BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School is one of the longest established international schools serving the Berlin region, set on a campus in Kleinmachnow just south west of the city and close to Potsdam. Founded in 1990, it is an IB World School that offers the full International Baccalaureate continuum, and it added the first English language IB boarding programme in Germany alongside its day school. For relocating families the questions are how the four IB programmes fit together, where the campus sits relative to where they will live, and where the fees land, and this profile addresses each.
BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Full International Baccalaureate continuum in English: the Primary Years, Middle Years, Diploma and Career-related programmes |
| Stages | Early years through to Grade 12, roughly ages 3 to 19, as a day and boarding school |
| Founded | 1990, originally in Potsdam, now on a campus in Kleinmachnow |
| Accreditation | IB World School; accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Fee band | Premium band for Berlin, with boarding charged on top of tuition |
| Campus area | Kleinmachnow, in Brandenburg, between Berlin and Potsdam |
Curriculum and academics
BBIS teaches the full International Baccalaureate continuum in English. A child can move from the Primary Years Programme through the Middle Years Programme to the Diploma Programme or the Career-related Programme without changing schools, which is the central appeal of the IB continuum for relocating families who want one consistent framework from the early years to university entry. BBIS describes itself as the first school in the world to be fully authorised by the International Baccalaureate to offer all four programmes.
The IB Diploma in the final two years is widely recognised by universities worldwide, which suits internationally mobile families who do not yet know where their child will apply. It asks students to carry a broad spread of subjects alongside the core of the extended essay, theory of knowledge and the creativity, activity and service strand, so it rewards a well rounded student rather than an early specialist. The Career-related Programme offers a more applied route for students with a clearer vocational direction.
For families specifically comparing the IB schools in the region, our guide to IB schools in Berlin sets BBIS alongside the city's other IB options. Ask the school how the continuum is taught at each stage, what subject choices the Diploma offers, and how it supports students arriving mid programme from a different system.
Work out the real cost
Use the Fee Calculator to estimate tuition plus the extras across a full Berlin school year.
BBIS fees
BBIS sits in the premium band for Berlin, alongside the city's leading international schools. Independent listings report annual tuition rising from roughly EUR 14,500 in the lower year groups to around EUR 23,650 in the senior years, in line with the premium tier described in our Berlin international school fees guide. The published schedule by grade is the figure to plan against, since fees rise with the stage a child enters, and boarding is charged on top of day tuition.
Beyond tuition, budget for a one off registration or application fee, a deposit, and optional costs such as transport, lunches, examination fees, trips and boarding where it applies. Fees tend to rise each year, so plan for increases across a multi year stay rather than a flat rate, and check how the early years, primary and senior fees differ.
To see where BBIS leaves you against the rest of the region, the fees guide groups schools into tiers and explains the registration fees, deposits and extras that sit on top of the headline figure. Ask whether sibling discounts apply, how transport is charged from your neighbourhood, and what boarding adds if you are considering it.
Admissions
Entry runs across the year groups on the Northern Hemisphere school year, with assessment suited to the stage a child is joining and a review of recent reports. As a long established and sought after school, BBIS can have limited places in popular year groups, so early application matters, particularly for the Diploma years where subject availability shapes a place.
Families applying from abroad should check English language expectations and gather the documentation the school requires, including recent reports and, for older students, a transcript and a sense of intended Diploma subjects. Ask how students joining mid programme from a different curriculum are supported, and whether boarding is an option for your child's age.
Register your interest as soon as your relocation is confirmed and ask about assessment dates, the entry points across the programmes and any waiting lists in the year group you need.
Location and who goes there
BBIS is in Kleinmachnow, in the state of Brandenburg, just south west of Berlin and close to Potsdam, rather than in the centre of the city. That location suits families living in the south western districts of Berlin and around Potsdam, where many international and diplomatic families settle, but it means a longer commute from the eastern and northern sides of the city. The campus setting is greener and more spacious than an inner city site allows.
The intake is multinational and includes diplomatic, corporate and long settled international families, many drawn by the full IB continuum and the boarding option. Families relocating to the capital should weigh where they intend to live against the Kleinmachnow campus, since the neighbourhood you choose shapes both commute and community.
To see how BBIS compares with the other international schools in the region and where comparable families tend to live, start from the Berlin city hub and work outward by curriculum, stage and budget.
BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have gathered enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to the school and to the families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended BBIS we would value your account of the IB continuum, the boarding programme, the Kleinmachnow campus and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School follow?
BBIS is an IB World School that offers all four International Baccalaureate programmes, the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme, taught in English from the early years to Grade 12. Confirm current programme options with the school.
Where is BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School?
BBIS is in Kleinmachnow, just south west of Berlin and close to Potsdam, in the state of Brandenburg. It suits families living in the south western districts of Berlin and around Potsdam, with a longer commute from the eastern and northern sides of the city.
How much are BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School fees?
BBIS sits in the premium band for Berlin, with reported annual tuition rising from roughly EUR 14,500 in the lower years to around EUR 23,650 in the senior years. Boarding is charged on top. Budget for a registration fee, a deposit and optional costs, and confirm the current schedule by grade with the school.
Does BBIS offer boarding?
Yes. BBIS runs a boarding programme described as the first English language IB boarding provision in Germany, alongside its day school. Boarding fees are charged in addition to tuition, so ask the school for the current boarding schedule and the age range it accepts.
When do BBIS applications open?
Entry runs across the year groups on the Northern Hemisphere school year, with assessment suited to the stage a child is joining. Places in popular year groups can be limited, so register your interest early and check the current admissions criteria directly with the school.
