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Strengths Sport, Languages, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Kindergarten, Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, High School, Sixth Form
Introduction
CIFS Sarajevo is a private international French school in Sarajevo, offering the French National Education program under AEFE and part of the Odyssey Education Group. From nursery to Terminale, the school serves students aged 2 to 18 and currently welcomes around 266 pupils across 15 classes in a single, spacious, Austro-Hungarian-styled building. Lessons are taught in French, English and Bosnian, with a curriculum that follows the French system from early years through lycée, where the Diplôme National du Brevet attests competencies at the end of collège, and the baccalaureate is prepared at the attached Belgrade lycée. CIFS emphasizes a citizenship-oriented approach, blending theory and practical learning while respecting individual trajectories. The school is the only French institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina approved by the French Ministry of Education and Sarajevo Canton. Extracurriculars include multisport, Chinese language, arts and piano, chess, offering opportunities for language learning and cultural exchange after school.
Collège International Français de Sarajevo has 270 pupils, typical class sizes of 25, instruction in French.
Location
Paromlinska 66, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The school is located in the city of Sarajevo. CIFS provides school transport with buses covering almost the entire city, bringing students to the campus around 8:20 a.m.
Stages
Kindergarten (2-6 years); Elementary School (6-11 years); Middle School (11-15 years); High School (15-18 years).
Type
The school is a private international French school in Sarajevo. It is part of the Odyssey Education group and follows the French National Education program under the partnership with AEFE. It is the only French school in Bosnia and Herzegovina approved by the French Ministry of Education and by Sarajevo Canton.
Pupil Nationality Mix
Open to all nationalities. The curriculum is multilingual from kindergarten onward with lessons in French, English and BHS.
Additional learning support
Small class sizes with groups of fewer than 25 students. Language support for non-French speakers (FLE-FLSCO) begins from kindergarten to help transition to French.
Country affiliation
France
School day structure
Daycare runs from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.; after-school care continues until 5:30 p.m. Extracurricular activities take place on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Bus service
The CIFS offers a school bus service. Morning pickups bring students to CIFS around 8:20 a.m. Afternoon drop-offs are scheduled: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday at 4:10 p.m. and 5:10 p.m.; Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., 4:10 p.m., and/or 5:10 p.m.; Friday at 12:30 p.m. Buses cover almost the entire city of Sarajevo.
Fees
Application fees - A registration (application) fee is required; the school's registration form lists "FRAIS D'INSCRIPTION" as part of the enrollment charges.
Tuition fees by year group - No published schedule of tuition amounts by year group (maternelle / élémentaire / collège / lycée) for the 2026/27 academic year was found in the school documents available for review. The registration paperwork identifies "FRAIS DE SCOLARITÉ" (tuition fees) as a billed item but does not publish per-grade or per-term figures in the publicly available registration materials. The detailed tuition tariff is handled in the school's financial regulations.
Per-term / per-year detail - The public enrollment documents do not provide numeric per-term or per-year tuition figures by year group. The registration form and related documents indicate that specific amounts and billing rules are set out in the school's financial regulations and the contract signed at the start of the school year.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Billing and payment modalities are governed by a contract/"règlement financier" that is signed at the beginning of each school year. The publicly available registration materials and internal regulations state that parents sign the financial regulation at enrolment, but they do not publish a standard invoicing calendar, installment schedule, or specific payment deadlines in the documents reviewed.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not offered; the school's services are described as day-school services (canteen, morning and after-school care options, and school transport), with no boarding/internat program or boarding fees indicated in the school materials.
Other costs and fees (explicit amounts found) - School meals (canteen): when reported in a version of the registration materials, hot meals are shown with a daily price of 5.70 KM per day. - Own packed lunch option: one registration form version lists a cost of 1.00 KM per day for bringing a home meal. - School transport (big-bus): a registration-form variant lists a standard figure of 130 KM per student per month for school bus service. Bus stops and timetables are published in the transport section of the registration materials. - Morning daycare: a morning drop-off/daycare service 07:30–08:20 is stated as a free service in the registration materials. Afternoon extended-care options exist but their tariffs are set in the financial regulations (not published in the registration form). - School uniform: the school operates an online uniform order page (polo, T‑shirt, sweatshirt, etc.); prices are not published on that page. Families are expected to purchase required uniform items through the school's uniform order process. - School materials, textbooks and certain consumables: the registration form lists "FRAIS DE MATERIEL" / material fees as a line item; specific amounts are not published in the form. - Extracurricular activities and camps: these are listed as charged items ("ACTIVITÉS EXTRA-SCOLAIRES" / camps), but specific fees and schedules are not published in the registration materials reviewed.
Refund information - Refund rules (refundability of registration, tuition or ancillary fees) are governed by the school's financial regulations and contract signed at the start of the year. No explicit refund policy text or refund amounts were published in the registration form or internal regulations available for review.
Fee payment options - The available public documents (registration form, internal regulations) do not list specific payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, direct debit) or bank account details in the materials reviewed. The registration materials and internal regulations indicate that payment modalities are defined in the financial regulation (contract) executed at enrolment. Parents arrange payment under that contract.
Brief summary of missing items found during review - The school's published registration forms and internal regulations identify the categories of fees and show a small number of explicit ancillary charges (canteen per‑day amount, packed lunch option, transport monthly rate, free morning daycare) but do not publish a full tuition fee schedule (per year group or per term), billing calendar, detailed payment methods, or refund terms in the documents available for the 2025/26 materials reviewed. The registration paperwork repeatedly directs that the definitive tariff and payment rules are set in the school's financial regulations and contract to be signed at the start of each school year.
Academics
Collège International Français de Sarajevo teaches French Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.
Curriculum
Collège CIFS welcomes students aged 11 to 15. It strengthens acquisition of fundamental knowledge by combining theoretical and practical learning, while respecting each student's individuality to enable success. The objective is to give middle school students new competencies adapted to the modern world and to make the collège a place of growth and citizenship, a community where individual experience and collective activity are valued. The collège comprises five domains of competency: language for thinking and communicating (French, foreign and local languages, mathematical language, etc.); methods and tools for learning (digital tools, projects, organization, etc.); formation of the person and the citizen (moral formation, life in society, respect, etc.); natural and technical systems (sciences, curiosity, problem solving, etc.); representations of the world and human activity (history, culture, geography, etc.). At the end of 3e, the Diplôme National du Brevet (DNB) attests the competencies acquired through the socle commun of knowledge, skills and culture. In the Lycée, from Seconde to Terminale, after four years of consolidation, the lycée prepares for the general baccalaureate and higher education, mainly in university or in preparatory classes. The bac examinations are taken at the CIFS-attached lycée in Belgrade.
Student Teacher Ratio
Less than 25 students per class
Higher Education Progression
The general path in the lycée prepares for the general baccalaureate and higher education, mainly in university or in preparatory classes. The baccalaureate is pursued under the French system, with exams conducted at the attached CIFS lycée in Belgrade, supporting entry into higher education.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
CIFS Sarajevo focuses on social and emotional development as part of its international education. The school aims to help students grow in respect for others and in self-confidence. This is achieved through a pedagogical organization adapted to the needs of students and the requirements of the programs. The multilingual environment and emphasis on dialogue support intercultural understanding and personal growth. The entire educational community fosters a climate that promotes self-awareness, empathy and social skills as part of daily learning.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English is taught from nursery school. CIFS Sarajevo offers a multilingual curriculum from kindergarten onward with lessons in French, English and Bosnian. English instruction is integrated from early years to support language development across the curriculum. The school emphasizes English as part of its international education and aims to equip students for global communication. English language learning is embedded throughout different grade levels to foster multilingual proficiency.
Mental Wellbeing
CIFS Sarajevo blends high educational standards with a focus on student well-being. The mission includes helping students grow in self-confidence and respect for others through adapted pedagogy designed to meet learner needs. Well-being is embedded in the educational philosophy and is supported by a pedagogy that responds to student needs and program requirements. An international, dialogue-oriented environment supports social and emotional growth and personal development. The school's approach aims to create a climate of trust and belonging for every student.
Safeguarding
Internal rules of procedure establish safeguarding across the school community. They guarantee protection against all psychological, physical or moral violence and promote a climate of trust, along with clearly defined rights and duties for students, families and staff. The rules are reviewed at least annually by the Governing Board to ensure safe schooling. The procedures apply to all age groups from kindergarten through high school and encompass organizational and disciplinary measures to protect students.
Admissions
Admissions
The admissions procedure includes 3 steps: 1. Application form: Initial contact with the Admissions Office and submission of the application form. Required documents: school reports, photocopies of the parents' and child's passports. 2. Educational meeting and admission decision: After submission of the application file, an educational interview will be offered within 5 working days. Confirmation of your child's place will then be sent by email. 3. Payment of enrollment fees: After admission has been confirmed, families are invited to pay the first enrollment fee. In the event of withdrawal, these fees are non-refundable. Final enrollment confirmation will be sent by email within 7 days after payment.
FAQs
What curriculum does Collège International Français de Sarajevo follow?
Collège CIFS welcomes students aged 11 to 15. It strengthens acquisition of fundamental knowledge by combining theoretical and practical learning, while respecting each student's individuality to enable success. The objective is to give middle school students new competencies adapted to the modern w
What age range does Collège International Français de Sarajevo serve?
Collège International Français de Sarajevo serves students from age 2 to 18.
What are the tuition fees?
Fee details should be confirmed directly with Collège International Français de Sarajevo.
How many students attend Collège International Français de Sarajevo?
Approximately 270 students.
Where is Collège International Français de Sarajevo located?
Paromlinska 66, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The school is located in the city of Sarajevo. CIFS provides school transport with buses covering almost the entire city, bringing students to the campus around 8:20 a.m.
Does Collège International Français de Sarajevo have a religious affiliation?
No published religious affiliation was found for Collège International Français de Sarajevo.
Does Collège International Français de Sarajevo offer learning support?
Small class sizes with groups of fewer than 25 students. Language support for non-French speakers (FLE-FLSCO) begins from kindergarten to help transition to French.
What languages are used for instruction?
English and Bosnian are taught from nursery school. French is taught as part of CIFS language offerings. Other languages taught at CIFS include Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), English, Latin, Spanish and German.
What is the admissions process?
The admissions procedure includes 3 steps: 1) Application form: Initial contact with the Admissions Office and submission of the application form. Required documents: school reports, photocopies of the parents' and child's passports. 2) Educational meeting and admission decision: After submission of
What facilities does Collège International Français de Sarajevo have?
CIFS Sarajevo currently has 266 students distributed across 15 classes. The school brings together students from nursery (Maternelle) to the final year of high school (Terminale). The building is spacious, quiet, bright and well‑equipped, built in the Austro‑Hungarian style. Small classes provide in
What extracurricular activities are available?
After-school activities include arts and piano. These activities offer opportunities for creative expression through visual art and music. Parents can choose between multisport, Chinese, art, chess, and piano.
Who leads Collège International Français de Sarajevo?
The school is led by Nordine MEBARKI.
When was Collège International Français de Sarajevo established?
Collège International Français de Sarajevo was established in 1998.
What is the school community like?
The CIFS offers after-school activities on Wednesdays and Fridays in the school building, with options including arts, dance, ballet, and piano. During school holidays, a leisure centre is run by scho
What are the university pathways?
The general path in the lycée prepares for the general baccalaureate and higher education, mainly in university or in preparatory classes. The baccalaureate is pursued under the French system, with exams conducted at the attached CIFS lycée in Belgrade, supporting entry into higher education.
