Academia International School Winterthur vs International School of Central Switzerland

	A Academia International School Winterthur Zug, Switzerland	I International School of Central Switzerland Zug, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 28,800 - 32,800	Fees / year CHF 27,200 - 32,800
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils 150	Pupils 150
Typical class size	Typical class size 17	Typical class size 15
Instruction language	Instruction language German, English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2023	Opened 2008
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The Academia International School Winterthur is located at Grüzefeldstrasse 34, 8400 Winterthur. The campus sits within the WIN4 complex in Deutweg, surrounded by professional sports facilities. Campus life is compact, supportive and dynamic, with a modern learning space and a vibrant community.	Location The school is located in Cham, Canton of Zug, Switzerland, at Lorzenparkstrasse 8 (CH-6330 Cham). The Lorzenpark area is adjacent to the school grounds.
Stages	Stages Kindergarten & Primary; Lower Secondary; College/Upper Secondary (IGCSE & A Levels)	Stages Primary School, Middle School, and High School (Private Gymnasium).
School type	School type Private college	School type Private international day school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix More than 35 nationalities are represented at ISCS.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school provides personal coaching with a Study Coach for every student to help set learning goals, reflect on progress and take responsibility for learning.	Additional learning support The Guidance Counselor provides learning support with Individualised Educational Plans (IEPs) to support students' needs.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation Switzerland.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The school day typically starts around 8:15–8:30 and ends at 15:30; after-school clubs run 15:30–16:30 and after-school care is available 15:30–18:00.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details The school offers a school bus service for local routes within the canton of Zug.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - One-time registration fee: CHF 500. Tuition fees (annual, per term and instalment options) - School fees per school year (day programme): CHF 28,800. - School fees per semester: CHF 14,400. - School fees per quarter: CHF 7,200. - Payment by 10 monthly instalments (administrative surcharge ~3% included): CHF 2,965 per month. - German Booster (additional German lessons for non‑native speakers): total school fee including the German Booster is CHF 32,800. - Individual subjects and mixed programmes: fees vary by subject and level; individual subject enrolment is possible and is charged separately. Private one‑to‑one lessons: CHF 140 per 60 minutes. Billing schedule and payment terms - School fees are invoiced in advance. Fees may be paid as a one‑off advance payment or by instalments; instalment plans carry an administrative surcharge. The standard time allowed for payment is 30 days unless otherwise specified on the invoice or in the price list. - If a pupil enters during the school year, fees are calculated pro rata temporis. - If one or more instalments are not paid after lessons have started, the student may be excluded from the programme until outstanding instalments are paid; school fees remain due for any period of exclusion. Late payment may lead to reminders, administrative fees, interest (annual interest 3%) and ultimately contract withdrawal and collection measures. - Registration fees and any deposit required must be paid within five days after signing the school contract. Boarding fees - Academia International School Winterthur operates as a day school; no boarding fees apply for the Winterthur campus. Other costs and fees - Teaching materials and most electives/extra‑curricular activities are included in the school fee. Examination fees, school trips, camps and certain additional services or activities are invoiced separately. - Sibling discount for self‑paying families: 10% discount on the youngest child's school fee when more than one child from the same family is enrolled concurrently. - Private tuition and certain individual subject fees are additional costs (private lessons CHF 140 per hour; single‑subject or mixed‑programme pricing varies by subject and level). - There is no separate uniform fee stated in the published fee schedule; other incidental costs (travel, personal items, optional extracurricular third‑party services) would be additional. Refund information - If an entire course of study is definitely cancelled, fees already paid shall be refunded. The deposit is refundable after the student leaves provided the contract has been terminated observing the prescribed notice period (not during the probationary period) and all tuition and additional charges have been settled in full; otherwise the deposit may be forfeited in favour of the school. - If the contract partners cancel late or the student does not attend despite a concluded contract, an administrative fee and a cancellation fee equal to three months' school fees may be charged. In the event of extraordinary termination by the school, the deposit may also be forfeited and cancellation fees may apply. Missed lessons do not give a right to reimbursement. - A probationary period may apply (the first twelve school weeks in some cases); during the probationary period either party may withdraw from the contract under the conditions set out in the contract and general terms. Fee payment arrangements and practical notes - Fees are invoiced in Swiss francs (CHF). Instalment pricing examples are provided above; instalment plans incur an administrative surcharge (the 10‑month option shown includes an approximate 3% surcharge). - The school reserves the right to withhold certificates and diplomas until outstanding fees are paid in full. Examination fees are not included in the tuition fee and must be paid separately when applicable. (Effective fee schedule and terms are published for the 2025/2026 price list.)	Fee details Application / Registration Fees - Early Years and Primary (Ages 3–12): CHF 3,000 one-time non-refundable registration fee per student. - Middle School and all High School years (IGCSE / A-Levels; Ages 12–18): CHF 4,000 one-time non-refundable registration fee per student. Tuition fees by year group (annual, per-term and per-month breakdown) For the 2025–2026 academic year the annual tuition and the calculated billing breakdowns are: - Early Years (Ages 3–6) - Annual tuition: CHF 27,200. - Per-term (3-term billing): CHF 9,066.67. - Per-month (10 monthly instalments): CHF 2,720.00. - Primary School (Years 1–6; Ages 6–12) - Annual tuition: CHF 28,200. - Per-term (3-term billing): CHF 9,400.00. - Per-month (10 monthly instalments): CHF 2,820.00. - Middle School (Years 7–9; Ages 12–14) - Annual tuition: CHF 29,250. - Per-term (3-term billing): CHF 9,750.00. - Per-month (10 monthly instalments): CHF 2,925.00. - IGCSE (High School Years 10–11; Ages 14–16) - Annual tuition: CHF 30,300. - Per-term (3-term billing): CHF 10,100.00. - Per-month (10 monthly instalments): CHF 3,030.00. - A-Levels (High School Years 12–13; Ages 16–18) - Annual tuition: CHF 32,300. - Per-term (3-term billing): CHF 10,766.67. - Per-month (10 monthly instalments): CHF 3,230.00. Notes on these amounts: the annual tuition figures above are the published year-group tuition fees; term and monthly figures are the annual tuition divided into 3 or 10 equal instalments to match the school's available billing options (3-term or 10-month plans). Sibling discounts and other fee reductions - First sibling discount: 25% off tuition for the first sibling. - Additional siblings: 50% off tuition for each additional sibling. - Early payment discounts: 5% discount for annual payment by 30 May (Early Bird); 4% discount for annual payment between 1 June and 1 December; 2% discount applied for termly payments (3 payments on the dates shown by the school). Billing schedule and payment terms - An invoice for the annual fees is issued before the start of the new school year; annual fees are due on August 15 and payment must be received before the student attends school. - The full annual year-group fee is payable in advance unless an alternative instalment arrangement has been agreed in writing. - Payment options published by the school include: annual payment, termly payment (three instalments), or monthly instalments (ten instalments, August–May). Families seeking payment plans must sign a formalised payment schedule agreement. - Overdue balances may incur an annual interest charge of 5% plus collection fees. - If a new student is enrolled but does not take up the confirmed place on the agreed start date, 25% of the annual tuition fee becomes immediately due. Additional costs and optional services - School lunch (annual / instalment options): - 1 instalment: CHF 2,375.00. - 3 instalments: CHF 817.00. - 10 instalments: CHF 250.00. - School transport (Cham routes): - 1 instalment: CHF 1,995.00. - 3 instalments: CHF 686.00. - 10 instalments: CHF 210.00. - School transport (wider Kanton Zug): - 1 instalment: CHF 2,850.00. - 3 instalments: CHF 980.00. - 10 instalments: CHF 300.00. - School transport (Kanton Luzern and Sins): - 1 instalment: CHF 3,135.00. - 3 instalments: CHF 1,078.00. - 10 instalments: CHF 330.00. - Corporate fee packages (annual tuition + lunch + transport) are published as fixed annual amounts by year group and by catchment (Cham, Kanton Zug, Kanton Luzern & Sins). Examples: Early Years corporate fee (Cham) CHF 30,210.00; A-Level corporate fee (Kanton Luzern & Sins) CHF 36,195.00. Items expressly not included in tuition - Textbooks (where indicated on book lists), official IGCSE/AS/A-Level external exam fees, school and PE uniforms, school lunch and transport (when not included in a corporate package), after-school care / academy fees, replacement cost for lost/stolen/damaged school materials (including laptops), and one-to-one exam, language or music lessons. Tuition does include exercise books, laboratory practicals, school laptop provision, classroom educational resources, SEN support, career advice and internal clubs as published. Uniforms - School uniforms are not included in tuition and are handled through the school's uniform supplier arrangement; uniform purchase is an additional cost and is not covered by the tuition fee. Boarding - The school does not operate a regular boarding provision in Switzerland. ISCS publishes an international boarding experience through SAGE College in Spain (an exchange/boarding opportunity) rather than a Swiss on-site boarding house; therefore ongoing boarding fees are not applicable to standard ISCS enrolment in Zug. Refunds and withdrawal charges - Notice requirement: a minimum of three months' written notice is required to withdraw a student unless the signed contract specifies otherwise; failure to provide the required notice may result in the school charging one term's tuition in lieu of notice. - Refunds for prepaid fees beyond the withdrawal date will only be considered when the required notice period has been observed. No refunds are given for short-term absences or withdrawal without proper notice. - Any overpayment will be refunded within 30 days following the student's final day of attendance once financial clearance is completed. Fee payment options and practical notes - The school issues invoices for registration and annual fees; the published due date for annual invoices is August 15 and payment must be received before the student's first day. - The school states that alternative payment methods may be available and that families wishing to use instalment plans must enter a signed payment agreement; the school may apply interest and collection fees to overdue accounts. Specific accepted instruments (for example, which credit cards or bank account details) are not listed in the published fee documents. Brief note on completeness of published fee information - The school's 2025–2026 published fee schedule provides annual tuition by year group, registration fees, payment schedule options (annual, termly, monthly), early-payment and term-payment discounts, additional service pricing for lunch and transport, corporate-package figures, and the school's withdrawal/refund rules. The published materials do not list specific payment instrument details (for example explicit credit-card acceptance or IBAN/BIC for bank transfers) nor a Swiss on-site boarding tariff because standard ISCS enrolment in Zug is day-school only; an international boarding experience is offered via SAGE in Spain.
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 Kindergarten and Primary offer a bilingual start in a close-knit setting, linked to Academia Bilingual School. The programme follows international standards and prepares students for next steps in Switzerland or worldwide. Lower Secondary leads to either vocational training or college pathways, supported by the sister school Academia Bilingual School. College/Upper Secondary provides a four-year programme tailored to student strengths leading to an internationally recognised diploma that opens doors to universities in Switzerland and abroad, with IGCSE and A Levels as the qualifications. Campus life complements academics with personal coaching and project-driven learning. Learning with Personal Coaching supports goal setting and progress.	Curriculum details The school provides a broad and balanced Cambridge International Curriculum as part of British International Education. It promotes development across the academic, social, cultural, physical and moral dimensions and prepares children for adult life while encouraging them to become good citizens with a global mindset and respect for others. The school enables proficiency in both English and German for all students, regardless of their mother tongue.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Around 150 students are enrolled across Kindergarten to Year 12. There are 9 teachers (Y9–12).	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results IGCSE and A‑Level exam results reflect student and teacher effort, with a 100% A-Level pass rate in Year 13. These results support university access in many countries around the world.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression The College/Upper Secondary programme runs four years and leads to an internationally recognised diploma that opens doors to universities in Switzerland and abroad. The diploma supports entry to universities in Switzerland and internationally. The qualifications include IGCSE and A Levels, preparing learners for higher education worldwide.	Higher education progression Students are prepared for university in the USA, UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and many other countries.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented Clubs and elective courses such as Cooking and Young Entrepreneurs expand learning opportunities. Personal coaching supports goal setting and progress.	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 —	Admissions Initial Enquiry form registers interest; admissions team will contact you promptly.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships Bursaries and scholarships for sporting, performance or academic excellence are offered and can be discussed during your application.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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