The International School of Lausanne is a not for profit IB World School at Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, on the northern shore of Lake Geneva, teaching pupils from Reception to Year 13. It is the only school in the Lausanne area to offer the full International Baccalaureate continuum, and it sits in the middle band of the regional fee market mapped across the Geneva international schools hub.
This profile sets out the curriculum, the fee level, the admissions calendar and the community around the school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so what follows is an editorial reference rather than a prospectus. The school also appears on our shortlist of the best international schools in Geneva and the wider Lake Geneva region.
International School of Lausanne at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | The full International Baccalaureate continuum: the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Reception (around age 3) to Year 13 |
| Founded | 1962, originally as the English School of Lausanne and renamed in 1997 |
| Accreditation | IB World School, accredited by the Council of International Schools and a member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges; confirm current memberships with the school |
| Fee band | Middle of the regional market, with published tuition from roughly CHF 21,000 to CHF 38,600 by year group |
| Campus area | Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, just north of Lausanne |
Curriculum and academics
The International School of Lausanne is built end to end around the International Baccalaureate. The youngest pupils follow the IB Primary Years Programme, an inquiry led framework that runs through the primary school, before moving into the Middle Years Programme through the lower secondary years. Families weighing the approach can read our guide to the IB curriculum, which explains how each stage is assessed and how the Diploma is recognised by universities.
In the final two years pupils take the IB Diploma Programme, the qualification that closes the continuum and is accepted by universities across the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe and beyond. Because ISL is the only school in the Lausanne area to offer all three programmes, it suits families who want a single through school following one philosophy from the early years to graduation. Ask about subject choices at Diploma level and recent university destinations during admissions.
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International School of Lausanne fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Reception 4 | CHF 28,200 |
| Years 1 to 5 | CHF 29,010 |
| Years 6 to 8 | CHF 33,290 |
| Years 9 to 10 | CHF 36,190 |
| Years 11 to 13 | CHF 38,990 |
Source: International School of Lausanne (isl.ch). Billed in three termly instalments. A one-off acceptance fee of CHF 5,000 applies from Year 1. 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.
The International School of Lausanne is a not for profit school and sits in the middle band of the Lake Geneva fee market, below the alpine boarding schools but above the smallest bilingual primaries. Its position is mapped in our Geneva school fees guide, which sets out the tiers across the region in Swiss francs. The school publishes annual tuition that runs from roughly CHF 21,000 in the early years to about CHF 38,600 in the senior years.
Plan for the costs that sit above tuition. ISL lists a registration or application charge and a one off enrolment payment on entry, with further smaller line items for some curriculum visits, sport such as ice skating and skiing, field trips and excursions, which the school puts at up to around CHF 2,500 a year depending on the year group. Confirm the current schedule for your child’s year directly with the school.
Admissions and intake
The International School of Lausanne runs an academic year from late August and admits across year groups subject to availability, with the early years and the start of secondary the natural entry points. Popular year groups can be limited, so register early once a move to the Lausanne area is confirmed.
Admission is based on prior school reports, age appropriate assessment and a review of English language readiness, since the programme is taught in English. Applications are made through the school and require recent reports, passport documentation and, for transfers, a leaving record. The admissions team can advise on year group placement where school calendars differ between countries.
Location and who goes there
The campus is at Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, on the hillside just north of Lausanne and a short distance from the lake and the city centre. The community is largely day pupils drawn from Lausanne, the surrounding communes and the wider Lake Geneva region, including families connected to the international sport bodies, universities and companies based around the lake.
For the wider picture of how the IB, British, American and bilingual schools sit across the canton and the lakeside, including fee tiers and neighbourhoods, see the Geneva schools hub.
International School of Lausanne reviews
No verified parent reviews of the International School of Lausanne have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We hold back from publishing a star rating until we have enough verified first hand accounts to represent the school fairly, and we never fabricate ratings. If your family attends or has attended the school, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are International School of Lausanne fees?
The International School of Lausanne is a not for profit school and sits in the middle of the Lake Geneva fee market. Published annual tuition runs from roughly CHF 21,000 in the early years to about CHF 38,600 in the senior years, with smaller additional charges for some trips, sport and excursions. Confirm the current schedule by year group with the school.
Is International School of Lausanne a good school?
ISL is an established not for profit IB World School and the only school in the Lausanne area to offer the full IB continuum of the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes. Suitability depends on whether a through school following the IB end to end fits your child. Confirm current accreditation and university destinations directly with the school.
What curriculum does International School of Lausanne follow?
ISL follows the International Baccalaureate from Reception through to Year 13, offering the IB Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme. It is the only IB World School in the Lausanne area to run all three.
When do International School of Lausanne applications open?
The school runs an academic year from late August and admits across year groups subject to availability, with places filling earliest in popular year groups. Apply once a move to the Lausanne area is confirmed, as admission involves reports, age appropriate assessment and an English language review.
Where is the International School of Lausanne?
ISL is at Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, just north of Lausanne on the shore of Lake Geneva, drawing families from Lausanne, the surrounding communes and the wider Lake Geneva region.
