International School Admissions in Lausanne: 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Last reviewed: September 2026 by Catherine from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Securing a place through international school admissions in Lausanne is rarely a matter of a single deadline. The Lausanne region, which for schooling purposes stretches from Nyon and Aubonne in the west along Lake Geneva to Montreux and Villars in the east, has one of the densest concentrations of international and boarding schools in the world. Demand comes from the multinationals and sporting federations headquartered around Lausanne, from the IMD and EPFL communities and from families who choose the Vaud Riviera specifically for its schools. This guide explains the calendar, the paperwork, the assessments, the costs in 2026 and which schools are worth shortlisting.

How schooling in Vaud is organised

Switzerland runs education at cantonal level, and in Vaud compulsory schooling under the HarmoS agreement begins at age four, two years earlier than in many countries, and lasts eleven years through the end of secondary I. Public schools are free, teach in French and are of high quality, which is why a significant share of long-stay expat families use them for younger children. Private international schools exist for families who need English-medium teaching, an internationally portable curriculum or boarding.

The international schools are not all in Lausanne itself. The city has one large day school on its hills; Pully, just east of the centre, has a bilingual school with a strong Swiss pedigree; Aubonne and Nyon serve families commuting to Geneva; and Montreux, Villars and Leysin host the historic boarding schools. Choosing a school therefore also means choosing a stretch of lakeshore to live on, with the M2 metro, regional trains and the A9 motorway shaping realistic commutes.

Private schools in Vaud are authorised by the cantonal education department and must meet the canton's requirements for compulsory schooling, which is why even English-medium schools teach French from the first years and follow certain Swiss curriculum elements.

Curricula available around Lausanne

• International Baccalaureate: the dominant framework, with the full PYP, MYP and Diploma continuum at several schools; the IB itself was founded in Geneva, and the region's schools have decades of experience with it.
• British curriculum: IGCSE followed by A Levels or the IB Diploma at British-style schools west of Lausanne.
• American curriculum: US high school diploma with AP courses, mainly at the boarding schools in the mountains.
• Swiss Maturité and bilingual French-English: at long-established Swiss private schools, sometimes alongside the IB Diploma.
• Boarding: full, weekly and flexi boarding are widely available, which is unusual in continental Europe.

International schools around Lausanne to shortlist

International School of Lausanne

The main non-profit day school in Lausanne itself, on a campus in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne above the city, offering the full IB continuum in English with strong French provision. It is the default choice for corporate and federation families and its early years and Grade 6 entry points are the most competitive in the region, so register the moment a posting is confirmed.

Collège Champittet

A historic Swiss school in Pully, on the lakeshore just east of Lausanne, now part of the Nord Anglia group. It offers the Swiss Maturité, the French Baccalauréat and the IB Diploma with bilingual French-English pathways, plus boarding. It suits families who want their children to grow up genuinely bilingual and rooted in Swiss life.

Brillantmont International School

A small family-owned school in the centre of Lausanne with day and boarding places for students from around age eleven, following a British curriculum to IGCSE and A Levels alongside a US high school diploma. Class sizes are very small and admissions are rolling, which makes it a realistic option for mid-year arrivals in the secondary years.

La Côte International School Aubonne

A Nord Anglia day school between Lausanne and Geneva, running the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and the IB Diploma with bilingual sections. It is the natural choice for families living in Morges, Rolle or Nyon and for households with one parent commuting to Geneva.

Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande

Founded in 1906 and located in Chailly, Lausanne, ENSR is a bilingual French-English school offering the Swiss Maturité and the IB Diploma with day and boarding options. It is well regarded locally and admits children with limited French into its bilingual track, making it a strong alternative to the fully English-medium schools.

The admissions process step by step

Timeline. The school year runs from late August to late June. Most schools accept applications year-round, but the competitive day places, particularly pre-school, the start of primary and Grade 6 or Year 7, are usually allocated between January and April. Boarding schools work on similar timings but often have more flexibility for autumn entry. Mid-year admission is common in this region because of corporate relocation cycles.

Documents. Expect to provide the online application, the child's and parents' passports or Swiss permits, the last two years of school reports, a confidential reference from the current school, vaccination records and any learning support or speech and language reports. Schools will ask for proof of address in Vaud or a signed rental contract before finalising enrolment, because cantonal registration requires it.

Assessment. Early years admissions are based on observation and a parent meeting. From around age seven, schools usually set English and mathematics assessments, sometimes online before arrival, plus a French placement test to assign the right language group. For IB Diploma or A Level entry, expect a review of predicted grades and a conversation about subject choices. Boarding schools may also interview the student by video.

Offer and enrolment. Offers are typically valid for two to three weeks and require a non-refundable registration fee plus a deposit of about one term. Swiss contracts are strict about notice periods, commonly a full term or even a full academic year for withdrawal, so read them closely.

What admission costs in Lausanne in 2026

Fees are quoted in Swiss francs and are among the highest in Europe. As a rough guide for 2026, day fees run from roughly CHF 25,000 to 32,000 a year for primary and CHF 32,000 to 45,000 for the IB Diploma, A Level or Maturité years. Full boarding at the Vaud Riviera and mountain schools is roughly CHF 90,000 to 150,000 a year including tuition. Private school fees are not generally tax deductible in Vaud, although some employers cover them as a taxable benefit.

• Application fee: roughly CHF 300 to 1,000, non-refundable.
• Registration or entrance fee: roughly CHF 2,000 to 6,000, sometimes annual.
• Deposit: commonly one term's fees, refunded when the child leaves subject to notice.
• Uniforms: only some schools require them; roughly CHF 500 to 1,000 where they do.
• School bus: roughly CHF 3,000 to 6,000 a year, although many families use public transport with a child travel pass.
• Lunches, trips, ski weeks and exam fees: ski camps are a Swiss institution and add several hundred francs a year; IB and A Level exam fees are billed separately.

Practical advice for families applying in Lausanne

Consider the public school route for young children. Vaud public schools are free, well run and immersive in French. Many families place children under eight in the local school and move to an international school only for the secondary years, which halves the cost and produces genuinely bilingual children.

Match the school to the parent's workplace. A family split between a job in Geneva and a school in Lausanne will spend two hours a day on the A1. Aubonne and Nyon schools suit Geneva commuters; Lausanne and Pully schools suit families working in Lausanne, Vevey or Montreux.

Read the notice clause before you sign. Swiss school contracts often require a full term's written notice and sometimes charge a term's fees on early departure. If your posting is uncertain, ask about relocation clauses and whether the deposit is returned when an employer moves you.

Compare Lausanne schools before you apply

Every school in this guide has a verified profile on International School Advisor with fees, curricula, reviews and contact details. Use the ranking of the best schools in Switzerland to see how the Lausanne and Vaud Riviera schools compare with Geneva, Zurich and Basel, then shortlist and book your visits.

More guides to schools in Lausanne

• How to Choose an International School in Lausanne: 2026 Guide
• Bilingual Schools in Lausanne: 2026 Family Guide
• International School Fees in Lausanne: 2026 Cost Guide
• ranking of the best schools in Switzerland

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply to an international school in Lausanne?

Apply as soon as your move is confirmed, ideally nine to twelve months before the late August start. Most Lausanne schools accept applications year-round, but competitive day places in pre-school, early primary and Grade 6 or Year 7 are usually allocated between January and April. Mid-year entry is common because of corporate relocation, so always ask even after the main round has closed.

What do international schools in Lausanne cost?

Day fees at international schools around Lausanne run from roughly CHF 25,000 to 32,000 a year for primary and CHF 32,000 to 45,000 for the IB Diploma, A Level or Maturité years. Full boarding is roughly CHF 90,000 to 150,000 including tuition. Add a registration fee, a one-term deposit, ski camps and exam fees, and note that fees are not generally tax deductible in Vaud.

Do I need to speak French to enrol my child in Lausanne?

No. The international schools teach in English and admit children with no French, but French is taught from the first years because the canton requires it and daily life demands it. Many schools run a French placement test at admission to place children in the right group. Public schools, which are free, teach entirely in French and are a realistic option for children under eight.