Collège Alpin Beau Soleil vs Leysin American School in Switzerland

	C Collège Alpin Beau Soleil Lausanne, Switzerland	L Leysin American School in Switzerland Lausanne, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 137,040 - 148,440	Fees / year CHF 128,000 - 158,500
Age range	Age range 11 - 18 years	Age range 12 - 19 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 300	Pupils 300
Typical class size	Typical class size 10	Typical class size 12
Instruction language	Instruction language English, French	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1910	Opened 1961
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Route du Village 1, 1884 Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland	Location Chemin de La Source 3, Leysin, Vaud 1854, Switzerland. The school is in the alpine village of Leysin in the Swiss Alps. The campus has dorms and classrooms spread throughout the village, and LAS is connected to three international airports for travel.
Stages	Stages Grades 6 to 10; Grades 11 and 12 (ages 11–18)	Stages Grades 7–12. The school offers the US High School Diploma, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced Placement options, with ESL and English Language Acquisition.
School type	School type Private international boarding school	School type Private, co-educational boarding school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix More than 55 nationalities represented.	Pupil nationality mix The school has 300 students representing over 50 nationalities.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Learning Support Team provides a comprehensive programme to help students manage academic challenges, including time management, notetaking, coping with exam stress, and scheduling revision time.	Additional learning support The English Language Acquisition program helps non-native speakers build confidence and fluency.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Switzerland	Country affiliation United States.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure The academic day runs from 8:20 am to 4:15 pm, Monday to Friday.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details Airport shuttles between Geneva Airport (GVA) and LAS for arrivals and departures on scheduled times.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fee and one-time new-student charges - Application fee: CHF 3,000. - Initial uniform package (new students): CHF 6,990. - Enrolment deposit (per student): CHF 15,000 — refunded within three months following the end of the fiscal year in which the student's school career concludes, subject to full settlement of the account. Annual boarding & tuition (by year group) — base amounts - Grades 6–10: CHF 137,040 per year (boarding + tuition). - Per term (one third): CHF 45,680. - Grades 11–12: CHF 148,440 per year (boarding + tuition; includes senior supplement). - Per term (one third): CHF 49,480. - Senior supplement (Grades 11 & 12): CHF 11,400 per year (included in the Grades 11–12 annual figure). Other mandatory annual charges and typical per-term equivalents - Other annual fees (medical insurance, expeditions, cultural & academic activities, standard co-curricular programme, etc.): CHF 26,460 per year. - Approximate per term (one third): CHF 8,820. - Annual trip charge (applicable to grades excluding Grade 12): CHF 8,490 per year. - Example total (illustrative aggregation, excluding one-time new-student costs and optional extras): - Grades 6–10 total (boarding + tuition + other fees + annual trip): CHF 171,990 per year. - Grades 11–12 total (including senior supplement): CHF 183,390 per year. - These totals are shown here to demonstrate how the components add together; invoices are issued according to the school billing schedule below. Per-term billing detail and billing schedule - Academic year is invoiced over three terms. - Invoice timing and payment deadlines: - Invoice covering Term 1 and Term 2 (two-thirds of annual charges, plus items billed annually such as uniform for the year and school books) — payment due by April 15 (or upon receipt if enrolling later). - Invoice covering Term 3 (one-third of annual charges) — payment due by January 31. - Other bills (supplementary or incidental charges) are payable within 30 days of issue. - Practical effect on per-term amounts (base tuition/boarding only): - Grades 6–10: combined Term 1 + Term 2 invoice = CHF 91,360; Term 3 invoice = CHF 45,680. - Grades 11–12: combined Term 1 + Term 2 invoice = CHF 98,960; Term 3 invoice = CHF 49,480. - Interest on overdue balances applies at 5% per annum from the due date until full settlement. - No place is reserved until the enrolment deposit has been paid. Optional / additional academic and personal charges - Supplementary language group lessons: - 3 lessons per week (annual): CHF 6,000. - 5 lessons per week (annual): CHF 10,000. - Private lessons: - Per lesson: CHF 145. - Estimated annual cost for private lessons (examples shown in the school schedule): - 3 lessons per week (annual): CHF 13,920. - 5 lessons per week (annual): CHF 23,200. - Pocket money service: prepaid cards are provided for younger grades and topped up weekly; replacement card fee CHF 40. Weekly pocket money guidance varies by grade and term. - Supplementary and optional charges that are invoiced as incurred may include extra private lessons, sport/athlete development programmes, medical costs not covered by insurance (e.g., dental), transport, excursions beyond included trips, additional uniform, expedition equipment, additional books, shipping/customs, visa/residence permit costs, and personal purchases. A detailed invoice is sent after each term for supplementary charges. Refunds, cancellations and withdrawal rules - Deposit refund: the enrolment deposit is refunded within three months after the end of the fiscal year in which the student's school career concludes, subject to confirmation that the account is fully settled. - Cancellation by new students: cancellation fees equal to Term 1's boarding and tuition fees become payable if enrolment is cancelled after the published cancellation deadline for the planned start date. - Withdrawal by returning students: if parents withdraw a student during the academic year, fees for the current term and the boarding/tuition fees for the following term remain payable. - All withdrawals or cancellations must be sent in writing and acknowledged by the school. - Any refund due will be paid back into the account from which funds were originally received. - The school may suspend or withdraw students for non-payment; places for existing students cannot be guaranteed if payments are not received on time. Payment methods, currency and payment restrictions - Payment currency: CHF only. - Accepted payment methods: bank transfer to the school's CHF account (UBS Villars; IBAN and SWIFT/BIC provided in school payment information) and online payments (credit card accepted via the school's online payment portal). Cash payments are not accepted. - Bank transfer details and the online payment portal are provided for invoicing and settlement; payments originating from certain sanctioned countries or sanctioned accounts cannot be accepted. - Any overdue payment accrues interest and may affect the student's continued place at the school. Additional practical points about billing and coverage - The published boarding and tuition fees include accommodation, meals, laundry, standard class tuition, use of sports facilities, some transportation to specified airport dates, and personal third-party liability insurance; certain items (specific trips, external exam fees, some language lessons, medical expenses not covered by insurance, private lessons, and personal purchases) are charged in addition. - School books for the official programme are rented for the year; lost or unsatisfactorily returned books are charged. - Supervised transport to/from Geneva Airport is included only on the school's specified dates; transport outside those dates is chargeable. - Any queries about specific optional services, dates for invoiced trips, or supplementary charges will be shown on the termly invoice.	Fee details Application fee - CHF 500 payable upon submission of the application. One-time fees required at acceptance - Security deposit: CHF 10,000 due within 10 days of acceptance. The security deposit holds the student's place; it is refundable within three months after the end of the student's time at the school but is non‑refundable if enrollment is cancelled. - Capital Improvement Fund (new students): CHF 10,000 due April 1 or within 10 days of acceptance. This is a one‑time fee paid by new students. Tuition (annual fee) - Annual tuition: CHF 128,000 per academic year. This yearly tuition covers all academic programs plus room and board. Due date: April 1 or within 10 days of acceptance (for students enrolling after April 1, fees are due within 10 days of acceptance). - The annual tuition includes: all academic classes and regular instructional/laboratory fees; full seven‑day room and board (linens included; students provide their own towels); school‑sponsored events and excursions (local and cultural trips); recreational physical activities (extra charges may apply for some special activities); ski pass and group ski/snowboard lessons during the winter season (may incur additional charges); school health plan and LAS Health Center services; provision of a school laptop and a Swiss SIM card (equipment to be returned at year end). Billing schedule and payment terms - Annual charges and due dates: Tuition CHF 128,000 due April 1 or within 10 days of acceptance; Personal Account recommended CHF 10,000 due August 1 or before student arrival (suggested amount). One‑time charges (application fee, security deposit, capital improvement fund) are due at the times noted above. - Important deadline: April 1 is the tuition fee and enrollment deadline. In the event of enrollment cancellation, all fees except the application fee and the security deposit will be reimbursed if cancellation occurs before this date. For students enrolling after April 1, fees are due within 10 days of acceptance. Boarding fees - Boarding (full seven‑day room and board) is included in the annual tuition; there is no separate published boarding fee. Linens are provided; students supply towels. Extra charges can apply for certain optional activities or special services. Personal account and other variable costs - Personal Account recommended amount: CHF 10,000 per academic year (managed by the accounting team) to cover personal expenses. Due August 1 or before student arrival (suggested). - Typical items charged to the Personal Account (examples and recommended or typical amounts): - Weekly pocket money (disbursed via a Swiss Bankers prepaid Mastercard; CHF 50/year fee for the card). - Supplies and campus store charges including uniforms, school, art, and IT supplies, printing and copying: recommended CHF 2,500 per year. - Health plan contribution: CHF 300 per semester. - Non‑LAS medical treatment (dentist, orthodontist, external counseling) and external laundry services (grades 7 & 8 only). - Swiss airport transfer on non‑official arrival/departure days from approximately CHF 350. - Individual lessons and support programs (private music, academic, sports lessons; learning support, tutoring), sports equipment rental/purchases and ski jacket/equipment (estimated CHF 1,000–5,000 per year), optional overnight and special day trips (around CHF 2,000 per year), and external exam fees (IB, SAT, ACT, IELTS). These items may be charged in addition to tuition. Refund information - Enrollment cancellation and refund deadline: If enrollment is cancelled before April 1, all fees except the application fee and the security deposit will be reimbursed. The security deposit is refundable within three months after the end of the student's time at the school, but it is non‑refundable if enrollment is cancelled. Fee payment options - Online payments: The school processes online payments for all fees via Flywire. - Bank transfer: Families may arrange direct transfers from their bank using the school's bank details. Contact the accounting office for bank transfer instructions and account details. Notes on fee structure - The school publishes tuition as a single annual charge that covers instruction, residential accommodation, and many standard services. Separate, variable charges are handled through the Personal Account or billed as incurred for optional services.
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 Beau Soleil is an IB World School offering the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6 to 10 and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for Grades 11 and 12. The MYP provides a challenging and rewarding curriculum organized into eight subject groups, developing subject knowledge, global understanding, and essential attitudes, skills, and values. Students in Grades 6 to 10 explore their strengths, learn by doing, and begin shaping their path to Diploma level and beyond, with learning extending beyond the classroom to the boarding environment. Grades 11 and 12 offer two diploma pathways: the IBDP and the US High School Diploma (HSD). The IBDP is available in bilingual form (English and French options) and includes six subject groups plus core elements: Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). Beau Soleil is authorised to teach the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Middle Years Programme, affirming its status as an IB World School.	Curriculum details The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB). It provides more than 40 Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) courses. The IB Curriculum Structure includes six subject groups: Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and The Arts, with the option to select a second course from groups 2, 3 or 4. The IB Core comprises Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). University advising begins in grade 9 and helps students design an IB course plan aligned with their university goals.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes with close teacher–student relationships and high levels of support accelerate progress.	Student teacher ratio Average class size is 10 students.
Exam results	Exam results In 2025, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) graduating class achieved a 100% pass rate with an average score of 36.0 (out of 45). 28% of diplomas were bilingual. All US High School Diploma (HSD) learners passed. The school's outcomes are supported by small class sizes and strong teacher–student relationships with high levels of support.	Exam results Highest IB score: 45; average score: 35; 37% of IB students achieved 38 or higher. More than 40 HL and SL courses are offered.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression In 2025, Beau Soleil students applied to 210 universities and received 274 offers. They progressed to institutions including UK universities such as King's College London and UCL, US universities such as the University of Pennsylvania, Babson College, Boston University, Northeastern, and NYU, and other respected universities worldwide. A dedicated University Counselling Team provides bespoke support, including help with applications, personal statements, and visits to higher education institutions.	Higher education progression University advising helps students gain admission to universities worldwide, including top global institutions, with advising starting as early as grade 9 and aligning IB coursework with university goals.
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 Beau Soleil's Admissions Team guides applicants through the process—from submitting the application form to arranging a campus tour. The school is home to around 300 students, and places are limited, so apply early—ideally between September and December—to avoid disappointment. The Application Process includes: Step 1: Complete our application form (download the form or complete the online form). Step 2: Provide references by having the current school complete our reference form. Step 3: Pay a non-refundable application fee of CHF 3,000. Step 4: Getting to know you (we offer a campus tour or Virtual Discovery Meeting, and can arrange a meeting with the Admissions Team in your region). Step 5: The Admissions Committee reviews your application and aims to decide within a week, with an offer issued in writing. You can also book a tour of the campus or arrange a Virtual Discovery Meeting, and meet our Admissions Team in your region.	Admissions Apply online by completing LAS's application form. After submission, a unique login is provided to complete all required forms and upload documents through the Admissions Portal. Required documents include a transcript from the last three years, a copy of the passport and passport-style photo, three teacher recommendations (English, math, and one additional subject), a handwritten student essay, and an English placement test for non-native English speakers (IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo accepted). The Admissions Committee makes a final decision within 10 business days of receiving the full application, and accepted students receive the acceptance package electronically and/or by mail. To guarantee a place, a security deposit must be paid within 10 business days after acceptance, and enrollment is complete when the Admissions Office receives all required documents.
Scholarships	Scholarships Beau Soleil does not offer financial aid or scholarships at this time.	Scholarships The LAS Global Scholarship is a two-year International Baccalaureate (IBDP) scholarship awarded to students who demonstrate impressive academic and extracurricular achievements in their home country but cannot afford to attend LAS. Global Scholarships are merit-based and means-assessed. The applicant must be in Grade 10 and plan to complete the IBDP, have advanced English, and provide records of impressive academic and extracurricular achievements; must be financially able to pay CHF 10,000 (CHF 5,000 for a security deposit and CHF 5,000 for the student's personal account) plus three return flight tickets per year to their home country during breaks; visa application fees are the responsibility of the applicant; the scholarship is only for Grade 11 IBDP. Applications for 2026-2027 are closed; the 2027-2028 application will open in autumn 2026 and close in January 2027. The application requires a Google account; prepare parent/guardian and current school contact, transcripts from the last two years, two teacher references, a list of extracurricular activities, a 30-word personal statement, an essay about how you would enrich LAS and the scholarship's value to you (500 words), and an essay about how your values guide your approach to learning (500 words); shortlisted applicants will be contacted in February; later stages may require financial information. The scholarship includes full tuition (including room and board) for two years, ski equipment rental, university application support up to CHF 1,500, one long weekend school trip per semester, school uniform and ski jacket (previously owned), a senior jacket, a yearbook, and a math calculator. The LAS Global Scholarship Committee selects successful applicants.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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