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Deutsche Schule Lissabon

Portugal, Lisbon

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The school at a glance
Instructs in German
Fees €8,141 - 9,238
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1060
Type Co-educational
Opened 1848
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum German Curriculum
Taught languages English, French, German, Portuguese
Typical class size 22
Strengths STEM, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Social and Hobbies, Leadership and Professional
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

Deutsche Schule Lissabon is a private German-Portuguese encounter school for ages 3 to 18, with about 1,060 students and around 145 teachers. It operates as a Deutsche Auslandsschule and offers the German International Abitur, with Hauptschulabschluss and Realschulabschluss awarded; Abitur is taken at the end of Grade 12 and is recognised for university admission in Portugal. Instruction is in German across Grundschule (primary) and Gymnasium (secondary). Grundschule Lisbon follows the Thüringen education plan, teaching Deutsch Sprachkompetenzraster for Grades 1–4, Sachunterricht, Mathematics, Portugiesisch as L1 and L2, Ethik/Religion, Sport, Musik, and Kunst, with English introduced in early grades. Gymnasium follows German curricula for Sekundarstufe I (Grades 5–9) and Oberstufe (Grades 10–12) with subjects including Biology, Chemistry, Deutsch, Englisch, Geografie, Ethik/Philosophie, Französisch, Geschichte, Portugiesisch, Informatik, Mathematik, Musik, Kunst, Physik. The school emphasises bilinguality between German and Portuguese and intercultural exchanges. Facilities include Lisbon and Estoril campuses, science labs, arts and sports facilities, a swimming pool, and ongoing earthquake reinforcement and expansion.”

Largo Willy Brandt, 1600-891 Lisboa, Portugal

The Essentials

Deutsche Schule Lissabon has 1,060 pupils, typical class sizes of 22, instruction in German.

Location
Lisbon campus: Largo Willy Brandt, 1600-891 Lisboa, Portugal; Estoril campus: Rua Dr. António Martins 26, 2765-194 Estoril, Portugal

Stages
Lisbon campus offers Kindergarten, Primary School (Grundschule) and Gymnasium (secondary); Estoril campus offers Kindergarten and Primary School

Type
Private German international school

Additional learning support
Inklusion (inclusive education) and Sozialpädagogik (social pedagogy) are provided to support students; Suchtprävention and Mobbing Intervention services are available

Country affiliation
Germany

School day structure
Gymnasium day: Monday to Friday, 08:00–15:55 with two 20-minute breaks; on Wednesdays there are after-school activities from 14:00–15:30 and 15:40–17:10; afternoon times vary by grade level (details in Jahresrundschreiben)

Bus service
Schulbustransport is available with lines L1, L3a, L3b, L4 and L5. 2025/26 prices are listed per line; enrollment is via Phidias online process and covers the full school year; transport charges are added to tuition; single trips require written parental authorization for Kindergarten, Primary and Gymnasium
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
After-school care is provided through the Kinderwelt program, running from 3:50 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on school days; lunch is included as part of the day.

Food Options
Lunch is provided as part of the school day, with a scheduled lunch period from 12:15 to 1:00 p.m.

Governance and Ownership
The school is a private German-Portuguese encounter school, with the Schulverein (School Association) as the school sponsor. It receives extensive financial, building and personnel support from Germany, and is funded by parental school fees.
Fees

Annual tuition at Deutsche Schule Lissabon ranges from EUR 8,141 to EUR 9,238 for 2026/27.

Overview — applicable academic year 2025/26

- The school's annual tuition (Schulgeld) is charged on a 10-month basis and differs by campus and school level. Annual amounts (EUR) are as follows: EUR 8,141.00 for Kindergarten (Lissabon); EUR 9,143.00 for Kindergarten (Estoril); EUR 8,248.00 for Grundschule Lissabon (classes 1–4); EUR 9,238.00 for Grundschule Estoril (classes 1–3); EUR 8,258.00 for Gymnasium (classes 5–9); EUR 8,364.00 for Gymnasium (classes 10–12).

Tuition — per-month and per-term breakdown

- Standard monthly amount (when paid by the 10-month direct-debit option) equals the annual fee divided by 10. Monthly amounts (EUR):
- Kindergarten (Lissabon): EUR 814.10 per month.
- Kindergarten (Estoril): EUR 914.30 per month.
- Grundschule Lissabon (Kl. 1–4): EUR 824.80 per month.
- Grundschule Estoril (Kl. 1–3): EUR 923.80 per month.
- Gymnasium (Kl. 5–9): EUR 825.80 per month.
- Gymnasium (Kl. 10–12): EUR 836.40 per month.

- If the annual tuition is paid in three instalments (pro rata for 4 / 3 / 3 months), the three instalments are calculated as monthly × 4, monthly × 3 and monthly × 3. Example instalment amounts (EUR):
- Kindergarten (Lissabon): 1st instalment EUR 3,256.40; 2nd instalment EUR 2,442.30; 3rd instalment EUR 2,442.30.
- Kindergarten (Estoril): 1st instalment EUR 3,657.20; 2nd instalment EUR 2,742.90; 3rd instalment EUR 2,742.90.
- Grundschule Lissabon (Kl. 1–4): 1st instalment EUR 3,299.20; 2nd instalment EUR 2,474.40; 3rd instalment EUR 2,474.40.
- Grundschule Estoril (Kl. 1–3): 1st instalment EUR 3,695.20; 2nd instalment EUR 2,771.40; 3rd instalment EUR 2,771.40.
- Gymnasium (Kl. 5–9): 1st instalment EUR 3,303.20; 2nd instalment EUR 2,477.40; 3rd instalment EUR 2,477.40.
- Gymnasium (Kl. 10–12): 1st instalment EUR 3,345.60; 2nd instalment EUR 2,509.20; 3rd instalment EUR 2,509.20.

- A single annual payment in August is accepted; paying the full year in one payment receives a 1% discount on the tuition amount (discount applies to tuition only).

Application, registration and related fees

- Combined pre-registration and registration fee for new students: EUR 1,000.00 total. This is composed of a pre-registration fee of EUR 355.00 (refundable only if the school does not offer a place) and a registration fee of EUR 645.00 (payable upon acceptance). The full registration payment must be made within the stated payment deadline to complete enrolment; the registration fee is not refundable on withdrawal.

- Vorkurs (placement/preparatory course) including registration and participation: EUR 590.00; non-refundable.

- Guest students (staying longer than 5 days and not part of an exchange): EUR 1,000.00 (full registration procedure applies).

- Wiederanmeldung (re‑registration) fee for the next school year (introduced for 2026/27): EUR 300.00 (non-refundable annual re‑registration charge).

- Wiederaufnahmegebühr (fee for re‑admission of former students): EUR 355.00.

Sibling discount

- Sibling tuition discounts apply as social support when tuition is not fully covered by an employer or third party: 10% for the second child, 25% for the third child, 40% for the fourth and subsequent children. The discount is applied to the tuition of the pupil in the highest grade level and is not available for a child receiving a school scholarship; that child is counted for determining the sibling discount level.

Service and ancillary fees (examples and monthly rates where applicable)n
- After‑school / Anschlussbetreuung (per month, 10‑month basis): Kindergarten Lissabon and Grundschule Lissabon: EUR 35.00 per month (1 day/week), EUR 62.00 per month (2 days/week), EUR 101.00 per month (5 days/week); single‑day price EUR 19.00. Kindergarten/Grundschule Estoril: EUR 62.00 per month (5 days/week); single‑day price EUR 19.00. Late‑pickup fee EUR 26.00 per day.

- School meals (monthly, 10‑month basis): Gymnasium full meal EUR 121.70 per month; Kindergarten/Grundschule Lissabon full meal EUR 111.60 per month; Kindergarten/Grundschule Estoril full meal EUR 123.80 per month. Single complete meal prices are listed separately (e.g., EUR 7.40 or EUR 8.30 depending on campus).

- School bus (example line prices per month): Line L1 one‑way EUR 103.60 / roundtrip EUR 188.30; other lines vary (examples shown in school schedule). Single‑ride prices per line are also provided.

- PaS (Portuguese as a foreign language for late entrants; compulsory for certain grades): prices per half‑year are EUR 562.00 (classes 3–4) and EUR 879.00 (classes 5–10).

- Digital Fee (to cover student iPad direct costs): Gymnasium (grades 5–12) EUR 32.50 per month (10 months); Grundschule (grades 1–4) EUR 6.00 per month (10 months). The Digital Fee is invoiced annually through the tuition billing.

- Escola Virtual (online platform) licence fees for Gymnasium: EUR 10.15 per year for one subject; EUR 21.99 per year for two or more subjects (charged annually via the tuition invoice).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition billing options: (a) three instalments (pro‑rata split covering 4 / 3 / 3 months) with invoice/payment windows 01.10.2025–20.10.2025, 01.01.2026–20.01.2026 and 01.04.2026–20.04.2026; (b) monthly direct‑debit (10 monthly payments); or (c) single annual invoice due in August (payment deadline 31 August 2025) with a 1% tuition discount for that single payment.

- Absences (excused or unexcused) do not entitle to tuition or service refunds or reductions. Withdrawal from the school contract or enrolment during the school year does not entitle to refund of already paid amounts and obliges payment of due or remaining instalments; pro‑rata tuition may be charged for students admitted after the school year has started. The Board reserves the right to adjust fees and conditions if required.

Refund and cancellation terms (high‑level)

- The pre‑registration fee (EUR 355.00) is refundable only if the school does not offer a place. The registration fee portion (EUR 645.00) is not refundable upon withdrawal. Vorkurs fees are non‑refundable. Absences and mid‑year withdrawal do not entitle to refunds of tuition already paid; students registered at the school at the start of the school year are liable for the full year's fee unless otherwise specified.

Late payment and administrative charges

- A first reminder after a missed payment incurs a late penalty of EUR 30.00 per overdue invoice. A second reminder (20 days after the payment deadline) incurs an additional EUR 100.00 per overdue invoice. Failed direct‑debit entries incur an administrative charge of EUR 15.00; repeated failed direct‑debits can result in automatic change to the three‑instalment payment schedule. Outstanding tuition may lead to exclusion from school attendance and withholding of reports or re‑registration until accounts are settled.

Boarding / residential provision

- The school's published fees and services for 2025/26 list day‑school tuition and ancillary services (meals, after‑school care, transport, digital fees, language integration courses). No boarding/internat fees or boarding provision are listed in the 2025/26 fee schedule.

Accepted payment methods and account details

- Payment methods offered: direct debit (Lastschrift) via the monthly 10‑month option; payment at an ATM within the deadlines; or bank transfer. For bank transfer, the school provides an IBAN and BIC/SWIFT for EUR payments (example IBAN: PT50 0033 0000 0000 90576377; SWIFT/BIC: GENODED1BBE). Payers are asked to send proof of transfer to the school cashier e‑mail address for reconciliation.

Other practical notes on charges

- Class trip and excursion payments, AGs (extracurricular groups) and some service charges are invoiced separately according to the school's invoicing calendar; unpaid trip fees may attract administrative charges if not settled before departure. Price changes during the school year may be applied by the school's board if necessary.

(End of fee overview.)
Academics

Deutsche Schule Lissabon teaches German Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
German-language curricula are used across Grundschule and Gymnasium. Grundschule Lissabon follows the Thüringen education plan, with Sprachkompetenzraster – Deutsch for Grades 1–4; Sachunterricht; Schulinternes Curriculum Mathematik Klasse 1–4; Portugiesisch als Muttersprache; Portugiesisch als Fremdsprache; Ethik; Religion; Sport; Musik; and Kunst. Englisch is taught from the early grades as part of the language program. Gymnasium follows German curricula for Sekundarstufe I (Grades 5–9) and Oberstufe (Grades 10–12) with subject curricula including Biologie, Chemie, Deutsch, Englisch, Erdkunde, Ethik/Philosophie, Französisch, Geschichte, Portugiesisch, Informatik, Mathematik, Musik, Kunst, Physik and more; Deutsch Schulcurriculum Kl. 11–12 is in use. The Deutsche Schule Lissabon is a Deutsche Auslandsschule and offers the Deutsche Internationale Abitur; Hauptschulabschluss and Realschulabschluss are also awarded, with the Abitur taken at the end of Class 12 and recognized for university admission in Portugal. The school serves about 1,060 students with around 145 teachers, giving a student–teacher ratio of roughly 7:1; Sekundarstufe I commonly runs 3–4 parallel classes and the Oberstufe typically 3 parallel classes.

Student Teacher Ratio
About 1,060 students and 145 teachers, giving a student–teacher ratio of roughly 7:1; Sekundarstufe I is typically 3–4 parallel classes and Oberstufe about 3 parallel classes.

Exam Results
Abschlüsse include Hauptschulabschluss, Realschulabschluss, and Reifeprüfung (Abitur). The German Hochschul-Reifeprüfung is taken at the end of Class 12 and is recognized in Portugal for university admission.

Higher Education Progression
Approximately 65 students graduate with the Abitur each year, with roughly half pursuing university studies in Germany. Studien- und Berufsberatung supports college and career planning, including annual study fairs with German and Portuguese higher education institutions and talks by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (ZAV) and other German universities.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Personal and social competencies are central to the school's psychosocial work under the Bessere Schule - Besseres Leben initiative. The program aims to develop self-esteem, self-confidence, emotion regulation (including handling stress, anger, and frustration), and a sense of responsibility. The school emphasizes social skills such as conflict resolution, communication, civic courage, engagement, appreciation of friendship, and integration. It seeks a climate of tolerance and mutual respect in which every student feels respected, integrated, understood, and safe.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school recognises that students differ in development, learning, and behaviour and introduces appropriate measures to support pupils with special educational needs in their academic and social development. A psychosocial team includes a special education teacher (Sonderpädagoge) and an inclusion coordinator to provide counselling and guidance for inclusion and related projects.

Mental Wellbeing
The school operates a psychosocial team including school psychologists and social pedagogues to support student welfare and inclusion. The team includes the head of the psychosocial team and staff such as the school psychologist and the social pedagogue, with coordination for inclusion and systemic counseling. The program includes bullying intervention, substance-use prevention, and systemic counseling; students can access help from the school psychologist, the social pedagogue, the inclusion coordinator, the systemic family therapist, or Vertrauenslehrer when needed.

Safeguarding
A safeguarding-oriented support system is in place, including a school psychologist, a social pedagogue, an inclusion coordinator, a systemic family therapist, and Vertrauenslehrer. The school provides bullying intervention and other psychosocial services to protect and support students.
Parent Experience

History
The DSL is the oldest German school on the Iberian Peninsula and the third oldest German overseas school. It was founded in 1848 by a Protestant pastor to counter the gradual disappearance of the German language in Lisbon. Instruction began on August 1, 1848 with six children taught by Anton Hermann Röder, a teacher from Germany, and the school soon attracted Portuguese students; leadership passed from the evangelical community to a German-sent philologist in 1895. It was closed in 1916 during Portugal's alliance with the Entente and reopened in 1922; after World War II, operations ended and it reopened on October 20, 1952 with 151 students, including 96 non-German nationals. A smaller Estoril campus opened in 1956, curricula in Lisbon and Estoril were aligned with Lisbon's educational content, the first final exams were held in the late 1950s and the Abitur was introduced in 1959; in the 1970s a reform made the school bicultural with diplomas equal to the national systems.

Community
The Deutscher Schulverein in Lissabon licenses the DSL as a private educational institution and administers the school's operation, staff recruitment, tuition setting, and maintenance of facilities. Membership is open to DSL parents and others, with an annual fee of 25 euros. Members may attend the annual general meeting to get to know the DSL, offer proposals or feedback, and participate in important decisions, and receive a quarterly newsletter about upcoming events and association news. The association provides information through PDFs including the Satzung (statutes) and other organizational documents and maintains contact via the provided email address.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The School Parents' Council (Elternbeirat) represents the parent body and acts as a mediator between the school leadership, teachers and parents. The SEB typically meets once a month with invited members of the school leadership and the Schulvorstand, and participates in the monthly SEB meetings and in general and subject conferences. Biannual general assemblies allow parents and representatives to discuss issues; the school leadership and the Schulvorstand share developments and listen to feedback. The SEB comprises nine representatives elected by the parents, with representation from the primary, kindergarten, and Gymnasium sections; the current chair and other officers are listed. Contact for the SEB is [email protected], and more information is available in the bilingual statutes and related documents (PDFs).
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Earthquake reinforcement and expansion is under way at Deutsche Schule Lissabon. Building C is a three-storey facility with eight classrooms (five more than in the current building), two biology laboratories (one preparation room), a student commons, a student council room, three workspaces and a meeting/conference room. Building V houses the administration, staff rooms and leadership, with seismic strengthening and energy‑efficiency improvements. A second phase would add Building B (gymnasium), Building M (canteen) and a covered multipurpose sports area, connected to the existing sports hall and with its own changing rooms. The project is funded largely by the German state (around 96%), with support from partner companies, and completion could occur by the end of the 2023/24 school year.

Sports Facilities
A covered multipurpose sports area will provide year‑round use, with volleyball and basketball courts and a ground‑level connection to the current gym. It includes its own independent changing rooms and may be rented to alumni or third parties.

Academic Facilities
Building C includes eight classrooms; two biology laboratories (one prep room); a student community room; a student council room; three workspaces; and a meeting/conference room. Building V houses the school leadership, teachers' lounge and administration, with seismic strengthening and energy‑efficiency improvements as part of the project.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The DSL offers a broad range of extracurricular activities including football (soccer); technology and robotics clubs such as Inventors; Judo; Medien Scouts focusing on digital literacy and safety; mindfulness; arts and performing arts including fashion and sewing; and mathematics clubs including Portuguese-language math programs.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Deutsche Schule Lissabon is a private German-Portuguese encounter school founded in 1848, making it the third-oldest German overseas school. It offers education from Kindergarten through the German International Abitur at the end of Grade 12. The school emphasizes contemporary, integrated teaching and the development of social competencies through a comprehensive cross-disciplinary competence curriculum taught by all teachers. Students are prepared for the German Abitur, and since 2019 also for the German International Abitur.

Arts & Creative
A broad range of artistic and cultural activities is offered, including music with orchestras, bands, and choir, as well as theatre and circus programs. Visual arts and extensive after-school activities complement the curriculum, with about 55 clubs (AGs) available from primary through secondary levels.

Cultural & Language
Bilinguality and intercultural exchange are core to the DSL. The school brings together German- and Portuguese-speaking children, with Portuguese viewed as the language of the host country and German as the instructional language. Portuguese is a required subject for German-speaking students, while English begins in Grade 3 and French starts in Grade 7. The school promotes ongoing German-Portuguese cultural connections and exchanges, including language and study opportunities in both countries.

Social & Hobbies
An extensive after-school program features a wide range of clubs and activities across the full range from Kindergarten to Gymnasium, including sports, arts, music, science, and Model United Nations. The vibrant social environment includes theatre and circus offerings, as well as opportunities to engage in teamwork and leadership through student groups and events.

Community & Service
Community service and social responsibility are fostered through diverse projects and charitable activities that involve helping others and supporting those in need. The school hosts regular social initiatives and youth involvement programs to cultivate empathy and social engagement among students.

Leadership & Professional
A Berufs- und Studienberatung (career and study counseling) supports students in planning their future studies and professions. An annual Market der Möglichkeiten provides students with exposure to higher education and career opportunities, and there are structured activities to develop leadership and representation, including class representative training and student government initiatives.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Inclusion of students with disabilities is actively implemented, with support from a school psychologist and social pedagogues. A health service staffed by a nurse and a school doctor ensures medical care, and the school is certified Eco-Schools for its environmental initiatives. The campus offers extensive facilities, including a swimming pool and a large gym in Lisbon, as well as a well-equipped Estoril site housing the kindergarten and primary school.
Languages

Language Provision
The language of instruction centers on German language learning; Portuguese is the host-country language and is a compulsory subject for German-speaking students. English is taught from the 3rd grade to the Abitur, and French is taught from the 7th grade to the 10th grade (up to 12 as an elective). The school maintains a Portuguese department (Portugiesische Abteilung) and emphasizes bilinguality and intercultural exchange.

Bilingual Teaching
German and Portuguese are central to the school's education. Bilinguality and intercultural exchange are essential conditions and fundamental goals of the school's work. The school functions as an integrated Begegnungsschule that brings together Portuguese and German-speaking students from Kindergarten through Gymnasium.

Immersion Programs
German is learned through immersion, especially in Kindergarten. Deutsch-Vorkurs (German pre-course) is offered for children whose mother tongue is Portuguese to support German language acquisition.
Admissions

Admissions
Admission information for the Deutsche Schule Lissabon covers both German-speaking and non-German-speaking tracks across Kindergarten, Grundschule (primary), Gymnasium (secondary), and the Vorkurs (pre-course) for non-German speakers. Kindergarten (German-speaking): The pre-registrations for the 2026/27 school year are now open. About 50 kindergarten places are allocated each September in Lisbon. A child must be three years old by September 30 of the intake year and is expected to be diaper-free at entry. To register, complete the online Phidias admission form for the September intake. Pre-registrations received between November and January are reviewed, and an admission interview with the kindergarten management typically takes place during this period. A place is usually offered in February. Placement is not determined by the order of pre-registrations; criteria include German language skills, siblings at the school, citizenship of a German-speaking country, prior attendance at a German-language institution or another German international school, and whether the child is a son or daughter of a former DSL student. For questions contact the Admissions Officer Monday to Friday at +351 217 510 260 or [email protected] Out-of-year place requests should also be directed to the Admissions Officer. To learn more about the Kindergarten, click here. Voranmeldung via Phidias is described on the pre-registration page, and Kennenlernbesuch arrangements are available. Franciane Allnoch and Mona Nakhjiri (Kindergartenleitung) provide contact details for the Kindergarten and the Lisbon and Estoril campuses. .

Scholarships
Stipendien: The school offers two scholarships. Details are provided via links to the following PDFs: the Stipendium des Schulvereins der DSL and the Dr. Brüggemann-Stipendium. .
School Events
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