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Strengths Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
Schweizer Schule Santiago is a private, secular international school in Chile with formal ties to Switzerland. It offers a bespoke curriculum for students aged 4 to 18, from prekindergarten through the fourth year of secondary education. The Basel-Landschaft canton patronage supports the school, and it is recognized and subsidized by the Swiss government; it is the oldest Swiss-affiliated school in Latin America. The curriculum emphasizes cultural exchange, universal human values, and language instruction, with programs recognized in both Chile and Switzerland. The campus spans about 7,200 square meters of built space on a 17,600-square-meter site shared with the Swiss Club, adjacent to campus with access to a pool and tennis courts. Facilities include biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics laboratories, spaces for Arts, Music, Crafts, Cooking, Technology, and Informatics, libraries, gyms, and health and psycho-pedagogical services. TAEX extension workshops offer after-school activities in sport, arts, science, and languages, enriching student life beyond class hours.
José Domingo Cañas 2206, 7750133 Ñuñoa, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
The Essentials
Schweizer Schule Santiago has 640 pupils, instruction in German, Spanish.
Location
Located at José Domingo Cañas 2206, Ñuñoa, Santiago de Chile. The school is in the Ñuñoa district of Santiago. CSS does not operate its own transport service; transport is provided by approved external providers, and the list of providers can be requested at info@css.cl.
Stages
Prekindergarten through Grade 12 (prekindergarten to cuarto año de enseñanza media).
Type
Private, international, secular school.
Pupil Nationality Mix
A high percentage of students are Chilean, with additional students from other nationalities.
Additional learning support
Departamento de Apoyo Escolar (DAE) provides emotional and psychopedagogical support for students across all levels.
Country affiliation
Switzerland (patronage by Basel Landschaft canton).
Religious affiliation
Secular.
School day structure
All levels start classes at 8:00. Lunch is from 13:00 to 14:00. Afternoon sessions begin at 14:00, with end times varying by level. Students may enter from 07:00.
Bus service
CSS does not operate its own transport service; external transport providers approved by the Ministry of Transport; the list of providers can be requested via info@css.cl.
Fees
Application & admission fees - Admission test (Examen de admisión) for Pre‑kinder through III Medio: CLP 50,000, payable at the time of application. - Incorporation fee (paid at the time of definitive incorporation): - Non‑Swiss nationals: 99 UF. - Swiss nationals: 44 UF. - Students enrolling directly into Enseñanza Media: 50 UF.
Enrollment (Matrícula) and refund rule - Enrollment (Matrícula), payable no later than December of the preceding year: - Non‑Swiss nationals (Pre‑kinder to IV Medio): 14.61 UF. - Swiss nationals (Pre‑kinder to IV Medio): 10.77 UF. - Refund: If the student withdraws before 31 December, the matrícula is refunded 100%. After 31 December there is no refund of the matrícula.
Tuition (Colegiatura) — annual and per‑installment amounts (2026) - The annual tuition is expressed in UF and is payable in 10 monthly instalments (March–December). The document provides both the annual UF and the monthly instalment (Valor cuota = annual UF ÷ 10). The fees by year group are: - Pre‑kinder: Annual 191.9 UF — monthly instalment 19.19 UF. - Kinder: Annual 190.0 UF — monthly instalment 19.00 UF. - 1° Básico: Annual 185.9 UF — monthly instalment 18.59 UF. - 2° a 6° Básico: Annual 182.3 UF — monthly instalment 18.23 UF. - 7° Básico: Annual 177.2 UF — monthly instalment 17.72 UF. - 8° Básico: Annual 173.4 UF — monthly instalment 17.34 UF. - I° a IV° Medio: Annual 168.2 UF — monthly instalment 16.82 UF. - Additional regular fees (extension/taller fees): - 7° and 8° Básico: CLP 30,000 per semester (talleres). - I° and II° Medio: CLP 35,000 per semester (talleres).
Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard instalment schedule: tuition divided into 10 monthly payments from March to December; each monthly instalment is due by the 10th of the month. - Late payment: a surcharge of up to 1 UF may be applied for payments made after the due date. - It is mandatory for each guardian to register an automatic collection method (monthly PAC debit or credit‑card PAT), even if paying annually, because additional charges (workshops, Centro de Padres, etc.) may be billed during the year.
Payment options and discounts - Annual payment (single payment) by bank transfer or cheque: 2% discount if paid within the early payment window specified for the year (dates for 2026 were Dec 15, 2025–Jan 9, 2026). A 1% discount applied in a subsequent limited period (dates listed for 2026). Confirm exact dates with administration before payment. - Annual payment by credit card or payment button: accepted but without discount; coordinate with administration for processing. - Annual payment via Webpay through SchoolNet: accepted (no discount), available from the dates specified by administration. - Monthly payment via PAC (bank direct debit): instalments drawn so funds must be available per bank rules two business days before the due date. Due date for PAC payments is the 10th of each month. - Monthly payment via PAT (credit card): monthly charge date is the 5th of each month; effective charge date depends on card issuer's billing cycle. New PAT subscriptions are processed via OneClic as of 2026.
Other regular fees and charges - Centro de Padres (annual): First child CLP 30,000; each additional sibling CLP 15,000, billed annually in April. - Workshops / extension activities: billed separately; amounts for some regular workshops shown above (CLP 30,000–35,000 per semester for specified grades). Further workshop fees are communicated in separate notices. - Material escolar and core textbooks: provided without additional charge for Educación Inicial and Educación Básica; books for specific grades (e.g., 7° and 8°) are included as described in the fee schedule. - Accident insurance: the school provides a 24/7 accident insurance policy (coverage within and outside Chile) at no additional cost. - Meals: for grades 4°–7° (on regular class days) lunch in the school cafeteria is available and optional; families may also send a packed lunch. Specific cafeteria charges apply when selected. - Uniforms: use of a school uniform is mandatory; the school works with an on‑site provider to supply uniform items. Uniform prices are set by the provider and are billed/paid separately.
Boarding - Boarding is not offered; the school operates as a day school with facilities (classrooms, gyms, library, casino/cafeteria, clinics) for day students. There are no boarding fees.
Refunds and penalties - Enrollment (matrícula): 100% refund if withdrawal occurs before 31 December; no refund after that date. - Late payment surcharge: up to 1 UF may be charged for payments made after the monthly due date.
Notes on billing mechanics - Tuition is typically expressed and billed in UF amounts; payments by bank transfer or card will be processed in Chilean pesos at the operational exchange/valuation used by the bank/payment processor. Confirm the payable CLP amount with school administration before making transfers. Payment windows, discounts and dates are set annually; the school communicates the exact payment periods and procedures each year.
Academics
Schweizer Schule Santiago teaches Bespoke Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum for students aged 4 to 18.
Curriculum
It is a school of cultural exchange, the development of universal human values, secular, with high academic standards and language instruction. It provides education from prekindergarten through the fourth year of secondary education. It has a curriculum recognized in both Chile and Switzerland.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The holistic development of students is central to the CSS educational project, with curriculum learning conducted in a climate of respect, responsibility, and friendship. The Convivencia Escolar (coexistence) team coordinates school climate initiatives to support students, led by Natalia Yáñez as convivencia coordinator.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Department of Apoyo Escolar (DAE) accompanies students emotionally and psycho-pedagogically at all levels, working closely with teachers, guardians and families. The psychopedagogue is Geraldine Ossandón and the psychologist is Karen Espinosa.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Students graduate with multilingual competencies; they can speak three to four languages and navigate diverse cultures. In secondary school, English is taught as a subject as part of the curriculum.
Mental Wellbeing
The Department of Apoyo Escolar provides emotional and psycho-pedagogical support to students at all levels. Convivencia Escolar coordinates efforts to maintain a climate of respect, responsibility and friendship.
Safeguarding
The school maintains a Plan Integral de Seguridad Escolar (PISE) as part of the internal regulations to ensure safety. Protocols address bullying, abuse, incidents of violence, and emergencies. A Canal de denuncias (reporting channel) is available for complaints, which may be anonymous and with identity protections.
Admissions
Admissions
1. Admissions overview: The Swiss School of Santiago offers each year the opportunity to enroll new students according to vacancies available. The aim is to support integration and healthy, harmonious academic performance for the student. Admissions decisions are made with transparency and objectivity in accordance with applicable laws. Availability varies by year and grade.
2. Early Education (EI) – 2027: Admission requirement: 4 years completed by March 31, 2027. There are 58 vacancies. Applications open from December 1, 2025 to February 24, 2026. Applicants apply online through the CSS admissions portal.
3. Elementary Education (EB): Families wishing to join should inform themselves of the Institutional Educational Project (PEI), available on the school's site. The admission process is published electronically, via information display and on the school's site, in accordance with the principles of transparency and objectivity established by current law, ensuring respect for the dignity of applicants and their families. Vacancies for 2026: 1st Basic: 0; 2nd Basic: 0; 3rd Basic: 0; 4th Basic: 0; 5th Basic: 0; 6th Basic: 0.
4. Secondary Education (EM): Applicants may apply to 1st year of secondary without prior German knowledge. If the applicant has German knowledge, they must take the admission exam to determine their level. For admission to other grades, knowledge of German is required and applicants will be evaluated in German with an admission exam. Parents will be informed by email within two weeks after the admissions exams whether their child is admitted, and the Vice-Rector will invite the parents and applicant to an information meeting. Application deadline August 22, 2025; Admission exams September 8, 2025; Vacancies for 2026: 7th Basic: 8; 8th Basic: 6; I Medio: 0; II Medio: 1; III Medio: 5; IV Medio: 0.
FAQs
What curriculum does Schweizer Schule Santiago follow?
Schweizer Schule Santiago delivers a Swiss-Chilean bilingual curriculum for students aged 4 to 18, combining Swiss educational standards with Chilean national requirements.
What age range does the school serve?
The school serves students aged 4 to 18, from preschool through senior secondary.
Is the school co-educational?
Yes, Schweizer Schule Santiago is co-educational, welcoming both boys and girls.
Where is the school located?
Schweizer Schule Santiago is located in Santiago, Chile.
