GIS The International School of Lugano vs International School of Ticino

	G GIS The International School of Lugano Lugano, Switzerland	I International School of Ticino Lugano, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 11,200 - 22,500	Fees / year CHF 18,120 - 25,950
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Bespoke Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme)
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Italian	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2025	Opened 2014
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location GIS Lugano is located in Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland, at Via Senago 42E, 6912 Lugano, in the Pazzallo neighbourhood. It is easily accessible by public transport, with travel times: about 12 minutes from Lugano city centre, 20 minutes from Mendrisio, 28 minutes from Bellinzona, and 30 minutes from Chiasso.	Location Via Ponteggia 23, 6814 Cadempino, Switzerland. Located in the Ticino canton near Lugano. Accessible by local transport and road links.
Stages	Stages GIS Lugano offers education from Early Years (preschool) through secondary school. The secondary section is divided between Middle School (ages 11–14) and Liceo (ages 15–18) and the Liceo is planned to be introduced in a second development phase.	Stages Ages 3-18/19; IB continuum from Early Years to High School, including the Career-related Programme (CP).
School type	School type International school	School type Private international day school; IB World School (IB continuum); part of the Inspired group of schools.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix 30 different nationalities represented.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Inclusion Policy and Inclusion Program in place. Referral procedures identify students with additional learning needs and develop an Individual Learning Plan (ILP). Inclusive assessment arrangements can be made where appropriate. Reviews of ILPs and progress occur regularly, including a six‑week review cycle; support may involve external agencies as required.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Switzerland	Country affiliation Switzerland
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Day arrival and dismissal are age-specific: Early Years arrive 8:15–9:00 (flexible) and are dismissed at 15:45; Elementary arrive 8:15–8:30 (lessons begin 8:30) and are dismissed at 15:50; Middle School arrives 8:10 (lessons begin 8:15) and is dismissed at 15:55. After-School Enrichment starts at 16:00.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & Registration Fees - Admission fee (one-time, new enrolments only): CHF 2,500.00. - Registration fee (annual): CHF 1,500.00. Tuition fees by year group (annual and instalments) The school publishes annual tuition by year group and the three-instalment breakdown (25% / 50% / 25%). Payment deadlines shown are those published for the 2025/2026 schedule and the instalment percentages apply as indicated below. Amounts and instalment splits: - Early Years 1 (Half Day) - Annual tuition: CHF 11,200.00 - 1st payment (25%): CHF 2,800.00 - 2nd payment (50%): CHF 5,600.00 - 3rd payment (25%): CHF 2,800.00. - Early Years 1 & 2 (Full day) - Annual tuition: CHF 17,200.00 - 1st payment (25%): CHF 4,300.00 - 2nd payment (50%): CHF 8,600.00 - 3rd payment (25%): CHF 4,300.00. - Early Years 3 - Annual tuition: CHF 17,800.00 - 1st payment (25%): CHF 4,450.00 - 2nd payment (50%): CHF 8,900.00 - 3rd payment (25%): CHF 4,450.00. - Primary Years 1–5 - Annual tuition: CHF 19,400.00 - 1st payment (25%): CHF 4,850.00 - 2nd payment (50%): CHF 9,700.00 - 3rd payment (25%): CHF 4,850.00. - Middle Years 1–3 - Annual tuition: CHF 21,500.00 - 1st payment (25%): CHF 5,375.00 - 2nd payment (50%): CHF 10,750.00 - 3rd payment (25%): CHF 5,375.00. - Middle Years 4–5 - Annual tuition: CHF 22,500.00 - 1st payment (25%): CHF 5,625.00 - 2nd payment (50%): CHF 11,250.00 - 3rd payment (25%): CHF 5,625.00. Lunches / Catering fees - Annual lunches charge: CHF 2,200.00. - Lunch payments are split: 50% of lunches invoiced with the 2nd instalment and 50% with the 3rd instalment (no lunches charge on the 1st instalment). Billing schedule and payment terms - Instalment schedule as published for the 2025/2026 fees: - 1st payment (25% of tuition) + Registration Fee + Admission Fee — due by 31/01/2025. - 2nd payment (50% of tuition) + 50% of lunch fees — due by 31/07/2025. - 3rd payment (25% of tuition) + 50% of lunch fees — due by 15/12/2025. - Fees must be paid by the dates indicated in the billing schedule. Discounts and what the tuition includes - Sibling discounts on tuition: 10% for the second child, 20% for the third child, 25% for the fourth child. - Upfront payment discount: 5% on tuition if the total tuition amount is paid upfront by the stated upfront-payment deadline (published example: payment by 31/01/2025). - Tuition includes books and stationery and tablets for school use. Any items not explicitly listed as included are charged extra. Boarding fees - The published fee schedule lists no boarding fees. No boarding charge is included in the published annual tuition schedule. Other costs and typical additional fees - Uniform: Wearing the school uniform is compulsory. Uniform items are supplied by CoccoBaby and ordered through the designated uniform platform (myunif.com); uniform items are an additional cost and are not included in the tuition line items. - Items explicitly not included: any items not listed under the tuition inclusions (books, stationery, tablets) will be charged extra; parents should expect additional costs for personal supplies, certain school trips, specialised materials, optional activities and external exam/assessment fees where applicable. Refund information - The published annual fee schedule provides the chargeable items, instalment amounts and payment deadlines but does not set out a detailed refund or cancellation schedule within the same fee document. The fees schedule does identify the Admission Fee as a fee charged for new enrolments. For clarity about refunds of specific fees (for example enrolment cancellation, withdrawals, or refunds of payments), the school's formal refund/cancellation terms are not included in the single-page fee schedule and should be confirmed with the school's admissions or finance office. Fee payment options - The published fee documents and fee summary do not list specific accepted payment methods (for example bank transfer or card) in the fee schedule itself. Payment method details and invoicing instructions are handled through the school's admissions/finance processes. Confirm available payment channels and any transfer instructions with the admissions/finance office. Brief note on gaps in the published fee schedule (concise) - The one-page published annual fee schedule provides amounts, instalment splits, payment deadlines, discounts and what tuition covers, but it does not publish a full refund/cancellation policy or specify accepted payment methods on that same fee sheet. Financial and contractual details such as refund timelines, the treatment of mid-year withdrawals, and the school's accepted payment channels are handled separately by the school's admissions/finance team.	Fee details Application and admission fees - Student Admission Fee (one‑time, payable at initial enrolment): CHF 3,000. - Registration Fee (payable annually): CHF 1,950. Tuition fees by year group (annual and scheduled payments for 2026–2027) Each line below shows: Annual tuition — 1st payment (due 17 Feb 2026) — 2nd payment (due 23 Aug 2026) — 3rd payment (due 1 Dec 2026). - Kindergarten — CHF 20,735 — CHF 5,184 — CHF 10,368 — CHF 5,184. - Kindergarten (Half Day) — CHF 12,300 — CHF 3,075 — CHF 6,150 — CHF 3,075. - Transition — CHF 20,735 — CHF 5,184 — CHF 10,368 — CHF 5,184. - Grade 1 — CHF 23,640 — CHF 5,910 — CHF 11,820 — CHF 5,910. - Grade 2 — CHF 24,840 — CHF 6,210 — CHF 12,420 — CHF 6,210. - Grade 3 — CHF 24,940 — CHF 6,235 — CHF 12,470 — CHF 6,235. - Grade 4 — CHF 24,940 — CHF 6,235 — CHF 12,470 — CHF 6,235. - Grade 5 — CHF 25,190 — CHF 6,297 — CHF 12,595 — CHF 6,297. - Grade 6 — CHF 26,410 — CHF 6,602 — CHF 13,205 — CHF 6,602. - Grade 7 — CHF 26,410 — CHF 6,602 — CHF 13,205 — CHF 6,602. - Grade 8 — CHF 26,410 — CHF 6,602 — CHF 13,205 — CHF 6,602. - Grade 9 — CHF 26,410 — CHF 6,602 — CHF 13,205 — CHF 6,602. - Grade 10 — CHF 27,435 — CHF 6,859 — CHF 13,718 — CHF 6,859. - Grade 11 — CHF 27,435 — CHF 6,859 — CHF 13,718 — CHF 6,859. - Grade 12 — CHF 29,185 — CHF 7,296 — CHF 14,593 — CHF 7,296. - Grade 13 — CHF 29,185 — CHF 7,296 — CHF 14,593 — CHF 7,296. Additional fee items: - Lunches (annual): CHF 2,600 — billed as CHF 1,300 at the 2nd payment and CHF 1,300 at the 3rd payment (no amount at 1st payment). - EAL / Additional Inclusion Support (annual): CHF 4,200 (no instalment amounts shown). Billing schedule and payment terms - 1st Payment: due by 17 February 2026 — includes NSAF + Registration Fee + 25% of the tuition fee. - 2nd Payment: due by 23 August 2026 — includes 50% of lunches + 50% of the tuition fee. - 3rd Payment: due by 1 December 2026 — includes 50% of lunches + 25% of the tuition fee. - The fee schedule states: "Fees must be paid by the dates indicated." Boarding fees - Boarding is not listed in the school fee schedule; there are no boarding fees shown. Other costs and what tuition does not cover - Tuition fees do not include bus service, daily school trips, field trips, laptop, school uniforms, and external exams. - For Grades 12–13, textbooks are listed separately (not included in tuition). - The Registration Fee is stated to include stationery and educational resources. Refund information - The published school fee schedule does not specify a refund policy or refund conditions in the fee document. Fee payment options and bank details - Payment method accepted: bank transfer only (credit card payments are not indicated). - Bank details provided for payments: - Bank: UBS SA - Beneficiary: INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF TICINO SA - IBAN: CH25 0023 6236 1115 0901 A - BIC / SWIFT: UBSWCHZH80A.
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 GIS The International School of Lugano offers a multilingual, bilingual curriculum with English and Italian instruction. The program emphasizes a student-centered approach, inquiry-based learning, and multilingualism. It aligns with the principles of the Swiss Federal Constitution and is a candidate school for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP), pursuing IB World School authorization. The curriculum focuses on nurturing ethical, creative, and intellectual growth, and developing global citizens. English and Italian sound throughout the halls, reflecting a bilingual environment guided by native-speaking teachers who celebrate linguistic diversity and the 100 Languages Philosophy.	Curriculum details IS Ticino is an IB Continuum school offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). The language of instruction is English, with an Italian Programme that provides a bilingual structure for Grades 2–10 to meet Ticino Canton requirements. The Early Years curriculum uses a trans-disciplinary inquiry approach inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy and provides full immersion in an English language context. The Primary Years Programme focuses on inquiry-based learning through PYP themes, while the Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme follow IB frameworks across eight subject areas and core components. The school aligns with IB standards and is part of Inspired Education Group.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes due to a small student population.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression Career and higher education counselling is provided by university counsellors to advise on tertiary education pathways. University destinations include the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United States, Switzerland, and elsewhere, with more than 50% of graduates going to UK universities.
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 The school offers a bilingual education in English and Italian for students from preschool through secondary school. GIS Lugano is part of the GIS Group of International Schools Suisse and follows the IB curriculum merged with the Swiss cantonal standards. Enrollment is open throughout the year following the Admissions Policy, with class placements based on age. Fees information and payment options are available, and documents publish details such as an Admission Fee of CHF 2,500 and a Registration Fee of CHF 1,500 for 2025/2026. Prospective families can book a personalized visit.	Admissions IS Ticino accepts applications via an online form. After submission the admissions team will contact families to discuss the application process. IS Ticino admits international children arriving or leaving in the middle of the academic year. For Early Years and Elementary, IS Ticino provides an international education with English as the main language of instruction and operates a non-discriminatory admission policy. IS Ticino will accept children with no previous experience of speaking English. Although not all families are fluent in English, all communication with the school is primarily in English, and at least one parent should be able to speak English, communicate with staff in English, discuss English-language activities with the child, and read teacher notes and converse with teachers in English. Admission is by the Principal when it is evident the student can benefit from the programme and the school has sufficient staffing and programme capacity; placement for a different grade requires the Principal's recommendation. Priority for entry is given to families with siblings already enrolled and to international families whose children are fluent in English; all other applications are processed in strict chronological order and in compliance with the Admissions Procedure. Submit an application via the contact form (Apply Now). The language of instruction is English and applicants are assessed for English proficiency before a decision is made, including language assessments for PYP and DP where appropriate. Enrollment requires documents such as student and parent passports, Swiss permit if non-Swiss, birth certificate, vaccination record and Swiss health insurance.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships Nsouli Scholars Programme: The Nsouli Scholars Programme provides full scholarships to 50 extraordinary students at any one time to attend Inspired schools on a full scholarship for the duration of their education. The endowment honours Nadim Nsouli, and several scholarships are awarded to individuals of Lebanese origin.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Waiting lists: If a class is fully subscribed, successful applicants are invited to place their name on a waiting list. Priority is given to siblings of current IST students, children of ex-IST students, applicants from the international community, and applicants who are proficient in English or transferring from English-medium schools.
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