Munich International School Secondary is the upper school of MIS, the anchor institution among the international schools in Munich. It shares the single purpose built campus near Starnberg with the early childhood and Munich International School primary years, and takes students on from the Primary Years Programme into the middle and senior school. The division serves the largest cohort on a campus of around 1,200 students from more than 60 countries, and although MIS is often listed among American schools because it serves many United States families, the secondary pathway is the full International Baccalaureate rather than an American programme.
Munich International School Secondary at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | IB World School; IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme |
|---|---|
| Stages | Secondary years, broadly ages 11 to 18, through to the IB Diploma |
| Founded | 1966 (parent school) |
| Accreditation | Council of International Schools (CIS) and NEASC; IB authorised since 1980 |
| Language | English medium with German and mother tongue languages |
| Fee band | Premium, the top of the Munich range |
| Campus area | Shared MIS campus near Starnberg, south west of Munich |
Curriculum and academics
The secondary school runs two stages of the IB curriculum in sequence. The Middle Years Programme covers the middle school years and builds the interdisciplinary skills the IB is known for, with a personal project in the final MYP year. The IB Diploma Programme then forms the senior pathway in the last two years, with students choosing subjects across six groups alongside the core of theory of knowledge, the extended essay and creativity, activity and service. MIS has been an authorised IB World School since 1980, which makes it one of the longest established IB providers in Germany.
Diploma outcomes at MIS are strong by international standards. The school reports that 95 percent of its 2025 Diploma cohort earned the qualification, averaging 35 points against a global average near 31. Those results, and the breadth of subject options a large school can offer, suit the highly mobile families MIS serves, since the Diploma is recognised for university entry in Germany and worldwide. Families who specifically want the United States Advanced Placement route should note that the senior pathway here is the IB Diploma rather than AP.
Plan the full cost of an MIS secondary place
Use the fee calculator to estimate tuition, the one time entrance fee and the extras a Starnberg place adds, including the school bus.
Munich International School Secondary fees
Munich International School Secondary fees sit toward the premium top of the Munich international school fees range, with tuition rising by grade. For the 2025 to 2026 year senior tuition ran to roughly EUR 27,000 in the final Diploma year, the upper end of the published MIS schedule. These figures change annually, so confirm the current schedule directly with the school before budgeting.
The line item that most surprises families joining the secondary school is the one time entrance fee for new students, published at around EUR 9,400 per child in the first year, on top of an application fee and a registration fee. Budget further for lunch, a school bus given the Starnberg location, devices, materials and the trips that the MYP and Diploma build in. Because the entrance fee is substantial and falls in year one, factor it into a relocation budget early rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Admissions
Admission to the secondary school centres on the main August intake, with mid year places offered where a year group has space. The school reviews previous school reports and assesses English readiness, and given its scale it can often place students across a range of year groups. An application fee applies, and a place is confirmed once the registration and entrance fees noted above are settled.
Entry into the Diploma years needs more care than a mid school move. Prior study shapes which subjects and levels are possible, so families joining in Grade 11 should open the conversation about subject choices early and send full academic records, including any IGCSE or national qualifications already taken. Popular year groups can fill, so apply as soon as a move to the Munich area is confirmed.
Location and who goes there
The secondary school sits on the main MIS site near Starnberg, in the lake district south west of Munich, a large purpose built campus rather than a city plot. The space gives the senior school room for laboratories, sports and arts facilities, but it means a commute for families in central or northern Munich, usually by school bus or the S-Bahn line that serves the Starnberg area. Older students often value the independence of the train journey, while parents weigh the daily travel against a city alternative.
The community is large and genuinely international, with strong United States, British and German contingents among more than 60 nationalities. Many secondary families settle in the southern suburbs and the Fuenfseenland to shorten the commute. For how the Starnberg area compares with city districts and where international families cluster, the Munich city hub maps the neighbourhoods and the schools that serve them.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does Munich International School Secondary follow?
The secondary years follow the IB Middle Years Programme through the middle school and the IB Diploma Programme in the final two years. English is the language of instruction, with German and mother tongue languages taught alongside.
How much are Munich International School Secondary fees?
Secondary fees sit toward the premium top of the Munich range. For 2025 to 2026 senior year tuition ran to roughly EUR 27,000, plus a one time entrance fee of about EUR 9,400 for new students. Confirm the current schedule with the school.
Is Munich International School Secondary a good school?
It is the senior division of the oldest and largest international school in the region, accredited by CIS and NEASC and IB authorised since 1980. We do not publish a star rating without verified parent reviews, so we describe its programme and standing rather than score it.
When do Munich International School Secondary applications open?
The main intake is in August, with mid year places offered where a year group has room. Apply as soon as a move is confirmed and share full academic records, especially for entry into the Diploma years.
Does Munich International School Secondary offer the IB Diploma?
Yes. The IB Diploma Programme is the senior pathway in Grades 11 and 12, following the Middle Years Programme, and is recognised for university entry in Germany and worldwide.
Where is Munich International School Secondary?
The secondary school shares the main MIS campus near Starnberg, in the lake district south west of Munich, served by the S-Bahn and school buses, so families in central Munich should plan for a commute.
