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Copenhagen International School

Denmark, Copenhagen

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees DKK 3,000 - 210,000
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 850
Type Co-educational
Opened 1963
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages English, Danish, French, German, Spanish
Typical class size 17
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, STEM
Clubs Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

Copenhagen International School (CIS) is a private, day international school in Copenhagen that serves ages 3 to 18. It delivers all three IB programmes—PYP, MYP and DP—alongside an American high school diploma, with English as the language of instruction and Danish taught within the curriculum. English as an Additional Language support helps learners access the programmes, and Danish language studies prepare students for national tests and continued Danish study in the Diploma Programme. The school is an IB World School accredited by NEASC for the full IB continuum and the U.S. diploma. The Nordhavn campus spans about 25,000 square metres, housing four towers and capacity for around 1,200 students. Facilities include a theatre, two rooftop greenhouses, multiple music rooms, three gyms and dedicated spaces for design, ceramics and visual arts. CIS also provides extensive after‑school activities, a Mother Tongue Program and Service Learning tied to global goals for students worldwide.

Levantkaj 4-14, 2150 København, Denmark

The Essentials

Copenhagen International School has 850 pupils, typical class sizes of 17, instruction in English.

Location
Copenhagen International School is located in the Nordhavn district of Copenhagen, Denmark. The campus address is Levantkaj 4-14, 2150 Nordhavn, Denmark. It sits in Nordhavn with the Orientkaj metro station across the street, a harbour boat stop right outside the school, and on-site parking nearby; many students also cycle to campus.

Stages
IB Primary Years Programme (PYP); IB Middle Years Programme (MYP); IB Diploma Programme (DP)

Type
Private international day school

Pupil Nationality Mix
80 countries represented; Denmark 24%, United States 16%, United Kingdom 8%, India 4%, Netherlands 4%

Additional learning support
CIS has a Student Support Program to meet diverse learning needs, with an inclusive admissions process and documentation requirements. The school uses a Learning Support framework with tiers (Ia/Ib/Ic, II, III) to determine the level of support needed for Grades K–12.

Country affiliation
United States
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school does not offer boarding facilities.

Food Options
The school has a canteen offering a wide range of healthy food and drinks; packed lunches are permitted.

House System
At CIS, international houses exist; each house comprises 2-4 staff and 10-14 students; monthly house assemblies are held with mandatory attendance; there is a CIS House Competition with a prize for the winning house at the end of each semester.

Governance and Ownership
The School is non-profit and independent. Governance is provided by a Board of Governors (Executive Board) that is the final authority and is responsible for financial oversight, approving budgets and fees, and setting the school's mission and strategic plan; the Director manages day-to-day operations under Board oversight. The School teaches its academic disciplines in English, with Danish included in the curriculum.
Fees

Annual tuition at Copenhagen International School ranges from DKK 3,000 to DKK 210,000 for 2026/27.

Effective year: 2025/26 (figures and conditions below apply to the 2025/26 School Year).

Application & Registration Fees
- Application fee (non-refundable): DKK 3,000 per application.
- Registration fee (one-time, non-refundable): DKK 40,000 due within five business days of accepting a place; failure to pay within five business days will result in contract cancellation.

Annual tuition fees (by year group) and implied per-term amounts
- Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K 2, 3, 4): DKK 189,000 per year. Per-term (quarter) amount if paid in four instalments (25% each): DKK 47,250.
- Kindergarten – Grade 5: DKK 151,000 per year. Per-term (25%): DKK 37,750.
- Grades 6–10: DKK 174,000 per year. Per-term (25%): DKK 43,500.
- Grades 11–12: DKK 210,000 per year. Per-term (25%): DKK 52,500.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Payment schedule options described:
- One payment: full annual tuition due on April 1 (date specified in the contract for the applicable year).
- Four payments: administrative fee DKK 2,000; payments due on April 1, August 1, November 1, and February 1 (each payment = 25% of annual tuition).
- Eight payments: administrative fee DKK 2,000; first payment 30% due on April 1, then seven monthly payments of 10% due August 1, September 1, October 1, November 1, December 1, January 1, and February 1.
- Late-payment handling: DKK 125 per late payment reminder.

Fees and proration for students enrolling after the school year has started
- A minimum payment of one quarter (25% of the annual tuition) is due within five business days of accepting a place and before attendance begins. Tuition is prorated by quarter as follows (dates shown are the quarter end dates for the 2025/26 calendar and determine the charge applicable at point of enrolment):
- Enrolment in Quarter 1 (up to the Quarter 1 end date): 100% of annual tuition.
- Enrolment in Quarter 2: 75% of annual tuition.
- Enrolment in Quarter 3: 50% of annual tuition.
- Enrolment in Quarter 4: 25% of annual tuition.

Other costs and recurring fees
- Special learning needs, external specialist services (speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, external evaluations) are billed separately by the provider.
- Lunch, after-school activities, sports, and trips are billed separately from tuition.
- After-school club monthly registration (examples):
- Pre-K: supervision up to 17:00 included in annual tuition (no additional fee listed).
- Grades K–1: DKK 1,100 (until 16:00) or DKK 2,000 (until 16:55) per month.
- Grades 2–5: DKK 1,100 (until 16:00) or DKK 2,000 (until 16:55) per month.
- After-school activities: invoiced per semester and typically in the range DKK 1,200–2,500 per activity (varies by activity).
- Sports activities: annual fees invoiced in two instalments, typically DKK 3,000–4,400 per year (covers coaching, facilities, uniforms, league access).
- Trips and tournaments: additional charges for transport and accommodation; examples shown include home games DKK 800 and away games DKK 4,500–6,000.
- Lost student card: first replacement free; subsequent replacements DKK 250.
- Sports uniforms: initial team uniform included with team signup; replacements available to purchase (replacement cost not specified).

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered; there are no boarding fees.

Refunds and withdrawal charges
- Application and registration fees are non-refundable.
- Annual tuition refund/charge schedule when a parent/guardian withdraws a student (dates are the withdrawal-communication dates used in the contract for the 2025/26 year):
- Withdrawal on or before April 1: no annual tuition is due (non-refundable fees are not reimbursed).
- Withdrawal April 2 – May 31 (inclusive): 10% of annual tuition due.
- Withdrawal June 1 – September 10 (inclusive): 25% of annual tuition due.
- Withdrawal September 11 – December 9 (inclusive): 50% of annual tuition due.
- Withdrawal December 10 – February 27 (inclusive): 75% of annual tuition due.
- Withdrawal after February 27: 100% of annual tuition due.
- Force majeure: in a force majeure event fees remain due in full and no refunds are issued.

Fee payment methods & how to arrange payments
- The published General & Financial Conditions set out payment schedules, instalment options, administrative and late fees; they do not list specific payment channels (e.g., bank account details, card processor) within the fee schedule document itself. For admissions and invoicing matters, contact the Admissions office at admissions@cis.dk.

Notes on additional possible charges
- External specialist providers invoice separately for therapy and assessments.
- Extra-curricular activities, sports fixtures, competitions, and residential elements of trips incur separate charges and are billed in addition to tuition.
Academics

Copenhagen International School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
CIS offers all three IB Programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). Instruction is in English, with Danish included in the curriculum. English as an Additional Language support is provided to help learners access the curriculum. Danish is taught within the Danish language provision as part of the curriculum. CIS is an IB World School accredited by NEASC to deliver Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes and to award a U.S. high school diploma. Primary School uses the Primary Years Programme; Secondary School delivers the Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme.

Exam Results
Approximately 95% of the Class of 2025 are IB Diploma candidates. CIS is an IB World School and NEASC-accredited; graduates can earn a U.S. high school diploma in addition to the IB Diploma. The Class of 2023–2024 attended universities including the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London, and the University of Edinburgh, among others. Diploma results show a Pass Rate (CIS) of 93% and a Global Pass Rate of 80%; the Mean Diploma Score (CIS) is around 34 versus a Global Mean around 30, with the Highest Diploma Score (Max 45).

Higher Education Progression
Graduates pursue higher education at universities around the world, including institutions in the UK, the US and Europe. For the Classes of 2023 and 2024, CIS graduates attended universities such as Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London, and the University of Edinburgh, among others. The profile shows a range of accepted universities across the UK, US and Europe as part of graduates' higher education trajectories.

Gifted and Talented
Novo Nordisk Foundation Scholarships are available for children of international researchers. Any student who wishes to take the full IB Diploma Programme may enrol, supporting high-achieving learners.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school has a safe, inclusive community where learners feel valued and belong. A culture of child protection is embedded in school life with everyone responsible for safeguarding. The school has wellbeing and belonging as core educational focus across divisions. Policies and practices support social and emotional development throughout the school.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school has learning support for students with diverse needs provided by the Student Support team. The team includes counselling, learning support, nursing, and child safeguarding, with external consultants such as speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists and school psychologists. The school has pre-referral processes to identify and evaluate student needs and to develop effective interventions. The school has an inclusive, holistic approach to student well-being and success.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school has English as an Additional Language (EAL) program that provides language instruction and social and academic support for students whose home language is not English. The school has standards that are the same for all students but goals are individualized to ensure equal access to the curriculum. The school has a policy of valuing home languages and uses interlingual teaching to integrate home languages in mainstream classrooms. The school has a Mother Tongue Program offering native-level language teaching from Grade 1.

Mental Wellbeing
The school has counselling and wellbeing support through the Student Support team, with a focus on students' mental, social and emotional well-being. The school has a holistic approach to student well-being integrated with safeguarding and inclusive education.

Safeguarding
The school has a Child Safeguarding Philosophy and Practice and leads safeguarding efforts to ensure staff are aware of responsibilities under child protection policies. The school follows UNCRC guidance that all learners have equal rights to be protected from harm, and will respond promptly to safeguarding concerns. The school has a whistleblowing system and ongoing safeguarding training for staff.
Parent Experience

History
From its beginnings in 1963, a handful of expat parents rented a room at Bagsværd Kostskole og Gymnasium to deliver an English-language curriculum for expat families. In 1964 John Therman was the first student to receive an American High School Diploma, and an association called the Copenhagen International High School was created. In 1968 the school name became Copenhagen International School (CIS), and CIS was among the founding schools to offer International Baccalaureate examinations; the first IB Diploma was earned in 1972 and accreditation followed in 1973. From 1973 to 1996, the Copenhagen International Junior School began, a Pre-K group opened in 1987, the 1993 merger moved CIS to Hellerup, and the IB Middle Years Programme was introduced in 1996. Between 1999 and 2017, CIS hosted the Nordic Network conference, introduced the IB Primary Years Programme in 2000, celebrated 50 years in 2003, and moved to Nordhavn in 2017 with record enrolment of 922 students.

Community
CIS believes all learners have equal rights to be protected from harm and abuse and maintains a child-safe, secure environment for the school community. The CIS community includes an active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) that helps families, teachers, and students feel at home and supports a friendly, inclusive culture. The PTA runs a buddy program to welcome new families, organizes social events, and coordinates whole-school happenings such as the Activity Fair, Halloween Fest, Julemarked, and the International Festival. Culture initiatives highlight diverse backgrounds, and Smooth Transitions help families navigate year-end changes.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The PTA's mission is to establish a close relationship between home and school by offering ways for parents to get involved in the CIS community. The PTA helps families, teachers, and students feel at home at CIS and aims to build a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive community. It welcomes new families with a buddy program and Newcomers group, and organizes social events such as back-to-school gatherings and parent socials. Whole-school events include the Activity Fair, Halloween Fest, Julemarked, and International Festival, while grade-level activities and special-interest groups support parent collaboration. Culture initiatives highlight diverse backgrounds, and Smooth Transitions help families navigate year-end changes. The PTA is run by a team of parent volunteers and is not a fundraising entity; involvement includes attending events, helping with your grade, volunteering, or taking on a leadership role, and you can contact events@cispta.dk.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
CIS campus covers 25,000 m2 and is Copenhagen's largest school, accommodating up to 1,200 students and 280 employees. The campus is organized into four towers, each adapted to meet the needs of children at different stages of development. The building is environmentally and socially sustainable, built to last and to tread lightly on the surrounding environment. On campus, you'll find a state-of-the-art theatre, two rooftop greenhouses, three gyms, a selection of music rooms and fully-equipped design facilities to support product design, ceramics and the visual arts. It links the school premises with the public sphere to provide an open, collaborative learning environment.

Sports Facilities
On campus there are three gyms. CIS teams compete in football, volleyball, swimming, track & field/cross-country and basketball.

Academic Facilities
The CIS Library houses around 20,000 items, including fiction and non-fiction in many languages, ebooks, magazines and electronic resources such as EBSCO, Britannica School, JSTOR, BrainPop, FLIPSTER and Ordbogen. Librarians teach information literacy and help students, teachers and parents find what they need. The library sits at the heart of the school, facilitating access to ideas from many cultures. The campus also provides a state-of-the-art theatre, two rooftop greenhouses, three gyms, music rooms and fully-equipped design facilities for product design, ceramics and the visual arts. The library is not open to the public but is available to everyone in the CIS community.

Extra Curricular Facilities
CIS offers over 30 after-school activities for students in grades 1–12, including Dance, Hip-Hop, Parkour, Mini Tennis, Martial Arts and Gymnastics. It also features Arts & Crafts, Drawing Studio, Knitting, Conscious Cooking, STEM, LEGO Club and Chess Club. The Mother Tongue Program supports students' native language development. After School Club provides supervision and a range of activities after the school day.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Copenhagen International School is an International Baccalaureate World School offering IB Primary Years Programme, IB Middle Years Programme, and IB Diploma Programme. The IB curriculum at CIS includes eight subject groups in the Middle Years Programme and six subject groups in the Diploma Programme, covering language acquisition, language and literature, sciences, mathematics, and more. The school provides English language learner support through English as an Additional Language and also offers a Mother Tongue Program to support native-language development from grade 1 upward. The Nordhavn campus features learning environments designed to maximise student engagement to support inquiry-based, global-minded learning.

Arts & Creative
The Performing Arts Program offers music, dance, and theatre with opportunities to perform in state‑of‑the‑art facilities. Activities include a choir, a percussion ensemble, two major productions each year, hip hop and contemporary dance, and a drama program. The arts spaces feature a state‑of‑the‑art theatre and dedicated music rooms to support performance and practice. These offerings provide students with structured creative outlets and collaborative performance experiences.

Cultural & Language
CIS supports multilingual students with English as an Additional Language, aiming to help learners participate fully in an English-medium school while developing social and academic language. The school hosts a Mother Tongue Program to nurture native-language skills from grade 1 onward, helping students maintain linguistic and cultural connections. Danish language studies are provided to prepare for Danish national tests and to enable continued study in Danish within the Diploma Programme or Danish Gymnasium. The school's multilingual community speaks many languages, reflecting broad cultural diversity.

Social & Hobbies
CIS offers more than 30 after-school activities for students in grades 1–12, including arts, crafts, sports, and STEM experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom. After School Club provides an organized after-school program with activities in arts, cooking, science, and free play, with supervision for Primary students up to Grade 4. The program fosters social interaction, creativity, and exploration in a structured setting. These activities complement the day-school experience and support student interests outside class hours.

Community & Service
Service Learning is integrated into the curriculum and offered as after-school activities and clubs. Secondary students lead initiatives aligned with the United Nations SDGs to promote environmental sustainability, community engagement, and wellbeing, with ongoing projects like Team Peru supporting needs in Peru. CIS also hosts nonprofit groups and student-led outreach that evolve over time, reflecting a commitment to social responsibility and global awareness.

Leadership & Professional
CIS provides multiple student leadership opportunities, including a Student Council that represents the student body and advocates for school improvement. The Racial and Social Justice Union is a student‑run club focused on equity and inclusion, with activities and curriculum considerations led by students. Clubs such as Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and YANA support LGBTQIA+ students and allies, while Model United Nations offers structured debate and collaboration opportunities for prominent leadership and international understanding.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
CIS emphasizes physical health through School Sports, with teams that compete in the Danish League and travel to regional events, reinforcing teamwork and resilience. The program also includes trips and home events that build community, such as friendly games and Hawks Celebration to recognize contributors to school life. These athletic and community activities contribute to students' well‑being, teamwork, and social connections across grade levels.
Languages

Language Provision
The language program is English-medium with English as an Additional Language (EAL) support to help English learners access the curriculum. Danish language is taught with FP9 preparation (Folkeskolens prøver i faget dansk – 9. klasse), and non-native Danish students follow Language B Danish as required by Danish law until Grade 10. A Mother Tongue program provides native-level language teaching from Grade 1 to strengthen students' home language skills. EAL supports and language objectives are integrated into lessons to ensure equal access and language development.

Bilingual Teaching
The school has native-level language teaching to students from Grade 1 and up. Home languages are valued and used in the mainstream classroom (interlingual teaching).
Reputation

Awards
None available on page.

Accreditations
NEASC accreditation; International Baccalaureate Organisation authorisation to deliver Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes; CHORA 2030 accreditation for sustainability.
Admissions

Admissions
The school serves students aged 34 months through 18 years. Admission is non-discriminatory and open to all students; no single nationality may exceed 25% of the student body. Applications are accepted year‑round, subject to space. The four steps to apply are: 1. Book a tour, 2) Submit an online application with required documents and a 3,000 DKK application fee, 3) Application review by the Principals for the relevant grade considering English proficiency and learning‑support needs, 4) Secure your place by accepting the offer and paying a 40,000 DKK registration fee; enrollment steps are guided by the Admissions team after confirmation. Now accepting applications for the 2026‑2027 school year, with spaces in all grade levels. To arrange a visit, confirm a date and time with the Admissions Office; tours last 60–90 minutes. Address: Levantkaj 4‑14, 2150 Nordhavn, Denmark.

Scholarships
The Secondary School Scholarships make the IB Diploma Programme accessible to exceptionally talented students who might not otherwise be able to afford CIS tuition; scholarships are awarded to applicants entering Grade 11 for the duration of Grades 11 and 12, and recipients are expected to study at CIS for the duration. Scholarships fall into Academic Excellence, Arts, and Sustainability. Academic Excellence scholarships are based on academic excellence and personal skills; because the IB Diploma is demanding, academic abilities are given priority in the scholarship process and all scholarship applicants take two one‑hour exams in English and Maths. Arts scholarships honor exceptional talent in the visual arts, music and theatre; applicants submit an online portfolio (three to five works) with explanations and a personal statement; references may accompany the portfolio. Sustainability scholarships recognize outstanding commitment to environmental issues; applicants submit an online portfolio with explanations and a personal statement; references may accompany. The Scholarship Panel comprises the Secondary School Principal, the IB Coordinator, and a CIS board member. External candidates follow a financial review, complete the standard application (noting the scholarship choice), pay the 3,000 DKK application fee, email a personal statement, and submit portfolios if required; internal candidates follow similar steps. All applicants complete a Financial Means Declaration Form. The 2026–2027 scholarship timeline includes fixed deadlines for financial review, exams, interviews, and offers as published on the site.

Waitlist
When space is not sufficient to accommodate all qualified applicants, a waiting pool is created. CIS draws from the waiting pool based on priority groups and a review of all applications to determine which students can most benefit from CIS. Priority 1: Returning students who confirm reenrollment in writing by the deadline. Priority 2: CIS Scholarship students and siblings of currently enrolled students. Priority 3: Applicants affiliated with diplomatic missions, governmental and non‑governmental organisations operating in Copenhagen; applicants affiliated with multinational corporations operating in Copenhagen; children of CIS alumni. Priority 4: Former CIS students who left Denmark to study abroad and those who have attended Danish efterskole. Priority 5: Other qualified applicants.
School Events
The school has not added events
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