Bonn International School vs International School of Düsseldorf

	B Bonn International School Dusseldorf, Germany	I International School of Düsseldorf Dusseldorf, Germany
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €12,763 - 23,088	Fees / year €19,100 - 21,570
Age range	Age range 3 - 19 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 950
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 20
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1997	Opened 1968
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Martin-Luther-King Straße 14, D-53175 Bonn, Germany. The BIS campus is modern, spacious and well equipped, with an excellent IT infrastructure, a Media Centre Library, tournament sports halls, design rooms and labs. The school serves students aged 3–18 from the Bonn region and international communities.	Location ISD is located in the heart of Düsseldorf, Germany. The main campus is Niederrheinstrasse 336, 40489 Düsseldorf, Germany. It is a K-12 IB flagship school in the heart of Düsseldorf.
Stages	Stages Early Learning (ages 3-6); Primary Years (ages 6-11); Middle Years (ages 11-16); Diploma Years (ages 16-18).	Stages Kindergarten / Early Years Programme; Elementary School; Senior School (Middle Years Programme; Diploma Programme). ISD provides a full IB programme from Kindergarten through Grade 12.
School type	School type The school is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the IB Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme.	School type IB World School
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 800 students from 80 countries; 80 nationalities represented.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The Learning Support Programme empowers students with diverse educational needs to become confident, independent learners. It includes English language support (EAL) for students joining BIS who do not speak English; a team of trained staff provides in-class and pull-out support as needed; additional fees may apply depending on the plan.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Germany	Country affiliation Germany
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure The official school day begins at 8:20 for all grade levels and ends between 15:15 and 15:30 depending on the grade level. After-school care on campus is available until 18:00, and co-curricular activities run onsite until 19:30.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Admission / Application Fees - A one-time Admission Fee applies on acceptance of a place. - Admissions to Early Learning 3, 4 and 5: EUR 2,250. - Admissions to Grade 1 and higher: EUR 4,500. - Admission Fee for each additional child from the same family: EUR 2,250 (one-time). Tuition fees — annual, per-term (approx.), and per-month (approx.) by year group - Annual tuition (shown first) followed by the approximate per-term amount (annual ÷ 3) and approximate per-month amount (annual ÷ 12): - Early Learning 3 (age 3) - Annual: EUR 12,763. - Approx. per term: EUR 4,254.33. - Approx. per month: EUR 1,063.58. - Early Learning 4 (age 4) - Annual: EUR 12,194. - Approx. per term: EUR 4,064.67. - Approx. per month: EUR 1,016.17. - Early Learning 5 (age 5) - Annual: EUR 17,227. - Approx. per term: EUR 5,742.33. - Approx. per month: EUR 1,435.58. - Grades 1–5 (ages 6–11) - Annual: EUR 19,624. - Approx. per term: EUR 6,541.33. - Approx. per month: EUR 1,635.33. - Grades 6–10 (ages 12–16) - Annual: EUR 22,170. - Approx. per term: EUR 7,390.00. - Approx. per month: EUR 1,847.50. - Grades 11–12 (ages 16–18) - Annual: EUR 23,088. - Approx. per term: EUR 7,696.00. - Approx. per month: EUR 1,924.00. Learning support and additional mandatory fees - Additional annual Learning Support Fees apply where a student is placed into the school's Learning Support Programme after assessment: - Tier 0: no additional fee. - Tier 1: EUR 4,000 per year. - Tier 2: EUR 8,000 per year. - Tier 3: EUR 12,000 per year. What is included in the published tuition - The published tuition includes: school day trips, provision of iPads for Early Learning through Grade 7, university and careers advisory, counselling services, English language development, access to science, design and Apple computer labs, books, instruments and core learning materials, and the Co-Curricular Programme. Other costs and optional fees - After-school care (KidzKlub) is available on campus and is charged separately. - Optional activities outside normal school provision (for example some camps, seasonal trips or externally arranged activities) and any specific material or travel costs connected with certain optional programmes may incur additional charges; standard included items are listed above. Boarding - Boarding is not offered. Students attending the school must live with their parents or guardians while enrolled. No boarding fees apply. Billing schedule and payment terms - Invoicing is issued after the admission is confirmed. Payment may be made in one of the following ways: - In full (single payment). - Quarterly or monthly instalments drawn from a German bank account. - In full by a third party payer (company, sponsor). - The school can make bespoke arrangements for invoicing or instalments in consultation with the Accounting Office. Bank details and payment methods - Bank transfer capability is provided; the school's account details are given for transfers (Commerzbank; IBAN: DE15 380400070386444400; SWIFT-BIC: COBADEFFXXX). Payments from German bank accounts are supported for instalments. - The school accepts third-party full payment and supports quarterly or monthly payment plans from a German bank account; specific acceptance of credit cards is not published in the main fee documents available. Refunds and withdrawal (summary of published position) - The publicly published fee schedule provides the Admission Fee and the Annual Tuition levels and notes invoicing and instalment options; a detailed, itemised public refund schedule (for example precise refund percentages by withdrawal date or term-specific invoice due dates) is not published in the main fee sheet. For cases requiring financial assistance, a Financial Assistance Programme with eligibility guidelines exists. Summary of key practical points for parents - One-time Admission Fee on acceptance: EUR 2,250 (EL3–EL5) or EUR 4,500 (Grade 1+); siblings EUR 2,250. - Annual tuition by year-group is listed above; approximate per-term and per-month figures are shown for quick budgeting (annual ÷ 3 or ÷ 12). - Learning Support Fees are charged separately according to tier if placement in the programme is required. - Invoicing occurs after admission; payments may be made in full, by quarterly or monthly instalments from a German bank account, or in full by a third party; bank transfer details are provided for payments. Note on items not publicly specified in the published fee brief - The published fee documents specify admission fees, annual tuition levels and learning support tiers and list what is included in tuition. A detailed public schedule showing exact invoice due dates, a term-by-term official invoice calendar, explicit credit-card acceptance options and a step-by-step refund/withdrawal schedule with refund percentages by withdrawal date are not included in the publicly available fee brief. Fees for specific optional services (exact KidzKlub rates, optional residential trip charges or other one-off charges) are not published in the single-page fee summary and are handled as separate charges. For those specific items and precise payment deadlines, the school's Accounting/Admissions team provides the operational invoice and terms at admission.	Fee details Application fees - A one-time, non-refundable Admission Fee (Admission Contribution) of €6,500 is required on confirmation of a place. - A non-refundable application/enrolment processing fee of €100 will be charged during the enrolment process starting 1 August 2025. Tuition fees (annual) by year group - Pre-school (3yo, Reception, Prep): €20,320 per year. - Grades 1–2: €20,320 per year. - Grades 3–5: €21,130 per year. - Grades 6–8: €22,740 per year. - Grade 9: €24,270 per year. - Grade 10 (includes MYP e-Assessment): €24,610 per year. - Grade 11: €27,010 per year. - Grade 12 (includes a graduation contribution): €27,450 per year. Note on per-term charging and pro‑rata adjustments - Tuition figures above are stated as annual contributions. Tuition is adjusted pro rata for students who begin or leave during the school year according to the school's published arrival and departure percentages. For students arriving after the start of the year, the contribution percentages by month apply (August and September 100%; October 95%; November 85%; December 75%; January 65%; February 55%; March 45%; April 35%; May 25%; June 15%). For students leaving during the school year, legally effective termination with three full months' notice produces reimbursements of 50% if termination is effective 31 December, 20% if effective 31 March, and 0% if effective 30 June. Because the school issues annual contributions and applies pro‑rata rules for mid‑year moves, separate published per‑term fee figures are not provided. Billing schedule and payment terms - The ISD financial year runs from 1 August to 31 July. Annual contributions are invoiced and must be paid no later than 30 days after receipt of the invoice. The Admission Contribution becomes due on issuance of its invoice and the student's start date can only be set after that payment has been received. Students who arrive or leave during the course of the school year will have tuition adjusted in accordance with the contract and pro‑rata schedule. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. ISD operates as a not‑for‑profit, independent, co‑educational day school; there are no boarding fees. Other costs and optional fees - After‑school activities and private programmes: Costs vary by activity and tutor (extra‑curricular activities, arts festivals, competitive sports team fees, private music lessons). - After‑school care (Cub Club): charged per day; the listed 2024–25 rate is €15 per day. - Cafeteria lunches: subsidised hot lunches are available; 2024–25 sample prices were €4.17 (Reception–Grade 2), €5.56 (Grades 3–5), and €5.95 (Grades 6–12). - Summer camps: typical five‑day camps in recent years cost around €250. - Mother‑tongue courses, private music lessons and certain trips/festival attendance are additional and priced individually. Refund information - The Admission Fee (Admission Contribution) is one‑time and non‑refundable. Annual tuition reimbursements for students who leave during the school year follow the published schedule: 50% reimbursement if termination is effective 31 December, 20% if effective 31 March, and 0% if effective 30 June (termination requires three full months' notice). Tuition for students who join after the academic year starts is charged on a pro‑rata basis according to the monthly percentage scale. Fee payment options - The school accepts payment by bank transfer to the ISD accounts specified on invoices; the official contribution schedule provides the bank names, IBAN and SWIFT/BIC details to be used for euro transfers. Payments are required in EUR unless otherwise stated on the invoice. Families must follow the invoice details when making payments. Brief summary of findings and limitation - The school publishes annual tuition by grade and a one‑time Admission Fee; it invoices annual contributions and applies pro‑rata rules for mid‑year arrivals and departures. The school's published materials do not provide a separate official per‑term fee table; per‑term amounts are therefore not directly published and would be calculated from the annual contribution or determined by the school's invoice schedule.
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 The school offers International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes: Middle Years Programme (11–16 years) and Diploma Programme (Diploma Years, 16–19 years).	Curriculum details The school has a full IB Continuum curriculum, offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Elementary School, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in the Senior School, and the Diploma Programme (DP) in the Senior School. The PYP covers eight years of schooling from age 4 to 11 and is inquiry-based. The MYP includes eight core subjects, life-skills classes, and interdisciplinary electives; in Grade 10 students complete a Personal Project and participate in Service as Action. The DP comprises six subject groups (Studies in Language and Literature; Language Acquisition; Individuals and Societies; Sciences; Mathematics; and the Arts) plus the Diploma Programme Core (Theory of Knowledge; Extended Essay; Creativity, Activity, Service). ISD offers about 54 DP courses and more than 90% of students in Grades 11–12 are enrolled in the Diploma Programme.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Average class size: 18 students.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results Average graduation points: 35 out of 45; graduates access universities of their choice.	Exam results Diploma Programme results (2025) show strong performance: 44/45 is the maximum score achieved; 22% of DP students earned 40+ points; the average score across DP students was 35 (world average 30.6); 57% scored more than 35; 43% of diplomas awarded were bilingual; more than 90% of students in Grades 11–12 are enrolled in the Diploma Programme.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates access universities of their choice.	Higher education progression Graduates are admitted to top universities worldwide, with Class of 2025 offers across diverse majors at institutions in Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, and more; ISD notes admissions to universities in the QS World University Rankings top 200, Times Higher Education world rankings, and Russell Group universities. More than 90% of students in Grades 11–12 are enrolled in the Diploma Programme, and ISD provides counselling to support university admissions.
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 Getting started: information is collected during the application to place your child in the appropriate grade level and guide subject choices. Apply via OpenApply, where you submit all details and upload documents. BIS accepts children year‑round with no application deadline, but admission depends on the availability of places in the requested grade level, and some grades may be full. The 2025‑2026 school year began on August 18, 2025. What you need for your application: a copy of your child's passport, your child's measles immunization record, a confidential recommendation from the child's current school (required for Grades 1–12), and two years of previous school reports. A full application must be completed on the BIS OpenApply site before a review of the student application takes place. Grade level placement may involve age guidelines, and language and mathematics testing may be used; admissions tests in Mathematics, English and/or German may be administered at the Principal's discretion.	Admissions 1. Submit an inquiry or start your application via ENQUIRY FORM. A member of ISD's Admissions Team will contact you to learn more about your child(ren) and your family, answer questions, and offer a personal Zoom meeting or an in-person tour of our campuses. The ENQUIRY FORM is accessible from the Admissions page. 2. Attend Virtual Open House sessions to learn more about ISD, meet members of our team, and explore what makes our learning community unique. Registration is available; Session 2: Tuesday 20 January 2026 \| 18:30 – 20:00 CET; Session 3: Wednesday 18 March 2026 \| 09:00 – 10:30 CET. 3. ISD accepts new students throughout the year and processes applications on a first-come, first-served basis; vacancies regularly arise throughout the school year. 4. New students are normally placed in their age-appropriate group based on a cut-off date of 01 September. 5. The language of instruction in all classes (apart from German and World Languages) is English; Students up to grade 10 receive tailored English as an Additional Language support; German classes are compulsory for Prep to Grade 10, and in the Senior School a third language may be studied (Spanish, French or Japanese).
Scholarships	Scholarships Financial Assistance Programme: BIS offers financial assistance for families who can demonstrate need. Applicants must be legally resident in Germany. Financial Assistance is awarded on the basis of need after submitting the Financial Assistance Application Form and necessary supporting documents for review by the Financial Assistance Committee (Director, Business Manager and others as determined by the Director). Applications should be received by 15 February for the following school year, and a scholarship can also be applied for at enrolment during a school year. Interviews may be part of the process. Scholarships are awarded based on household income, using a table that links income bands and family size to the percentage of support. Financial Assistance covers Admission and Tuition Fees for Early Learning through Grade 12. All applications must be in English and can only be considered once a place application has been submitted and approved. Decisions are final. Recipients are expected to maintain good attendance, strong effort and appropriate behavior.	Scholarships ISD maintains a Financial Assistance & Scholarship programme with a limited number of Financial Assistance scholarships available each year, offered as tuition-fee reductions for eligible students. The student and at least one parent must be resident in Germany, and applications are submitted using the Financial Assistance application form (in English or German) with the required documents. The deadline for applications is April each year for assistance in the following year, and the Financial Assistance Committee meets no later than May to review applications. The level of assistance is based on a family's gross annual worldwide income, including all positive earnings; child benefits/family allowances are considered as part of the assessment. Renewal is possible but not guaranteed, and all applications are treated confidentially.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. However, vacancies regularly arise throughout the school year.
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