Best International Schools in Lausanne: 2026 Guide for Families

Quick answer: What are the best international schools in Lausanne? The strongest options around Lausanne include the International School of Lausanne, ENSR, Brillantmont, St. George's in Clarens and Leysin American School in the Alps. Most offer the IB in English, with day fees of roughly CHF 25,000 to 40,000 a year and boarding from roughly CHF 90,000 to 130,000 or more.

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

The best international schools in Lausanne are not all in Lausanne. The city itself has a handful of long-established schools, but many families widen the search to Le Mont-sur-Lausanne just above the city, to the Riviera around Montreux, and even to the Alpine resort of Leysin. What you are really choosing between is a day school that fits your commute, or a boarding school that fits your child, and those are very different decisions.

There is no single best school here. A family with a five year old and two working parents at EPFL or in the city centre needs something different from a family abroad looking for a residential programme for a fifteen year old. This guide sets out how the main schools differ, who each one tends to suit, and what you should expect to pay in Swiss francs.

Lausanne and the Lake Geneva region for families

Lausanne draws international families for its universities and research institutes, its sports organisations (the International Olympic Committee is based here), and a business community that stretches along the lake from Geneva to Vevey and Montreux. It is a French-speaking city, compact but steep, built on terraces that rise from the lakeshore at Ouchy to the residential districts on the hills above.

Getting around is easy by Swiss standards. The M2 metro climbs from Ouchy through the city centre and the main station towards Epalinges, and SBB trains link Lausanne with the Riviera in around half an hour and with Geneva in under an hour. Families working in the city often live in Pully, Lutry, Epalinges or Le Mont-sur-Lausanne; families working towards Vevey or Montreux tend to live on the Riviera itself. Leysin, high above the Rhône valley, is about an hour from Lausanne and is really a boarding destination rather than a day option.

It is worth understanding the local system before you commit to private fees. Vaud public schools teach in French, are free and are generally well regarded, and plenty of younger expat children integrate successfully. Under the HarmoS agreement, compulsory schooling in Vaud starts at age 4 and lasts 11 years, with a 31 July birthday cut-off. International schools tend to suit families on shorter assignments, those who need continuity in English, or those planning university outside Switzerland.

Curricula on offer around Lausanne

International Baccalaureate: the main international pathway in the region, offered at the International School of Lausanne, ENSR, St. George's and Leysin American School.
French-language curriculum: ENSR offers a choice of French or English curriculum, which is unusual among the international schools and helpful for families who want to keep both doors open.
French as a taught language: ISL and St. George's both teach French throughout, which matters if your child may later join a local school or university.
Boarding programmes: available at St. George's from age 10 and at Leysin American School, which is a residential community.

Five schools worth shortlisting

International School of Lausanne (ISL)

ISL sits at Chemin de la Grangette 2 in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, just north of the city. It is a not-for-profit school running from early years to 18, teaching in English with French taught throughout, and it follows the IB.

Who it fits: day families who want a single school from early years to graduation in an English-medium setting. Living in Le Mont, Epalinges or the northern districts of Lausanne keeps the daily journey short; from the lakeside the climb by road can take longer than the map suggests.

Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande (ENSR)

ENSR is at Chemin de Rovéréaz 20 in Lausanne and has over a century of history. Families can choose between a French and an English curriculum, and the school lists English, French and German among its languages, alongside the IB.

Who it fits: bilingual families, or those who may stay in Switzerland long term and want a child to be able to move between French and English tracks. Ask at which ages switching between tracks is possible and how the school assesses language level on entry.

Brillantmont International School

Brillantmont is on Avenue Charles-Secrétan 16 in central Lausanne and teaches in English. It is a long-established boarding and day school.

Who it fits: families who want a city-centre location, either for day schooling close to the station and shops or for a boarding place where a teenager is within reach of Lausanne's amenities. Ask directly about the age range, programmes and exam pathways currently offered, and request recent leavers' destinations.

St. George's International School Switzerland

St. George's is at Chemin de Saint-Georges 19 in Clarens, Montreux, and has nearly a century of history. It takes children from 18 months to 18, with boarding from age 10, teaching in English with French throughout and offering the IB.

Who it fits: families living on the Riviera, and families who want the option of moving from day to boarding as a child grows. From Lausanne it is a realistic daily commute by train only for older pupils, so most day families live between Vevey and Montreux.

Leysin American School

Leysin American School is in Leysin in the Swiss Alps, about an hour from Lausanne. It is a residential boarding community, teaches in English and offers the IB.

Who it fits: teenagers who will thrive in a fully residential mountain setting, often from families living outside Switzerland or moving frequently. Talk to your child honestly about life at altitude in a small village, with weekends at school and winters that are long and snowy.

Fees and what they cover

Switzerland is one of the most expensive places in the world for international education, and Lausanne is no exception. As a guide for 2026:

Early years and primary (day): roughly CHF 25,000 to 32,000 a year (about USD 28,000 to 37,000).
Secondary and IB Diploma years (day): roughly CHF 32,000 to 40,000 a year (about USD 37,000 to 46,000).
Boarding (tuition, room and board): roughly CHF 90,000 to 130,000 or more a year, depending on school, age and room type.

Additional costs to plan for:

Application fee and, at many schools, a one-off enrolment or registration fee that can run into several thousand francs.
A deposit held against the final term or against boarding extras.
Capital or development contributions at some schools.
Uniform or dress code items, plus ski and outdoor kit.
School bus services, often charged by zone, or a monthly public transport pass.
Lunches for day pupils, usually billed separately.
IB examination fees and residential trips, including ski weeks.
A personal laptop, which most secondary programmes expect.

Some employers contribute towards fees, so check your package before applying. If your salary is paid in another currency, remember that a weaker home currency against the franc can add thousands to the effective annual bill.

How to choose well in Lausanne

Decide day or boarding first. It sounds obvious, but many families start by comparing reputations and only later realise that half their shortlist is a boarding school an hour away. Settle where you will live and whether your child will come home each evening, then compare schools within that frame.

Think about French from day one. Even in an English-medium school, French opens up friendships, clubs and local life. Ask each school how French is taught, whether there are separate groups for beginners and native speakers, and what level pupils typically reach by the end of primary. If you might stay for many years, compare that honestly with the local public school route.

Check pathways beyond 16. If your child is heading for the IB Diploma, ask how many subjects are offered at Higher Level, how classes are grouped, and where recent graduates went to university. For younger children, ask whether the school has room in the year groups your child will reach, as some popular day schools fill early.

Compare more schools across the canton

Lausanne is the capital of the canton of Vaud, which also includes Nyon, Morges and the Riviera. To see how these schools compare with others in the canton, read our ranking of the Best international schools in Vaud.

More guides to schools in Lausanne

Frequently asked questions

How much are international school fees in Lausanne?

Day places at international schools around Lausanne cost roughly CHF 25,000 to 40,000 a year, rising through secondary and the IB Diploma. Boarding, including room and board, is roughly CHF 90,000 to 130,000 or more. Add enrolment fees, deposits, lunches, transport, ski trips and IB exam fees when you build your budget.

Can my child go to a public school in Lausanne without speaking French?

Yes. Vaud public schools teach in French and accept children who arrive without it, often with extra language support for newcomers. Compulsory schooling starts at age 4, with a 31 July birthday cut-off. Younger children usually adapt quickly, while teenagers may find an English-medium IB school a smoother route.

Which Lausanne international schools offer boarding?

St. George's International School in Clarens, Montreux, offers boarding from age 10 alongside its day school, and Leysin American School in the Alps is a fully residential community. Brillantmont in central Lausanne is a long-established boarding and day school. Ask each about weekend programmes, supervision and minimum boarding ages.