The primary phase of the Bavarian International School covers the years from Grade 1 to Grade 5 and is one of the busiest parts of any of the international schools in Munich. It runs on both BIS campuses, in Schwabing and at Haimhausen, so families can choose a central or a northern base for these years. The primary years build directly on the early years and prepare children for the move into secondary school, keeping the whole journey inside one framework.
Bavarian International School Primary at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | IB Primary Years Programme, Grades 1 to 5 |
|---|---|
| Stages | Primary, roughly ages 6 to 11 |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Accreditation | Council of International Schools and NEASC; approved by the Bavarian government |
| Language | English medium with German and mother tongue support |
| Fee band | Premium for Munich |
| Campuses | Munich Schwabing and Haimhausen |
Curriculum and academics
Primary at BIS is built on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, a framework that organises learning around units of inquiry rather than isolated subjects. Children develop research, thinking and communication skills alongside core literacy and numeracy, and they finish the primary years with an exhibition project that pulls those skills together. Teaching is in English, with German taught throughout and support for the home languages of an international intake.
Specialist provision in areas such as music, art, physical education and library work runs alongside the homeroom programme, and class teachers track each child against the programme expectations. Because primary leads straight into the Middle Years Programme, children are well prepared for the step up to secondary, which at BIS happens on the Haimhausen campus.
Find your Munich shortlist in five minutes
Answer a few questions and we shortlist three Munich schools matched to your child and budget.
Bavarian International School Primary fees
Bavarian International School Primary fees sit in the premium tier of the Munich international school fees range, above the early years and below the senior school, since tuition rises with each stage. The school publishes the current annual figure by grade, and that figure is the one to budget against rather than any general estimate.
Plan for a registration charge, lunch, materials and a school bus if you choose Haimhausen, along with the trips that are part of the primary programme. Sibling discounts apply across the Munich private market, so families with more than one child in the primary years should factor that in when comparing the real cost of a place.
Admissions
Primary admission runs to an August start, with mid year places where a class has room. The school looks at previous school reports and assesses English readiness, arranging language support where a child is new to English rather than turning strong applicants away. Popular grades can fill, so early application helps.
At primary level families also decide between the two campuses, which usually comes down to where they live and whether they expect to keep the child in the school into secondary, since only Haimhausen carries the full continuum. Share previous reports and any assessments when you apply so the school can place the child correctly.
Location and who goes there
Primary runs on both campuses. The Schwabing city campus on Leopoldstrasse suits families who want a central location through the primary years, while the Haimhausen campus offers green space north of the city and a direct path into secondary on the same site. School buses link the city and the northern suburbs to Haimhausen.
Primary families cluster in Schwabing and the northern districts near their chosen campus. For how those neighbourhoods compare and where families with primary aged children tend to settle, the Munich city hub maps the districts and their schools.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and accepts no payment from schools, so we publish parent reviews only after confirming the reviewer is part of the school community. If your family knows the BIS primary school first hand, please share your experience through our school reviews hub.
Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does BIS Primary follow?
BIS Primary follows the IB Primary Years Programme from Grade 1 to Grade 5, an inquiry led framework taught in English, with German and home language support and a final exhibition project in the last primary year.
How much are BIS Primary fees?
Primary sits in the premium band for Munich, above the early years and below the senior school. The school publishes the current annual figure by grade, with registration, lunch, trips and optional bus charged on top.
Is BIS Primary on one campus or two?
The primary years run on both BIS campuses, in Schwabing and at Haimhausen. Only Haimhausen continues into secondary, so families planning a long stay often choose it for the primary years.
When do BIS Primary applications open?
The main intake starts in August, with mid year places where a class has room. Apply early, since popular grades fill and the assessment includes English readiness and previous reports.
Does BIS Primary lead into secondary?
Yes. The primary years feed into the Middle Years Programme at the Haimhausen campus, so a child can continue in the same framework from primary into secondary without changing school.
