Brillantmont International School vs Institut Monte Rosa
Brillantmont International School and Institut Monte Rosa are both in Lausanne, about 24 km apart. Both schools offer American programmes, and Brillantmont International School also offers Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels and Cambridge A Levels. Published annual fees are CHF 34,000 - 111,000 at Brillantmont International School and CHF 74,000 - 85,000 at Institut Monte Rosa, which puts Institut Monte Rosa roughly 10% higher. Brillantmont International School takes pupils from 13 to 18, and Institut Monte Rosa from 8 to 19. The two are similar in size, at around 100 and 80 pupils. Typical class sizes are 9 at Brillantmont International School and 12 at Institut Monte Rosa.
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, American Curriculum
Curriculum
American Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
100
Pupils
80
Typical class size
Typical class size
9
Typical class size
12
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
1882
Opened
1874
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Lausanne, Switzerland. The school is in the centre of Lausanne in an exclusive residential area, set in parkland with views of the lake and close to forests. Lausanne is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland and is about 40 minutes by train from Geneva International Airport. The campus is easily reached by metro and bus and is located at Avenue Charles-Secrétan 16, 1005 Lausanne.
Location
Montreux, Switzerland (Territet-Montreux area); 57 Avenue de Chillon, CH-1820 Montreux
Stages
Stages
Grades 8–12. The school welcomes students into Grades 8–12, with 8th–10th Grade programmes leading to British IGCSE and English-language instruction, and 11th–12th Grades offering British A Levels or a High School Diploma.
Stages
Primary School; Junior High School; High School
School type
School type
Co-educational day and boarding school.
School type
Independent boarding school (co-educational)
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
EAL (English as an Additional Language) support is available.
Additional learning support
Individualized Education Program (IEP) offers tailor-made education with extra attention; supports learning needs within the school and boarding environment; includes an Intensive English Program for pupils whose mother tongue is not English
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Switzerland.
Country affiliation
Switzerland
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
The Brillantmont school day for boarding students starts at 07:00 with wake-up, breakfast and room care, then classes from 08:15. The day includes a lunch break at 11:55–12:45, classes finish at 16:00, after-school activities 16:00–18:30 and scheduled study time; evenings include boarding activities and further study before lights-out.
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
A school bus service is available for day students.
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application / registration fees and confirmation deposits
- Boarding students: Registration fee CHF 2,000 (non‑refundable). An Admission Deposit of CHF 12,000 is required to confirm enrolment; this deposit is held separately from school fees and is returned in full on the final statement of account subject to the school's terms and provided no unpaid fees or penalties remain. New boarding students are charged an initial Brillantmont kit (t‑shirt, polo, sweatshirt, tracksuit) of CHF 350 for the 2025–2026 academic year; this amount is deducted from the personal expenses deposit.
- Day students: Registration fee CHF 1,600 (non‑refundable). An Admission Deposit of CHF 2,000 is required to confirm enrolment for day students; the deposit is held separately and returned in full on the final statement of account subject to the school's terms. Day students receive one set of Brillantmont branded kit included in the fees.
Tuition and boarding fees by year group (annual and per‑term detail for the 2025–2026 academic year)
- Boarding annual fees (2025–2026, prices in Swiss francs, including VAT): - 8th Grade / 9th Grade: CHF 94,500 per year. Per term: Autumn (Sept–Dec) CHF 40,500; Winter (Jan–Mar) CHF 27,000; Spring (Apr–Jun) CHF 27,000. - 10th Grade: CHF 98,500 per year. Per term: Autumn CHF 42,300; Winter CHF 28,100; Spring CHF 28,100. - 11th / 12th / 13th (PG Year): CHF 104,500 per year. Per term: Autumn CHF 44,700; Winter CHF 29,900; Spring CHF 29,900. These boarding annual fees are stated inclusive of VAT and include specified items such as full board and lodging, most in‑school activities and several school trips as outlined in the school's fee schedule.
- Day student annual fees (2025–2026): - 8th Grade / 9th Grade: CHF 34,000 per year. Per term: Autumn CHF 14,000; Winter CHF 10,000; Spring CHF 10,000. - 10th Grade: CHF 36,000 per year. Per term: Autumn CHF 15,000; Winter CHF 10,500; Spring CHF 10,500. - 11th / 12th / 13th (PG Year): CHF 38,000 per year. Per term: Autumn CHF 16,000; Winter CHF 11,000; Spring CHF 11,000. Day‑student fees include lunch, one set of Brillantmont kit, some school activities and core learning materials as specified in the fee documentation.
Other compulsory deposits and routine/optional costs
- Personal expenses deposit (boarding students): CHF 6,000; this deposit appears on the first term invoice and is used to cover personal and optional costs (private lessons, external clubs, off‑programme trips, ski hire, non‑school excursions, some laundry charges for older students, graduation dinner, etc.). Any unused balance is refunded on the final statement when the student leaves.
- Pocket money recommendation: school guidance recommends a weekly allowance between CHF 30 and CHF 120 (in multiples of CHF 10); parents are asked to send the chosen weekly sum multiplied by the number of weeks in the school year (35 weeks) as the first payment with school fees so a pocket money account can be established.
- Academic/examination charges: Official external examination fees (IGCSE, A Level, IELTS) and any private tuition or exam entry fees are charged to the Personal Expenses Deposit or invoiced separately. School books for courses are provided and returned at year end; books not returned in satisfactory condition are charged.
- English additional support and SEN support (where required): Extra English (EAL) support is charged at CHF 7,500 per academic year (standard two periods per week package). Special Educational Needs / Learning Support standard package is charged at CHF 7,500 per academic year (two periods per week); further specialist external support may incur additional costs.
- Health and accident insurance: Private health and accident insurance in private division is quoted at CHF 2,700 per year; a pro‑rata reimbursement is made for months not attended on departure. Students who leave Switzerland in June receive a specific reimbursement (document cites CHF 410 for the summer months' portion).
Billing schedule, payment terms and penalties
- Per‑term billing: The school issues fees per term (Autumn, Winter, Spring) with the per‑term amounts shown above for each year group. For the 2025–2026 school year the published payment deadlines and arrangements in the school's fee documentation are: for certain entry dates the fees for the first two terms are required by an early deadline and the third term by a later deadline; separate, specific due dates are set for Autumn/Winter/Spring invoices as shown in the school's fee schedules and payment sections. Interest and consequences for late payment: the school reserves the right to cancel enrolment or to withhold access to school activities in the event of late payment, and to charge interest on unpaid sums (documented at 5% p.a. in the school's financial conditions).
- Exact due‑date examples published in the 2025–2026 documents (examples as stated in the school's fee documents): - Day students: Autumn term payment due before 30 June 2025; Winter term due before 31 October 2025; Spring term due before 31 January 2026. - Boarding students: the fee documents set specific due dates that depend on the student's start date (September, January or April starts); the school's terms of payment section lists the exact deadlines applicable to each start date and the timing when invoices must be settled. Late enrolment results in fees becoming due on receipt of an invoice.
Payment methods
- Preferred online payment platform: Flywire (international secure payment platform) is recommended for international transfers; parents are provided with a personalised payment reference for invoice reconciliation. - Bank transfer: payment by bank transfer is accepted; details of the school account are provided on invoices. All payments must be made in Swiss Francs (CHF) and the full invoiced amount must be received. - Cash payments and credit card payments are not accepted. - Refunds are paid back into the account from which funds were received.
Refunds, withdrawal and cancellation rules
- Admission Deposit: The Admission Deposit is returned in full on the final statement of account once all fees and charges have been settled, except where the student's place is cancelled or the student is expelled or withdrawn after published deadlines — in those cases the Admission Deposit may be retained until outstanding fees are paid or may not be reimbursed as specified in the enrolment cancellation rules.
- Personal expenses deposit: Any remaining balance of the Personal Expenses Deposit is refunded on the final statement after departure and settlement of outstanding items.
- Cancellation and withdrawal deadlines: Published deadlines apply for cancelling the enrolment of a new student (deadlines depend on the intended start term) and for withdrawing a current student for the following academic year; cancelling after the stated deadlines will generally make the full fees for the following term payable and may affect the refund of the Admission Deposit.
- Expulsion: In the event of expulsion the term is payable in full and the full fees for the following term are also due; the Admission Deposit will not be reimbursed until fees have been paid.
- Insurance refunds: Health insurance is refundable on a pro‑rata basis for months not attended; the fee documentation provides an example reimbursement amount for summer months.
Other notes on recurring/optional charges
- Certain trips and optional programmes (October break trips, ski week, international or optional residential trips, MUN, Service Learning, special tournaments) and travel costs (plane tickets) are invoiced separately when they exceed specific thresholds. - Graduation dinner, some external exam or university application costs and private lessons or external specialist support are charged to the Personal Expenses Deposit or invoiced separately according to the school's published schedules. Laundry is included for younger boarding students in specified grades; laundry for older students appears under items charged to the personal expenses deposit.
(End of fees summary for the current school‑year fee documents published for Brillantmont International School.)
Fee details
Application fees
- A one-time application fee is charged for admission to the academic programme: CHF 800.
Tuition fees by student type and year group
- Boarding (annual): CHF 74,000 per year (full boarding).
- Day student tuition: no reliable, current per‑year or per‑term day‑student fee table was publicly available for the current academic year; published summaries and third‑party profiles reference a figure of CHF 74,000 in past years but a definitive breakdown by year group or per term for day students could not be located.
Per‑term / per‑year presentation
- The school publishes a single annual fee figure for boarding students (CHF 74,000). No separate, consistently published per‑term schedule or year‑group pricing table for the regular academic programme was found in the publicly available materials. Where weekly or short‑course pricing is published (summer programmes), those are itemised on a weekly basis rather than by school year.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- New enrolments commonly require a non‑refundable application fee to begin processing. For short courses, a refundable deposit and a clear payment deadline are required; full payment deadlines are applied to guarantee bookings. For academic enrolment, a security/deposit payment is required to secure a place (amounts vary by programme).
- Bank transfers in Swiss francs to the school's UBS account (IBAN and SWIFT provided in the school's payment instructions) are accepted for settlement of fees. Credit card payments are accepted on site but any credit card processing fees are added to the invoice at the cardholder's expense.
- Invoices and parental responsibility clauses require payment within 30 days of invoice unless other terms are agreed; the school may refuse entry if required payments are not received by the stated deadlines. For short courses, specific cancellation deadlines with percentage charges of the basic fee are published.
Boarding fees and related charges
- Boarding tuition (annual) is published as CHF 74,000. A deposit/security for boarding places is required; third‑party summaries list a deposit figure of CHF 5,000 and an additional provision for personal expenses (example: CHF 10,000) for boarding students. These items are invoiced in addition to the annual boarding tuition.
- Short‑stay and summer residential pricing is quoted per week (for example, the summer programme listed weekly boarding and day rates), and optional supplements apply for single rooms, laundry, supervised airport transfers and special excursions. Compulsory accident and liability insurance for short courses is charged per week in those schedules.
Other costs and optional extras
- Short courses list optional extras such as single‑room supplements, laundry service, private lessons, special excursions, and escorted airport transfers with specific per‑service charges. Compulsory residence taxes and accident/liability insurance for certain programmes are added to final invoices where applicable. Examples from published short‑course materials include weekly single‑room supplement and laundry fees and per‑activity charges.
- No consistently published, schoolwide uniform charge or mandatory uniform fee for the academic boarding programme was located in the publicly available materials. Uniforms, books, exam fees or specific equipment costs may be charged separately or included depending on programme and year group; these items were not listed in a single, current fee schedule available publicly.
Refund and cancellation policy
- The school applies cancellation and withdrawal charges. For short courses, a graduated refund schedule applies (for example: a percentage of the basic fee retained depending on how many days before the programme start the cancellation occurs). In the short‑course terms, if a stay is interrupted the entire basic fee may be retained; expulsions can result in no refund. Deposits for short stays are credited to the final invoice or refundable according to the short‑course terms.
- For the academic boarding programme, a security deposit is retained until final settlement of the account and may be refunded when accounts are settled; specific academic‑year withdrawal and refund percentages were not available in a single published academic fee schedule.
Fee payment options
- Accepted payment methods include bank transfer (Swiss francs) to the school's UBS account (IBAN and SWIFT provided in the school's payment instructions) and on‑site credit card payment; credit card processing fees are passed on to the payer. Specific online payment portals or multi‑currency card processing arrangements were not itemised in the public documents located.
Notes on availability of details
- The publicly accessible registration and fees page contains minimal programme listings and indicates that international programme availability may vary. A full, current academic year breakdown by year group and per‑term instalment schedule was not found on the publicly accessible pages at the time of review; short‑course (summer) pricing and conditions are published with clear weekly and optional charges.
(Brief summary of what was located and what could not be found: the publicly available materials include a clear annual boarding tuition figure (CHF 74,000) and examples of deposits, personal‑expense provisions and short‑course weekly pricing; however, a complete, up‑to‑date academic year fee schedule that breaks tuition down by individual year groups and term instalments for the regular academic boarding/day programmes was not located in the public documents reviewed.)
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Middle School runs 7th-8th Grade for international students aged 12-14 and covers a broad range of subjects, with English language support as needed. High School runs 9th-12th Grade with personalised timetables to develop each student's strengths and interests. Brillantmont offers British IGCSE/AS/A Level examinations (Cambridge) along with American PSAT, SAT tests and IELTS; 7th-10th Grade courses also provide preparation for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB). Post High School 13th Grade Programme is available for a final European year tailored to the student's university plans. All teaching is in English, with English support available, and all students follow classes in French, the host language; French is encouraged and taught up to at least the end of 10th Grade. The school emphasizes intercultural understanding, small classes, and preparation for international university admissions.
Curriculum details
The International Section offers Junior High School (Grades 7–8) and High School (Grades 9–12) with a college-preparatory Anglo-American program. Courses are taught in English and cover English Literature, English Language, Mathematics, Science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics), Social Studies, Geography, History, US History, and Foreign Language. Intensive language study is provided through EFL and languages including French, German, Italian and Spanish, with optional Russian and Mandarin. The program also offers Cambridge exams, IELTS, TOEFL, College Board examinations, and DELF; a postgraduate year focuses on business, economics and computer studies, and a Trans-Academic program is available in English.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Staff ratio is 5:1.
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
100% of graduates continue to higher education worldwide. A Guidance Counsellor starts working with students from 10th Grade to explore options and prepare university applications. University fairs and Open Days are held, and universities from around the world regularly visit Brillantmont to present to prospective students.
Higher education progression
Graduates are prepared for university entrance. The High School diploma is accepted by universities in the USA, Canada and American colleges overseas. Students in Grades 11–12 prepare for College Board examinations, including SATs or APs, and language certificates such as Cambridge, IELTS and DELF.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Pre-registration creates an Admissions Portal profile by submitting the Pre-Registration Form. After submission, a password is issued to log into the Admissions Portal with your email. In the portal you provide information about your family and upload documents such as school reports, your passport, and medical information. Have these documents ready to speed up the process.
2. An Admissions test in Maths and English is sent for all grades; additional tests may be required for Grade 11 or Grade 13. The tests help assess academic fit for the programme. You will receive instructions on how to complete the tests as part of the application process.
3. A date for a Zoom interview or an on-campus interview is scheduled. The interview provides an opportunity to discuss your child's interests and the academic programme. Staff may request further information or clarification during the interview. The interview can be conducted remotely if travel is difficult.
4. You will be asked to pay the registration fee, which is non-refundable. A student ID number is provided to effect the payment via the online secure platform. Payment completes a key step in processing the application and initiates formal review. The registration fee covers the administrative handling of the file.
5. The completed admissions file is reviewed by the Head of Admissions and the decision is communicated in writing as one of: Acceptance, Waiting list, or Refused. The review considers academic records, test results, and the interview.
6. If accepted, Brillantmont sends an Offer of Admission and an Acceptance Form. The family signs and returns the Acceptance Form, typically within 10 days. The process signals the commitment to enroll and begins the next enrollment steps.
7. The family signs the Acceptance Form and returns it within 10 days and pays the Admission Deposit within 10 days to secure the place. The Admission Deposit secures the student's place and is refunded at the end of the student's stay. The admission is not final until the Admission Deposit is received.
8. What's next? On receipt of the Admissions Deposit, the admission is confirmed and the student becomes part of the Brillantmont community. A meeting with the Head of Academics may be arranged to discuss the academic programme. A buddy will be connected to the student a few weeks prior to arrival. Visa arrangements apply: non-EU students staying longer than 3 months may require a visa, which can take up to 12 weeks; the family is responsible for obtaining the entry visa. Brillantmont will apply for a student residency permit (B Permit) once the student arrives in Switzerland.
Admissions
The school reviews each application on an individual basis. For the Academic Year Program, applicants must submit a completed Application Form, a copy of the student's last two years' school reports/transcripts, a passport copy, visa procedure forms, and four passport photographs. If necessary, the applicant may be required to take an entrance test or a short interview with the Head of Studies.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
Waitlist: After the admissions review, a decision may place the candidate on the Waiting list. The written outcome will specify whether the candidate is accepted, placed on the Waiting list, or refused. If on the Waiting list, the school will contact you if a place becomes available, or a final decision will be issued.
