How do you apply to an international school in Basel? Apply directly to each school, usually between October and February for the following August start. Expect an application fee of CHF 200 to 500, the last two years of school reports, a passport copy, an English and maths assessment, and a family interview. Popular year groups operate waiting lists, so apply as early as your move allows.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Basel runs on pharmaceuticals, and the admissions calendar of its international schools follows the hiring calendar of the companies on both banks of the Rhine. That is the first thing to understand about international school admissions in Basel: demand arrives in waves tied to corporate relocations, and the schools most families want are the ones with the longest waiting lists.
The second thing is that Basel is a trinational area. Families live in Basel-Stadt, in Baselland, in the German Markgraflerland and in the French Alsace, and commute across borders daily. Where you live changes which schools are realistic and which public alternatives exist.
How the Basel market works
The international sector here is small relative to the size of the expatriate population, which is what creates the pressure. A handful of schools serve families from the pharmaceutical sector, the banking sector and the trinational research institutions, and the strongest names in the city are often full in the middle primary years long before the academic year begins.
Alongside the international schools sits an unusually strong public system. In Basel-Stadt, education is compulsory from kindergarten age, and children resident in the canton attend the local public school regardless of nationality. The public schools teach in German, with Swiss German spoken in the playground, and they provide integration support for newly arrived children. Many families who plan a long stay choose this route deliberately, and it is free.
Curricula available in Basel
- International Baccalaureate: the PYP, MYP and Diploma Programme are all present in the Basel area.
- English National Curriculum: including IGCSE, at the British-oriented schools.
- Swiss curriculum in bilingual form: German and English streams following the Swiss Lehrplan, which keeps the door open to the Swiss system.
- Bilingual early years: a well-developed segment, reflecting how early Swiss schooling starts.
Where to apply in Basel
International School Basel
The largest international option in the area and the default choice for many corporate relocations, which is precisely why its waiting lists are the longest. Ask for the current position in the queue for your child's exact year group before you plan around it.
SIS Swiss International School Basel
Bilingual German and English following a Swiss-based programme. This matters for families who may stay: a child who keeps German at curriculum level can move into the Swiss system later, which a purely English-medium education makes difficult.
Academia International School Basel
Part of a Swiss education group with several campuses. Ask which qualifications are offered at the top of the school, as group schools vary between sites more than the shared brand suggests.
ELA Basel, The Swiss British School of Basel
A smaller English-language option with a British orientation. Small schools can often take a child at short notice when the larger ones cannot, which makes them worth an application even if they are not your first choice.
The admissions sequence, step by step
Step one, enquire and ask about capacity. Before anything else, email the admissions office and ask whether there is availability in the specific year group for your intended start date, and if not, how long the waiting list is. In Basel this single question reshapes most shortlists.
Step two, submit the application. Schools require a completed form, a copy of the child's passport, the birth certificate, school reports for the last two years, and often a reference from the current school. Reports in languages other than English or German may need translation. The application fee, generally CHF 200 to 500, is non-refundable.
Step three, assessment and interview. Expect an English assessment, a maths paper and a conversation with the head of section. Schools running the IB Diploma will also look at subject continuity for older applicants. Assessments can often be done remotely if the family has not yet relocated, which is worth asking about early.
Step four, the offer, deposit and contract. Offers come with a short acceptance window and a deposit, commonly one term of fees. Read the notice period clause carefully. In Switzerland a full term's notice is standard, and an unplanned departure can leave you liable for a further term of tuition.
Step five, cantonal registration. Once resident, you register the family with the local Einwohneramt. Attendance at a private international school does not remove the obligation to register the child's schooling arrangement with the canton, and in Basel-Stadt the school year begins in August with compulsory schooling starting at kindergarten age.
What it costs
Indicative annual tuition for 2026 entry runs from roughly CHF 18,000 to 25,000 in the early years, CHF 22,000 to 32,000 in primary, and CHF 28,000 to 42,000 in the IB Diploma years. Add a registration or enrolment fee of CHF 1,000 to 4,000, a deposit of one term, school lunches, bus transport of roughly CHF 2,000 to 4,000 a year, and examination entry fees in the final years. Some employers in the Basel pharmaceutical sector cover a substantial share of these costs, but caps are common and rarely cover the top of the range.
Practical advice before you apply
Apply before the contract is signed. Families frequently accept a Basel posting and start the school search afterwards. Given the waiting lists, the school search should inform the start date, not follow it.
Decide about German early. If there is any chance of staying beyond a few years, a bilingual route protects your options. Switching into the Swiss system without German at curriculum level is very difficult after primary.
Check the commute across the border. Living in Germany or France to reduce housing costs is common and workable, but it adds a border crossing to the school run and changes which school buses can serve you. Confirm the bus route before choosing where to live.
Compare schools side by side
To see how these schools rank on curriculum, fees and parent feedback, start with our independent ranking: best international schools in Switzerland.
More guides to schools in Basel
- How to choose an international school in Basel
- International school fees in Basel
- Bilingual schools in Basel
- Best international schools in Switzerland
Frequently asked questions
How long are the waiting lists in Basel?
They vary by year group rather than by school. Early primary and the first years of secondary are the tightest, and a popular school can have a queue of a year or more in those cohorts. Smaller schools often have immediate space. Always ask for the current position rather than a general answer.
Can we apply before we have a Swiss address?
Yes. Schools routinely accept applications from families still abroad and can usually arrange remote assessments. You will need to supply the residential address and permit details later, and some schools ask for evidence of the employment contract that brings you to Switzerland.
Is the public school in Basel a realistic alternative?
For many families, yes. Public schooling in Basel-Stadt is free, well resourced and provides integration support for children arriving without German. It works best for younger children and for families expecting to stay. Teenagers arriving without German usually need an English-medium school.