ipso! International School vs SIS Swiss International School Basel
ipso! International School and SIS Swiss International School Basel are both in Basel, about 15 km apart. Both schools offer Swiss programmes. ipso! International School also offers IB, and SIS Swiss International School Basel also offers British. Published annual fees are CHF 21,520 - 27,720 at ipso! International School and CHF 22,820 - 34,020 at SIS Swiss International School Basel, which puts SIS Swiss International School Basel roughly 15% higher. ipso! International School takes pupils from 1 to 16, and SIS Swiss International School Basel from 3 to 18. SIS Swiss International School Basel is the larger school, with around 500 pupils to ipso! International School's 140.
The school is located in Rheinfelden, Switzerland, at Bahnhofstrasse 26, CH-4310 Rheinfelden, adjacent to the old town. It is within a few minutes' walk from the SBB train station or bus station, accessible via the quiet Schützenweg. It is in a convenient location with optimum connections to public transport services near the playground and sports field next to the Schützenmatt school building.
Location
Basel, Switzerland
Stages
Stages
Early Childhood Center for ages 1.5–4; bilingual all-day school for ages 4–16, including Preschool, Primary School, and Secondary School. The school follows the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) at kindergarten and primary level; secondary level I offers bilingual tuition according to cantonal curriculum.
Stages
Kindergarten through to College, including Kindergarten, Primary School, Secondary School, SIS Bilingual College and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP); continuity from Kindergarten to College.
School type
School type
Bilingual ECCE and all-day school; IB World School.
Lunch, homework supervision, before- and after-school care, flexible drop-off and pickup times
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application / registration fee
- Registration fee (non-recurring): CHF 600.00. The registration fee is due at the time of registration for all programmes.
Tuition fees (by programme / year group)
- Early Childhood Center (full-time place, ages 1.5–4 years): CHF 27,720.00 per year. - Two-instalment option (per term): CHF 13,880.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Twelve-instalment option (monthly): CHF 2,330.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Registration fee: CHF 600.00. Family discount: 10% on the lower invoice starting from enrolment of a second child. Annual fees are invoiced pro rata if a child starts during the year.
- Early Childhood Center (part‑time places, ages 1.5–4 years): - Minimum occupancy options and annual fees: - Five mornings per week: CHF 18,900.00 per year. - Two full days + one morning per week: CHF 16,380.00 per year. - Registration fee is due at registration; annual fees invoiced pro rata for mid‑year starts.
- Preschool (full‑time place, ages 4–6 years): CHF 21,520.00 per year. - Two-instalment option (per term): CHF 10,780.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Twelve-instalment option (monthly): CHF 1,813.35 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Registration fee: CHF 600.00. Family discount: 10% on the lower invoice from the second child. Limited reduced attendance reduces fees accordingly.
- Primary School (Years 1–6): CHF 23,520.00 per year. - Two-instalment option (per term): CHF 11,780.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Twelve-instalment option (monthly): CHF 1,980.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Ancillary costs: registration fee CHF 600.00; after‑school activities, longer trips and external examination fees are invoiced separately. Family discount: 10% on the lower invoice from the enrolment of a second child. Annual fees invoiced pro rata if a student starts during the year.
- Secondary School (Years 7–9 / Secondary Years SY1–SY3): CHF 24,520.00 per year. - Two-instalment option (per term): CHF 12,280.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Twelve-instalment option (monthly): CHF 2,063.35 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Ancillary costs: registration fee CHF 600.00; after‑school activities, trips and external examination fees are invoiced separately. - Optional programme add‑on: ipso! Booster (personal coaching) CHF 1,800.00 per school year (optional). - The programme requires students to provide their own laptop (BYOD). Family discount: 10% on the lower invoice from the enrolment of a second child. Annual fees invoiced pro rata if a student starts during the year.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- The registration fee is due at the time of registration. Annual tuition fees are invoiced and, if a student starts during the school year, will be invoiced pro rata. - Instalment options are published for each programme (commonly 2 instalments per school year or 12 instalments per school year) with a small surcharge (CHF 20.00) applied to instalment plans. Amounts for the instalment options are shown next to each programme above. - Additional services (early drop‑off, after‑school care, clubs, private lessons) are billed separately according to the registration/additional‑services form; many of these items are payable at the beginning of the school year or on receipt of invoice if joining later, and are stated as non‑refundable on the additional‑services registration form.
Boarding fees
- No boarding provision is listed for ipso! International School; the school operates as a full‑day/part‑time bilingual day school and early childhood centre, so boarding fees are not applicable.
Other costs and typical ancillary fees
- After‑School Care (ASC) options and example prices (from the additional‑services registration form): - ASC semester/year examples (1 hour/week): CHF 170.00 per semester / CHF 340.00 per year; 1 hour/day options and multi‑day options are listed with semester and annual rates; single bookings are charged per hour. Private lesson example rates: CHF 85.00 per 45‑minute lesson for one child, with scaled prices for multiple children. ipso! Booster (Secondary): CHF 1,800.00 per school year. Early drop‑off (½ hr) example: CHF 90.00 per semester / CHF 180.00 per year for one day per week; single bookings per ½ hour CHF 7.50. Many club and ASC items are billed semester or yearly and are non‑refundable when payable at the start of the year. - Lunch: a sample lunch booking charge is CHF 10.00 (bookable by quarter) for preschool; lunches are arranged via the school's catering provider and are billed separately. - Excursions and multi‑day camps: day excursions are included in tuition; camps and excursions lasting several days are invoiced separately. External examination fees are not included in the listed school fees and are charged separately. - Uniform: no compulsory uniform fee or uniform charge is listed among the ancillary costs on the programme fee pages; ancillary costs listed on the programme pages explicitly include registration, after‑school activities and external examination fees but do not list uniform charges.
Refund information
- Annual fees will be invoiced pro rata if a student starts during the school year. The registration fee is charged at registration; additional‑services amounts (for example ASC, clubs, private lessons) that are payable at the start of the school year or on receipt of invoice are stated as non‑refundable on the registration/additional‑services form. Cancellation of automatic re‑enrolment must be submitted in writing and registered by the school's stated deadline (cancellation by 30 April for the following school year is referenced on the enrolment form). Specific tuition‑refund schedules for mid‑year withdrawal are not listed on the programme fee pages; the enrolment/contract documentation describes automatic re‑enrolment and the April deadline.
Fee payment options (invoicing, instalments and methods listed)
- The school issues invoices and offers instalment schedules for the published annual fees (commonly 2 instalments or 12 instalments with a CHF 20.00 surcharge for instalment plans). Amounts and instalment figures are shown above for each programme. - The programme pages and registration forms show invoices and instalment plans but do not list explicit payment method types (for example “credit card” or “bank transfer”) on the public fee pages; invoices and the school's registration documentation indicate amounts are payable on receipt of invoice or at the start of the school year. Parents should expect to receive formal invoices that set the payment terms.
Fee details
Application / Registration Fee
- One-time registration (enrolment) fee: First child CHF 600. Each additional child CHF 500. This fee is non-refundable and a place at the school is only guaranteed once the registration fee has been paid.
Tuition fees (per semester) and annual totals by school year group
Note: Tuition is billed in advance per semester. The figures below show the one-payment (semester) amount and the equivalent annual amount (two semesters). Monthly instalment amounts shown are the six-month instalments for a semester (these instalments include a 2% surcharge and are paid over six months for the semester).
- Kindergarten 1 & 2: - Per semester: CHF 11,410. - Annual (2 semesters): CHF 22,820. - 6 monthly instalments (per month during the semester): CHF 1,940 (total per semester when paid in instalments: CHF 11,640).
- Primary Intro: - Per semester: CHF 12,330. - Annual: CHF 24,660. - 6 monthly instalments: CHF 2,096 (total per semester by instalments: CHF 12,576).
- Primary (Years 1–6): - Per semester: CHF 12,330. - Annual: CHF 24,660. - 6 monthly instalments: CHF 2,096 (total per semester by instalments: CHF 12,576).
- Lower Secondary (Years 7–9): - Per semester: CHF 15,430. - Annual: CHF 30,860. - 6 monthly instalments: CHF 2,623 (total per semester by instalments: CHF 15,738).
- Year 10: - Per semester: CHF 15,700. - Annual: CHF 31,400. - 6 monthly instalments: CHF 2,669 (total per semester by instalments: CHF 16,014).
- Years 11 & 12: - Per semester: CHF 17,010. - Annual: CHF 34,020. - 6 monthly instalments: CHF 2,892 (total per semester by instalments: CHF 17,352).
- International Baccalaureate (IBDP): - Per semester: CHF 14,690. - Annual: CHF 29,380. - 6 monthly instalments: CHF 2,497 (total per semester by instalments: CHF 14,982).
Billing schedule and payment terms
- School fees are billed in advance per semester; fees for mid-term admissions are prorated. On request, payment by monthly instalments (six monthly instalments per semester) is possible; instalments carry a 2% surcharge.
- School Fees are due before the start of each semester. Late payment may result in collection action; interest on arrears is charged at 5% p.a., dunning costs of CHF 20 per reminder (from the second reminder) are applicable, and collection charges may be added. Certificates or diplomas may be withheld until outstanding School Fees are paid or guaranteed.
- A sibling discount of 10% on the school fees is granted for the second, third, etc., child; the reduction applies to the younger child(ren).
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable. SIS Basel is a bilingual day school (no boarding programme).
Other costs and optional services
- After‑school care (optional): - Coupon booklet (six hours) CHF 102. - Kindergarten / Primary Intro: Full week (5 days) CHF 2,400; one day per week CHF 480; single booking per hour CHF 18. - Primary: Full week (5 days) CHF 2,000; one day per week CHF 400; single booking per hour CHF 18.
- Clubs and extracurricular activities: costs vary by offer and semester; these are additional and charged separately.
- School Fees do not include costs for excursions, class trips, camps, external examinations and certificates, or additional services and activities; such items are charged separately.
- No separate uniform fee is listed for SIS Basel in the published fee information; no uniform charge is specified among the standard school fees.
Refunds, cancellations and termination (important points)
- The registration (enrolment) fee is non-refundable. If a reserved place is not used after payment of the registration fee, there is no right to reimbursement.
- Notification deadlines for ordinary termination: to terminate a contract at the end of a semester, notice must be received by December 1 (winter semester) or May 1 (summer semester). If no valid notice is received by those dates, the School Contract is automatically extended for the next semester. Late termination after these dates triggers a compensation charge of 25% of the School Fees for the corresponding semester.
- Leaving mid‑semester: fees are charged up to the end of the week in which the student leaves and are calculated pro rata based on the number of weeks attended (school vacations are not taken into account). If termination is not notified at least ten calendar weeks prior to the end of the week in which the student leaves, a compensation charge of 25% of the School Fees for the corresponding semester may apply.
- Force majeure: if authorities order the school's closure due to force majeure (for example epidemic, pandemic, natural disaster), there is no right to a refund of school fees.
Fee payment options and invoicing
- Invoices and credit notes are issued with a QR payment section (Swiss QR invoice format) and are available in the Parents' Portal. Additional services (lunch, after‑school care, clubs, excursions) can be booked via the school's Webshop, which is integrated with the Parents' systems. Parents receive payment slips or invoicing details as part of the registration and contracting process.
- Payment by instalment (monthly) is offered on request and carries the indicated surcharge (2% for the six‑month instalment option per semester). School Fees must be paid or guaranteed at the time of registration for external examinations.
Administrative and statutory notes relevant to fees
- School Fees are published in the current price list; the School's General Terms and Conditions set out payment deadlines, late‑payment interest and dunning charges, and the legal procedures for termination and refunds/compensation. Withholding of certificates for unpaid fees is possible.
Version note: the published fee schedule for SIS Basel is listed for the 2025/26 school year in the school's fee overview and accompanying terms. The figures above reflect the published one‑semester amounts and related terms and optional service charges as presented in the school's current fee information.
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
ipso! ISR is a bilingual ECC for children aged 1.5 to 4 years and a bilingual all-day school for children aged 4 to 16 years. The German-English early childhood support and education programme is unique in Switzerland and offers a combination of international and local curricula and a family atmosphere. It is state-approved and follows the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) at kindergarten and primary levels. In Secondary Level I, bilingual tuition is provided according to the cantonal curriculum. This arrangement allows a change to and from the state school system locally and internationally. The school is accredited as an IB World School and undergoes regular IB assessments.
Curriculum details
SIS Basel offers an English/German bilingual kindergarten with continuity from Kindergarten to College. The curriculum combines the Swiss curriculum (Lehrplan 21) with the British curriculum and SIS-developed content to promote bilingualism. Children spend 50% of their time in English and 50% in German. The six curriculum areas are Personal and Social Development; Language Development; Mathematics; Knowledge and Understanding of the World; Physical Development; and Creative Development. Language is learned through immersion with a German-speaking and an English-speaking teacher, with languages used on alternating days. The day runs from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with after-school care and a range of clubs, and regular trips and events form part of the program.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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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
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Higher education progression
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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
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Admissions
1. Getting in Touch. Contact SIS Basel via the contact form, by email, or by phone. You are welcome to visit an Open House to gain an impression of everyday school life and meet the school leadership. We provide further information and discuss together what the next suitable step might be for you and your child. Open Houses offer an informal setting to ask questions and learn about SIS Basel. 20
2. Consultation. A personal consultation is arranged. During the consultation, we take the time to get to know you and answer questions while introducing you to our school and educational concept. If possible, a tour of the school building is provided to give a brief insight into classroom life; virtual, phone, or email consultations are also available. 20
3. Trial Days. If the consultation is positive for both sides, one or more trial days are arranged to experience everyday school life and assess comfort in the environment. Trial days are non-binding. If trial days are not possible, an alternative solution is discussed. 20
4. Registration. If you decide in favour of SIS after the consultations and trial days, you will be provided with the registration form digitally or in printed form. Complete the form in full and submit it to the SIS school of your choice. We are happy to support you if you have any questions. 20
5. School Contract – Welcome to SIS!. After the registration is received, the school contract is prepared and sent along with information about the enrolment fee. Once the contract is signed and the enrolment fee is received, your child is officially registered at SIS Switzerland and their place at the school is reserved. We look forward to accompanying your child on their educational journey.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
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Waitlist
Waiting lists are maintained if a year group or class is full. To secure a place for your child, enquire about capacity early, preferably in the spring.