Academia International School Basel vs Saint Charles International School

	A Academia International School Basel Basel, Switzerland	S Saint Charles International School Basel, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 27,900 - 30,900	Fees / year CHF 15,300 - 74,500
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 8 - 20 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Swiss Curriculum	Curriculum Swiss Curriculum, IB (MYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 259
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 15
Instruction language	Instruction language English, German	Instruction language English, French, German
Opened	Opened 2009	Opened 1897
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Hochstrasse 16, 4053 Basel, Switzerland. The campus is located directly next to Basel SBB railway station. It offers a continuous educational journey from bilingual Kindergarten and Primary to Lower Secondary and an English-language Upper Secondary (IGCSE & A Level).	Location Saint-Charles International School is in Porrentruy, Jura, Switzerland at Rue du 24-Septembre 1, 2900 Porrentruy. The campus is less than two hours from Zürich and about one hour from Basel, and is easy to reach by car or train. From Zürich Airport, trains to Zürich Main Station and then to Porrentruy take about 2 to 2.5 hours; from Basel Airport, direct trains to Porrentruy take just over an hour. On arrival in Porrentruy, the campus is minutes away from the train station, with a six-minute walk for travelers without luggage.
Stages	Stages Kindergarten, Primary, Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary (IGCSE & A Level)	Stages Swiss Programme from primary through middle school and high school (Maturité), with instruction in French, English, and German.
School type	School type International day school	School type The school is private and offers day schooling and boarding; boarding is available for students from age 10.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school offers individual support and targeted learning	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Switzerland	Country affiliation Recognised by the Swiss Confederation and authorised to prepare students for the Maturité exams.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation Christian; founded with Christian roots and supported by the Diocese of Basel.
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The day includes standard classroom instruction with after-school Devoirs accompagnés (supervised study) available for students after class.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Registration fee - Registration fee (one-time): CHF 500. Tuition fees (standard billing options) - School fees per school year (standard day-student rate): CHF 27,900. - School fees per semester: CHF 13,950. - School fees per quarterly instalment: CHF 6,975. - Payment by monthly instalments (10 monthly instalments; price includes an administrative surcharge of 3%): CHF 2,874 per month. Tuition fees by school year / year group - The standard school fee above is applied as the published tuition amount across the school's year groups (Kindergarten through Year 12). Additional charges apply for certain optional or external programmes offered to older year groups. Additional academic fees and optional programme costs - Individual private lessons (optional): CHF 130 per 60 minutes. - Individual IGCSE subject (where taken as an additional class, Years 9–12): CHF 6,900 per school year (per IGCSE subject). - Individual AS or A Level (where taken as an additional class, Years 9–12): CHF 9,900 per school year (per AS/A Level subject). - German Booster (Years 9–12): total school fees when the German Booster programme is included are CHF 30,900. What is included and excluded from tuition - Included in the tuition: all teaching materials, textbooks and educational resources. - Not included in the tuition: after-school clubs, external examination fees, school trips and school camps (these are charged separately). - If a pupil enters during the school year, school fees are charged pro rata. Sibling discount - A 10% sibling discount is available (for self-financing families) on the youngest child's school fee when more than one child is enrolled at the same time. Billing schedule and payment terms - School fees are invoiced in advance. The school offers the published billing options (annual, semester, quarterly or a 10-month instalment plan with a 3% administrative surcharge). Payment deadlines are shown on invoices; the general payment period is 30 days unless otherwise stated on the invoice or price list. - If one or more instalments are not paid by the agreed deadline after lessons have started, the school may exclude the student from the programme until outstanding instalments have been paid; persistent non-payment can lead to contract withdrawal and additional fees. An annual interest rate on outstanding amounts and administrative fees for payment reminders may apply. - Changes to a chosen payment arrangement (for example switching from semester to monthly payments) are only possible at the start of a new semester and must be notified at least six weeks before the semester begins. Refunds, deposits and cancellation - If an entire course of study is definitely cancelled, fees already paid will be refunded; reimbursement of further costs is excluded. - The school may require a registration fee and a deposit; if a deposit is required it is due within five days after signing the school contract and will be refunded in full after the student leaves the school provided the notice requirements and full settlement of fees have been met. If notice requirements are not met, the deposit may be forfeited. - If a student does not attend despite a concluded school contract, an administrative and cancellation fee equal to three months' school fees may be charged. During a probationary period (if applied), either party may withdraw; details are set out in the contractual terms. Boarding fees (if applicable) - The Basel campus is operated as a day school at its city premises; no boarding programme or boarding fees are published for the Basel campus. Other costs or fees - Examination fees, school trips, camps and after-school activities are charged separately and are not included in the tuition. - No separate uniform fee or uniform purchase requirement is listed in the published price list for the Basel campus. Fee payment methods and practical notes - Fees are invoiced in advance and are due within the payment period stated on the invoice (generally 30 days). The published price list and general terms reference invoicing and payment deadlines but do not list the specific accepted payment methods (for example bank transfer or card) within the price-list document. Payment method details are provided on invoices and in contract paperwork.	Fee details Admission & Application Fees: - Day students (day-school admission): CHF 500 (one-time, non-refundable). - Boarding students (boarding admission): CHF 3,000 (one-time, non-refundable). Tuition fees (annual and per-term / per-semester equivalents): Note: Tuition is quoted as an annual amount. Billing may be processed by semester on request; where a per-term amount is shown below it is the annual figure divided by two (per-semester). - Primary School (Swiss curriculum): - Annual: CHF 6'600 (families in the Canton of Jura) / CHF 14'400 (outside the canton). - Per semester (billing-by-semester equivalent): CHF 3'300 / CHF 7'200. - Middle School (Collège, Swiss curriculum): - Annual: CHF 7'200 (Jura) / CHF 18'000 (outside the canton). - Per semester: CHF 3'600 / CHF 9'000. - Swiss Lycée – Maturité (French): - Annual: CHF 9'600 (Jura) / CHF 20'400 (outside the canton). - Per semester: CHF 4'800 / CHF 10'200. - Bilingual Lycée (English–French) – Maturité: - Annual: CHF 12'000 (Jura) / CHF 24'000 (outside the canton). - Per semester: CHF 6'000 / CHF 12'000. - International Section (IB MYP and DP): - IB MYP 3: Annual CHF 20'000 (Jura) / CHF 23'000 (outside). Per semester: CHF 10'000 / CHF 11'500. - IB MYP 4: Annual CHF 22'000 (Jura) / CHF 33'000 (outside). Per semester: CHF 11'000 / CHF 16'500. - IB MYP 5: Annual CHF 22'000 (Jura) / CHF 33'000 (outside). Per semester: CHF 11'000 / CHF 16'500. - IB Diploma Programme (DP): Annual CHF 25'000 (Jura) / CHF 33'000 (outside). Per semester: CHF 12'500 / CHF 16'500. Boarding fees (packages, inclusions and exclusions): - 5-day boarding package (board and school week activities): CHF 32'700 per year. Included elements listed for the package: full board during the week, the boarding programme, supervised homework, on-site extracurricular activities, day trips, certain sports outfit items, and some cultural/outings; certain items are excluded (residence permit fees, books and school supplies in some circumstances, certain exam and activity costs, travel, pocket money, occasional laundry, airport transfers and some camps/trips). - 7-day boarding package (full weekly boarding including weekends): CHF 47'000 per year. The 7-day package includes weekend activities, laundry and additional weekend services; a number of items remain excluded (travel, some lessons/activities charged separately, pocket money, airport transfers, certain exam fees and specialist activities). - Day-board / lunch options (annual lunch plans): - 1 lunch per week: CHF 390 (annual). 2 lunches: CHF 780. 3 lunches: CHF 1'170. 4 lunches: CHF 1'560. 5 lunches: CHF 1'950. Other recurring fees and one-off academic/exam charges: - General / annual fees (covers textbooks, school supplies, school outings, ski/green camp, graduation trips and administrative costs): billed in two instalments (at the start of the school year and at the start of the second semester). Amounts vary by programme: - Primary: CHF 1'000 per year. - Middle School (Collège): CHF 1'500 per year. - Swiss Lycée / Bilingual Lycée: CHF 1'500 per year. - International Section MYP levels: CHF 1'500 per year. - IB DP (final years): CHF 2'500 per year. - Support / tutoring and extra academic services (examples): - Private 45-minute lessons: CHF 100 per lesson. - Semi-private (max 3 students) 45-minute: CHF 60 per lesson. - Group (4+ students) 45-minute: CHF 30 per lesson. - Language-exam preparation courses: approx. CHF 1'000 per semester (charged when organised). - Language examination fees: generally between CHF 400 and CHF 750. - IB DP examination fees: CHF 2'980. - Extras commonly excluded from package fees and billed separately: specialist lessons (horse riding, music, golf, aviation), certain travel and airport transfers, replacement of lost/damaged books or licences, some medical or insurance costs beyond those listed, pocket money and occasional laundry/dry-cleaning. Billing schedule and payment terms: - Invoices are issued in advance and are payable within the stated payment term; billing may be processed by semester on request. Payments are to be made in Swiss francs (CHF). Payments in cash are not accepted. Late payments incur interest at 1% per month; administrative reminder fees apply (typical reminder fees: CHF 20 / CHF 50 / CHF 100 for successive reminders). No place reservation is processed before payment of the registration/admission fee; students may not attend classes until invoices are paid. Cancellation, refunds and contractual penalties: - For new applicants: if registration is cancelled before 30 June, a cancellation fee equal to two months of tuition (and boarding, where applicable) is charged; if cancelled after 30 June a cancellation fee equal to three months of tuition (and boarding where applicable) is charged. - For current students: withdrawal before the end of the school year makes all expenses for the current trimester and the following one payable. Unless written notice is given by parents before the specified deadline for re-registration (28 February), students are automatically entered for the following school year; cancelling after that date creates a financial obligation (example: tuition for the first three months may be payable as compensation). Uniform / clothing and included clothing items: - No separate general uniform fee is listed. For boarding students a sports outfit (t-shirts, leggings or jogging pants) is listed among included items in the boarding packages; additional specialist sports or activity clothing or equipment may be charged separately. Fee payment options: - The school accepts international payments via Flywire (enables bank transfers and local payment methods in many currencies) and invoices are payable by bank transfer. Payments in cash are not accepted. Specific payment instructions and the school's Flywire payment portal are used for international transactions. Summary of the key amounts at a glance (examples): - Admission fee (day): CHF 500; Admission fee (boarding): CHF 3'000. - Typical annual tuition (examples, Jura / outside canton): Primary CHF 6'600 / 14'400; Middle CHF 7'200 / 18'000; Swiss Lycée CHF 9'600 / 20'400; Bilingual Lycée CHF 12'000 / 24'000; IB MYP/DP ranges CHF 20'000–25'000 (Jura) and up to CHF 33'000 (outside). Per-semester equivalents are half the annual amounts. (End of fees overview.)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details At Basel campus, students follow a continuous educational journey from bilingual kindergarten and primary to lower secondary and an English-language college. Kindergarten and Primary are naturally bilingual. Lower Secondary provides strong preparation for upper secondary or vocational pathways. Upper Secondary offers IGCSE and A Levels to prepare for university in Switzerland or worldwide. Campus life includes bright classrooms, a science lab, music and art rooms, and a cafeteria, and learning emphasizes depth and meaning through Arts Across the Curriculum, Metacognition and Action-Based Research, with clubs such as Model United Nations and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.	Curriculum details Saint-Charles offers two curriculum pathways: the Swiss Programme and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. The Swiss Programme covers primary through maturité and uses instruction in French, English and German; Primary is taught in English and French, and the Middle School is multilingual in English, French and German. The Swiss Maturité is bilingual French-English and is recognised by the Swiss Confederation, with the school authorised to prepare students for maturité examinations. The IB Programme is taught in English, offering the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme, with English as the language of instruction for all subjects and ESL support available. Immersion language teaching introduces English and German from early years through 'language islands' where other subjects are taught in additional languages, laying the foundation for bilingual Matura or the IB Diploma Programme.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Over 300 students and 33 teachers (Y7–Y12).	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results IB Diploma Programme class of 2025 results: 17% entering a top 25 institution; 1 in 3 graduates joined a top 100 university; 30% were recognised for excellence in their subject areas.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Upper Secondary prepares for university, in Switzerland or worldwide.	Higher education progression University preparation and guidance are core at Saint-Charles. A dedicated University Support Team helps identify universities and coordinate applications, with university talks and fairs accessible to students. From the Middle Years Programme, students take part in regular guidance lessons and receive tailored advice on IBDP subject selection in MYP5; in the Diploma Programme, guidance becomes more personalised with one-to-one meetings and university representation is facilitated by the school, supported by a University Library.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Next Events: May 21, 2026 — Info Event Basel – With the International A Levels to university. 6:00–7:30 p.m. Basel.	Admissions Three steps are required for enrolment: schedule an appointment with the school headmistress; during an interview, all aspects of the curriculum and admissions are discussed, with the child present. The parents complete the enrolment application and send it to the secretariat and pay the enrolment fee, after which enrolment is confirmed. For primary school, motivation to learn in a multilingual environment is sought; for secondary school, candidates must pass entrance tests in French, Math, and German. Saint-Charles offers two high school streams, one in French and one bilingual French-English, both recognised by Swiss educational authorities. Appointments can be booked online or by contacting the school secretary. The admission process includes providing documents (school reports for the last two years, a letter of recommendation, and a color scan of the passport), an interview and admissions testing, and language assessments (IB Diploma: English Proficiency; Swiss Matura: English and French Proficiency) plus a Maths assessment. The Head of Admissions reviews applications and responds in roughly 10 days. Possible outcomes are admittance with a welcome package and visa procedures; provisional acceptance after a language-study period; waitlist; or non-acceptance.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships A scholarship fund for Jura-based students exists and allows residents of the canton to attend Saint-Charles. The school administration is available to answer questions in complete confidentiality.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Waitlist: if there is no space in the desired program, a place on the waitlist may be offered until space becomes available.
	View full profile →	View full profile →