International School Fees in Cologne: 2026 Cost Guide for Expat Families

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

Families relocating to the Rhineland for media, insurance, logistics, research or one of the federal and UN offices in Bonn quickly find that German state schools are free but taught in German, while English-medium schools charge fees. This guide sets out international school fees in Cologne for 2026, what each stage is likely to cost, which extras to expect and how the German tax rules can reduce the bill.

Because Bonn is only about 25 km south and linked by motorway and regional trains, many Cologne families look at schools in both cities. We have included two schools in each, so you can compare fees and journeys across the whole area rather than within the city limits alone.

Cologne and Bonn for international families: districts, distances and the school run

Cologne is Germany's fourth largest city and the commercial centre of the Rhineland, with a large media sector, insurers, trade fairs and good rail links to Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Brussels. Bonn, the former capital, hosts federal ministries, UN organisations and international agencies, which is one reason it has a long history of international schooling.

In Cologne, both international schools are on the west side of the Rhine. St. George's is on Husarenstraße in the Lindenthal borough, west of the centre and close to the green belt, which makes it convenient for families in Lindenthal, Junkersdorf, Braunsfeld and Müngersdorf. Cologne International School is on Neue Sandkaul in the 50859 postcode on the western edge of the city, reachable from the A1 and A4 motorways and popular with families who live in the western suburbs or commute towards Aachen.

In Bonn, both schools are in the south, around Bad Godesberg and Plittersdorf, near the former government quarter. From central Cologne, the drive takes roughly 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic, and the regional trains to Bonn and Bad Godesberg are a realistic option for older children. Families who work in Bonn but want city life in Cologne sometimes settle halfway, in towns such as Brühl or Wesseling, to keep both options open.

Curricula available at international schools in Cologne and Bonn

• English National Curriculum and EYFS: St. George's follows the Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum of England from Pre-Nursery to Year 9.
• Cambridge IGCSE: offered at St. George's at Key Stage 4.
• IB Diploma and IB Career-related Programme: St. George's offers both in the final two years.
• IB continuum: Bonn International School delivers the three IB programmes, and Cologne International School is also an IB school according to its profile.
• English and German primary education: the Independent Bonn International School teaches in English with a high level of German.

International schools in the Cologne area and what to know about their costs

St. George's The British International School Cologne

St. George's is a day school for pupils aged 2 to 18 at Husarenstraße 20, 50935 Cologne. It follows the EYFS and the English National Curriculum to Year 9, then IGCSE, then the IB Diploma or IB Career-related Programme. It also has a purpose-built boarding house for pupils aged 14 to 18, its own kitchen, school transport, and a community drawing pupils from over 45 countries. It belongs to the same group as the St. George's schools in Düsseldorf Rhein-Ruhr and Munich.

Cost tip: because St. George's offers both the IB Diploma and the Career-related Programme, check whether the fee is the same for each route in the final two years, and ask for the separate boarding fee if a weekly or full boarding place is part of your plan.

Cologne International School

Cologne International School, also known as Internationale Friedensschule Köln, is an English-medium IB school on Neue Sandkaul 29, covering early years to secondary. It is run as a non-profit company (gemeinnützige GmbH), and its profile stresses teamwork, problem solving and communicating across cultures.

Cost tip: the school's charitable status does not mean low fees, but it can affect how surpluses are reinvested and how the school handles donations. Ask whether lunch is billed separately and what the bus or shuttle arrangements are from your district.

Bonn International School

Bonn International School (BIS) is at Martin-Luther-King-Straße 14, 53175 Bonn, teaches in English and describes itself as the Bonn and Cologne area's most experienced IB World School, delivering all three IB programmes from early learning to the Diploma.

Cost tip: for a family in southern Cologne, BIS can be a reasonable commute, but the train or car costs are yours. Add a year of travel to the comparison before you assume the Cologne schools are more expensive or cheaper.

Independent Bonn International School

The Independent Bonn International School (IBIS) is at Tulpenbaumweg 42 in a residential part of Bonn-Bad Godesberg, in purpose-built premises. Teaching is in English with a strong German strand, there is a uniform, and meals come from its own kitchen with special menus available. Its profile says it has served local and international families for over 50 years and describes its leavers moving on to secondary education.

Cost tip: IBIS is mainly relevant for younger children. If you have a primary-age child and a teenager, price the combination of IBIS for one and a secondary school for the other, as sibling discounts only apply within the same school.

International school fees in Cologne by stage for 2026

The schools do not publish fees on their profiles, so these are rough annual ranges based on the typical spread for English-medium schools in North Rhine-Westphalia. Always request the current schedule.

• Early years and kindergarten (ages 2 to 5): roughly €9,000 to €17,000 a year (about US$10,000 to US$19,000), with part-day places sometimes cheaper.
• Primary (ages 5 to 11): roughly €12,000 to €20,000 a year.
• Middle years and IGCSE (ages 11 to 16): roughly €15,000 to €23,000 a year.
• IB Diploma or Career-related Programme (ages 16 to 18): roughly €17,000 to €25,000 a year.
• Boarding at St. George's (ages 14 to 18): a separate charge on top of tuition; ask for the weekly and full boarding figures.

The main tax point is worth knowing before you budget. In Germany, 30% of private school fees (excluding boarding, accommodation and meals) can be deducted as special expenses (Sonderausgaben), up to 5,000 euros per child per year, under section 10(1) no. 9 of the Income Tax Act (EStG), for schools in the EU/EEA leading to a recognised qualification. To reach the €5,000 cap, the tuition element would need to be about €16,700 a year, so many families in the upper stages will hit the ceiling. The deduction reduces taxable income, not the tax bill directly, so the real saving depends on your marginal rate. If your employer pays the fees, the position changes, so check with a Steuerberater.

Extras to budget for:

• Application fee: a one-off, usually non-refundable charge when you apply.
• Registration fee or deposit: due on acceptance to secure the place, sometimes refundable when the child leaves.
• Capital or development levy: some schools charge a one-off entry levy or an annual building contribution.
• School transport: St. George's lists a transport service; bus fees usually depend on distance.
• Lunch: often billed separately, and not deductible under the Sonderausgaben rule.
• Uniform and sports kit: required at IBIS and common at British-curriculum schools.
• Exam fees: IGCSE and IB entries are commonly charged on top of tuition.
• Devices, trips and clubs: laptops, residential trips and after-school activities add up over a year.

Practical advice on paying for international school in Cologne

Separate deductible and non-deductible costs on your invoices. Because only tuition counts for the 30% deduction and meals, boarding and accommodation are excluded, ask the school for invoices that show these items on separate lines. It makes the tax return far simpler and avoids losing part of the deduction because a single total cannot be split.

Read the relocation package carefully. Many employers in Cologne and Bonn, including international organisations, pay an education allowance. Find out whether it covers the deposit and capital levy as well as tuition, whether it is paid to you or to the school, and whether it is taxable for you. If the employer pays the school directly, you usually cannot claim the Sonderausgaben deduction on the same amount.

Plan around timing and currency. Most schools invoice termly or annually in euros, and some offer a monthly plan. Families paid in dollars or pounds carry currency risk across the year, so consider paying a term or a year ahead when the exchange rate suits you. Also check notice periods: many schools require a full term's written notice before withdrawal, or they charge the next term's fees, which matters if a posting ends earlier than expected.

Compare international schools across North Rhine-Westphalia

To see how Cologne and Bonn schools sit alongside Düsseldorf and the Ruhr, read our ranking of the Best international schools in North Rhine-Westphalia, then use this guide to cost your shortlist.

More guides to schools in Cologne

• Best international schools in Cologne
• Best international schools in North Rhine-Westphalia

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim international school fees on my German tax return?

Yes, in many cases. Parents can deduct 30% of private school tuition as Sonderausgaben, capped at €5,000 per child per year, if the school is in the EU or EEA and leads to a recognised qualification. Meals, boarding and accommodation are excluded, so ask the school to itemise invoices and keep them for your Steuererklärung.

Is it worth looking at Bonn schools if we live in Cologne?

Often, yes. Bonn is about 25 km south, and Bonn International School and the Independent Bonn International School are both in the Bad Godesberg area. Families in southern Cologne or in towns like Brühl can reach them in under an hour, but add a year of train tickets or fuel to the fee comparison.

Do international schools in Cologne offer sibling discounts?

Many international schools in Germany offer a reduction for the second or third child, typically a percentage off tuition, but terms vary and are not shown on the profiles. Ask each school directly. Discounts only apply within the same school, so splitting children between a Cologne and a Bonn school usually means paying full fees at both.