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Taught languages German, English, Spanish, French, Latin
Typical class size 4
Strengths Sport, Outdoor Education, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Secondary School
Introduction
Located in a 13th-century castle in Überlingen near Lake Constance, Salem International College - Spetzgart Castle offers a unique boarding experience for students in grades 11 and 12. The school provides two distinct academic pathways: the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme taught in English, and the German Abitur. A defining feature of a Salem education is its mandatory three-year community service initiative, where students actively participate in essential local services such as the school’s own fire brigade, technical relief organization (THW), or sea rescue operations. Campus facilities include historical castle buildings, science centres, and a private harbour constructed by students in 1933. Students also participate in mandatory outdoor education excursions, including extensive Outward Bound expeditions to Norway, to build teamwork and resilience. Around 600 students from over 45 nations study across Salem’s campuses, supported by class sizes of just 10 to 20 students.
2. The admissions process includes a personal interview with the applicant and a campus visit for the parent and child, including a tour of the castle grounds, classrooms and dormitory buildings; an alternative is a digital meeting and virtual tour.
3. Complete a placement test. Prerequisites for admission: for Abitur at Salem, German language proficiency (written and spoken) is required to participate in Gymnasium-level instruction. For students enrolling in international classes and the IB Diploma Programme, fluency in English (written and spoken) is required, and an assessment test across subjects is used. Admission is possible at the start of each school year for entry into grades 5–11; admission to grade 12 or mid‑year entry is not advisable but may be possible in individual cases. Online information events: 45‑minute online information sessions on various topics are available; register to attend.
Scholarships
Schule Schloss Salem has a scholarship programme to enable talented students to attend regardless of income. The scholarship fund is around 3.2 million euros and currently supports about 20 percent of students. The programme is funded mainly by the Kurt Hahn Foundation and the school; Wolfgang Dürr Foundation and Beck'sche Foundation Berlin also contribute, with additional support from private donors and the Dornier Foundation.
