German International School Sydney, known as GISS, is a bilingual school on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, teaching children from preschool at age three through to Year 12 on a bushland campus at Terrey Hills. Founded in 1989, it combines the New South Wales syllabus with the curriculum of the German state of Thuringia and finishes with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. With around 360 students drawn roughly half from German speaking countries and half from Australia and elsewhere, it is one of the city's most distinctive international schools.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Bilingual NSW and German Thuringia curriculum, leading to the IB Diploma Programme |
| Stages | Preschool at age three to Year 12 |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Accreditation | Recognised German school abroad; authorised IB World School; HSC subjects through NESA |
| Fee band | Mid to upper range international |
| Location | 33 Myoora Road, Terrey Hills, Northern Beaches |
Curriculum and academics
GISS runs a genuinely bilingual programme rather than a single national curriculum with language lessons bolted on. From the early years children learn across English and German, following both the New South Wales syllabus and the curriculum of the German state of Thuringia, which keeps the door open to a return to the German school system as well as to Australian and international pathways. In the senior years students work toward the IB Diploma Programme, a globally portable qualification well matched to the school's mobile, international families.
A defining feature is that children do not need any German to start. New arrivals join an intensive immersion programme that builds bilingual proficiency over time, which makes the school an option for Australian families who want a second language as well as for German speaking families on assignment. Parents comparing the cost of the bilingual and international options across the city can read our Sydney international schools fees comparison for 2026 alongside this profile.
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German International School Sydney fees
GISS sits in the mid to upper range of Sydney international schooling, with separate fee bands for preschool, primary and secondary that rise as children move up the school. The school publishes a current schedule, and as a recognised German school abroad it may offer support or arrangements for some families, which is worth asking about. We do not reproduce a figure here because fees are revised each year and we never publish a number we cannot verify against the current schedule.
To see where this band sits against the rest of the market, our Sydney international school fees guide sets out the full range from low fee through to premium. Beyond tuition, budget for an enrolment fee, materials and excursions, and confirm the current schedule for your child's stage directly with the school.
Admissions
The school follows the New South Wales academic calendar, running from late January to December, with the main intake at the start of the year and rolling entry where places exist, which suits families arriving on assignment outside the usual window. Admission usually involves an application, school reports and a conversation with the admissions team, with particular attention to language support for children who arrive with no German.
Because the school is relatively small, places in some year groups are limited, so families relocating to the Northern Beaches should enquire early about availability and the immersion support on offer for their child's age.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits at 33 Myoora Road in Terrey Hills, in bushland on Sydney's Northern Beaches, around 25 kilometres north of the central business district. Families cluster across the Northern Beaches and the North Shore, with a community split roughly evenly between families from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other countries and Australian families who choose the school for its bilingual education. The setting is green and spacious, a contrast to the harbourside and inner city schools elsewhere in the city.
For a full view of how GISS fits the wider city, including curriculum mix, fee tiers and where families settle, start with the Sydney city hub.
German International School Sydney reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for German International School Sydney. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have collected enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to both the school and to families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended the school we would value your account of admissions, teaching, pastoral care and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much are German International School Sydney fees?
GISS sits in the mid to upper range of Sydney international schooling, with separate fee bands for preschool, primary and secondary. The school publishes a current schedule, so confirm the latest figures for your child's stage directly with the school before you budget.
What curriculum does German International School Sydney follow?
GISS teaches a bilingual programme that combines the New South Wales syllabus with the curriculum of the German state of Thuringia, leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Years 11 and 12. Children who arrive with no German join an intensive language immersion programme.
Do you need to speak German to attend GISS?
No. The school welcomes children with no prior German, who join an intensive immersion programme designed to build bilingual proficiency in English and German over time. Confirm the entry support available for your child's age directly with the school.
Is German International School Sydney a good school?
GISS is an established bilingual school offering a genuine German and Australian education with an IB Diploma finish and a small, international community. We do not publish a rating without verified reviews, so we suggest you weigh the bilingual fit, the IB results and a campus visit.
Where is German International School Sydney located?
The school is at 33 Myoora Road, Terrey Hills, in bushland on Sydney's Northern Beaches, around 25 kilometres north of the central business district.
