How the primary sector splits
Munich has nine dedicated international or bilingual primary schools running from reception through to year six, including the early years units at Bavarian International School Schwabing-Freimann, Bavarian International School Haimhausen, Munich International School Starnberg, Phorms Bilingual Campus, Munich Cosmopolitan School Gern, Lycee Jean Renoir French primary, the European School Munich primary, the smaller Lighthouse School and Munich International Montessori School. The split by curriculum framework is: five schools deliver the IB Primary Years Programme, two run the English national curriculum or a hybrid English curriculum, and two are bilingual primaries mixing the Bavarian Grundschule curriculum with English-medium teaching.
Munich's primary cluster is small relative to Frankfurt or Hamburg but academically strong. The IB PYP at Bavarian International School and Munich International School has run for over two decades and graduates large cohorts each year. Phorms and Munich Cosmopolitan School entered the bilingual market in 2010 and 2008 respectively and now graduate sizeable primary cohorts. Lycee Jean Renoir's French primary continues to serve the French expatriate community and a growing francophone Swiss and African contingent, while the European School Munich primary serves EU institution staff alongside private fee-paying families on a space-available basis.
Fees and the curriculum tiers
Munich primary fees are denominated in euros and follow three rough tiers. The lower tier, EUR 8,200 to EUR 12,500 a year, captures Lycee Jean Renoir, Lighthouse School and the lower years of Phorms Bilingual Campus. The mid tier, EUR 12,500 to EUR 17,800, captures Munich Cosmopolitan School primary, the upper primary years at Phorms, and International School Augsburg primary. The premium tier, EUR 17,800 to EUR 22,500, is the IB PYP primaries at Bavarian International School and Munich International School.
Capital contributions of EUR 6,000 to EUR 9,500 apply at Bavarian International School and Munich International School, partially refundable. Transport adds EUR 2,500 to EUR 4,200 a year if the family uses school buses, which most international primary families do given the distances involved. Lunch, materials and trip levies add another EUR 1,400 to EUR 2,800. A published EUR 19,500 primary tuition is therefore closer to EUR 24,000 once everything is paid. Our Munich fees guide covers the loading. Our fees comparison tool shows tuition by year group across cities.
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Illustrative example schools
The schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each holds full accreditation for primary delivery.
Bavarian International School Primary at Haimhausen, 25 kilometres north of central Munich, and at the Schwabing-Freimann city campus, runs the IB Primary Years Programme from year one to year six. The Haimhausen site has the larger campus and outdoor facilities; the city campus has shorter commutes for central families. Both feed directly into the BIS middle and senior years at Haimhausen.
Munich International School Primary at Starnberg, 30 kilometres southwest of central Munich on the lake, runs the IB PYP and feeds into the MIS middle years and Diploma Programme. Lakeside campus, strong music programme and a deep alumni network through to the senior years.
Phorms Bilingual Campus Munich Primary in Schwabing-Freimann delivers a 50:50 English-German bilingual Grundschule programme from year one to year four, with continuity into the Phorms Gymnasium from year five. Popular with corporate families committed to bilingual education without leaving the German Abitur track.
Munich Cosmopolitan School Primary in Gern runs the IB PYP in English with German as a strong second language. Smaller cohorts than BIS and MIS, with a community-orientated feel and direct continuity into the MCS secondary phase.
Where primary families live
Munich international primary families cluster around four neighbourhood pools shaped by school location. Schwabing, Schwabing-Freimann, Neuhausen and Nymphenburg for direct access to Bavarian International School Schwabing, Phorms Bilingual Campus and the Munich Cosmopolitan School primary, with strong cafe culture and U-Bahn links. Haimhausen and the northern corridor through Garching, Oberschleissheim and Unterschleissheim for families committed to the Bavarian International School Haimhausen primary, with leafier villa living and a shorter direct school run.
Starnberg, Tutzing, Pocking and the western Wuermtal for Munich International School primary families, with lakeside living, the S6 line into central Munich and a long-established expatriate community. Bogenhausen, Solln and the Isar valley for villa stock with reasonable access to the Schwabing cluster via the A99 and to MIS Starnberg via the southern motorway corridor.
For a broader view of where to live in Munich with school-age children see the best areas for expat families guide. Our cost calculator bundles transport, fees and housing into a single total relocation budget.
Admissions and the year one pinch
Munich international primary admissions for September 2026 entry opened across most schools from October 2025. Bavarian International School and Munich International School close their year one main intakes by March, with priority for siblings of existing pupils and for children who attended the same school's early years setting. Year one is the tightest pinch point because most families want their child to start primary with the cohort, and waiting lists of 12 to 24 months are typical at the premium IB primaries.
Phorms Bilingual Campus and Munich Cosmopolitan School operate rolling admissions and can usually place a child within four to six weeks if a year group has capacity. Year four entry at BIS and MIS opens up because Bavarian families with children in those years often transfer to a Gymnasium for year five, freeing seats for international late arrivals. Mid-year transfers into year groups two through six are accepted where space exists; January and Easter transitions are most common.
For our editorial coverage of the strongest primary options see the best international schools in Munich guide. The curriculum overview covers how the IB PYP compares to the English national curriculum and the Bavarian Grundschule.
Frequently asked questions
How many international primary schools are there in Munich?
Munich has 9 dedicated international or bilingual primary schools running in English or as English-German bilingual settings. This count covers the IB Primary Years Programme schools, the bilingual private schools running their own primary phase, and Lycee Jean Renoir for French primary.
How much do Munich international primaries cost?
Annual primary fees run from about EUR 8,200 at the lower-cost bilingual schools to EUR 22,500 at the premium IB primaries. The median sits near EUR 15,800 for a year 3 child in 2026, before capital contributions and transport, which add 12 to 15 percent.
Which curriculum framework do Munich primaries follow?
Five Munich primaries deliver the IB Primary Years Programme. Two run the English national curriculum. Two are bilingual primaries that mix the Bavarian Grundschule curriculum with English-medium teaching, ending at year four with the standard transition into Gymnasium or international secondary.
When do Munich international primaries open admissions?
Most international primaries open year one registration from October for the September entry the following year. Bavarian International School and Munich International School close their main intakes by March, with late applicants placed on waiting lists. Phorms and Munich Cosmopolitan School run rolling admissions throughout the year subject to capacity.
Can my child transfer mid-year into a Munich international primary?
Yes. Mid-year transfers are accepted into year groups where space exists, with priority given to siblings of current pupils and to families relocating to Munich on confirmed contracts. The transfer typically takes four to six weeks from application to start date.
