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Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
Franconian International School (FIS) is a private international day school in Erlangen offering an IB continuum from the Primary Years Programme to Diploma Programme, together with a bespoke curriculum. The Primary School serves ages 3 to 12 with the transdisciplinary PYP, while the Secondary School follows MYP (Grades 6–10) and offers the DP for Grades 11–12, after which students graduate with the FIS High School Diploma. The DP provides courses across six groups, including English, German, Business Management, Geography, Biology, Mathematics and Arts; the High School Diploma requires 24 credits across core and additional areas. FIS is NEASC, CIS and IPC accredited, and became an IB Continuum School in 2025. The campus is purpose-built in Erlangen with libraries, science laboratories, multiple gyms, a football field, and ICT. An ASA program, MUN, music lessons, and GISST sports enrich learning beyond the classroom, supported by the Advisory and University and Careers programs.
Franconian International School has instruction in English.
Location
The Franconian International School is located in Erlangen, Germany, at Marie-Curie-Straße 2, 91052 Erlangen. It lies in the Nürnberg Metropolitan Region.
Stages
The school offers Early Years through Primary and Secondary, culminating in graduation with the IB Diploma and the FIS High School Diploma in Grade 12.
Type
The school is a private international day school.
Pupil Nationality Mix
The student population is comprised of over 40 nationalities.
Additional learning support
English as an Additional Language; Learning Support; Counseling.
School day structure
School opening hours are 8:20 to 16:00. Students must be in homerooms by 8:25. The front offices operate 8:00–17:00 (Mon–Thu) and 8:00–16:00 on Fridays. Primary students not in a supervised activity should leave by 15:45; Secondary students should leave by 16:00. Grades 9–12 may study in the FIS 2 Library until 16:30 under supervision. After-school activities (ASAP) follow the season's schedule.
Bus service
The FIS offers a bus transport service for families within FIS bus zones.
Fees
Annual tuition at Franconian International School ranges from EUR 13,940 to EUR 19,620 for 2026/27.
Application / Registration Fees
- Application / registration fee: EUR 340 per student (annual). This fee must be submitted with the application and is non-refundable unless the school denies admission. EUR 340 will be applied to the tuition invoice for returning students. A separate pre-payment for new entrants of EUR 1,500 is payable together with the registration fee; this pre-payment is non-refundable unless admission is denied and will be credited toward tuition.
Infrastructure Fee
- Applies to students in Grade 1 and above (does not apply to the Early Years Program). For the 2025/2026 school year: first year of admission: EUR 4,200; following three years (per year): EUR 840. The infrastructure fee is payable by August 1 (or 14 days after invoice for mid-year entry) and is not refundable on withdrawal. Students re-enrolling after one or more full years are considered to be in their second year for infrastructure fee purposes.
Annual Tuition (by year group) and per-term calculation
- FIS Early Years Program — Annual: EUR 13,940. Per term (annual ÷ 3, calculated): EUR 4,647. - Grades 1 – 2 — Annual: EUR 14,635. Per term (calculated): EUR 4,878. - Grades 3 – 4 — Annual: EUR 15,330. Per term (calculated): EUR 5,110. - Grade 5 — Annual: EUR 16,025. Per term (calculated): EUR 5,342. - Grade 6 — Annual: EUR 16,710. Per term (calculated): EUR 5,570. - Grades 7 – 8 — Annual: EUR 17,405. Per term (calculated): EUR 5,802. - Grade 9 — Annual: EUR 18,100. Per term (calculated): EUR 6,033. - Grade 10 — Annual: EUR 18,795. Per term (calculated): EUR 6,265. - Grades 11 – 12 — Annual: EUR 19,620. Per term (calculated): EUR 6,540.
(Note: per-term figures above are calculated by dividing the published annual tuition by three; they are shown for convenience and are not listed as official term invoices in the fee schedule.)
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Two payment options: - Option 1 — Payment in full: registration fee, infrastructure fee and tuition must be paid in full within 14 days after the date of invoice and no later than August 1. - Option 2 — Eight monthly installments: tuition may be paid in eight monthly installments between August 1 and March 1 via SEPA direct debit. A direct debit mandate must be returned by July 15; the first installment is withdrawn on August 1 and the final installment on March 1. The registration and infrastructure fees cannot be paid by installments and will be withdrawn with the first tuition installment on August 1. For installment arrangements, payment by cash, check or bank transfer is not accepted; the SEPA direct debit is required. For payment in full, bank transfer is the permitted method. No student will be admitted until payment schedule requirements are met. Mid-year enrolments must pay fees in full 14 days after the date of invoice.
- The fee schedule also lists monthly percentage milestones tied to the payment calendar to illustrate the timing/coverage of payments across the school year.
Pro-rata, refunds and early departure / late enrolment rules
- Application / registration and infrastructure fees are not prorated and are non-refundable. The pre-payment for new entries is non-refundable unless admission is denied. Tuition pro-rata and refund percentages for late enrolment and early departure are published in the fee schedule. The schedule shows the month-by-month percentages used to determine the portion of tuition payable on late enrolment and the portion refundable on early departure (example sequence for August through May: 87.5%, 75%, 62.5%, 50%, 37.5%, 25%, 12.5%, 0%, 0%, 0%). Any tuition refund due after early departure is paid two weeks after the student's last school day. Membership cancellation in the school association must be given with 10 working days' notice prior to the end of the month for refunds to be processed.
Loyalty bonus, exchanges and special cases
- Loyalty bonus: an annual 5% reduction in tuition is available once a student begins his/her fifth full consecutive year at the school (this excludes years in the Early Years Program). The bonus applies to subsequent full consecutive years; mid-year enrollments do not count toward the loyalty bonus. - Student exchange: a full academic-year student exchange results in no tuition charged for that year while the student remains enrolled and the place is reserved; the exchange year does not count toward the five consecutive years for the loyalty bonus. If a student does not return after an exchange year, a compensation fee of 25% of the tuition for the respective grade is due as a deposit before the exchange year and applied toward the following year's tuition.
Other costs and optional charges
- Field trips: single-day class field trips and the Secondary School one-week field trips are mandatory and their cost is included in tuition up to a specified amount; if costs exceed the included amount or for voluntary trips (e.g., Model United Nations) the school may charge parents for additional costs. Optional activities (for example, extra-curricular programs) and lunch are invoiced separately for participating students. Student Support Services are generally included in tuition, but exceptionally required additional support beyond the school's standard parameters may incur extra charges. The bus transport service has its own fee structure and terms (see transport service terms). - School merchandise / branded clothing: branded items such as hoodies and T‑shirts are available through the school's shop/collection; there is no mandatory uniform fee stated in the published fee schedule. Branded items are sold separately through the school shop.
Boarding
- The Franconian International School operates as a day school; there are no boarding provisions or boarding fees listed in the published materials. (Boarding fees are not applicable.)
Refund timing and non-refundable items
- Application/registration fee, the new-entry pre-payment and infrastructure fee are non-refundable except where explicitly stated (admission denied). Tuition refunds for early departure are processed and paid two weeks after the student's last school day.
Fee payment options and restrictions
- Payment in full: by bank transfer (bank details and invoice instructions are provided on the invoice). Installment payments: by SEPA direct debit only (direct debit mandate required). Payment by cash or check is not permitted. Credit card payment is not listed as an accepted method in the published fee schedule.
Academics
Franconian International School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.
Curriculum
Primary School uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3 to 12, with a transdisciplinary Programme of Inquiry organized into six Units of Inquiry across subjects. Secondary School follows the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6-10 and offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11-12, with all students able to graduate with the FIS High School Diploma. The DP provides courses across six groups, including English, German, Business Management, Geography, Biology, Mathematics, and Arts, subject to timetabling and student demand. The FIS High School Diploma requires 24 credits across English, Mathematics, Humanities, Science, Arts/Design, Physical Education, Additional Language, and further credits. Advisory Program supports personalized learning and the University & Careers program guides students through four phases toward higher education; the High School Diploma is NEASC-accredited and the school is recognized as an IB World School.
Higher Education Progression
Graduates are prepared for higher education at universities around the world. The University & Careers program guides students through four phases (Guided Self-Exploration, Career Exploration, Higher Education Planning, and Alumni engagement) toward university choices and careers. The FIS High School Diploma is NEASC-accredited and recognized for entry into American colleges.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Franconian International School is an IB World School with an emphasis on international-mindedness and a values-driven environment that supports students' social and emotional development.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school provides Learning Support services as part of its support offerings.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English as an Additional Language is listed in the school's Support section, indicating dedicated language support for learners.
Mental Wellbeing
Counseling services are available as part of the school's student welfare provisions.
Safeguarding
The school maintains safeguarding and child protection policies as part of its support and safety framework.
Admissions
Admissions
Admission policy: The school accepts students regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality or ethnic background from the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region in northern Bavaria, with a limited number of local German parents seeking a multicultural environment. German native speakers joining the school are expected to have some knowledge of English. Preference is given to students with an international background or who have lived abroad. The school reserves the right to refuse admission to those who will not benefit from or contribute to the educational program. Applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee to ensure services align with individual needs; if the school cannot provide an appropriate educational program and adequate resources to meet an individual student's exceptionality, admission will be denied and recommendations towards alternative placement in the region can be provided. The language of instruction is English; families whose mother tongue is not English are expected to be committed to learning English. Parents of students enrolled automatically become members of Franconian International School e.V. Because of the academic demands in Secondary School, all applicants whose mother tongue is not English must demonstrate sufficient academic English language skills to cope with the level of academic language used in classes.
Scholarships
The school offers a Fee Reduction Program (FRP) to provide financial relief to families with limited financial background and to promote international and social diversity. The FRP requires a detailed application with financial information; if registration depends on FRP, apply before admission; Decisions are made as soon as possible but may not be finalized before the start of the school year; While pending, full fees apply. Eligibility is based on worldwide income, including child benefits; The program is granted for one school year and requires annual re-application. Levels of support vary by income and number of children, with reductions up to 75% for the first child and corresponding reductions for additional children.
Waitlist
Admission may be granted but, due to class size restrictions, the child has been placed in a waiting pool. Mid-year entry is possible on a space-available basis.
FAQs
What ages does Franconian International School serve?
Franconian International School serves students aged 3 to 18.
What curriculum does Franconian International School follow?
Primary School uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3 to 12, with a transdisciplinary Programme of Inquiry organized into six Units of Inquiry across subjects. Secondary School follows the International.
Where is Franconian International School located?
The Franconian International School is located in Erlangen, Germany, at Marie-Curie-Straße 2, 91052 Erlangen. It lies in the Nürnberg Metropolitan Region.
What are the tuition fees?
**Application / Registration Fees**
- Application / registration fee: EUR 340 per student (annual). This fee must be submitted with the application and is non-refundable unless the school denies admission. EUR 340 will be applied to the tuition.
How many students attend Franconian International School?
The school has approximately 812 students.
What languages are taught?
The languages taught are English and German as languages of instruction. In the IB Diploma Programme, English B, German B, and Spanish B are offered at Standard and Higher Level. EAL (English as an Additional Language) is provided as a school-wide.
How does the admissions process work?
Admission policy: The school accepts students regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality or ethnic background from the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region in northern Bavaria, with a limited number of local German parents seeking a multicultural.
What facilities does the school have?
The Franconian International School has a purpose-built campus in Erlangen designed for a modern, colorful and open learning environment. Facilities include spacious classrooms, three purpose-built libraries, well-equipped science labs, two gyms and.
What extracurricular activities are available?
The After School Activity (ASA) Program offers year‑round activities for Early Years 5 to Grade 12, including Craft, Chess, Sports, and Languages. Activities are delivered by FIS staff or qualified external teachers. Fall, winter and spring.
Does the school offer boarding?
The FIS offers a bus transport service for families living within FIS bus zones outside a 2 km radius of the school. Families who live outside FIS bus zones may bring their children to a predetermined meeting or pickup point and join the FIS Bus.
When was Franconian International School founded?
Franconian International School was founded in 1998.
What accreditations does the school hold?
The school is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC).
