Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama

1. Initial inquiry and information request: Express interest in DSTY by using the online contact form to reach the Anmeldebüro (admissions office). A DSTY representative will respond with next steps and guidance; a campus visit or information session is strongly recommended to understand the school environment and programs. This step helps families confirm fit before submitting formal applications.

2. Language readiness and eligibility for entry: For admission to the early grades, DSTY requires age-appropriate German language knowledge. This can be demonstrated by two consecutive years of attendance at a German-speaking kindergarten or by a school-conducted language placement assessment to verify German language ability. If aiming for early admission, the school will require successful completion of its internal school-readiness checks.

3. Documentation and application forms: Gather and submit the necessary forms and documents. Application forms are provided through the admissions process and are in German; the set includes a family registration form and per-child documents (health card, kindergarten/primary/secondary forms as applicable). Completed documents are submitted to DSTY's admissions office as part of the intake process.

4. Admission decision by the school leadership: The final decision on new enrollments rests with the school leadership. Once the child is accepted, families will be asked to submit the remaining forms and documents required for enrollment.

5. Enrollment timing and waitlists: There is no strict annual application deadline because enrolment can occur mid-year; however, competition is high, especially in the kindergarten. If a class reaches its maximum capacity, a waitlist is created and families are notified when a space becomes available. Early application is advised to improve the chances of securing a place.

6. Fees and onboarding steps after acceptance: Upon acceptance, families receive billing for the admission-related fees (service fee and admission fee) and then annual tuition and other charges as applicable. The current fee schedule for the 2025/2026 year includes a service fee of 75,000 yen and an admission fee of 650,000 yen per child; tuition is 1,650,000 yen for Primary grades 1–4 and 1,790,000 yen for grades 5–12; bus service is 380,000 yen; and a DSTY membership of 500 yen applies. Fees may be paid in four installments with a 1% processing fee, and late payments incur interest of 3% above the Bank of Japan discount rate.

7. Language and curriculum context (helpful for admissions planning): The school's instruction is predominantly in German; English is taught as the first foreign language starting in Grade 2, with the option to study Japanese as a second foreign language from Grade 1 and French (or Japanese with prerequisite) from Grade 6; Latin may be chosen from Grade 10.

DSTY operates a waitlist system when a class reaches its maximum capacity. There is no strict end-of-year deadline for filing the application, as admissions can occur mid-year; once a class is full, a waitlist is created and families are notified when a space becomes available. The kindergarten section tends to have especially high demand, so early application is recommended.

DSTY offers financial assistance through the DSTY Foundation in the form of social subsidies to support German-speaking students regardless of parental income. Eligibility focuses on income and assets: gross family income thresholds are used as guidelines (under 7,000,000 yen per year for a single child; under 8,500,000 yen for two children), and prospective recipients must disclose the worldwide assets (real estate, investments, business interests, etc.). Applications for social subsidies must be submitted before enrolling in the school year for which the subsidy is sought, and the foundation reserves the right to make decisions on a case-by-case basis. Documents and forms are to be completed and submitted in person to the DSTY administration.