Berlin Metropolitan School is the largest of the English language international schools in Berlin and sits right in the centre of the city. Founded in 2004 and settled into its Mitte building from 2006, it grew quickly from a small start into a full institution running from a kindergarten at age 3 to the sixth form. More than 1,000 students from over 60 countries now attend. Unlike many of the German capital's strong state and bilingual schools, BMS is a fee paying independent school, so families choosing it are usually weighing an internationally portable English language education against the free routes the city also offers.
Berlin Metropolitan School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | IB Primary Years Programme, Cambridge IGCSE (Grades 9 to 10), IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11 to 12) |
|---|---|
| Stages | Age 3 to 18 (kindergarten, primary, secondary, sixth form) |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Accreditation | IB World School (PYP and DP); authorised Cambridge International School |
| Language | English language teaching with German as an alternate language of instruction |
| Fee band | Mid to upper for Berlin (fee paying independent school) |
| Campus area | Mitte, between Linienstrasse, Friedrichstrasse and Torstrasse |
Curriculum and academics
BMS runs a single continuous English language pathway from the early years to graduation, which is unusual for a school of its size in Berlin. Children join the IB Primary Years Programme from age 3 in the kindergarten and continue through the inquiry led PYP to the end of the primary school. The middle years move to the IB curriculum framework alongside the Cambridge IGCSE, which students sit across a spread of subject groups in Grades 9 and 10, giving a recognised certificate at 16 before the sixth form.
The school finishes with the two year IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12, the qualification that opens universities in Germany, the United Kingdom, North America and beyond. German is taught throughout and used as an alternate language of instruction, so children are not isolated from the country they live in even though the working language is English. For families comparing this against a United States style route, our guide to the schools that suit American families in Berlin sets BMS in context, since its English medium and IB Diploma appeal strongly to North American households.
Not sure BMS is the right fit?
Take the five minute school finder quiz and we will shortlist three Berlin schools matched to your child. Free and independent.
Berlin Metropolitan School fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Grades 1 to 6 (income-scaled) | EUR 2,520 to 12,108 |
| Grades 7 to 10 (income-scaled) | EUR 2,520 to 17,388 |
| Grades 11 to 12 (income-scaled) | EUR 2,520 to 18,216 |
Source: Berlin Metropolitan School (metropolitanschool.com). Income-adjusted tuition billed monthly; the range below spans the minimum to the maximum rate by income. One-time admission and media fees extra. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
Berlin Metropolitan School fees sit towards the upper end of the international school fees in Berlin. As a fee paying independent school rather than a tuition free state school, BMS charges annual tuition that rises through the year groups, with the senior IB Diploma years the most expensive. Berlin remains cheaper than London, Geneva or Dubai for an international place, but BMS is among the more substantial commitments in the city, which reflects its central location, continuous IB pathway and size.
Because the headline figure changes year to year, request the current schedule directly from the admissions office. Budget separately for the costs that sit outside tuition, including a registration or enrolment fee, a deposit, learning materials and technology, lunch and after school care, school trips, and external examination entries for the Cambridge IGCSE and the IB Diploma. Ask too about any sibling reductions and the payment terms, since a full IB place across several children is a significant household cost.
Admissions
Admission runs throughout the year for entry the following August, with rolling assessment as places come up. Families register their interest, visit the school and complete an assessment appropriate to the child's age, with the youngest observed informally and older students assessed for academic readiness and English language. Because BMS is the largest central international school and in steady demand, early registration matters and several year groups operate waiting lists.
The school welcomes children at different points on their English and German journey and supports those still building the working language, though places in the senior IB Diploma years depend on a suitable academic record. Overseas families relocating to Berlin should make contact as early as they can, gather recent school reports and allow time for the German residence and registration steps that run alongside securing a place.
Location and who goes there
BMS sits on the northern edge of Mitte, the historic centre of Berlin, in the block bounded by Linienstrasse, Friedrichstrasse and Torstrasse. This is one of the most connected parts of the city, a short walk from several U-Bahn and S-Bahn lines and easy to reach by tram and bus, so families across the inner districts can get there without a car.
The community is genuinely international, more than 60 nationalities in all, drawn by the central campus and the English language IB pathway. Many families live in Mitte itself and in neighbouring Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain, the central districts that have become home to Berlin's creative, diplomatic, tech and professional incomers. For the fuller picture of where international families settle and which schools sit nearby, return to the Berlin city hub.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once we can verify the reviewer is part of the school community. If your family has experience of Berlin Metropolitan School, you can help other relocating parents by sharing it through our school reviews hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Berlin Metropolitan School fees?
Berlin Metropolitan School is a fee paying independent school, so unlike the city's tuition free state schools it charges annual tuition that rises through the year groups, with the senior IB Diploma years the most expensive. It sits in the mid to upper band for Berlin. Request the current schedule from admissions and budget separately for registration, materials, lunch and external examination entries.
What curriculum does Berlin Metropolitan School follow?
BMS is an English language IB World School. It teaches the IB Primary Years Programme from age 3, the Cambridge IGCSE in Grades 9 and 10, and the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12. German is taught throughout and used as an alternate language of instruction.
Is Berlin Metropolitan School an IB World School?
Yes. Berlin Metropolitan School is an authorised IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme and the Diploma Programme, and it is also an authorised Cambridge International School for the IGCSE at the middle of the school.
When do Berlin Metropolitan School applications open?
The school accepts applications throughout the year for entry the following August, and early registration is advised because popular year groups fill and operate waiting lists. Families register interest, visit and complete an age appropriate assessment.
Where is Berlin Metropolitan School?
BMS is on the northern edge of Mitte, the central district of Berlin, in the block between Linienstrasse, Friedrichstrasse and Torstrasse. It is the largest international school in the centre of the city and enrols more than 1,000 students from over 60 countries.
