Why join for free?
Already have an account? Log In
France, Lyon
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
1. Applications for admission are accepted throughout the year. A formal decision regarding admission is typically not made until all required documents have been received. The online application is the recommended method for admission; a visit to ISL prior to applying is advisable where possible. The online admissions platform is undergoing an upgrade and will go live on the 16th of March; for questions about admissions, contact the admissions office. 2. Required documents must be uploaded through ISL's online application system. Documents required are: a Student Application Form with one passport-sized photograph; two full years of school transcripts (the most recently completed year and the previous year, with translation if needed); confidential teacher recommendations (Early Years: one from the previous class teacher; Grades 6–12: one from Mathematics and one from English or the relevant mother tongue teacher, sent directly by the applicant's previous school); a copy of vaccination certificates. If a document cannot be obtained, the Director will determine whether there is sufficient information to make an admission decision and may request additional information (translations may be requested if needed). 3. Admission decisions: The decision to admit rests with the Director in consultation with the Primary or Secondary Principal; the school reserves the right to contact a student's previous school to verify records. All students admitted to ISL must have a legal guardian residing in France, and any applicant turning 18 before starting must provide proof of visa before a place can be offered. 4. Acceptance of admission: After required documentation is provided, families are notified usually within one week of application. The accounts department bills the enrolment fee; once this is paid, the place is guaranteed. A tuition contract must be completed and signed before a student may start school; ISL reserves the right to refuse entry to a student whose financial arrangement does not meet these requirements. 5. Waiting lists and related processes: There are currently no waiting lists at ISL; if an application is accepted and no space is available in the appropriate class, the student will be placed on a waiting list and notified. When a place becomes available, it will be offered to a student on the waiting list. Waiting-list selection criteria include siblings already attending or applying, the existing gender balance of the class, background/experience in an IB programme, and any of the Criteria for Admission. 6. Deferrals and re-entries: An accepted or waitlisted applicant may defer the place to the following academic year, provided that the school receives notification in due time and there are spaces available; the admission and enrolment fees are deferrable for one academic year. Students who are enrolled and then leave can re-enter the school at a later date, provided that re-entry occurs no more than two academic years after departure; new application documents may be required. 7. Re-registration: Every February the Admissions Department gathers preliminary information about parents' intentions for the following year and bills families for a 500€ per student deposit for the next school year. Payment of the deposit guarantees a student's place for the following year and will be deducted from the tuition fee; no refund is given if a student leaves in the meantime. 8. Financial aid: The school does not have a bursary system in place, but a special calendar of payment may be put in place following agreement with the Director.
There are no waiting lists at ISL at present; if an application is accepted and no space is available in the appropriate class, the student will be placed on a waiting list, and the parents will be notified. When a place becomes available in the class, it will be offered to a student on the waiting list. Criteria used to decide which student on the waiting list is offered a place include siblings already attending, existing gender balance of the class, background/experience in an IB programme, and any of the Criteria for Admission.
The school does not have a bursary system in place, but a special calendar of payment may be put in place following agreement with the Director.
ISL is a not-for-profit independent international school in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, set on protected woodland with purpose-built facilities on its own grounds. The campus features light, spacious classrooms around a central atrium, with dedicated spaces for art and design, music and movement, ICT, and a large library shared by primary and secondary. The school serves ages 3 to 18 and offers three programs: the IB Primary Years Programme, Cambridge IGCSE, and the IB Diploma Programme. In Grades 9–10 students take Cambridge IGCSE; Grades 11–12 prepare for the IB Diploma, with an ISL Diploma available if the full IB Diploma is not pursued. ISL emphasizes inquiry-based, real-world learning through cross-curricular projects such as Leading Your Learning, the STEAM Project, UN SDG initiatives and the Grade 8 Personal Project. The campus provides on-site PE and arts facilities, access to municipal gym and pool, and outdoor spaces including a multi-sport field and amphitheatre. ISL is regularly inspected by the French National Education Ministry and reinvests enrollment fees to improve the learning environment.
