Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz is a Swiss alpine boarding and day school in the Engadine valley near St Moritz, taking young people from around age 12 to 19 and preparing them for both the Swiss Matura and the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Founded in 1904, it has roughly 330 students from more than 45 nations, most of them boarders. It sits well outside the city, so for Zurich families it is a boarding choice rather than a daily commute; this profile sets it out alongside the international schools in Zurich for families weighing a boarding option.
At a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Swiss Matura and International Baccalaureate Diploma |
|---|---|
| Stages | Lower and upper secondary, roughly age 12 to 19 |
| Founded | 1904 |
| Accreditation | Swiss Matura recognition; International Baccalaureate World School |
| Community | Around 330 students from more than 45 nations; mainly boarding |
| Fee band | Upper, boarding school |
| Campus | Zuoz, Engadine, canton of Graubunden, near St Moritz |
Curriculum and academics
The Lyceum prepares students for two distinct university entrance qualifications: the Swiss Matura, which leads naturally into Swiss universities and the federal institutes of technology, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma, which is recognised worldwide. Offering both lets a family choose a Swiss or an international route within one school. Most students leave multilingual, typically speaking three or four languages, and sport, art, music and the outdoor life of the Engadine are woven through school life.
Because it carries the IB Diploma, the Lyceum appears in our wider round up of the best IB schools for Zurich families, where the boarding option is set against the city day schools. Boarding suits families who travel, who are relocating, or who want the structure of an alpine campus.
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Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz fees
As a full boarding school in a premium alpine setting the Lyceum sits at the upper end of Swiss school fees, well above the city day schools once boarding, meals and the activity programme are included. Day places cost less than boarding. We do not publish a fixed figure here; the current boarding and day fees should come from the admissions office and any band shown elsewhere is illustrative. For context on the city day market, see our Zurich international school fees guide.
Boarding fees usually bundle accommodation, meals and much of the activity programme, but budget for travel to and from Zuoz, ski passes and equipment, trips and examination entry. Confirm exactly what is included before you commit.
Admissions
Admission runs through the school's own office, which reviews prior school reports and references and interviews the applicant, often alongside an assessment of language level for entry into the Matura or IB stream. With around 330 places and a strong international demand for boarding, early application is sensible, particularly for entry into the Diploma years.
Families based in Zurich choosing boarding should plan around term dates, exeat weekends and the rail journey up to the Engadine. The school accepts applications across the year subject to space in the relevant year group and boarding house.
Location and who goes there
The campus stands at around 1,750 metres above sea level in Zuoz, a village in the Engadine valley near St Moritz in the canton of Graubunden. This is a different world from the city: an alpine setting reached from Zurich by train via Chur, chosen precisely for the outdoor education and boarding life it makes possible rather than for a daily commute.
The student body is international, drawn from more than 45 nations, with most students boarding and a smaller group of local day students. For Zurich based families the school is one of the country's boarding alternatives; the Zurich hub and the dedicated Zurich IB schools hub map the city day options, and you can line the Lyceum up against them through our school reviews hub.
What sets a school like this apart from a city day school is the boarding life itself. Days are structured around lessons, sport, the arts and the outdoor programme the Engadine makes possible, from skiing and ski touring in winter to hiking and climbing in the warmer months, and the so called Spirit of Zuoz that the school uses to describe its emphasis on character and community. For families who travel frequently for work, who are between postings, or who simply want their child in a full boarding environment with a Swiss or international diploma at the end, the Lyceum is one of the established choices, and it is worth visiting in person before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz fees?
As an alpine boarding school the Lyceum sits at the upper end of Swiss school fees, with boarding adding substantially to tuition. We do not publish a fixed figure here; confirm current boarding and day fees with the school's admissions office before you apply.
Does Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz offer the IB?
Yes. The school prepares students for both the Swiss Matura and the International Baccalaureate Diploma, so families can choose a Swiss or an international university entrance route.
What ages does Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz take?
The school takes young people from around age 12 to 19, as both boarders and day students, with most of the roll boarding.
Is Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz a good school?
Founded in 1904, it is one of Switzerland's established alpine boarding schools, with around 330 students from more than 45 nations. We do not publish a star rating without verified parent reviews, so we describe its programme rather than score it.
Where is Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz?
The school is in Zuoz in the Engadine valley near St Moritz, in the canton of Graubunden. It is a boarding option for families based in Zurich and across Switzerland rather than a Zurich city day school.
