C.S. Lewis Bilingual High School vs Deutsche Schule Bratislava

	C C.S. Lewis Bilingual High School Bratislava, Slovakia	D Deutsche Schule Bratislava Bratislava, Slovakia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €3,650 - 8,100	Fees / year €7,716
Age range	Age range 13 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 506	Pupils 475
Typical class size	Typical class size 17	Typical class size 20
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Slovak	Instruction language German
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2005
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Haanova 28, Bratislava, 85104, Slovakia. The school is located in Bratislava, Slovakia.	Location The Deutsche Schule Bratislava is located in Bratislava, Slovakia, on a modern campus near the city center. The address is Bárdošova 33, Bratislava 831 01. It lies in the tri-border area of Slovakia, Hungary and Austria.
Stages	Stages Five-year bilingual program with Freshman year through Super-Senior year (grades 1–5).	Stages Kindergarten, Grundschule (primary school), and Gymnasium (secondary school) are on a single campus. The school also offers a Ganztagesangebot (full-day program).
School type	School type Bilingual high school (gymnázium) offering a five-year bilingual English program.	School type The school is a German international school (Deutsche Auslandsschule) in Bratislava. It offers the Slovak language and literature Abitur and the German International Abitur (DIA). It follows the Baden-Württemberg curriculum and provides an eight-year gymnasium with a focus on multilingualism, natural and humanities sciences, and in artistic and athletic areas.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support School psychology, special education, and study counseling are available.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation It is a German Auslandsschule (German international school). The Central Office for Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA) funds eight teachers from Germany and provides support; Germany funds the school annually; it offers the Matura in Slovak language and literature and the German International Abitur (DIA); German quality standards are applied; regular Bund-Länder inspections from Germany take place; it collaborates with German institutions and companies in Slovakia (e.g., the German Embassy, Goethe-Institut, and DSIHK).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Tuition and enrolment fees (2025/2026 academic year) - Enrolment fee (for new students): EUR 700. - Annual tuition (per student, first child): EUR 3,650 per year. - Annual tuition for the second and each subsequent child studying at the same time: EUR 3,050 per year. Families with two children therefore pay EUR 6,700 in total (EUR 3,650 + EUR 3,050). Tuition includes the cost of foreign-language textbooks. Per-term amounts and payment schedule - Standard payment schedule: two instalments each year. The first instalment is due 30 June (minimum 50% of the annual fee) and the second instalment is due 15 January (minimum 50% of the annual fee). It is possible to modify the payment schedule by individual agreement. - Example breakdown (minimum amounts per instalment): - First child (annual EUR 3,650): minimum EUR 1,825 due 30 June and minimum EUR 1,825 due 15 January. - Second child (annual EUR 3,050): minimum EUR 1,525 due 30 June and minimum EUR 1,525 due 15 January. Billing terms and payment instructions - Primary payment method: bank transfer to the school account (IBAN for tuition payments: SK13 1100 0000 0026 2505 8017 at Tatra banka). Parents must use the correct variable symbol generated for them and enter the student's full name as the purpose/reference of payment. Individual arrangements on instalments can be made by agreement. Boarding / Dormitory - Boarding is available through the school's cooperation with an external dormitory (BilGym Zázemie floor at Vranovská). The dormitory floor is provided for Bilgym students and is located approximately 20–30 minutes from the school. Requests for accommodation are made at registration or in writing by the deadline indicated during enrolment; the school's designated contact for dormitory arrangements is Katarína Morávková. Arrangements and payments for boarding are handled with the dormitory management. Other costs and routine additional charges - School meals: lunches are provided by an external caterer. The published price per lunch ticket (as of 1 October 2022) was EUR 2.86. Parents pay meals by bank transfer to the caterer's account (IBAN listed for meal payments) and are asked to keep a positive credit in the school meal booking system; a suggested monthly standing order amount is EUR 35.34 (approximately 19 meals per month). If a meal is not cancelled in the booking system before the daily cut-off, no monetary or material reimbursement is provided. - ISIC student card: the ISIC stamp (renewal/license) used for discounts costs EUR 13; first-year students receive the stamp as part of the ISIC arrangement at registration. Subsequent renewals are handled via suppliers as described by the school. - Textbooks: the cost of foreign-language textbooks is included in the tuition. - Uniforms and similar fees: there is no published school uniform charge listed among the school's routine fees. (Other optional or occasional charges such as field trips, extracurricular activities, exam fees or study-abroad administration may apply and are handled separately.) Study-abroad tuition treatment - If a student studies abroad for one semester, the full annual tuition is charged; if a student studies abroad for the entire school year, half the annual tuition is charged. Study-abroad arrangements are processed through the school's study-abroad coordinator. Refunds and cancellations - Meals: if a meal booking is not cancelled before the system cut-off, no monetary or material reimbursement will be provided. - Enrolment/tuition refunds and adjustments: instalment flexibility and any exceptional fee adjustments are arranged individually with the school's administration or school board; standard tuition refund terms are not presented as a fixed public tariff. Parents should follow the school's enrolment and payment instructions and contact the school's administration for any refund requests or special arrangements. Fee payment options and contacts for payments - Tuition payments: bank transfer to the school IBAN SK13 1100 0000 0026 2505 8017 (Tatra banka). Use the variable symbol provided by the school and enter the student's name as the payment purpose. - Meal payments: bank transfer to the caterer's meal account IBAN SK15 1100 0000 0002 9400 27069; follow the meal-booking/credit procedures in the school meal system. - For dormitory accommodation enquiries contact the school representative who coordinates with the dormitory: Katarína Morávková (email provided by the school). (End of fee overview.)	Fee details Application / Admission fees and deposit - One-time admission fee (Aufnahmegebühr) per child: EUR 1,500. - Kindergarten reservation fee (optional, payable in advance to reserve a place): EUR 500; this is credited against the admission fee at enrolment (if used). If the reservation is cancelled more than one year before the planned start date, 50% (EUR 250) is refundable; no refund if cancelled within one year. - One-time refundable deposit per child: EUR 1,000 (returned without interest when the child leaves, less any claims). Annual tuition (by year group) — amounts and breakdown - Base annual tuition (Basissatz) for every year group (Kindergarten, Vorschule, Grundschule Klassen 1–4, Sekundarstufe / Gymnasium Klassen 5–12): EUR 7,716 per year. - Monthly equivalent: EUR 643 per month (calculated as 12 monthly instalments of the annual tuition). - Per half‑year / per school term (school half‑year): EUR 3,858 (6 months of the annual tuition; the school treats each started school half‑year as payable in full). Sibling, loyalty and employee discounts (examples and structure) - Sibling discount examples applied per child (illustrative values shown in the school's schedule): 2 children — 15% discount per child (monthly example EUR 547 / annual EUR 6,564); 3 children — 25% discount per child (monthly example EUR 483 / annual EUR 5,796). - Loyalty (Treuerabatt): after eight years at the school (beginning in the 9th year) a loyalty discount of 5% applies for Grundschule and Gymnasium; example reduced figures are published (monthly EUR 611 / annual EUR 7,332 for a single child with 5% loyalty). - Employee children: special employee rate for full‑time employees' children is EUR 153 per month per child. Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment methods accepted: cashless bank transfer in EUR to the school's account (IBAN: SK97 0900 0000 0051 3169 0040; SWIFT/BIC: GIBASKBX). Tuition is invoiced and must be paid by bank transfer. - Payment timing options (parents choose one of the following): - Single annual payment due by 15 September; or - Two instalments: 50% due 15 September and 50% due 15 February; or - Twelve monthly instalments: each instalment due by the 3rd day of each month. - If a pupil is admitted during the school year, tuition is charged pro rata starting from the month of commencement; reductions for a started month are not available. The school treats each started school half‑year as payable in full. - Late payments: after two weeks in arrears the school issues a reminder. Each reminder incurs a reminder fee of EUR 10. Late‑payment interest is charged at 0.05% per day on the outstanding sum. Continued non‑payment may lead to legal action and contract termination. Cancellation, refunds and related fees - Admission fee refund: if the school withdraws from the enrolment contract because the child does not demonstrate sufficient German language level in the entry assessment, the paid admission fee is refunded. - Reservation fee refund (kindergarten): 50% refunded if reservation cancelled in writing more than one year before planned start; no refund if cancelled within one year. - Cancellation of an application (Stornierung) by the applicant: a cancellation fee equal to one month's tuition is payable; the admission fee is offset against that cancellation fee. The board may waive this fee in hardship cases. - Deposit refund: the EUR 1,000 deposit is refunded without interest when the child leaves, subject to deduction of any outstanding claims. Boarding / accommodation - No boarding or school accommodation charges are provided in the school's fee regulations; the school operates as a day school and does not publish boarding fees. Other costs and typical additional billing items - The Schulgeldordnung explicitly lists the admission/reservation fee, deposit, tuition and related charge rules, reminder and cancellation fees, and discounts. Additional items commonly billed separately (and typically charged outside the annual tuition) include extracurricular course fees, school‑trip charges, school lunch / catering and specific programme costs; those items are handled and billed separately from the base tuition. Specific amounts for such extras are not part of the base Schulgeld figures above and are charged as incurred. Fee payment options (practical details) - Required currency: EUR. Payments are made by bank transfer to the school's designated account (IBAN and SWIFT/BIC shown above). The school offers three payment schedules (annual, two instalments, or monthly) and requires cashless transfer; parents must choose and adhere to one of the schedules. Reminder fees and late‑payment interest apply for missed payments. Key administrative deadlines (billing and contract termination related) - For school (Vorschule and Grundschule/Gymnasium) termination by parents: notice may take effect 31 August (end of school year) or 31 January (end of first half‑year). Termination to take effect 31 August must be submitted in writing by 31 May; termination to take effect 31 January must be submitted in writing by 31 December. The tuition for a started half‑year is payable in full. If you require the central numeric items above incorporated into a database field format, they are contained in the sections here (admission fee, deposit, annual tuition, monthly equivalent, half‑year amount, reservation and cancellation fees, reminder/late fees, discounts and employee rate).
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 a five-year bilingual program in English and Slovak that enables students to study subjects in English while meeting the Slovak Ministry of Education graduation requirements and earning language certificates recognized in the EU and the USA. In Freshman Year, English classes total 13 hours per week with aims including intensive language preparation and adaptation to the bilingual high school system; course work includes English Language, Speaking/Public Speaking, Literature and Writing, and Global Studies, with optional after-school language support if needed and a year-end Summer Semester Test (SST) that accounts for 30% of the English grade. From Sophomore to Super Senior Year, English instruction is reduced to 4–6 hours per week; Sophomore Year includes English and American Literature, and an end-of-semester English language project that counts for 20% of the final English grade. Junior Year continues English study with British Literature, and an Aptis test at B2 level is administered at year end. Senior Year uses Ready for C1 Advanced for maturita and CAE preparation, and graduates complete English at C1 level and may register for a vocational or general C1 state language exam in cooperation with the Language School at Palisády 38.	Curriculum details The school provides Kindergarten, Grundschule (primary) and Gymnasium (secondary), with a Ganztagesangebot (full‑day program) on a single campus. The pedagogical concept promotes holistic, individual development and community life from kindergarten through Abitur, grounded in democratic and ethical values. The school offers a double qualification: Abitur in Slovak language and literature and the German International Abitur (DIA); the eight‑year Gymnasium follows the Baden‑Württemberg curriculum with emphasis on multilingualism, natural and human sciences, and arts and sports. Since September 2021, EIVA (Eigenverantwortliches Arbeiten) enables asynchronous learning on Tuesdays for classes 8–12; in 5–7, the first to fourth periods are free work time with teachers acting as learning guides. On EIVA days, 5–7 cover German, Slovak language and literature, English, and Religion; 8–12 cover German, Slovak language and literature or Slovak as a foreign language, English, French, and History, with Geography added from grade 8, Economics from grade 9, Ethics from grade 10, and Biology and Mathematics from grade 11. There are spaces for language certificate courses (English, French, Spanish, Italian) or clubs, and the learning environment is designed as open learning spaces with flexible furniture and learning landscapes.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression The school maintains international partnerships for higher education, including Minnehaha Academy (USA) and Montana State University (USA) as partner institutions, and Erasmus+ exchanges. Montana State University offers 115 programs across five colleges. Bilgym Future Counselling provides college guidance, workshops, and alumni insights to help students plan for life after Bilgym.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented The school offers scholarships to talented and gifted students. Thanks to donors, about 10 new scholarships are offered each year, and 41 students currently receive financial support through Bilgym scholarships.	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. Applications are due by February 20. List Bilgym as your first choice on the application. If the student has only one legal guardian or cannot obtain signatures, attach a Declaration on honor or a court decision to limit or suspend rights. 2. The school will open 6 Freshmen classes with 17 students in the 2026/2027 school year. If a successful applicant does not enrol on enrolment day, the place will be offered to other candidates. First round of entrance examinations for the five-year bilingual study programme is 23 March 2026; the second round for applicants unable to attend the first date is 30 March 2026. The entrance examination consists of a home assignment (essay), a written English language aptitude test, a written Slovak language aptitude test, a written mathematics aptitude test, a written general academic aptitude test, and a written individualized component. 3. The results of the entrance examination will be published on 15 April. The results will be posted on the Bilgym site. Academic results from primary school and the home assignment will be taken into account during the appeals process. Applications for adjustment of admissions for applicants with special educational needs can be considered when a certificate from an educational-psychological counselling centre is provided. 4. Scholarships: In the upcoming school year we will again seek to award scholarships to additional students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to study at our school. The school aims to offer scholarships to more students who are an essential part of the Bilgym community. The need-based scholarship process requires an application with the necessary documents, a personal interview, and committee consideration; submissions are due on the same date as school applications and should be sent to Katarína Morávková at bilgym.sk.	Admissions Step 1. Registration for Gymnasium is completed via the gymnasium registration form on the DSB website. Step 2. Admission is based on an overall assessment of the applicant's performance within the admissions procedure. For students coming from schools other than German schools, a trial day with tests in various subjects is part of the admissions process. Step 3. Admission uses internal criteria that include end-of-year grades (class 3) and behavior, mid-year grades (class 4), and tests in core subjects; German language skills, social behavior, readiness for the Gymnasium, and extra-curricular achievements are also taken into account. Step 4. Tests are conducted on designated dates; tests for students with special educational needs or health issues are adjusted as needed. Step 5. Applicants achieving at least 70% of the total points meet the admission requirements; ranking is by total points, and in a tie the school leadership prioritizes the applicant with limited working ability, then the applicant with better performance in classes 3 and 4. Step 6. The order of applicants is posted by code at the school entrance and on the school's site; acceptance letters are sent in writing, and guardians must confirm acceptance within five working days; there is a right to appeal within five days.
Scholarships	Scholarships We offer need-based scholarships. Donors have provided about 10 new scholarships on average each year since 2017/2018. Currently 41 students have their studies financially supported by donors or fully funded. In the upcoming year we would like to offer scholarships to additional students who would otherwise not have the chance to study. The need-based scholarship process requires an application with documents, a personal interview, and committee consideration; submissions are due on the same date as school applications and should be sent to Katarína Morávková at bilgym.sk.	Scholarships Stipendienordnung: The Parents' Association may award scholarships each year, depending on available funds, and the conditions for awarding, granting and revocation are governed by this scholarship regulation. The board may publish a call for scholarships each year and will specify the type of scholarship, criteria for selecting recipients, amount and payment method, duration, application procedures and deadlines, and the composition of the selection panel. The board is not obliged to award a scholarship and may cancel a call for applications. A scholarship contract is signed with the guardians of the recipient, and scholarships may be revoked for disciplinary reasons or other violations listed in the Parent Information for the awarding of scholarships. Changes to the regulation are made by the board. Stand: 17.07.2023. Elterninformation zur Vergabe von Stipendien (Social, Merit and Subject Scholarships): Begabten children from families that cannot afford the school fees or particularly high-achieving children may apply for a scholarship; the amount and number of scholarships depend on available funds and eligible applicants; no scholarship is legally enforceable; the school may grant up to 75% of tuition fees as a scholarship; eligibility is reassessed annually. Applications for the Social Scholarship require a program-specific application and supporting documents; selection is by a committee of at least three people including the DSB principal, a board member, the administrator, and the Parents' Association chair; the process is documented and decisions are by consensus. The Social Scholarship requires demonstrating low family income (thresholds are reviewed yearly) and showing at least 25% parental/self-financing of tuition; families must not have tuition arrears; annual reviews of financial need, performance and social conduct occur. The Merit Scholarship may be offered for exemplary students with very high academic achievement and outstanding social behavior; the selection considers teachers' recommendations and motivation letters; applications for next school year are due by May 15; the Stipend Committee meets in early September. The Subject Scholarships can be awarded for outstanding achievement in specific subjects; teacher recommendations and motivation letters are used in the decision; deadlines and documents are the same as for social scholarships. Documentation for the social scholarship includes data sheet, photos, copies of IDs, last utility bills, employer confirmation of payment status, proof of financial situation, academic records, motivation letter, and other relevant documents. Stand: 17.07.2023.
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