How many bilingual schools in Berlin
Berlin runs the largest and most diverse public bilingual school network in Europe, the Staatliche Europa-Schule Berlin (SESB), with 17 schools spanning nine partner languages. The English-German pair operates at Quentin Blake Europa-Schule in Charlottenburg and Mitte plus three secondary feeders. The French-German pair sits at Judith Kerr and Voltaire. Further pairs cover Spanish, Russian, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Turkish, each delivered at one or two primaries and a designated secondary continuation.
Beyond SESB, Berlin has roughly a dozen private bilingual schools, of which the most established are Berlin Cosmopolitan School, Berlin Metropolitan School, PHORMS Berlin Mitte and PHORMS Berlin Süd, and the BSO Berlin School of Tomorrow. The JFK School, while categorised as American curriculum, is also functionally bilingual German-English from Kindergarten. Some Berlin Gymnasien (notably Schadow-Gymnasium, Gymnasium Steglitz) also run formal English-German bilingual streams within the standard Abitur pathway.
That gives Berlin somewhere in the region of 30 bilingual schools across public and private models, the highest count of any German city and one of the highest in Europe.
Fees and the SESB free model
SESB is the headline story on cost. As state schools of Berlin, all 17 SESB schools are tuition-free for legal residents of Germany. Families pay only the standard Berlin public school book and trip contributions, typically EUR 150 to EUR 400 per child per year, plus the citywide student ticket for the S-Bahn and U-Bahn. The Abitur or partner-country exam fees at the end of Year 12 are covered by the state. This makes SESB the single most cost-effective bilingual route in the European Union.
Private bilingual schools price in the lower-to-middle band of the Berlin international market. Berlin Metropolitan School fees range from EUR 12,400 at primary to EUR 19,800 at IGCSE. PHORMS Berlin fees run from EUR 8,400 at Kindergarten to EUR 15,800 at secondary. Berlin Cosmopolitan School fees range from EUR 14,200 at primary to EUR 22,400 at the IB Diploma. The Berlin fees guide sets out the headline tuition by school side by side.
Public SESB or private bilingual?
Each route has different residency rules, language requirements and sixth form pathways. Take our 5 minute school finder quiz for a shortlist of three Berlin bilingual options that fit your family.
Illustrative example schools
The three schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each represents a distinct bilingual model in Berlin.
Quentin Blake Europa-Schule in Charlottenburg is the English-German SESB primary feeder, one of the most oversubscribed schools in the SESB network. Free, with selection weighted on Berlin residency, sibling priority and partner-language ability. Continues at Schadow-Gymnasium or Bertha-von-Suttner-Schule for secondary in the SESB stream.
Voltaire Schule in Tiergarten is the French-German SESB secondary, with Years 7 to 12 leading to the Abibac dual baccalaureat. Free, oversubscribed and the natural progression from Judith Kerr Grundschule.
Berlin Cosmopolitan School in Mitte is the most established private bilingual school in central Berlin, with German and English delivery up to Year 8 and an English-language IB Diploma at sixth form. Fees EUR 14,200 to EUR 22,400.
Where bilingual families live
SESB catchment and Berlin residency drive most placement decisions. Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf sits at the heart of the English-German and French-German pairs and is the single most popular district for bilingual-school-driven relocations. Mitte and Pankow draw families to Quentin Blake's Mitte campus, Berlin Metropolitan School and Berlin Cosmopolitan School. Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Neukölln serve the Turkish-German, Portuguese-German and Polish-German SESB pairs, with the partner-language communities concentrated locally.
SESB places are awarded based partly on residency in Berlin and partly on partner-language fluency. Families targeting a specific SESB stream often establish their Berlin Anmeldung in a district served by that pair. Compare bilingual options with the Berlin IB hub and the German curriculum hub.
Admissions calendar and SESB lottery
SESB primary admissions follow the Berlin Grundschule calendar, with applications between October and December for September entry, partner-language assessment in January, and offers in March. The lottery for oversubscribed SESB primaries weights Berlin residency, sibling priority and demonstrable partner-language fluency in at least one parent. SESB secondary entry at Year 7 is automatic for SESB primary leavers, with limited external entry from Year 5 onwards subject to assessment.
Private bilingual schools run rolling admissions with a standard March or April closing date for the following September. Mid-year transfers are accepted across both SESB and the private cluster, subject to places, particularly at the early years and primary stages. Berlin's school year runs September to July, with autumn, winter, spring and summer breaks that align with the wider German federal schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Is SESB really free?
Yes. All 17 SESB schools are state schools of Berlin and charge no tuition for legal residents of Germany. Families pay only standard Berlin public school book and trip contributions. There is no application or capital fee.
Which languages does SESB cover?
SESB pairs German with one of nine partner languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Turkish. Each pair operates at one or two primaries and a designated secondary continuation.
How do you qualify for an SESB place?
Eligibility is a mix of Berlin residency in the catchment, sibling priority where applicable, and demonstrable partner-language fluency in the child or in one parent. The partner-language assessment is the key filter for oversubscribed pairs such as English-German and French-German.
What qualification do SESB pupils sit at the end?
Most SESB pupils take the German Abitur with reinforced partner-language content. Some streams, notably French-German, lead to a dual baccalaureat such as the Abibac, recognised by universities in both partner countries on the same basis as the national qualification.
Are private bilingual schools in Berlin better than SESB?
Not necessarily. SESB delivers strong academic results within a free state model. Private bilingual schools offer smaller class sizes, IGCSE or IB Diploma options at sixth form and a different cultural mix. The right choice depends on residency, language fit, sixth form qualification preference and budget.
