emphasizes student voice, creativity and shared responsibility as part of everyday life.	History The International School of Central Switzerland commenced operations in December 2008, initially as a primary school. It evolved to include secondary education and offered the IB programme, and was established under the legal entity International School of Central Switzerland AG, trading as ISOCS. From 2015 to 2019 the school faced significant financial challenges, including a temporary loss of its IB licence, with the final IB Diploma cohort graduating in Summer 2019. In January 2019, the school was acquired by Necus Education SL and adopted the Cambridge International Curriculum from September 2019. The inaugural IGCSE certificates were earned in 2020, the first A-level certificates in 2021, and enrollment grew to 143, with many former students pursuing higher education in the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, the US, Australia, Spain, Germany and Italy.
Community	Community The Zurich campus is centrally located and easily accessible, just steps from Oerlikon train station. Modern classrooms, a welcoming common room with a rooftop terrace, and a dedicated team create an environment where learning is personally supported, reflective, and practically applied. Design Thinking and student participation are key elements of the school culture, with regular reflection sessions, personalised tutoring, and a focus on fostering self-efficacy, responsibility, and personal growth. Campus life includes joint projects, creative presentations, excursions, and school celebrations, and clubs such as Model United Nations, Cooking, and Business that help students develop skills beyond the classroom.	Community ISCS community gains from inclusion into a wide variety of well-resourced local clubs and initiatives (including soccer, swimming, martial arts, orchestra, cultural music clubs and art and craft offerings) which aid language learning and community integration. Regular use of the local modern library for students helps them become confident in using community learning resources regardless of language. The school benefits from the local safe transportation system and teachers accompany students on learning excursions to foster confidence and connection to community resources.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association ISCS has a Parents' Organisation (PO) that is an active, lively group of parents whose purpose is to foster and celebrate a strong sense of community by offering a wide variety of activities. The PO is supported by a strong team of amazing parents who assist us throughout the year and has organized whole school gatherings, Swiss and international celebrations, charity sales, challenges, contests, and many other events that contribute those ‘little extras' that make school life memorable. Always open to new members and fresh ideas to add to the fun, the PO welcomes new members.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual ISCS provides a broad and balanced Cambridge International Curriculum. It promotes the academic, social, cultural, physical and moral development of students and prepares them for adult life, encouraging a global mindset and respect for others. It enables pupils to become proficient users of English and German, regardless of their mother tongue. The school supports university access and career planning through Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level pathways, preparing students for higher education worldwide.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative Arts education is a vital component of ISCS curriculum, fostering creativity, self expression and holistic learning. Visual arts, drama and theatre, and music are taught, with musicals expanding opportunities for collaboration across artistic disciplines. The school collaborates with Zukunft Kinder Cham and Zuki to extend opportunities in art, languages and the natural sciences.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language ISCS follows a British International Education through the Cambridge International Curriculum. The school enables pupils to become proficient users of English and German, regardless of their mother tongue. German is a core subject in primary, and English as the language of instruction is supported by specialist EAL input to help non-native speakers access the curriculum.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies ISCS offers experiences that blend sport, culture, languages and leisure through a rich program of trips and events. Trips include visits to cities, universities and museums, residential trips to London, Berlin, Sicily, Rome, Vienna, the Netherlands and a school ski trip to Verbier. Our students, ISCS Wolves, also take part in inter-school sport competitions. Community dinners and picnics, the Christmas Fair, Halloween and charity events foster belonging and school spirit.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is offered at ISCS for pupils aged 14 and older, with Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Doing the Award involves four sections—Service, Skill, Physical and the Adventurous Journey—fostering personal growth, responsibility and service to the community. The school also uses a House system and a Student Council to promote community involvement and student voice.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional ISCS runs a House system and a Student Council that provide leadership opportunities and a student voice in school life. Students apply for Council roles and undergo a formal interview process. The Duke of Edinburgh Award also emphasises leadership and teamwork through its four sections.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing Physical Education is an integral part of ISCS, focused on the body, movement, and well-being. The PE program includes athletics, fitness, gymnastics, a range of games, outdoor and adventure activities and swimming, with students participating in inter-school competitions. In Early Years, health and emotional wellbeing are nurtured, with a balance of teacher-led and child-initiated learning and daily outdoor time.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision Upper Secondary is taught in English. Lower Secondary is bilingual.	Language provision Cambridge curriculum uses English for core subjects across Primary to High School. English is a core subject in Primary, Middle School, and High School. German is a compulsory core subject from Primary through High School, and there is a German Language Enrichment Programme in Early Years. Spanish and French are offered as elective subjects in High School and appear among Middle School options.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching The Zurich campus offers a bilingual lower secondary program with direct, exam-free entry to the IGCSE/A-Level stream after Year 8. The upper secondary program is English-language and focuses on university readiness.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Zurich campus hosts over 100 students (Year 7 to Year 12). Head of School is Celina Steiner. Founded in 2019; the campus has 22 teachers. Kindergarten and Primary are taught at the Terra Nova campus in Küsnacht. Lower Secondary is bilingual and offers direct, exam-free entry to the IGCSE/A-Level stream after Year 8. Upper Secondary School/College offers English-language IGCSE and A Level programs focused on university readiness. The campus is centrally located, steps from Oerlikon train station, with modern classrooms, a welcoming common room with a rooftop terrace, and a dedicated team. Learning emphasizes student voice and ownership through design thinking, regular reflection, and personalized tutoring. Campus life includes clubs such as Model United Nations, Cooking, and Business.	Admissions Initial Enquiry form registers interest; admissions team will contact you promptly.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships Bursaries and scholarships for sporting, performance or academic excellence are offered and can be discussed during your application.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
	View full profile →	View full profile →