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Bonn International School

Germany, Düsseldorf

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees €12,763 - 23,088
Ages 3 - 19 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1997
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages German, Spanish
Strengths Sport, STEM, Performing Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Bonn International School is an International Baccalaureate World School in Bonn, Germany, serving students ages 3 to 18 with full IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme. The school opened in 1997 and has grown to about 800 students. The campus comprises three linked buildings—Waves for Primary, Agora for Secondary humanities and arts, and Crest for Secondary sciences and languages—on a riverside site of 32,470 square meters. Facilities include a 40,000-volume Media Centre, five science laboratories, Design and Product workshops, a senior lounge, a Learning Support Suite, and a campus-wide IT infrastructure. Over 20% of electricity is generated by solar panels, and the grounds are next to Bonn's largest park with the Rhine nearby. The Co-Curricular Programme features activities in arts, sports, languages and political debating; Model United Nations is a flagship activity. After-school hours extend to 21:00 to support sport and other programmes today.

Martin-Luther-King-Straße 14, 53175 Bonn, Germany

The Essentials

Bonn International School has instruction in English.

Location
Martin-Luther-King Straße 14, D-53175 Bonn, Germany. The BIS campus is modern, spacious and well equipped, with an excellent IT infrastructure, a Media Centre Library, tournament sports halls, design rooms and labs. The school serves students aged 3–18 from the Bonn region and international communities.

Stages
Early Learning (ages 3-6); Primary Years (ages 6-11); Middle Years (ages 11-16); Diploma Years (ages 16-18).

Type
The school is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the IB Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme.

Pupil Nationality Mix
800 students from 80 countries; 80 nationalities represented.

Additional learning support
The Learning Support Programme empowers students with diverse educational needs to become confident, independent learners. It includes English language support (EAL) for students joining BIS who do not speak English; a team of trained staff provides in-class and pull-out support as needed; additional fees may apply depending on the plan.

Country affiliation
Germany

School day structure
The official school day begins at 8:20 for all grade levels and ends between 15:15 and 15:30 depending on the grade level. After-school care on campus is available until 18:00, and co-curricular activities run onsite until 19:30.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniform for Physical Education is worn by students in Grades 1–10: a green BIS logo t-shirt and blue shorts. The clothing is ordered online from Flockinger, with a complete set costing between €26 and €38. Traveling Sports Teams may require a co-curricular tracksuit jacket.

Food Options
Primary students may pre-order meals from our onsite caterer or bring food from home; Secondary students may pre-order, buy lunch on the day, or bring their own. Weekly menus include vegetarian options, allergens and additives are indicated on menus, and meals cost €5.95 and include a dessert.

Governance and Ownership
Bonn International School is a registered non-profit association supervised by a Board of Trustees.
Fees

Annual tuition at Bonn International School ranges from EUR 12,763 to EUR 23,088 for 2026/27.

Admission / Application Fees

- A one-time Admission Fee applies on acceptance of a place.
- Admissions to Early Learning 3, 4 and 5: EUR 2,250.
- Admissions to Grade 1 and higher: EUR 4,500.
- Admission Fee for each additional child from the same family: EUR 2,250 (one-time).

Tuition fees — annual, per-term (approx.), and per-month (approx.) by year group

- Annual tuition (shown first) followed by the approximate per-term amount (annual ÷ 3) and approximate per-month amount (annual ÷ 12):

- Early Learning 3 (age 3)
- Annual: EUR 12,763.
- Approx. per term: EUR 4,254.33.
- Approx. per month: EUR 1,063.58.

- Early Learning 4 (age 4)
- Annual: EUR 12,194.
- Approx. per term: EUR 4,064.67.
- Approx. per month: EUR 1,016.17.

- Early Learning 5 (age 5)
- Annual: EUR 17,227.
- Approx. per term: EUR 5,742.33.
- Approx. per month: EUR 1,435.58.

- Grades 1–5 (ages 6–11)
- Annual: EUR 19,624.
- Approx. per term: EUR 6,541.33.
- Approx. per month: EUR 1,635.33.

- Grades 6–10 (ages 12–16)
- Annual: EUR 22,170.
- Approx. per term: EUR 7,390.00.
- Approx. per month: EUR 1,847.50.

- Grades 11–12 (ages 16–18)
- Annual: EUR 23,088.
- Approx. per term: EUR 7,696.00.
- Approx. per month: EUR 1,924.00.

Learning support and additional mandatory fees

- Additional annual Learning Support Fees apply where a student is placed into the school's Learning Support Programme after assessment:
- Tier 0: no additional fee.
- Tier 1: EUR 4,000 per year.
- Tier 2: EUR 8,000 per year.
- Tier 3: EUR 12,000 per year.

What is included in the published tuition

- The published tuition includes: school day trips, provision of iPads for Early Learning through Grade 7, university and careers advisory, counselling services, English language development, access to science, design and Apple computer labs, books, instruments and core learning materials, and the Co-Curricular Programme.

Other costs and optional fees

- After-school care (KidzKlub) is available on campus and is charged separately.
- Optional activities outside normal school provision (for example some camps, seasonal trips or externally arranged activities) and any specific material or travel costs connected with certain optional programmes may incur additional charges; standard included items are listed above.

Boarding

- Boarding is not offered. Students attending the school must live with their parents or guardians while enrolled. No boarding fees apply.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Invoicing is issued after the admission is confirmed. Payment may be made in one of the following ways:
- In full (single payment).
- Quarterly or monthly instalments drawn from a German bank account.
- In full by a third party payer (company, sponsor).
- The school can make bespoke arrangements for invoicing or instalments in consultation with the Accounting Office.

Bank details and payment methods

- Bank transfer capability is provided; the school's account details are given for transfers (Commerzbank; IBAN: DE15 380400070386444400; SWIFT-BIC: COBADEFFXXX). Payments from German bank accounts are supported for instalments.
- The school accepts third-party full payment and supports quarterly or monthly payment plans from a German bank account; specific acceptance of credit cards is not published in the main fee documents available.

Refunds and withdrawal (summary of published position)

- The publicly published fee schedule provides the Admission Fee and the Annual Tuition levels and notes invoicing and instalment options; a detailed, itemised public refund schedule (for example precise refund percentages by withdrawal date or term-specific invoice due dates) is not published in the main fee sheet. For cases requiring financial assistance, a Financial Assistance Programme with eligibility guidelines exists.

Summary of key practical points for parents

- One-time Admission Fee on acceptance: EUR 2,250 (EL3–EL5) or EUR 4,500 (Grade 1+); siblings EUR 2,250.
- Annual tuition by year-group is listed above; approximate per-term and per-month figures are shown for quick budgeting (annual ÷ 3 or ÷ 12).
- Learning Support Fees are charged separately according to tier if placement in the programme is required.
- Invoicing occurs after admission; payments may be made in full, by quarterly or monthly instalments from a German bank account, or in full by a third party; bank transfer details are provided for payments.

Note on items not publicly specified in the published fee brief

- The published fee documents specify admission fees, annual tuition levels and learning support tiers and list what is included in tuition. A detailed public schedule showing exact invoice due dates, a term-by-term official invoice calendar, explicit credit-card acceptance options and a step-by-step refund/withdrawal schedule with refund percentages by withdrawal date are not included in the publicly available fee brief. Fees for specific optional services (exact KidzKlub rates, optional residential trip charges or other one-off charges) are not published in the single-page fee summary and are handled as separate charges. For those specific items and precise payment deadlines, the school's Accounting/Admissions team provides the operational invoice and terms at admission.
Academics

Bonn International School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 19.

Curriculum
The school offers International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes: Middle Years Programme (11–16 years) and Diploma Programme (Diploma Years, 16–19 years).

Student Teacher Ratio
Average class size: 18 students.

Exam Results
Average graduation points: 35 out of 45; graduates access universities of their choice.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates access universities of their choice.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school believes students thrive best in a safe, supportive, and valued environment. BIS has a comprehensive programme to address the social and emotional needs of our students. Two Counselors in our Primary School and two in our Secondary School focus on four major components: individual student plans; wellbeing in classroom learning and curriculum; addressing immediate concerns; connecting to resources. Individual student plans support whole-child development and strongly value student voice. In collaboration, our team works to support students' social-emotional development, to enhance overall wellbeing and academic readiness. School Counselors coordinate ongoing meetings and activities to assist students individually in establishing personal goals and developing future plans.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Learning Support Programme empowers students with diverse educational needs to become confident, independent learners. Our Learning Support team embraces inclusion and fosters compassion for all. BIS provides a wide spectrum of learning support to eligible students, including those with mild, moderate or intensive needs, within a school-wide intervention system. Admission to the Learning Support Programme is dependent upon balanced classes and the availability of resources. To determine the proper level of educational support, parents provide a psycho-educational evaluation, and the learning plan is tailored to the results. The learning plan may include small-group instruction, in-class support and/or one-to-one instruction.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English Language Acquisition (EAL) supports students who are not proficient in English. Primary EAL classes cover beginner to intermediate levels and are scheduled during homeroom language time, with emphasis on communicative, task-based activities. EAL in-class support helps students gain language skills and confidence, and teachers monitor progress in consultation with the homeroom teacher. The Secondary School offers an EAL Programme for Grades 6-12, with an English-language pathway from MYP Language Acquisition to DP Language Acquisition. A foundational class may be added for students entering with minimal English, and a language needs assessment is conducted on entry. English is the language of instruction.

Mental Wellbeing
We believe that students thrive academically and personally in a safe, supported environment. BIS has a comprehensive programme to address social and emotional needs. Two Counselors in Primary School and two in Secondary School focus on four components: individual student plans; wellbeing in classroom learning and curriculum; addressing immediate concerns; and connecting to resources. Counselors collaborate with students to set personal goals and develop future plans, and they coordinate ongoing meetings and activities to support growth. They also lead developmentally appropriate guidance lessons woven throughout the curriculum and liaise with families and external services when needed.

Safeguarding
The safety, wellbeing, and dignity of every child are paramount. Safeguarding is a shared responsibility, and staff, students, parents, and visitors act with vigilance, care and integrity. BIS safeguards through a framework including the BIS Child Protection Policy and BIS Child Protection Procedures, Safe Touch Policy, Intimate Care and Toileting Policy, Whistleblower Policy, and Code of Conduct for all adults. All staff participate in annual safeguarding training, and BIS maintains a closed campus with a dedicated security team. BIS safeguarding leads are trained and ready to respond to concerns.
Parent Experience

History
Formed in August 1997 through the merger of the American Elementary School, American High School, and British High School, Bonn International School opened with about 300 students. The school has grown to around 800 students. The City of Bonn launched Bonn 2.0 to position Bonn as a center for international business, research and science after the German capital moved to Berlin in 1991, creating the need for an international school for UN families and others in the region. BIS has been an International Baccalaureate World School for more than 25 years, offering the IB Diploma Programme since 1997, the IB Middle Years Programme since 1999, and the IB Primary Years Programme since 2001. The school chose the IB framework from the start and would do so again. The campus was originally divided across three locations; BIS opened three new buildings on a single riverside campus: Waves in January 2006, the Agora in August 2012, and the Crest in January 2017.

Community
The BIS community brings together students, parents and staff as a single BIS family. The campus is open to parents before and after school, providing opportunities to connect, attend workshops and participate in sports. Our Parent Volunteers enrich campus life as Welcome Family Programme participants, room parents and event coordinators; they also support the Media Centre and trips, and the BIS Board of Trustees is composed of parent volunteers who guide BIS' strategic development. Parent Volunteers run workshops for families and organize English and German language support for new arrivals. BIS Sportverein offers badminton, basketball, fitness and yoga for parents, and running, walking and hiking groups. The school hosts an annual Welcome BBQ in September and International Day in June, along with celebrations such as Halloween, St. Martin's, Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival, plus occasional parent/staff events like discos or a gala.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Parent Volunteers are a key BIS community group who voluntarily give time and energy to BIS. They enrich campus life as Welcome Family Programme participants, room parents, event coordinators and by volunteering in classrooms, trips, on the Media Centre and with co-curricular activities; the BIS Board of Trustees is formed from parent volunteers and guides BIS' strategic development. They run English language workshops for parents and organize German lessons for new arrivals. The BIS Sportverein runs badminton, basketball, fitness and yoga for parents and organizes running, walking or hiking groups. They host events for families including the annual Welcome BBQ in September and International Day in June, as well as seasonal celebrations like Halloween, St. Martin's, Chinese New Year, and the Spring Festival. They also host at least one parent/staff event each year such as a disco night or dress-up gala.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school has a generous campus in a green Bonn suburb. The Waves building houses most Primary School classrooms, the 40,000-volume Media Centre, science laboratories, and Design and Product workshops, with a cafeteria at the heart of Waves. The Agora and Crest buildings serve Secondary students with modern classrooms, music rooms, art studios, a kiln, a Learning Support Suite, a competitive sports facility, exam rooms and a senior lounge. The campus measures 32,470 square meters, providing about 46 square meters per student to learn, play and rest. More than 20% of electricity is generated by solar panels, and the school sits next to Bonn's largest park with the Rhine nearby and the Seven Hills across the river. Most BIS students live within a three kilometer radius, and facilities stay open until 21:00 to support after-school sports, with hot lunches prepared on-site.

Sports Facilities
The school has two competition-sized sports halls for volleyball, basketball, floorball and dance. Large playing fields next to the campus are used by football and cricket teams and for sports days and events. These facilities support after-school and extracurricular sports activities through BIS.

Academic Facilities
The Waves building is the heart of our Primary School, containing most classrooms for Early Learning to Grade 5, a 40,000-volume Media Centre, science laboratories, and Design and Product workshops; the cafeteria is located at the center of Waves. The Crest building is home to Secondary Maths, Sciences, Languages and our Learning Support Suite, and includes a senior lounge and exam rooms. The Agora building houses specialist music and arts spaces and classrooms for Humanities and English. An extensive IT infrastructure supports our technology and research curriculum, and five science laboratories serve Integrated Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Age-appropriate playgrounds provide space to learn and play.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The Co-Curricular Programme offers a breadth of options spanning arts, sports, languages and political debating clubs; students participate in activities during lunchtime, before and after school as well as during school holidays. The Activities Catalogue outlines available activities, and some carry fees. Competitive sports teams travel to play with other international schools as part of BIS activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers Model United Nations as a flagship activity, developing leadership, debate and negotiation skills. The programme includes political debating clubs.

Arts & Creative
Theatre and musical performances are part of the programme; All students in Grades 6-8 learn a band instrument and perform in two concerts a year.

Cultural & Language
The programme spans languages to political debating clubs.

Social & Hobbies
A breadth of activities and clubs is offered during lunchtime, before and after school, and during school holidays.

Leadership & Professional
Model United Nations develops leadership, debate and negotiation skills.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports are offered with competitive teams that travel to play other international schools; teamwork and sportsmanship are emphasised, supporting physical health and personal wellbeing.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the school language. German is taught in all grade levels at varying levels of proficiency, including for native speakers. A specialized team focuses on supporting students who join BIS without speaking English. 40 languages are spoken by BIS students, and students are encouraged to speak and read in their mother tongue languages.
Reputation

Accreditations
International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) – BIS is an IB World School delivering the IB continuum: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP).
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) – BIS is accredited by NEASC; accreditation reaffirmed in November 2024.
Council of International Schools (CIS) – BIS is a member of the Council of International Schools.
AGIS – BIS is a member of AGIS.
Admissions

Admissions
Getting started: information is collected during the application to place your child in the appropriate grade level and guide subject choices. Apply via OpenApply, where you submit all details and upload documents. BIS accepts children year‑round with no application deadline, but admission depends on the availability of places in the requested grade level, and some grades may be full. The 2025‑2026 school year began on August 18, 2025. What you need for your application: a copy of your child's passport, your child's measles immunization record, a confidential recommendation from the child's current school (required for Grades 1–12), and two years of previous school reports. A full application must be completed on the BIS OpenApply site before a review of the student application takes place. Grade level placement may involve age guidelines, and language and mathematics testing may be used; admissions tests in Mathematics, English and/or German may be administered at the Principal's discretion.

Scholarships
Financial Assistance Programme: BIS offers financial assistance for families who can demonstrate need. Applicants must be legally resident in Germany. Financial Assistance is awarded on the basis of need after submitting the Financial Assistance Application Form and necessary supporting documents for review by the Financial Assistance Committee (Director, Business Manager and others as determined by the Director). Applications should be received by 15 February for the following school year, and a scholarship can also be applied for at enrolment during a school year. Interviews may be part of the process. Scholarships are awarded based on household income, using a table that links income bands and family size to the percentage of support. Financial Assistance covers Admission and Tuition Fees for Early Learning through Grade 12. All applications must be in English and can only be considered once a place application has been submitted and approved. Decisions are final. Recipients are expected to maintain good attendance, strong effort and appropriate behavior.
School Events
The school has not added events
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