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German Embassy School Istanbul (Botschaftsschule Istanbul)

Turkey, Istanbul

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The school at a glance
Fees TRY 21,000 - 25,000
Ages Not listed
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Taught languages English
Strengths Languages, Performing Arts, Outdoor Education
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Kindergarten, Preschool, Primary School
Introduction

The German Embassy School Istanbul (Botschaftsschule Istanbul) is a co-educational German international school and the Istanbul branch of the Privatschule der Deutschen Botschaft Ankara. It is funded and recognized as a German Auslandsschule by the Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (BVA). The school offers a German curriculum based on Thüringen standards: Grundschule (grades 1–4) including a German kindergarten; Sekundarstufe I (grades 5–8) is housed in the Deutsches Schule Istanbul building, Alman Lisesi, while the main Şişli site serves grades 1–4 and the Tarabya site houses the kindergarten. Facilities include the Tarabya campus beside the park, a library with about 2,500 titles, and spaces for early childhood development. Distinctive features include intercultural learning, language development, and German cultural activities; Thüringer Kompetenztest; Känguru math competition; and a strong emphasis on arts, theatre, and wellness through yoga and anti-bias education. The school uses a park for events and offers open care in the daily afternoons.

Yörük Çıkmazı 12, 34420 Karaköy / Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey

The Essentials

Location
Istanbul, Turkey. The Botschaftsschule Istanbul operates as the Istanbul branch of the Private School of the German Embassy Ankara; it offers a German-language primary curriculum and provides a school bus transport service.

Stages
Grundschule (1-4)

Type
Private, co-educational German international school; branch of the German Embassy School Ankara

Additional learning support
Inclusion and individualized support for students with an officially recognized diagnosis in Germany; cases are considered on an individual basis.

Country affiliation
Germany

Bus service
Bus transport is provided. A bus coordinator coordinates transport in cooperation with the school, parents, drivers and the bus company. Contact: Selin Koc, Tel: 0533-325-39-26; email: verwaltung.koc@botschaftsschuleistanbul.de. For bus inquiries: bus-ag@bs-istanbul.de.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Menu plans are published monthly for both the Kindergarten and the School. The current menu plan for January can be downloaded as a PDF.

Governance and Ownership
The School Association is the sponsor of the school and is registered in the German association registry. The board of this association runs the school's affairs. The Botschaftsschule Istanbul is not subject to Turkish school supervision. The branch of the Private School of the German Embassy Ankara in Istanbul teaches primary grades 1-4 and leads to the transition to secondary level I.
Fees

Annual tuition at German Embassy School Istanbul (Botschaftsschule Istanbul) ranges from TRY 21,000 to TRY 25,000 for 2026/27.

School year and scope
- These fees apply to the Privatschule der Deutschen Botschaft Ankara – Zweigstelle Istanbul for the 2026/2027 school year (dates shown in the fee schedule correspond to the 2026/2027 academic year).

Application / Registration and test fees
- One-time registration (Anmeldegebühr) for new registrations in Vorschule and Schule: EUR 2,500. This fee is due within seven (7) days of the written offer and is non‑refundable.
- One-time registration (Anmeldegebühr) for new registrations in Kindergarten: EUR 1,500. This fee is due within seven (7) days of the written offer and is non‑refundable.
- Test / Aufnahmegebühr for entry to Grade 1 (Aufnahmeverfahren): EUR 500. This test fee is non‑refundable and, if admission is granted, is credited against the annual fee.

Tuition / Annual fees (full detail by section and payment method)
- Grundschule & Vorschule (school and pre‑school) — annual fees for 2026/2027:
- Single (one‑time) payment: EUR 23,500 per child for the full year.
- Payment in four instalments (total): EUR 25,000 per child for the full year. Instalment amounts and due dates are specified under "Billing schedule and payment terms" below. VAT (Mehrwertsteuer) is included in the stated amounts. The offered lunch service and a starter set are included in the annual fee; textbooks, workbooks and other school materials must be provided by parents and are not included.

- Kindergarten — annual fees for 2026/2027:
- Single (one‑time) payment: EUR 19,500 per child for the full year.
- Payment in four instalments (total): EUR 21,000 per child for the full year. Instalment amounts and due dates are specified under "Billing schedule and payment terms" below. VAT is included in the stated amounts. The offered lunch service is included in the annual fee.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Deadline for single (one‑time) payments: the full amount must be received by 21 August 2026 into one of the school accounts.
- Four‑instalment payment schedule (Vorschule/Schule total EUR 25,000):
- 1st instalment: EUR 6,250, due by 21 August 2026.
- 2nd instalment: EUR 6,250, due by 23 October 2026.
- 3rd instalment: EUR 6,250, due by 8 January 2027.
- 4th instalment: EUR 6,250, due by 9 April 2027.
- Four‑instalment payment schedule (Kindergarten total EUR 21,000):
- 1st instalment: EUR 5,250, due by 21 August 2026.
- 2nd instalment: EUR 5,250, due by 23 October 2026.
- 3rd instalment: EUR 5,250, due by 8 January 2027.
- 4th instalment: EUR 5,250, due by 9 April 2027.
- Payment method required: payments are to be made by bank transfer to one of the school's specified accounts (Commerzbank AG, Munich branch — German account with IBAN DE66 7004 0041 0662 0017 00, BIC COBADEFFXXX — or Yapı Kredi Bankası, Karaköy branch — Turkish account with IBAN TR75 0006 7010 0000 0062 2239 57). The total amount or instalments must arrive by the due dates. No credit‑card payment method is specified in the fee schedule.

Late payment and consequences
- Late payment penalty: a default surcharge of EUR 200 per month is charged for late payments.
- Second reminder fee: if payment is still outstanding four weeks after due date, an administrative reminder fee of EUR 100 is charged.
- If fees remain overdue for more than eight weeks the school may exclude the child from attendance for the remainder of the school year/half‑year. Delay of the January instalment may result in withholding of the half‑year report and suspension of teaching in the second half of the year. Further claims for outstanding fees remain reserved.

Discounts, scholarships and reductions
- Sibling discount: a 10% discount applies on the annual fees for a sibling (applies to the sibling's fee amount). For three or more siblings, each additional child receives a 10% discount. Application and approval are required.
- Income‑based social discount (Sozialrabatt): approved cases can reduce the annual fee to EUR 16,500 per school year (subject to application and proof). This discount is not combinable with other reductions and is generally not available in the first year of enrolment.
- Special hardship relief (Härtefall) and specific scholarship arrangements (e.g., 50% discount for Tarabya Kulturakademie stipend recipients) are available under defined conditions and require formal application.

Other fees and incidental costs
- School association membership: an annual membership contribution of EUR 39 per family is payable for the school year; due by 21 August 2026 for the 2026/2027 year.
- School bus service: transport is not included in the annual fees; the bus service is arranged and billed separately by a partner transport provider. Specific bus fares are not listed in the fee schedule.
- Textbooks / workbooks / school materials: parents must procure textbooks, workbooks and other regular school materials — these are not included in the stated annual fees.
- Lunch and a starter set: the provided midday meal and a one‑time starter set at the beginning of the school year are included within the annual fee.
- No uniform fee or boarding/internat charges are specified; boarding services are not provided in the fee schedule.

Refunds, cancellations and mid‑year withdrawal
- Registration and test fees are non‑refundable.
- Enrolment is generally for the full school year. If a child is enrolled mid‑year, the annual fee is charged pro rata from the child's first day of attendance; the pro rata amount for the current school year is payable on admission. For withdrawals during the school year, the fee schedule refers to applicable legal provisions and states that the rules in the fee schedule apply; specifics such as formal notice deadlines for year‑end withdrawal and the requirement to submit written deregistration one month before the child's last day are specified.
- If a previously granted fee reduction (social/sibling/hardship) is later found to have been wrongly granted, the school may reclaim the improperly granted reduction.

Notes on practical handling of payments
- The fee schedule requires that the signed, original fee agreement and either the total payment or the first instalment be received by the school by the stated deadline to make the enrolment binding. Bank transfers must be made to one of the two accounts provided (German or Turkish account) and should follow the IBAN/BIC details supplied in the fee schedule. No alternative payment channels (e.g., card payments) are listed in the schedule.

Administrative contacts for fees and payments
- The fee schedule names the school administration and management contacts for fee applications and enquiries (Geschäftsführung and Verwaltungsleitung) and provides e‑mail addresses for submission of reduction/discount applications and administrative questions.
Academics

Curriculum
The school is the Istanbul branch of the Privatschule der Deutschen Botschaft Ankara and is recognized and funded as a German Auslandsschule by the Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (BVA). In Grundschule the program covers grades 1–4 and includes a German Kindergarten; Sekundarstufe I (grades 5–8) is located in the Deutsches Schule Istanbul building at Alman Lisesi. The school comprises a kindergarten with around 30 children and a primary school with about 50 students in four small classes. At the end of grade 4, the school provides a qualified recommendation for transition to further schooling; the teaching program is based on the curricula of the state of Thuringia. Regular hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00–14:00 and Friday 13:15; on longer days a warm lunch is provided; the campus uses the park of the German Embassy Ankara summer residence in Tarabya for many school events.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
We promote each child individually in their development. We learn in small groups together and from one another. Mutual respect and positive cooperation are practiced by all at our school. We design our spaces so that everyone feels comfortable and a good learning atmosphere is created for students. We foster acceptance and intercultural understanding. Inclusion is provided for diagnoses officially recognized in Germany, with cases reviewed on an individual basis.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Inclusion is provided within the regular school structure. We support each child individually in their development. Inclusion applies to diagnoses officially recognized in Germany, with cases reviewed on an individual basis to determine suitable supports. The school uses available spaces, staff, and materials to accommodate needs within the regular classroom. The approach aligns with the German education system.

Mental Wellbeing
We implement a prevention program addressing safety and wellbeing. The program Mein Körper gehört mir is theater-based and focuses on preventing sexual abuse of children. It operates in a two-year cycle with performances by the Theaterpädagogische Werkstatt Osnabrück. Sessions include student activities and a parent information event to discuss the program. The aim is to empower students to protect themselves while avoiding fear. The program is part of the school's broader well-being and safeguarding initiatives.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding is integrated with inclusion and wellbeing initiatives. For concerns, contact the school leadership at schulleitung@botschaftsschuleistanbul.de. Inclusion applies to diagnoses officially recognized in Germany, with cases reviewed individually. The prevention program for safety complements daily safeguarding in classrooms. The approach emphasizes a safe, respectful, and intercultural learning environment.
Parent Experience

History
The Botschaftsschule Istanbul is the Istanbul branch of the private school of the German Embassy in Ankara. Its history begins with the German-speaking community in Istanbul and the Teutonia Club; the kindergarten was reopened in 1882, with later phases including a 1925 reopening after World War I and a 1944 closure. In 1953 the Turkish state returned the school, and in 1961 the institution was re-established as the Deutsche Botschaftsschule for grades 1–5 under Turkish law. The Teutonia Kindergarten was founded in 1961 and integrated into the Botschaftsschule in 1965. The 1964 building addition was constructed on the grounds of Club Teutonia, linking the school's history with Club Teutonia and a German cultural milieu including Goethe Institute activity. From the 1960s into the 1970s many German teachers moved to Istanbul to teach German, and by 1971 the student body reached 207. In 1986 the Schulverein (school association) was founded in Bonn to operate the school, establishing a six‑member board and governance structures; renovations and modernization followed in the late 1990s. In 1998, Turkey introduced eight years of compulsory schooling. In 2020 the original main building of Teutonia was handed over to the Orient Institute for use, with substantial renovation work on the main building commencing thereafter. The school is not under Turkish educational supervision, as the Schulverein is the sponsoring body.

Community
Traditional festivals and celebrations form a fixed part of the school's life, linking European heritage with Turkish culture and marking the yearly rhythm. The community participates in events that illustrate this blend and invite broad participation. Recent examples include Sternsingeraktion 2026, Weihnachtsfeier 2025, Weihnachtsbasar 2025, Bundesweiter Vorlesetag 2025, Halloween 2025, Schülerparlament 2025, Herbstfest 2025, Klassensprecherwahl 25/26, Einschulungsfeier Schuljahr 25/26, Sommer- und Abschlussfest 25, Sportfest Mai 25, Autorenlesung April 25, and Fasching März 25.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Elternbeirat: The Elternbeirat (Parent Council) represents the interests of the parents and forms an important bridge between parents and the school. Its tasks include voicing concerns, consolidating wishes and suggestions, and conveying them to the school leadership. Contact: Elternbeirat@botschaftsschuleistanbul.de. The Elternbeirat for Schuljahr 25/26 includes representatives as follows: in school, Klasse 1 Ayca Yılmaz Dogan and Dilara Sönmez; Klasse 2 Deniz Demirci and Cuma Fındık; Klasse 3 Elif Akkol and Gizem Demir; Klasse 4 Betül Aksu and Aylin Türer Strzelczyk; Vorschule: Berna Baran and Özlem Ger Gürel; Kindergarten: Saliha Ülker and Sena Yayık Canbaz. The Chair is Berna Baran, with Deniz Demirci as 1st deputy and Saliha Ülker as 2nd deputy. The Schulverein is the school's sponsor and is registered in Bonn; its board runs the school's affairs. The Botschaftsschule Istanbul operates under the Schulverein and is not overseen by Turkish schooling authorities.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Botschaftsschule Istanbul comprises a kindergarten with pre-school and a primary school on two sites: the main school building in Şişli for grades 1–4 and the German kindergarten/pre-school in Tarabya. The secondary level (grades 5–8) is housed in the Deutsche Schule Istanbul building, Alman Lisesi. The school uses the Tarabya Park of the German Embassy Summer Residence for many school events. The kindergarten is located in Tarabya near the water and benefits from a large park area with a forest and walking trails, supporting a nature-based learning environment. The spaces and teaching materials meet the latest insights in early childhood learning; the kindergarten emphasizes language development, motor skills, social competence and creativity through regular, holistic project work.

Sports Facilities
Sports and movement education are accommodated in a multipurpose room or outdoors. Daily outdoor play is scheduled in the large Tarabya park area. The kindergarten uses a multipurpose room for indoor physical education and yoga. The Tarabya site provides access to natural spaces for active learning.

Academic Facilities
The school comprises a kindergarten with pre-school and a primary school with around 50 students in grades 1–4, organized in four small classes. The secondary level (grades 5–8) is located in the Deutsche Schule Istanbul building, Alman Lisesi. The instructional program is based on the curricula of the state of Thüringen. The school's structure aligns with the German education system, and at the end of grade 4 it provides a qualified school-leaving trajectory recommendation for transitions to higher-level schools. The spaces, play and teaching materials correspond to the latest insights in early childhood learning.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Music and theatre, play and movement pedagogy, art, yoga, intercultural learning and anti-bias education, and opportunities to learn Turkish are integrated into daily activities. In the afternoon, an open care concept allows children of all ages to use themed rooms or participate in freely chosen activities in areas such as Creative, Sport/Movement, Culinary and storytelling. Daily outdoor play occurs in the large park grounds or on the partly covered yard. The pedagogical approach emphasizes a balanced mix of free play and targeted learning to support holistic development.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school has a library with about 2,500 books. Antolin is used as a reading-promotion program; each child has a login to answer questions about read books, earn points, and receive reading tips. World Book Day is celebrated with a reading competition for students in classes 2–4. The Thüringer Kompetenztest is administered annually in May for classes 3, 6, and 8, and the Känguru der Mathematik competition is held for classes 3–4.

Arts & Creative
Drama is part of school life with theatre activities. The school hosts author readings as part of its cultural program. Yoga is offered as a wellbeing activity.

Cultural & Language
German and European heritage is celebrated alongside Turkish culture through annual festivals and projects. Events include Sternsingeraktion, Weihnachtsfeier, and Weihnachtsbasar, as well as the Bundesweiter Vorlesetag (National Read Aloud Day) observed in 2025.

Social & Hobbies
Student involvement is encouraged through the Schülerparlament (student parliament) and Klassensprecher elections. Social and festive events include Halloween, Fasching (carnival), and a sport festival in May, along with author readings.

Community & Service
Charitable activities include Sternsingeraktion, and fundraising events such as Weihnachtsbasar. The school engages the community through projects and activities that support social causes.

Leadership & Professional
The school is guided by a Schulverein (school association) and an Elternbeirat (parents' council). Students participate in a Schülerparlament and Klassensprecher elections, providing leadership opportunities for pupils and opportunities for parent involvement.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Faustlos is implemented to foster empathy, impulse control, and handling anger. Streitschlichtung (conflict resolution) and a broader Präventionsprogramm support wellbeing and safe student life. Yoga is offered as a wellbeing activity.
Languages

Language Provision
German is the language of instruction in the primary grades (Grundschule 1–4). The school comprises a German Kindergarten, Vorschule (preschool), Grundschule (grades 1–4) and Sekundarstufe I (grades 5–8). In the Kindergarten, educators speak exclusively German with the children, and four weekly sessions provide Turkish language exposure under a program described as Turkish for beginners. The institution is a German Auslandsschule under the patronage of the German Embassy and is recognised and funded by the Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA).
Admissions

Admissions
Please note that Turkish citizens, including dual nationals, cannot be admitted at present. Botschaftsschule Istanbul is one of the German Auslandsschulen with the status of an Embassy School and is therefore governed exclusively by German authorities, not by the Turkish Ministry of Education. Citizenship: Children who only hold Turkish citizenship cannot be admitted; children who are already enrolled in the Turkish school system cannot be admitted. Only children whose families can demonstrate temporary residence in Istanbul may be admitted. Language requirements: Admission requires native-level or very good/good German language skills. An admission interview and a language assessment are conducted; if language skills are not sufficiently strong, admission may be granted under special conditions. Enrollment period: Regularly from January of the year of admission; for transfer entrants please inquire by phone. Documents: Submit the following documents (by email or fax) to the administration: Aufnahmeantrag (admission application); Entsendebescheinigung (certificate of posting/assignment); Motivationsschreiben (letter of motivation) for the consulate; Pass copies (first page) for all family members; Yabanci/T.C. Nummer (foreign national number or Turkish identity number) for foreigners or Turkish citizens; copies of the last two school years' reports; copies of the child's immunization certificate; certificate of attendance at the previous kindergarten or school; certificate of the employer's posting to Turkey or a residence certificate in Germany; Motivationsschreiben with date and signature. Admission interview: Plan approximately 45 to 60 minutes and bring the child(ren) for a language assessment. After the interview: The documents are checked by the school and the General Consulate; a written decision is provided; upon a positive decision, an admission confirmation is issued; payment of tuition (at least the first installment) and the one-time admission fee is due. Note: The admission fee is €300. Admission to the primary school does not automatically entitle transfer to Grade 5 at Deutsche Schule Istanbul (in the building of Alman Lisesi).
School Events
The school has not added events
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