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International German School Ho Chi Minh City (IGS)

Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, German
Fees ₫198,315,000 - 480,900,000
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 170
Type Co-educational
Opened 2012
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), German Curriculum
Taught languages English, French, German, Vietnamese
Typical class size 18
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form, Preschool, Kindergarten
Introduction

International German School Ho Chi Minh City (IGS) offers a German–English bilingual education from age 2 through Grade 12. Learning is grounded in German curricula (Secondary I) with the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12, enabling university entry worldwide. The U6 Section (Nursery, Kindergarten, Preschool) has average group sizes of 12–14 and emphasizes early science, language development, and play-based learning. Across the school, IGS highlights small class sizes and a green villa campus with palms and tropical greenery. Students can join STEM pathways featuring weekly early science, ICT from Class 1, research projects in Grades 9–10, and laboratory practicals. Extracurriculars include pottery, bookbinding, choir, drums, yoga, healthy cooking, multi-sports, and self-defence. The school runs a bus service for daily transport. Languages of instruction are German (main) and English for selected subjects; Vietnamese and French are taught as subjects.

253/11 (251A, Lương Định Của, An Phú, Thủ Đức, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam

The Essentials

International German School Ho Chi Minh City (IGS) has 170 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English, German.

Location
IGS is situated at 253 Luong Dinh Cua, An Khanh Ward, Thu Duc City (formerly District 2) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The campus sits in a residential and green-lined neighbourhood with good access to major arterial roads; the school also provides its own bus service to facilitate daily commuting for families.

Stages
The school structure is divided into three main levels: the U6 section (nursery, kindergarten, preschool for children aged 2 and under 6), Primary school (Grades 1–4), followed by Secondary level I (Grades 5–10) and Secondary level II (Grades 11–12). Learners who join later and without German language skills may follow a dedicated lateral-entry programme.

Type
IGS is a co-educational day school open to children of all nationalities.

Additional learning support
The school publishes an Inclusion Policy, indicating that students with diverse learning needs (for example in German as a foreign language or other areas) may receive differentiated teaching and supportive measures within inclusive classroom settings and small group settings.

Country affiliation
IGS is part of the network of German schools abroad (“Deutsche Auslandsschulen”) and is recognised by the Federal Republic of Germany. It follows German curricula in its instructional framework.

Religious affiliation
The school does not have any religious affiliations.

School day structure
From the 2025/26 academic year the timetable indicates that mandatory lessons conclude at 15:15, with optional afternoon activities following. The day is structured into morning lesson blocks and an afternoon segment for clubs or supervised study.

Bus service
IGS operates a dedicated school-bus service. Students are collected from home and transported to the campus and returned to home at scheduled times.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
The school has a canteen on site (Mensa) that serves meals. Lunch is provided on campus. Healthy nutrition is emphasized.

Governance and Ownership
IGS-HCMC is a German School Abroad, part of the network of 140 German Schools Abroad recognized by the Federal Republic of Germany, and it is an IB World School.
Fees

Annual tuition at International German School Ho Chi Minh City (IGS) ranges from VND 198,315,000 to VND 480,900,000 for 2026/27.

Application and Registration Fees

* Application Fee: VND 3,000,000 (non-refundable), payable upon submission of the application form.
* Registration Fee: VND 45,000,000 for Kindergarten and VND 70,000,000 for Primary and Secondary, payable within 14 days of acceptance. The fee is one-time only and guarantees a place. It is refundable (minus costs) if the child does not pass a probationary period in the U6 section.

Tuition Fees 2025–2026
Annual tuition covers instruction, selected extracurricular activities, uniforms, insurance, and the first IB exam. Fees can be paid per semester or annually (annual payments save 10%).

* Kindergarten (U6)
Half-day (5 h): VND 109,000,000 × 2 / VND 198,135,000 per year
Full day: VND 167,600,000 × 2 / VND 304,815,000 per year
Preschool: same as Full day

* Primary (Years 1–4): VND 205,600,000 × 2 / VND 373,800,000 per year

* Orientation (Year 5–6): VND 219,700,000 × 2 / VND 399,420,000 per year

* Secondary I (Years 7–9): VND 262,700,000 × 2 / VND 477,645,000 per year

* Secondary II (Years 10–12): VND 264,500,000 × 2 / VND 480,900,000 per year

Additional and Optional Fees

* Mandatory Learning Material Fee: VND 6,000,000 per year (covers textbooks, resources, uniforms, and materials).
* Meals: VND 12,540,000 – VND 22,600,000 per year depending on level.
* Bus Service: VND 21,800,000 – VND 39,300,000 per year (one-way = 75% of round-trip).
* Extended Care: VND 300,000 per 15 minutes beyond regular hours; optional care weeks ≈ VND 7,300,000.

Billing and Payment Terms

* Annual fees are due by August 1 each year.
* Semester 1 payments due August 1; Semester 2 due December 31.
* Late payments incur 0.05% daily penalty; over 2 months’ delay may terminate enrolment.
* Discounts: 5% early-payment (before April 20), 5% new-student early-bird, 25% sibling discount for third child onward.
* Payments are in VND by bank transfer to VCB (Nam Sai Gon branch).

Refunds
Tuition refunds apply if withdrawal occurs mid-year, on a sliding scale (55% before October 31; 40% before February 6; none thereafter). Paid bus and meal fees are refunded pro-rata monthly. Full annual fee refunds for next year require written notice by June 30.
Academics

International German School Ho Chi Minh City (IGS) teaches IB (DP), German Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
The International German School Ho Chi Minh City (IGS) follows the German national curriculum adapted for international learners, progressing from Kindergarten through Grade 12. In the U6 section (ages 2–5), learning focuses on early childhood development, play-based exploration, and bilingual language foundations in German and English. The Primary School (Grades 1–4) builds literacy, numeracy, and interdisciplinary knowledge in alignment with curricula used by German schools abroad. In Secondary I (Grades 5–10), students follow the German overseas curriculum, with subjects such as mathematics, science, social studies, and languages taught in both German and English. At the upper secondary level (Grades 11–12), IGS offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP), preparing students for university entry worldwide. Instruction emphasizes multilingual competence, with German as the main language of instruction and selected subjects taught in English.

Academic calendar
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
IGS’s School Regulation emphasizes collaboration among students, teachers, school leadership and parents as a basis for a trustworthy and respectful school climate. The Inclusion Policy also frames diversity, respect and participation in learning as core aims, noting that students with different backgrounds and needs learn together and that the school fosters a community of shared responsibility. The documentation does not present a separate “SEL programme” by name (for example, an explicitly labelled social-emotional curriculum or distinct SEL team) beyond these general statements about culture and interaction.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
IGS explicitly publishes an Inclusion Policy which states that all students learn together in general education classrooms and that support is provided for a range of needs: learning difficulties (reading/writing, dyslexia, difficulties with numbers/dyscalculia), speech/language deficiencies, behavioural differences and giftedness. The policy makes clear that IGS is not a specialist SEN institution; rather, it offers inclusive support through differentiated teaching, additional help, small-group interventions and an inclusive classroom environment. The policy further states that culturally and linguistically diverse learners, students with different educational levels and needs are included in the same framework.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
IGS does not publicly disclose a dedicated EAL programme specifically labelled as “English as an Additional Language”. Although the school mentions multilingual instruction (German and English) and offers Vietnamese and French language subjects, there is no clearly detailed EAL support path outlined in the publicly available documents.

Mental Wellbeing
IGS’s School Regulations include sections on health supervision, duty of care during school hours and excursions, and consent for medical or first-aid measures. However, the documents do not describe a distinct mental-wellbeing programme (for example a counselling team, mental-health workshops or dedicated wellbeing staff) in the published policies.

Safeguarding
The school publishes a comprehensive School Regulation that sets out its general duty of care, supervision obligations, rules for learning and behaviour, and procedures for excursions and school transport. The regulation defines expectations for students and guardians, emphasises working together in trust, and outlines the organisational basis for a safe learning environment.
Parent Experience

History
The International German School Ho Chi Minh City (IGS) was founded in 2012, under the initiative of the German Federal Foreign Office and carried by the German educational foundation Stiftung Bildung und Handwerk. Its establishment marked the extension of the German Schools Abroad (Deutsche Auslandsschulen) network in Vietnam. Over the years, IGS expanded from its initial kindergarten/primary campus to include full secondary education up to Grade 12. In 2025, the school relocated to a newly built campus at 253 Luong Dinh Cua in An Phú (Thu Duc), reflecting its ongoing development.

Community
The IGS community is international and active: students, families and staff from many nations engage in shared cultural and school-wide events. Regular gatherings include the U6 “Parents’ Play Day” where children and parents explore board games and crafts together, and festivities such as the celebration of German Unity Day involving students presenting historical reflections. The school emphasises participation — class, pupil and parent-representative councils enable community voice in school life.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
IGS maintains an active Parent Council structure rather than a formal “Parent Teacher Association (PTA)”. Each class or group elects a parent representative who forms part of the School Parent Council. This body facilitates communication between families, teachers, and school leadership, supporting collaboration on school development and daily routines. Regular activities include Parent–Teacher Days, where parents meet with teachers to discuss student progress, and information evenings for parents of children transitioning to higher grades. In the U6 section, families participate in events such as the Parents’ Play Day, which combines classroom activities and informal interaction. The Parent Council serves as the main platform for family engagement and feedback within the IGS community.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school operates on a villa campus with a green environment, offering spaces described as a green campus where learning happens among palm trees, tropical greenery and a relaxed outdoor atmosphere. Small learning groups tailor lessons to the needs of learners. The campus includes facilities for science exploration and a school dining space that emphasizes nutrition.

Sports Facilities
The school supports physical education and related activities as part of the regular curriculum, with some sports and arts offerings taught in English as part of the bilingual program.

Academic Facilities
German curricula form the basis of teaching, with a bilingual program where most lessons are in German; a lateral entry for German as a foreign language runs from 3rd to 8th grade to enable following all subjects from 9th grade. Art, sport, swimming, ICT, music and geography are generally taught in English. Vietnamese for native speakers and French as a foreign language from grade 6 are offered. The school emphasizes sciences with a focus on natural history, environmental education and three sciences taught in the upper school. The school operates small groups to tailor instruction and supports intercultural learning.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Intercultural learning opportunities exist as pupils from about 20 nations study together, with emphasis on creativity, responsibility and language development, including native teachers and language options (Vietnamese, French) alongside German-English instruction.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Excursions are a fixed point in the curriculum, with field trips to the coffee plantations in Da Lat, the island of Phu Quoc, the old town of Hoi An, and the beaches of Vung Tau.

Arts & Creative
After-school activities include pottery, bookbinding, choir, and drums.

Cultural & Language
The school uses German curricula as the basis for teaching and offers a bilingual programme. The main language of instruction is German, while some subjects such as arts, sports, swimming, ICT, and geography are taught in English. Vietnamese is offered for native speakers, and French is a foreign language beginning in grade 6.

Social & Hobbies
After-school groups include multi-sports, Little Tigers (self-defence), yoga, choir, and drums.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Afternoon After School Activities provide opportunities for physical activity and relaxation, including wellbeing-oriented options such as yoga and multi-sports; activities are organized with external providers and can be renewed every ten weeks.
Languages

Language Provision
The main languages of instruction are German and English. Vietnamese is offered for native speakers, and French is taught as a foreign language from grade 6.

Bilingual Teaching
The main language of instruction is German, with English used for additional subjects such as arts, sports, swimming, ICT, and geography. The school runs a bilingual German–English program. Vietnamese is offered for native speakers, and French is taught as a foreign language starting in grade 6. A lateral-entry program for German as a foreign language from grade 3 to grade 8 enables students to follow all subjects from grade 9.
Reputation

Accreditations
* Deutsche Auslandsschulen (DAS): IGS is officially recognised and sponsored by the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany as part of the worldwide network of German Schools Abroad. This recognition confirms adherence to German educational standards abroad.

* International Baccalaureate (IB): The school is authorised to offer the IB Diploma Programme (IB DP), an internationally recognised qualification for university entry.

* Schulen: Partner der Zukunft (PASCH): This partnership initiative promotes collaboration among German schools worldwide and encourages intercultural and language exchange.

* Weltverband Deutscher Auslandsschulen (WDA): Membership in the World Association of German Schools Abroad connects IGS with the global network of officially accredited German international schools.

* Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main: The partnership provides academic and cultural collaboration opportunities with the German higher education sector.

* Asia Pacific Philanthropy Foundation (APP) gGmbH: IGS is operated by this non-profit foundation, which supports educational and cultural projects within the Asia-Pacific region.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Application Submission
Parents begin by completing the school’s online application form available on the IGS website. A non-refundable application fee of VND 3,000,000 is payable at this stage. Required documents include copies of the child’s passport, health certificate or vaccination record, and previous school reports (if applicable).

2. Review and Trial Period (U6 Section)
For applicants to the Kindergarten and Preschool (U6) section, IGS usually arranges trial days to help the child and teachers assess readiness for placement. The school observes the child’s adjustment, social interaction, and general well-being during this period. A formal admission confirmation is issued once the trial period is successfully completed.

3. Admission Review (Grades 1–12)
Applications for Primary and Secondary are reviewed by the Admissions Committee. The review may include consideration of previous academic performance, language proficiency in German and English, and, where appropriate, assessment tests or interviews. Admission decisions are made once all required information is received.

4. Offer and Registration Fee Payment
Successful applicants receive a formal offer of enrolment from the school. To secure the place, parents must pay a registration fee (VND 45,000,000 for Kindergarten or VND 70,000,000 for Primary/Secondary) within 14 days of acceptance. This fee is one-time and guarantees the student’s place.

5. Tuition Invoice and Payment
Once registration is confirmed, the first tuition invoice is issued. Fees must be paid according to the school’s payment schedule—typically before the academic year begins or within the specified billing deadline.

6. Orientation and Start of School
After payment and confirmation, students are assigned to a class and introduced to their teachers. Families receive orientation information before the academic year starts, ensuring a smooth transition into the IGS community.

Scholarships
The school does not publicly disclose a scholarship scheme for prospective students on its admissions or registration pages. There is no detailed information on eligibility criteria, discount programmes or awards published on the official site.

Waitlist
IGS does not publicly describe a formal “waitlist” or “pool” system for admissions.
School Events
The school has not added events
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