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Deutsche Schule Istanbul

Turkey, Istanbul

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The school at a glance
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 640
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum German Curriculum
Strengths STEM, Languages, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Introduction

Deutsche Schule Istanbul is a private German high school that is part of Germany's Auslandsschulen network and operates two divisions under one roof: Özel Alman Lisesi and Botschaftsschule (German Embassy School). About 750 students are taught by over 80 teachers. The school runs a three-tier Bildungsgang (Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule) with Abitur as the goal; Turkish students receive the Turkish Lise Diploma while many pursue the German International Abitur (DIA) and the KMK Sprachdiplom DSD II. A Hazırlık preparatory program provides 20 hours of German per week. In upper-secondary phase (grades 11–12) Abitur is taken in six compulsory subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, German and English, plus Turkish culture. The DIA is offered, and Turkish students may externally earn the DSD II at C1. MINT orientation is emphasized to foster scientific competence. The school supports German-Turkish intercultural encounter through its streams and governance, with project groups and a student council.

Şahkulu, Şah Kulu Bostan Sk. No. 10, 34420 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye

The Essentials

Deutsche Schule Istanbul has 640 pupils.

Location
The Deutsche Schule Istanbul is located in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey. The address is Şahkulu Mahallesi, Şahkulu Bostanı Sokak No. 8, 34420 Beyoğlu-İstanbul. It operates as a private German high school (Özel Alman Lisesi). The contact phone is +90 212 245 13 90-91 and the email is info@ds-istanbul.net.

Stages
Two branches exist: a Turkish branch under Turkish law (Özel Alman Lisesi) and a German branch that leads to the German International Abitur (DIA). The German branch serves grades 5–12 and comprises about 120 students.

Type
private German high school

Additional learning support
Psychological counseling and guidance are provided; an on-site doctor and nurse are available.

Country affiliation
The school is part of Germany's network of German Auslandsschulen and operates two streams (Turkish and German) under this framework.

School day structure
The day includes nine teaching periods. Classes start at 07:50 and end at 15:26, with short breaks between periods and a midday lunch break.

Bus service
The school offers a student bus service.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms follow the Ministry of Education dress code and must be simple, neat, and logo-free. Bottoms are black, blue, gray, or white; tops include polo or bicycle-collar T-shirts, sweatshirts, and shirts in white, blue, black, or gray, with skirts or dresses allowed for girls. Prohibited items include transparent or ripped clothing; shorts, short skirts, leggings, sleeveless tops, and midriff-baring garments; Bermuda shorts may be worn only on announced dates; hair must be natural-colored and nails short with no nail polish. Violations carry escalating disciplinary actions.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by the Istanbul Private German High School Administrative Association under Turkish associations law. The association structures and maintains administrative processes, handles contracts with the Federal Republic of Germany for the use of the building and land, and regulates the employment contracts for all teachers and staff; it is responsible for finances, building maintenance and repairs, investments, and ongoing development of education. The seven-member Board of Directors comprises Mustafa Mithat Cin (Chairman), Av. Prof. Dr. Hamide Özden Özkaya-Ferendeci (Vice-Chair), Ahmet Kerim Erhan (Member), Ahmet Serhat Hacıpaşalıoğlu (Member), Gonca Eser Kulaksızoğlu (Treasurer), Jochen Jakob Pröhl (Member), and Dr. Richard Wittmann (Secretary). The Board's Deputy, Aylin Sakarya, serves as liaison between the Board and the school and oversees cross-unit coordination.
Academics

Deutsche Schule Istanbul teaches German Curriculum.

Curriculum
The Deutsche Schule Istanbul comprises two divisions under one roof: Özel Alman Lisesi (the Turkish upper-secondary) and Botschaftsschule (the German Embassy School), a branch of the German Embassy in Ankara. About 750 students are taught by over 80 teachers. The school operates a three‑tier Bildungsgang (Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule) with the Abitur as the primary goal; Turkish students receive the Turkish Lise Diplom, while many Turkish students pursue the German International Abitur (DIA) and the KMK Sprachdiplom DSD II. There is a one-year preparatory Hazırlık program with 20 hours of German per week. At the end of the upper-secondary phase (grades 11–12) the Abitur is taken with a strong emphasis on mathematics and the natural sciences in six compulsory subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, German, and English. Other compulsory subjects are Turkish culture subjects taught in Turkish; the German track offers the DIA; Turkish students may externally earn the DSD II at level C1. MINT orientation is emphasized.

Student Teacher Ratio
Approximately 9–10 students per teacher (about 750 students and over 80 teachers).

Exam Results
The school reports a university entrance exam success rate never below 90%. Graduates pursue higher education in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the United States, with some studying in other European countries or the USA.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates pursue higher education in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the United States; some study in other European countries or the USA.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school fosters a strong sense of community and belonging. A broad range of extracurricular activities supports social development, including photography, theatre club, chess, yoga, Latin, modern dance, choir, orchestra, first aid, philosophy, electronics, science and technology, and literature. Education and cohesion are central to student life, helping pupils build networks that extend beyond the classroom.

Mental Wellbeing
Health, safety and well-being of students are addressed by the safety concept developed with the authorities and experts. The medical station has a doctor and a nurse, and staff are regularly trained in first aid. Information about health matters is communicated to parents by the school office or headmaster.

Safeguarding
The safeguarding framework protects health, safety and well-being, with the safety concept created to ensure children's protection. Staff receive regular first-aid training, the school maintains a medical station, and parents are informed of relevant information via the school office or school management. Evacuation and emergency procedures are practiced and communicated according to authorities' guidelines.
Parent Experience

Community
Extracurricular activities include photography, theatre club, chess, yoga, Latin, modern dance, choir, orchestra, first aid, philosophy, electronics, science and technology, and literature. These activities help students build a tight-knit network that often accompanies them for life. Various alumni associations demonstrate lifelong ties to Deutsche Schule Istanbul, reinforcing a strong sense of community beyond the school years. Education and cohesion are presented as major achievements of the German schools in Turkey.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Projects (Projektgruppen) are time-limited initiatives with allocated resources and a defined objective. Each project group develops ideas to implement development goals, creates concepts, and reports regularly to the Steuergruppe. The Steuergruppe coordinates school development and assigns mandates for projects to guide educational improvement.

Arts & Creative
Schülervertretung (SV) is elected by students to enable democratic participation in school life. It is responsible for actions and events including concerts, festivals, theme days, information events, and sports events. The SV fosters student initiative and responsibility by allowing students to represent interests and undertake tasks.

Cultural & Language
Deutsche Schule Istanbul comprises two sections under one roof: Botschaftsschule (German Embassy School) and Özel Alman Lisesi (German High School), enabling German-Turkish intercultural encounter. The school targets German language competence and offers the Deutsche Internationale Abiturprüfung (DIA); Turkish students also obtain a Turkish Lise Diploma. DaF/DFU structures support German language development, and a Turkish‑language preparatory year (Hazırlık) is offered with substantial German instruction.

Social & Hobbies
The SV coordinates events including concerts, festivals, theme days, information sessions, and sports events. The Turkish Elternbeirat has supported school events such as Jugend musiziert and Robotics. Additional project groups and school activities provide opportunities for social engagement.

Community & Service
The School Association (Verein zum Betrieb der Deutschen Schule Istanbul) operates the school, funds scholarships for German universities, and supports modernization and development. It maintains a governance structure with a board and includes a representative of the German Consulate. Parent councils (Deutscher Elternbeirat and Türkischer Elternbeirat) support school life and assist with activities and student welfare.

Leadership & Professional
The SV provides leadership opportunities by allowing students to participate in governance and organize events. The Steuergruppe coordinates school development and assigns mandates for projects, guiding collective action. The Alumni Association organizes social and cultural events, conferences, and seminars to maintain links with graduates.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The SV organizes concerts, festivals, theme days, information sessions, and sports events, contributing to student life and wellbeing. Parent associations support extracurricular activities and competitions, such as Jugend musiziert and Robotics, enhancing opportunities for physical, social, and cultural engagement.
Languages

Language Provision
Abitur is offered in two language streams: German-language classes and Turkish-language classes. In Abitur, German and English are among the required subjects, together with Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. In 2025, 14 students completed Abitur in the German-language track and 115 in the Turkish-language track.

Bilingual Teaching
The school is a private high school with the status of teaching some subjects in a foreign language. In Abitur, German and English are among the subjects students are required to take, alongside Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. There are German-language Abitur classes and Turkish-language Abitur classes.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Enrollment application. Submit a completed enrollment application for Deutsche Schule Istanbul. The following documents are required: proof of citizenship for the child and the parents; all certificates from the current and previous school years (both halves); for entry into grade 5, a recommendation from the primary school regarding the chosen education path; valid copies of residence permits; valid work permits/employment contracts; an employer letter/assignment letter with the duration of the assignment; a recommendation letter from the primary school for enrollment in grade 5/6; in the case of divorced parents, the divorce decree/custody proof; and a payment receipt showing the student's name and class. 2. Tuition payment and binding enrollment. The tuition for the 2025/26 school year is €16,900 for classes 5–8 (incl. 10% VAT) if paid in one lump sum, and €17,300 for classes 9–11 (incl. 10% VAT) if paid in one lump sum. Tuition payments are made exclusively to Türk Ekonomi Bankası (TEB), Beyoğlu Branch. For binding enrollment, a deposit of €3,000 must be paid to the following account and the student's name must be included in the “Explanation/Remark” field: IBAN TR98 0003 2000 0000 0057 0673 31; SWIFT TEBUTRIS; Account owner: Germany Federal Republic Private Istanbul German High School Ltd. For potential tuition reductions, the Turkish Ministry of Education's regulation on tuition reductions at private educational institutions applies; the discount takes into account the parents' social and economic situation, the student's academic success, and behavior; there are no other forms of discount. 3. Additional arrangements. The canteen is managed by Burak Yıldırım (phone: 0533 687 30 37). The school's website is ds-istanbul.net.

Scholarships
The school offers free or subsidized education to a limited number of students in accordance with the Regulations on Free or Subsidized Education in Private Educational Institutions. For the 2026/2027 academic year, applications for free or subsidized study may be submitted between January 20, 2026 and April 3, 2026, with the required documents as specified in the attached materials (Explanation for Free Students for 2026/2027 Academic Year; Parent Information Text; Scholarship Declaration; Attachments 7, 2, and 1). For questions, email burs@ds-istanbul.net.
School Events
The school has not added events
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