The Lycee Francais Marie Curie de Zurich is the French international school of the Zurich area, teaching the French national curriculum in French from nursery age through to the baccalaureat. Founded in 1955 and part of the AEFE network of French schools abroad, it was named after Marie Curie in 2006 and now teaches more than 700 pupils on a single consolidated campus in Dubendorf. This profile sets out its curriculum, fee band, admissions and location for families comparing the international schools in Zurich.
At a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | French national curriculum, maternelle to baccalaureat; French and German bilingual pathway |
|---|---|
| Stages | Maternelle, elementaire, college and lycee, nursery to age 18 |
| Founded | 1955; named Lycee Francais Marie Curie in 2006 |
| Accreditation | French Ministry of National Education through the AEFE network |
| Community | More than 700 pupils; French speaking and bilingual families |
| Fee band | Lower to mid, AEFE network school |
| Campus | Single site, Hochbord, Dubendorf, since 2016 |
Curriculum and academics
The school delivers the French national programme, in French, accredited by the French Ministry of National Education through the AEFE agency for French education abroad. Pupils move from maternelle and elementaire into the college and lycee and sit the baccalaureat, the official French diploma, which is recognised by French, Swiss and international universities. Alongside the French stream the school runs a French and German bilingual pathway from kindergarten that is officially recognised by the education department of the canton of Zurich.
This is a national curriculum school rather than an International Baccalaureate school, so it suits French speaking families and those who want a French academic route with strong German. Families comparing the value of the different systems will find it among the more affordable options in our guide to the cheapest international schools in Zurich.
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Use our free fee calculator to estimate tuition and extras for the Lycee Francais Marie Curie and other Zurich schools. Independent and free for parents.
Lycee Francais Marie Curie Zurich fees
Schools in the French AEFE network are typically more affordable than the full international schools because they receive structural support from the French education system, so the Lycee Francais usually sits at the lower to mid end of the Zurich international school fees range. We do not publish a fixed figure here; the current tuition and any registration charge should come from the school and any band shown elsewhere is illustrative.
Budget for the usual extras such as registration, lunches, trips and examination entry, and check whether your family qualifies for any of the support schemes the French network operates for French nationals. Confirm the full schedule with the school before you apply.
Admissions
Admission runs through the school office, which gives priority within the French network framework and assesses each child's level in French, particularly for entry into the higher year groups. The bilingual pathway has its own intake from kindergarten. With more than 700 pupils the school has reasonable capacity, but popular entry points fill, so apply early.
Families relocating from France or elsewhere should plan for the canton residence paperwork and the timing of the French academic year. The school takes applications across the year where space allows.
Location and who goes there
Since 2016 the school has been on one site in the Hochbord neighbourhood of Dubendorf, in the Zurich metropolitan area, having brought together the four sites it previously occupied. The single campus is reached easily from across the city and the Glattal by tram, bus and the S Bahn.
The community is built around French speaking families, French nationals posted to the Zurich area and bilingual households who want a French and German education. The Zurich city hub maps how the surrounding districts compare, and you can line the Lycee up against other schools through our school reviews hub.
For a French speaking family relocating to Zurich, the appeal is continuity: a child can stay within the French system and sit the same baccalaureat they would have taken at home, while gaining German through the canton recognised bilingual stream. The single Dubendorf site, opened in 2016 to replace the four scattered locations the school had outgrown, brought the whole age range together and gave it modern facilities. Families who are not tied to the French system but want an affordable, structured European education also consider it, which is why it features in our value focused comparisons rather than only in the French school listings.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Lycee Francais Marie Curie Zurich fees?
As a school in the French AEFE network, the Lycee Francais Marie Curie typically charges less than the city's full international schools, but it still reviews tuition each year. Confirm the current fees and any registration charge with the school before you apply.
What curriculum does the Lycee Francais Marie Curie follow?
It follows the French national curriculum from maternelle through to the French baccalaureat, accredited by the French Ministry of National Education through the AEFE network, with a French and German bilingual pathway recognised by the canton of Zurich.
What ages does the school take?
The school educates children from nursery age through to the baccalaureat examinations at age 18, on its consolidated campus in Dubendorf.
Is the Lycee Francais Marie Curie a good school?
It is a long established AEFE accredited French school serving more than 700 pupils across the Zurich area. We do not publish a star rating without verified parent reviews, so we set out its programme rather than score it.
Where is the Lycee Francais Marie Curie?
Since 2016 the school has been on a single site in the Hochbord neighbourhood of Dubendorf, in the Zurich metropolitan area, having previously been spread across four sites.
