BKA International School vs International School Basel

	B BKA International School Basel, Switzerland	I International School Basel Basel, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 23,700 - 32,000	Fees / year CHF 14,270 - 37,680
Age range	Age range 0 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 19 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Swiss Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 350	Pupils 1,200
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 18
Instruction language	Instruction language English, German	Instruction language English, German
Opened	Opened —	Opened 1979
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Basel, Switzerland. BKA International School Basel operates across Basel city campuses: Wettstein campus (Alemannengasse 22/24, 4058 Basel); Spalentor Campus (Schützengraben 35, 4051 Basel); Gellert 37 campus (Gellertstrasse 37, 4052 Basel); Gellert 25 campus (Gellertstrasse 25, 4052 Basel); Rittergasse campus (Rittergasse 20, 4051 Basel).	Location ISB operates on three campuses in the Basel region of Switzerland: Aesch Campus at Arlesheimerstrasse 7, 4147 Aesch; Fiechten Campus at Fiechtenweg 72, 4153 Reinach; Reinach Campus at Fleischbachstrasse 2, 4153 Reinach. The Aesch Campus is in the municipality of Aesch, while the Reinach Campuses are in Reinach, Basel-Landschaft. Public transportation is convenient via BLT tram line 11, with Arlesheimerstrasse stop for Aesch Campus, Reinach Süd stop for Fiechten Campus, and Reinach centre stop for Reinach Campus.
Stages	Stages Daycare (3 months – 4 years); Primary (4–12 years; KG, Grades 1–6); Secondary (12–18 years).	Stages The school is divided into three levels: Junior School for ages 3–11, Middle School for ages 11–14, and Senior School for ages 14–18.
School type	School type Bilingual private IB World School.	School type The school is not-for-profit, co-educational day school and an IB World School offering three IB programmes (PYP, MYP, Diploma) taught in English, with an English–German Dual Language Programme available in the Junior School.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix 1200 students representing 60+ nationalities across three campuses.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Student Support.	Additional learning support English as an Additional Language (EAL) is provided to support students not yet proficient in English. EAL specialists assist with reading, writing, listening and speaking, with three learning stages: Emerging, Developing and Consolidating. There are no additional fees payable for EAL support.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Switzerland	Country affiliation Switzerland
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure Opening hours are 07:45–18:00 during term. Drop-off is 07:45–08:20; classes run 08:20–15:50; pick-up is 15:50–18:00.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details Public transportation is available via BLT tram 11 (and related rail connections) to stops at Arlesheimerstrasse (Aesch Campus), Reinach Süd (Fiechten Campus), and Reinach centre (Reinach Campus); no dedicated school bus service is listed.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - No separate, published one‑off application or registration fee amount is listed; applications are submitted through the school's online enrolment portal. Tuition fees by year group (core semester fees — two semesters per academic year) - Kindergarten Year 1–2 (ages 4–6): CHF 11'850.- per semester (CHF 23'700.- per academic year). - Primary Grades 1–6 (ages 6–12): CHF 12'250.- per semester (CHF 24'500.- per academic year). - Lower Secondary Grades 7–9 (ages 12–15): CHF 14'500.- per semester (CHF 29'000.- per academic year). - Upper Secondary Grades 10–12 (ages 15–18): CHF 16'000.- per semester (CHF 32'000.- per academic year). Billing schedule and payment terms - The academic year is divided into two semesters; fees are invoiced on a per‑semester basis. A single payment is expected at the beginning of each semester. On request, fees may be paid in five monthly instalments subject to a 3% surcharge. A 10% sibling discount may be applied to the lowest fee when a second child is enrolled. Core tuition does not include extracurricular activities or holiday camps. Boarding fees (if applicable) - No boarding programme or boarding fees are listed for the school; the school operates multiple day campuses for the stated age ranges and does not publish boarding charges. Other costs and fees - Uniform: Primary students are required to wear a school uniform from Grade 1; the school sells core items (white or blue polo shirt; dark blue pullover or cardigan). Other items (trousers/shorts/skirts/shoes) may be purchased independently. - Extracurricular activities: Prices vary by class and semester; these activities are charged separately from core tuition. - Holiday camps: Coverage options and weekly rates are published as CHF 450 per week (coverage 08:00–15:00) and CHF 585 per week (coverage 08:00–19:00). - Afterschool care (flexible daily coverage 15:00–19:00): one day per week for a full semester CHF 500; full week for a full semester CHF 2'500. - Any additional fees for materials, special trips, external exam charges or optional services are billed separately when applicable; core semester fees exclude these items. Refund information - No specific, published refund or withdrawal terms are provided alongside the core tuition schedule; families should confirm refund and withdrawal terms as part of the enrolment contract and invoicing process. Fee payment options - Fees are payable as a single payment at the start of each semester, or on the offered monthly instalment plan (5 instalments with a 3% surcharge). Specific accepted payment instruments (for example: bank transfer, credit card, direct debit) are not listed in the published fee information and should be confirmed with the school's admissions/finance office during enrolment.	Fee details Application & admission fees - Development Fee (one-time, payable when a place is offered): CHF 4,500. This fee is non-refundable and is not deducted from tuition. - Waiting-list Deposit (when placed on a waiting list): CHF 1,000. Once a place is offered this deposit is offset against tuition; if no place is offered within eight months the deposit is refunded. Annual tuition fees (by school level and EC1 flexible options) - Early Childhood 1 (EC1) — flexible enrolment options (annual amounts): - 5 mornings (minimum): CHF 14,270. - 5 mornings + 1 full day: CHF 16,130. - 3 mornings + 2 full days: CHF 17,990. - 2 mornings + 3 full days: CHF 19,860. - 1 morning + 4 full days: CHF 21,720. - 5 full days: CHF 23,780. - Ad-hoc full day (until 15:00): CHF 100 per day. - Early Childhood 2 (EC2): CHF 23,780 per year. - Early Childhood 3 – Grade 5 (Primary Years Programme): CHF 27,970 per year. - Middle School (Grades 6–8, Middle Years Programme): CHF 32,010 per year. - Senior School (Grades 9–10): CHF 33,370 per year. - Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12): CHF 37,680 per year. Reductions and family discounts - Second child from same family: CHF 1,000 discount per year. - Third child from same family: CHF 2,000 discount per year. - Fourth (and additional) child: CHF 4,000 discount per year. Billing schedule and payment terms (how tuition is billed and typical payment plans) - A tuition invoice is issued per household for the school year; invoices are sent electronically (paper copies available for a CHF 5 charge). ISB accepts payments in Swiss francs (CHF) only; any bank charges must be paid by the sender. - Standard payment options for privately paid tuition (arranged annually with Finance Office): - Option 1: 100% of the annual tuition due before 15 July. - Option 2: 70% due before 15 July; remaining 30% due before the last day of school before the Fasnacht break or 15 February, whichever is earlier. - Option 3: 10 monthly instalments due on the 15th of each month from 15 July through 15 April; this option carries an administration surcharge of 2% per year. - Company-paid tuition: 100% of annual tuition is due before 15 July. - Late-enrolment and initial-payment rules for students starting mid-year (examples): - Enrolment from 1 June to 31 December: 100% of annual tuition is due; private payers also pay a minimum down payment of 20% at least two working days before the student starts. - Enrolment from 1 January to last day of Spring Break: 60% of annual tuition is due, plus a minimum down payment of 20% before the student starts; remainder invoiced within 30 days. - Enrolment after the first day of classes following Spring Break: 30% of annual tuition is due, plus a minimum down payment of 20% before the student starts; remainder invoiced within 30 days. Withdrawal, re-enrolment and refund rules - Development Fee is non-refundable in all circumstances. Waiting-list deposits are refunded if no place is offered within eight months. - Re-enrolment withdrawals (examples of charges when a returning family confirms re-enrolment and then withdraws): - Withdrawal between the re-enrolment deadline and 31 March: no tuition fees due. - Withdrawal between 1 April and 31 May: late withdrawal fee of CHF 3,000 per student. - Withdrawal between 1 June and 15 July: late withdrawal fee of CHF 5,000 per student. - Withdrawal after 15 July: standard early-withdrawal rules apply (below). - Early withdrawal from the school after the school year has started (tuition owed based on date of written notice): - Withdrawal between 15 July and 31 December (with at least two months' written notice): 55% of the annual tuition fee is due. - Withdrawal between 1 January and the last day of Spring Break (with at least two months' written notice): 85% of the annual tuition fee is due. - Withdrawal after the first day of classes following Spring Break: 100% of the annual tuition fee is due. - In Payment Option 3 (monthly instalments) partial annual tuition amounts are due 30 days before the date of withdrawal. ISB may withhold school records until outstanding balances are settled. - No refund is provided for tuition in the event of school closure for force majeure events, for expulsion, or for leave of absence due to illness, accident or mental illness. Late payment and collection - Late payment charge: 2% per month on outstanding balances or an administration fee of CHF 50, whichever is greater. ISB may refuse entry to class, withhold records, and engage debt-collection third parties for unpaid invoices. Other costs and fees (charged separately) - Costs not included in tuition (examples that are invoiced separately): additional or replacement textbooks; damage or loss of school equipment; field trips, camps and excursions; external examinations (for example IB exam costs); IB DP online courses; psycho-educational evaluations; some therapies and evaluations; extra-curricular programme fees; 1:1 teacher assistant costs; and meals. Such items are invoiced separately and are subject to the payment terms on each invoice. - After-school and holiday childcare (EC1–Grade 5): - Extended School Day (15:00–18:00) — Trimester registration: CHF 30 per day; Drop-in registration: CHF 60 per day. - Holiday Childcare (07:45–17:00 on selected holidays) — Pre-registration: CHF 90 per day; Drop-in registration: CHF 150 per day. Ad-hoc EC1 full-day rate (until 15:00): CHF 100 per day. - Paper invoice fee (if paper invoices are requested): CHF 5 per invoice. Special billing or changes to payment frequency may incur administration fees (e.g., CHF 100 per change request or special billing). Boarding / residential provision - ISB operates as a co-educational day school for students aged 3–19; there is no boarding provision and no boarding fees. Fee payment options and bank details - Payments are accepted in Swiss francs (CHF) and may be made by bank transfer. Any bank charges are the responsibility of the payer. The school's bank details for CHF transfers are provided for tuition payment (Bank Cler AG, Basel; IBAN: CH79 0844 0697 0092 9000 0; SWIFT/BIC: BCLRCHBB). Parents should indicate family name and student names when making transfers. Key administrative provisions - Parents/guardians must maintain health, accident and liability insurance for each enrolled student. ISB reserves the right to invoice separately for any additional costs described above and to take action for overdue accounts as set out in the financial regulations.
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 BKA International School is a bilingual private school offering English and German instruction from early years, with French introduced from Grade 3. The early years use Curriculum 21 together with the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), with a play-based approach and emphasis on language development. Primary builds on that foundation with a developmentally appropriate curriculum that fosters knowledge, skills, and curiosity year by year. In Secondary, the program uses IGCSEs and A-Levels to prepare for Swiss and international universities. BKA holds Basel-Stadt Alignment and Transition Agreement ensuring the IB curriculum aligns with Lehrplan 21 and is an IB World School. The school operates across Wettstein, Spalentor, Gellért, and Rittergasse campuses serving ages 3 months through 18 years.	Curriculum details ISB offers the International Baccalaureate across three programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3–11; Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11–16; and the Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16–18. The school is English-language. The PYP is offered in English with German as a second language, and a Dual Language Programme (English and German) is available for younger students. The MYP provides an eight-subject-group framework and includes a co-curricular Z-Block for Grades 6–8. The IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous university-preparatory course offered through ISB's Senior School, with ISB offering over 65 academic courses. ISB uses Continuums—subject guides that ensure a seamless educational experience across its three campuses.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results IB Diploma results show strong performance. In 2025, 158 students completed the IB Diploma Examinations. Of the 147 students who completed the full Diploma, ISB achieved a 96.6% pass rate and an average of 34.4 points (out of 45), with 17% achieving 40+ points. Diploma Programme Courses: For the 11 students who took Diploma Programme Courses, they completed 48 courses with an average of 4.1 points per course. MAP test results measure reading and mathematics progress for Grades 3–10; Fall 2025 results are posted.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Through IGCSEs and A-Levels, graduates are prepared for Swiss and international universities, with A-Levels recognised by universities across Europe, the UK, North America, and beyond.	Higher education progression ISB's Pathways to Swiss Universities explains that the IB Diploma earned at ISB is fully recognised by Swiss universities as equivalent to a Swiss Matura, provided it meets the required criteria. The Swiss admission framework includes six IB subject groups (first language, second language, humanities, natural science, mathematics, and an elective) and HL requirements for some universities (e.g., ETH Zürich and EPFL). Most bachelor programmes at Swiss universities are taught in German, French or Italian, with some courses in English; admission decisions are made by the individual universities. ISB provides a dedicated university counselling team to guide Swiss and international applications and hosts annual university fairs with representatives from universities worldwide.
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 1. Enquire Or Schedule A Tour: Begin by reaching out to BKA to explore our programmes, curriculum, and community. The admissions team answers questions, provides detailed information, and arranges a personalised school tour so you can see our environment and ethos firsthand. You can schedule a tour or inquire today through the admissions platform. 2. Apply: Decide that BKA is the right fit and submit your application. The admissions team guides families through the necessary paperwork and required documents, ensuring the process is straightforward and transparent through the admissions platform. The Apply Now option starts the submission, and the platform provides status updates as you move through the process. Additional questions are answered by the admissions team as needed. 3. Trial days in School (optional): Trial days in School are optional, but in certain admission cases they may be mandatory. Prospective students spend time in classrooms to experience BKA's learning environment and to engage with teachers and peers. This helps them feel comfortable before joining formally. This experience provides a firsthand impression of daily life at BKA. 4. Admission: Upon successful completion of the paperwork, each application is carefully reviewed, and a formal offer of admission is extended. BKA provides guidance to ensure a seamless transition, including placement in the bilingual programme and support with any remaining administrative or financial matters. This final step marks the beginning of your child's educational journey with us.	Admissions 1. Explore: Learn about ISBasel's personalised approach to education and schedule an individual consultation in person or online to understand how ISBasel can support your child. The school outlines three levels—Junior School (ages 3–11), Middle School (ages 11–14), and Senior School (ages 14–18)—which you can discuss during this consult. This initial exploration helps families determine fit before moving to the next steps. 2. Visit: ISBasel's doors are open year‑round. Schedule a visit or call, and you will be welcomed for an individual tour at your convenience. During the visit you can explore the school in depth and meet key staff members. This visit is designed to give you a first‑hand sense of the school environment and community. 3. Register & Apply: The Admissions Team is here to assist you every step of the way. ISBasel enrols students throughout the year, dependent on space and fulfillment of entry requirements. They provide personalised support and guidance on documentation, application forms, and admission criteria. You can ask questions about the process and receive help with next steps as you prepare your dossier. 4. Documentation and join requirements: Complete all application forms; all documents must be in English or officially translated (submit both original and translation). Additional assessment outcomes may be required; the level of English proficiency and any student support needs will be reviewed. Availability of space in classes and option groups, sibling availability, and the Director's and Principal's discretion also influence admission decisions. 5. English proficiency and placement: Grade 6 and above require an online English test to determine proficiency, sometimes with an interview. Seniors may have a tailored curriculum if enrolled in external English programs, and they transition as language skills improve. ISB uses the CEFR framework to outline minimum English proficiency by grade: Grade 9 A2/B1; Grade 10 A2/B2; Grade 11 B1/B2; Grade 12 B1/B2 (Only for students currently in the IB Diploma Programme). 6. Student support: ISB provides tailored learning support for mild to moderate learning needs, with close collaboration with families to ensure proper placement and resources. Conditional enrolment may be offered with agreed services and extra costs. In rare cases where the school cannot meet a student's needs, a decision is explained and families are guided toward alternative options.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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