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Taught languages English, German, French, Spanish, Urdu
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
Berlin International School (BIS) is a private, non-profit, non-denominational day school on Campus Lentzeallee in southwest Berlin. It serves around 996 students from over 70 nations, from kindergarten through the IB Diploma Programme, covering ages 3 to 18. BIS operates an IB World School curriculum with the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP). In Grades 6–10, students follow a bilingual Middle Years Programme aligned with the Berlin Rahmenlehrplan and BIS's interpretation. Cambridge IGCSE is offered as part of the academic program. The school emphasizes inquiry-based learning and global perspectives, and promotes multilingualism with English and German language development, supported by a multilingual library and integrated Educational Technology. BIS is part of Stiftung Private-Kant-Schulen gGmbH and is fully accredited by the Council of International Schools and MSA-CESS. Facilities include a library, technology resources, health and wellbeing staff, after-school care (ASA), and a broad range of sports, arts, and extracurricular activities. Students prepare for post-secondary education worldwide through the IB Diploma pathway.
Private, non-profit, non-denominational day school. It is an IB World School, fully accredited by the Council of International Schools and the Middle States Association (MSA-CESS), and is part of Stiftung Private-Kant-Schulen gGmbH.
Pupil Nationality Mix
70+ nationalities represented.
Additional learning support
Language support programs for English and German at different levels to compensate for language deficits.
Country affiliation
Germany; State of Berlin.
Religious affiliation
Non-denominational.
Bus service
The school offers a bus service.
Fees
Annual tuition at Berlin International School ranges from EUR 12,425 to EUR 18,240 for 2026/27.
Application fee
- Admission Fee: EUR 800.00.
Tuition fees by year group (annual, monthly and per-term equivalents)
- Grades 1–6: Annual tuition EUR 12,300.00. Stated monthly equivalent: EUR 1,025.00/month. Equivalent per term (dividing the annual fee by three school terms): EUR 4,100.00 per term.
- Grades 7–10: Annual tuition EUR 13,560.00. Stated monthly equivalent: EUR 1,130.00/month. Equivalent per term (dividing the annual fee by three school terms): EUR 4,520.00 per term.
- Grades 11–12 (IBDP 1 and 2): Annual tuition EUR 18,240.00. Stated monthly equivalent: EUR 1,520.00/month. Equivalent per term (dividing the annual fee by three school terms): EUR 6,080.00 per term.
- Note regarding Grades 1–6: The published fee framework shows that the school originally set a tuition of EUR 13,500.00 for 2025/2026 to be paid in twelve monthly installments (August to July) of EUR 1,125.00 each; because the State of Berlin reimburses part of the cooked-lunch cost, the current payable amount is presented as EUR 12,300.00/year (EUR 1,025.00/month). The monthly lunch-share amount cited is EUR 100.23/month (annual share EUR 1,202.70). Monthly lunch fees for higher grades are shown as EUR 100.00/month (EUR 1,200.00/year) and are included in the listed tuition.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- The published figures are presented with monthly equivalents and the school notes an example payment plan of twelve monthly installments (August to July) for the stated annual fee in the school-year example. The listed monthly amounts (EUR 1,025; EUR 1,130; EUR 1,520) indicate that tuition is expressed and managed on a monthly basis in the published schedule. Specific invoicing dates, due dates, accepted payment instruments, and penalty terms for late payment are not published in the materials consulted.
Boarding fees
- Boarding fees: not applicable. The school is operated as a day school (private, non-profit day school). No boarding or boarding fees are published.
Other costs and fees
- Annual Resource Fees: Grades 1–5 EUR 125.00/year; Grades 6–8 EUR 175.00/year; Grades 9–10 EUR 225.00/year. These resource fees are charged in addition to tuition.
- Costs explicitly not included in tuition: fees for special needs support, excursions, field and class trips, after-school activities and clubs, and the school bus service are not included and are charged separately.
- School apparel and sportswear: school apparel and sportswear can be ordered via the school's designated supplier. Prices for uniform/apparel are not published in the school fee statements and are payable separately.
Sibling discounts and income-related fees
- Sibling reductions are published with specific monthly figures (presented with the meal-cost portion covered by the Senate). Examples (monthly figures shown): - Grades 1–6: 1st child EUR 1,025; 2nd child EUR 769; 3rd child EUR 513; 4th child EUR 256. - Grades 7–10: 1st child EUR 1,130; 2nd child EUR 872; 3rd child EUR 615; 4th child EUR 357. - Grades 11–12: 1st child EUR 1,520; 2nd child EUR 1,165; 3rd child EUR 810; 4th child EUR 455. - Families may apply for income-related school fees; an application with evidence of family income is required.
Refunds and withdrawal
- Withdrawal procedure and notice: parents are required to give written notice when withdrawing a student; parents wishing to withdraw a child at the end of a school year are contractually required to inform the school in writing before the end of April. Specific refund, cancellation, prorating or reimbursement rules tied to mid-year withdrawal or to cancellation of enrolment are not published in the materials consulted.
- The publicly available fee summary and parent handbooks consulted do not publish specific accepted payment instruments (for example: bank transfer/IBAN, SEPA direct debit, credit card, PayPal). Parents are instructed to follow contract and admissions arrangements for payment particulars; explicit payment-method details are not present in the publicly posted fee statements and handbooks examined.
Summary of where fees apply and what is additional
- Tuition covers instruction and (noted) lunch-share as described for the relevant grades. Resource fees are charged annually by grade band. Excursions, trips, special-needs provision, after-school activities, clubs and bus service are additional costs and billed separately. Sibling reductions and income-related fee arrangements are available and are applied as published. Admission requires payment of an Admission Fee of EUR 800.00.
Note on missing details found during review
- The public fee statements and parent handbooks provide clear annual and monthly tuition figures, resource fees, sibling reductions and a withdrawal notice requirement, but do not publish detailed invoicing timetables (exact invoice dates and term-by-term billing calendar beyond the stated monthly-equivalents), penalty/late-payment terms, detailed refund or cancellation rules, nor a list of accepted payment instruments. These payment-process and refund specifics are not present in the publicly posted fee material consulted.
Academics
Berlin International School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE for students aged 3 to 18.
Curriculum
Berlin International School uses the International Baccalaureate framework across the school. Primary is authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), enhanced by the Berlin Rahmenlehrplan. The school promotes multilingualism with English and German language development, supported by a multilingual library and integrated Educational Technology. In Grades 6-10, students follow a bilingual Middle Years Programme based on the Berlin Rahmenlehrplan and the school's interpretation of the Middle Years Programme, with intentional vertical alignment with IB PYP and IB DP. In Grades 11-12, the school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The curriculum emphasizes inquiry-based learning and global perspectives.
Higher Education Progression
Students are prepared for post-secondary education worldwide. They complete the German MSA exam at the end of Grade 10 and then pursue the IB Diploma in Grades 11-12, which is recognized by universities around the world.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school fosters a multicultural, student- and learning-focused environment that supports emotional and social development through its IB framework and school-wide initiatives.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school provides programs to support diverse learner needs as part of its international and local student body; it operates as a private, non-profit day school.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Multilingualism is cultivated with an emphasis on English and German language acquisition, with language support programs offered as needed.
Mental Wellbeing
On-campus counselors and a health and welfare officer support students' day-to-day health and emotional well-being.
Safeguarding
A safe, supportive environment is a core part of the school culture, with policies aligned to safeguarding and child protection practices.
Admissions
Admissions
1. Begin the admissions process by submitting the application form online. Include the filled in form with signatures by both parents (or proof of sole custody) and copies of recent report cards and the birth certificate. Email the package to the Admissions Officer, Ms. Melanie Sommer-Joest. Documents are then received by the Admissions Officer for processing.
2. The documents are assessed by the Admissions Officer. If additional information is required, applicants are contacted. The Admissions Officer reviews the submission to determine whether the application is complete. This step ensures all required materials are in order before moving forward.
3. If application form and documents are in order, the child is placed either directly on the list of applicants, or on a waiting list. This placement occurs after the documents are reviewed by the Admissions Officer. The next stage proceeds with testing or trial days as described in the admissions process.
4. Entrance tests are carried out for applicants for Grade 6 upwards; trial days are carried out for Grades 1-5 applicants, if they help with the admission decision. Tests assess readiness for Grade 6+, and trial days offer non-test assessment for younger applicants. These assessments inform the next step in the admissions process.
5. A place is offered. The offer represents an admission decision for the applicant. The family can then proceed to the acceptance step.
6. The place is accepted. Acceptance confirms the applicant's intent to enroll. After acceptance, the process continues toward formal enrollment.
7. A school contract is issued for signing. The contract sets out enrollment terms and conditions. Signing the contract formalizes the enrollment.
Scholarships
Income Related School Fees: Families can apply for income-related school fees. An application form plus complete and reliable evidence of family income should be sent to the Management Office. For further information please contact gf@private-kant-schulen.de. Sibling Reductions: B.I.S. offers sibling reductions. The reductions are applied per child and vary by grade level: for Grades 1–6 the reductions are 1st child 1,025 EUR, 2nd child 769 EUR, 3rd child 513 EUR, 4th child 256 EUR; for Grades 7–10 the reductions are 1st child 1,130 EUR, 2nd child 872 EUR, 3rd child 615 EUR, 4th child 357 EUR. Corresponding additional agreements are issued by the Admissions Office when the contract is concluded.
Waitlist
The school uses a waiting list. If a place is not immediately available, applicants may be placed on a waiting list. A place on the waiting list indicates ongoing consideration for enrollment, depending on availability.
FAQs
What programmes does BIS offer?
BIS offers IB PYP in Primary, a bilingual MYP in Grades 6-10, and IB Diploma in Grades 11-12. Students take the German MSA exam at the end of Grade 10.
How many students attend?
Approximately 900 students from over 70 nations attend BIS.
What are the tuition fees?
Annual tuition ranges from EUR 12,425 for Grades 1-6 to EUR 18,240 for Grades 11-12. Admission fee is EUR 800. Hot lunch is included for Grades 1-6.
Where is the school located?
BIS is on Campus Lentzeallee at Lentzeallee 8/14, 14195 Berlin, in southwest Berlin.
What accreditations does BIS hold?
BIS is an IB World School, accredited by CIS and MSA-CESS, and is a state-recognised private school in Berlin.
Does BIS offer a bus service?
Yes. The school offers a bus service for students.
Is income-related fee reduction available?
Yes. Families can apply for income-related school fees by submitting evidence to the Management Office.
What extracurricular activities are available?
About 30 after-school classes run daily, with weekend workshops. Activities include Speech and Debate, Chess Club, programming, Model UN, and extensive sports.
Does BIS have counselling support?
Yes. On-campus counsellors and a Health and Welfare Officer support day-to-day health and emotional wellbeing.
When was BIS founded?
BIS was founded in 1998 following the Bonn/Berlin resolution that moved embassies to Berlin.
