International Schools in Zurich

Zurich’s large expat population means it boasts a good selection of international schools. These are great for expats who only plan to be in the country for a short time and want their children to continue studying the national curriculum of their home country. Competition for places is stiff, fees are high, and waiting lists are long. Most schools teach the International Baccalaureate curriculum, but some follow American, Cambridge IGCSE or Japanese curricula.

Education and Schools in Zurich

Below are some of the best international schools in Zurich.

International schools in Zurich

Inter Community School Zurich

The Inter Community School Zurich, established in 1960, is the only school in Zurich offering all three International Baccalaureate programmes (Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Studies) with education delivered in English. Located on a single campus in Zumikon on the outskirts of Zurich, ICS provides personalised education, including a bilingual diploma option. The school welcomes students from more than 55 different countries.

Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 2 to 18
Website: www.icsz.ch

International School Zurich North

Located in Wallisellen, northeast of Zurich, International School Zurich North offers a diverse educational experience with the IB Primary Years Programme followed by IGCSE and A-Level programmes in Secondary School. The school provides a strong dual language foundation in English and German with additional French lessons, preparing students from approximately 35 countries to enter leading universities in Switzerland and worldwide.

Curriculum: International Baccalaureate and British (Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels) 
Gender: Co-educational
Age: 3 months to 18 years
Website: www.iszn.ch

Japanese School Zurich

The Japanese School in Zurich, located in Uster, is the sole non-boarding Japanese day school in Switzerland that follows the official Japanese curriculum with instruction delivered by qualified teachers from Japan. Situated in a rich natural environment, the school offers a complete educational pathway from kindergarten through junior high school, allowing Japanese expat children to maintain educational continuity while experiencing Swiss culture.

Curriculum: Japanese
Gender: Co-educational
Age: 5 to 15
Website: www.jszurich.ch

Swiss International School Zurich

Founded in 2005, the Swiss International School Zurich offers a truly bilingual education where instruction is delivered equally in English and German at all levels from kindergarten to college. The school combines the Swiss curriculum with international elements and features an exceptional infrastructure, providing students with two attractive options at the college level: the Bilingual College, leading to the Swiss Matura, or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

Curriculum: International Baccalaureate and Swiss
Gender: Co-educational
Age: 4 to 18
Website: www.swissinternationalschool.ch

Tandem International Multilingual School

Tandem International Multilingual School stands out with its innovative ‘translanguaging’ approach, where teachers of different languages are simultaneously present in the classroom, offering education in German, English, and French. With three campuses along Lake Zurich's northern shore, the school provides a warm, child-friendly environment that welcomes local Swiss and international families. It prepares students for the Swiss cantonal curriculum to enable entry to top Zurich schools.

Curriculum: International Baccalaureate and Swiss
Gender: Co-educational
Age: 6 months to 12 years
Website: www.tandem-ims.ch

Zurich International School

As Switzerland's longest accredited international school, Zurich International School serves over 1,300 students from more than 50 countries across two campuses near Lake Zurich. ZIS offers a comprehensive educational pathway with both an international curriculum featuring IB and AP courses and a bilingual English/German programme that follows the Swiss Lehrplan 21. This allows students to access top universities worldwide while benefiting from state-of-the-art facilities and extensive extracurricular opportunities.

Curriculum: International Baccalaureate, Swiss and American (AP)
Gender: Co-educational
Age: 3 to 18
Website: www.zis.ch