Germany, Hamburg
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
· Reviewed by Giulia Ceccon · Chief Marketing Officer
International School of Hamburg (ISH) is a private, independent, non-profit international school in Hamburg, Germany, serving around 730 students from over 55 nationalities. The school offers a continuous international curriculum from Early Years to Grade 12. The Early Years follow the IEYC; the Junior School uses the IPC with cross-curricular units in Science, History, Geography, Art, Technology and International Understanding, supported by specialist teachers in Music, German, Physical Education, Library Skills and ICT. The Secondary School follows the IB framework: MYP for Grades 6–10 and DP and IBCP for Grades 11–12, with French or Spanish starting in Grade 6. The 41,000-square-metre campus includes a 19,000-square-metre building, a Performing Arts Centre with a 400-seat auditorium, a well-resourced library, campus-wide ICT, and science laboratories. ISH emphasizes pastoral care, EAL and Mother Tongue support, and sustainability, including Eco-School accreditation achieved in 2025 and biodiversity projects. ISH also emphasizes pastoral care and language support.
Hemmingstedter Weg 130, 22609 Hamburg, Germany
International School of Hamburg has instruction in English, German.
Hemmingstedter Weg 130, 22609 Hamburg, Germany
Early Years (ECC, ages 3–5) ; Junior School (Grades 1–5) ; Secondary School (Grades 6–12; IB Middle Years Programme 6–10; IB Diploma Programme and IB Career-related Programme 16–18)
Private international school; independent, non-profit association
63 nationalities represented; top nationalities include United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, India and South Korea; Germany is the host country.
English as an Additional Language (EAL) support
Germany
The school offers English-language curricula for students from age 3 to 18. The majority of co-curricular activities run from 15:00 to 16:30, with After School Care available until 18:00.
Three school buses run by HVV serve the outer Alster region and Hafen City; buses stop at regular stops and are available to students in Grades 1–12. Cost and route information differ each year. Hamburg resident students travel free across the HVV regional network (as of 1 Sep 2024).
Annual tuition at International School of Hamburg ranges from EUR 12,790 to EUR 25,190 for 2026/27.
International School of Hamburg teaches IB (MYP), IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum) for students aged 3 to 18.
The school provides a continuous international curriculum from Early Years to Grade 12. The Early Years follows the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC), with Early Years 3 introducing Foundations phonics, Reader's and Writer's Workshop, and Math in Focus. The Junior School (Grades 1–5) uses the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) with cross-curricular IPC units in Science, History, Geography, Art, Technology and International Understanding; there are specialist teachers in Music, German, Physical Education, Library Skills and ICT, and a Wellness program including Mindfulness and digital citizenship. The Secondary School (Grades 6–12) follows the International Baccalaureate framework: the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6–10 and the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) for Grades 11–12; French or Spanish begins as a third language in Grade 6, and a strong pastoral care program supports students through tutor groups. Language support is provided through Mother Tongue and English as an Additional Language (EAL) provisions to help students access the curriculum.
6.5:1
ISH IB Diploma Programme results 2024 show an average DP score of 32.1 out of 45, with an average DP class grade of 5.08 out of 7 and an average grade across all subjects of 5.09 out of 7. 55% of DP students scored more than 30 points. 100% of CP Diploma recipients were awarded the CP Diploma. 85% of ISH graduates matriculated at colleges and universities worldwide.
85% of ISH graduates matriculate at colleges and universities worldwide. Destinations span Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, including universities such as the University of Antwerp, KU Leuven, McGill University, University of Toronto, Hamburg School of Business Administration, TU München, and the University of Edinburgh.
ISH has an ongoing admissions process with mid‑year entry possible. An inquiry submitted via the online form starts the process to arrange a campus visit or a call and is not a formal application for admission. An online application follows the inquiry. Admissions Officers are Margaret Metzler and Karolin Mutzel.
ISH offers a Financial Aid (FinAid) program to help families cover tuition. Eligibility is based on income and assets; the top gross income threshold for a one‑child family is €150,000, with asset‑based adjustments increasing the tuition amount. Full tuition may be charged for higher income or asset levels, according to the 2024–2025 Schedule of Fees. Applications are considered after a formal admission offer is made; families request a financial aid form from finaid@ishamburg.org, review eligibility, and submit a single PDF application signed by both parents. School fee reductions are granted for one year and must be reapplied annually; approval is provisional until the previous year's tax return is submitted.
Ask me anything about International School of Hamburg
I can recommend schools, build your shortlist with you, compare fees, explain curriculums and find open days — or just tell me your situation and we'll start from there.