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Realgymnasium Rämibühl

Switzerland, Zurich

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The school at a glance
Instructs in German, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 880
Type Co-educational
Opened 1833
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum Swiss Curriculum, IB (DP)
Taught languages German, English, French, Italian, Latin, Spanish, Russian, Czech
Strengths Languages, STEM, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Community and Service, Leadership and Professional, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Middle School, Secondary School, High School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Realgymnasium Rämibühl is a public Langgymnasium in central Zürich (grades 7–12) leading to the Eidgenössische Matura and university entrance. It offers altsprachliches and neusprachliches Matura profiles, each with a Schwerpunktfach to deepen a language. The school runs a bilingual pathway combining Matura with the International Baccalaureate Diploma, with one to two classes per year. The curriculum emphasizes mathematics, the natural sciences, and the arts, alongside a broad range of compulsory subjects and Freifächer. The IB Diploma Programme comprises six subjects (German HL, English HL, French/Italian/Latin HL or SL, Mathematics HL or SL, Biology HL or SL, Geography SL) and three core components (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, CAS); the IB subjects align with Matura subjects, with additional Matura options in chemistry, physics, computer science, history, music or art and design, and sport. RG has been an IB World School since 2006, with English immersion in Mathematics, Biology and Geography within the IB programme.

Realgymnasium Rämibühl, Rämistrasse 56, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

The Essentials

Realgymnasium Rämibühl has 880 pupils, instruction in German, English.

Location
Rämistrasse 56, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland. The Realgymnasium Rämibühl is on a large campus in central Zürich, in the vicinity of the University of Zürich and the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH).

Stages
Six-year program from Grade 7 to Grade 12 leading to the Swiss Matura and Hochschulreife. It offers altsprachliche and neusprachliche Matura profiles, with a bilingual department since 2002 that combines the Swiss Matura with the International Baccalaureate.

Type
Public sector, co-educational day school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
About 15% of students hold international passports; the city is multilingual and many students come from international backgrounds.

Additional learning support
The school provides support as needed through counselling for students and teachers and has a school doctor.

Country affiliation
Switzerland (Canton of Zürich).

School day structure
The school operates on a two-semester basis from late August through early July.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Language stays with lodging in a local host family may be arranged, with attendance at a school that matches the Realgymnasium's profile.

Food Options
A well-equipped kitchen is available in the Mittelschulfoyer, and lunch breaks can be spent there.

House System
Mittelschulfoyer Kreuzbühl/Pfauen is a shared space for students from the inner-city cantonal schools (Rämibühl, Hohe Promenade, Stadelhofen, Hottingen) and serves as a place to learn, exchange and relax, featuring a kitchen, lounge, terrace, piano, yoga mats, foosball, and various games.

Governance and Ownership
The Realgymnasium Rämibühl is a cantonal school (Kantonsschule) and IB World School. The school has a Student Organisation (SORG) that represents students in school commissions and the general teachers' convention.
Fees
Application fees
- Central entrance exam (Zentrale Aufnahmeprüfung, ZAP): CHF 50 (one-time registration fee per pupil per school year). This fee is non‑refundable.

Tuition fees (by school level and term/year group)
- General tuition: There is no regular tuition charge for day students resident in the Canton of Zürich; attendance at the Realgymnasium Rämibühl is unentgeltlich.

- Mandatory / recurring school charges (applied instead of tuition):
- Copying / administration contribution: CHF 50 per semester (i.e., CHF 100 per school year).
- Teaching materials (Lehrmittel) – estimated annual amounts by level:
- Unterstufe (lower cycle): CHF 600 per school year.
- Oberstufe (upper cycle): CHF 800 per school year.

- Typical additional annual costs (estimates by year group):
- Unterstufe (typical per school year):
- Projects and trips: CHF 100.
- Lunch / midday catering (four days/week average): CHF 1,000.
- Public-transport subscription (majority of pupils): CHF 600.
- Miscellaneous: CHF 200.
- Total estimate (Unterstufe): CHF 2,500 per school year.
- Oberstufe (typical per school year):
- Teaching materials: CHF 800.
- Projects and trips: CHF 800.
- Lunch / midday catering: CHF 1,000.
- Public-transport subscription: CHF 600.
- Miscellaneous: CHF 200.
- Total estimate (Oberstufe): CHF 3,400 per school year.

Instrumental & music-related fees (per semester)
- Fakultativer Instrumentalunterricht (25 min/week): CHF 640 per semester (applies to 1.–6. Klasse and to optional instrumental lessons for Musikmaturandinnen/‑maturanden outside the internal free provision).
- Doppellektion / 2nd instrument (50 min or second instrument): CHF 1,280 per semester (where applicable).
- For music-maturand pupils the internally provided obligatory first instrument in classes 3–5 is free; external lessons continued on parental expense are charged as stated.
- Registration timings and billing implications:
- Enrollment deadlines: 31 May (Autumn semester) and 30 November (Spring semester). Late registration carries an administrative charge of CHF 20. Late cancellations can result in the parents' contribution for the following semester being invoiced.

Tutor and supervised study fees
- Tutorate (peer tutors): CHF 26 per 45‑minute lesson; this amount is paid to the tutor.
- Betreute Aufgabenstunden (supervised homework sessions for first‑year pupils): A small parental contribution (Unkostenbeitrag) is charged; the programme is billed per semester and registration is binding for the semester. Exact rates are set administratively.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Semester basis: The school charges/estimates above show semester- and year-based billing for copying contributions, instrument lessons, supervised programmes and tutor sessions (copying fee declared per semester; instrumental and tutor fees are explicitly per semester or per lesson as noted). Late-registration and late-cancellation rules for instrumental lessons result in additional invoicing.
- Entrance-exam (ZAP) payment is completed as part of the online ZAP registration process within the ZAP registration windows. The ZAP fee must be paid to finalise registration.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered as part of the Realgymnasium Rämibühl's provision; there are no boarding or residential fees. The school operates as a day school.

Other costs or fees
- School trips, projects and special activities: charged as incurred — estimated amounts are included in the annual averages above (Unterstufe: projects/trips CHF 100; Oberstufe: CHF 800).
- Lunch / midday catering: charged to parents; typical annual estimate CHF 1,000 (four days/week average).
- Public-transport subscription: majority of pupils purchase a subscription; typical annual estimate CHF 600.
- Copying / materials: copying contribution CHF 50 per semester plus the teaching‑materials figures noted above.

Refund information
- ZAP registration fee: non‑refundable after completion of registration.
- Instrumental lessons: late cancellation or missed timely deregistration can lead to invoicing of the parents' contribution for the following semester (see the instrumental‑instruction conditions and deadlines).

Fee payment options / how payments are handled
- Entrance-exam (ZAP): payment is completed online as part of the ZAP registration process.
- School-level charges (copying contributions, instrumental lessons, tutor sessions, supervised homework contributions, trips): these items are invoiced on a semester or per‑event basis according to the specific programme rules; the instrument‑instruction page confirms invoicing consequences for late deregistration. For instrument lessons the school uses semester billing and enforces the stated registration and cancellation deadlines. Parents should follow the invoice's payment instructions.

If a precise payment method (credit card, direct debit, bank transfer, etc.) is required for your database entry, the school or the ZAP registration portal provides the definitive payment channels at the time of billing/registration.
Academics

Realgymnasium Rämibühl teaches Swiss Curriculum, IB (DP).

Curriculum
The Realgymnasium Rämibühl is a six-year Langgymnasium (grades 7–12) leading to the Eidgenössische Matura and university entrance. It offers altsprachliches (classical languages) and neusprachliches (modern languages) Matura profiles, with each profile allowing a Schwerpunktfach to deepen a language. The school also runs a bilingual pathway with a bilingual Matura and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, with one to two classes per year in this double-degree program. The curriculum places strong emphasis on mathematics, the natural sciences, and the arts, complemented by a broad range of compulsory subjects and Freifächer (electives). The IB Diploma Programme comprises six subjects (German HL, English HL, French or Italian or Latin HL or SL, Mathematics HL or SL, Biology HL or SL, Geography SL) and three core components (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, CAS); the six IB subjects align with the corresponding Matura subjects, with additional Matura subjects including chemistry, physics, computer science, history, music or art and design, and sport. The timetable for immersion classes defines the number of lessons per subject in the bilingual Matura/IB pathway, and RG has been an IB World School since 2006. Combinations of Schwerpunktfach and a third language are possible to tailor the curriculum.

Student Teacher Ratio
There are around 880 students and about 120 teachers, yielding a rough student‑teacher ratio of approximately 7.3 to 1.

Exam Results
Resultate des IB-Abschlusses 2026: Nineteen Schülerinnen und Schüler der Klasse 6i schlossen den Doppelabschluss Zweisprachige Maturität und International Baccalaureate (IB) erfolgreich ab. Die schriftlichen IB-Prüfungen fanden im Mai statt; Maximum 45 Punkte, 24 Punkte zum Diplom. Der weltweite Durchschnitt liegt bei ca. 30.5 Punkten; der Klassendurchschnitt des RG-Jahrgangs 2026 betrug 32.7 Punkte. Die besten RG-Ergebnisse 2026 waren: Sofia Vuskovic 40, Nicolas von Zedtwitz 37, Arthur Petrov 36. Die Extended Essay erzielte die seltene Note A bei Noelia Niederer (History), Scarlett Rollinson (Biology) und Nicolas Von Zedtwitz (Music).

Higher Education Progression
Graduates access Swiss universities and international universities; The IB Diploma is a valuable qualification that can facilitate admission to foreign higher education institutions. The bilingual Matura/IB pathway provides entry options to Swiss universities as well as abroad, and the school notes notable alumni such as Max Frisch and Elias Canetti.

Gifted and Talented
The school supports high-achieving students through the double pathway of a bilingual Matura and the IB Diploma; It emphasizes independent thinking and a broad education across languages, mathematics, sciences, and the arts, complemented by extensive extracurricular opportunities (music, drama, clubs) and core IB components (ToK, EE, CAS) to develop advanced academic and personal growth.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Realgymnasium Rämibühl aims to address and develop students' emotional and social skills as part of its educational goals. It fosters a respectful, cooperative, and responsible school culture through a variety of activities and events, and offers tutoring, learning coaching, study and career guidance, student counseling, and access to a school doctor. A team for addiction prevention and health promotion strengthens personal resources and supports a healthy school climate.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school provides inclusive education with accommodations (Nachteilsausgleich) for students with disabilities or documented partial learning difficulties. The NAM team advises on procedures and supports the application process in line with cantonal guidelines for Zurich upper secondary schools.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
In the IB program, English is the working language in mathematics, biology, and geography, with papers and examinations written in English. Students receive over 1,300 immersive English lessons from year 3 through the Matura, and the respective subjects are taught in English up to the Matura so a switch back to German is not required. A two-week intensive English course is offered for new classes in year 3 during the first quarter.

Mental Wellbeing
A Team for Suchtprävention und Gesundheitsförderung (TSG) develops and coordinates health-promotion and prevention programs to strengthen personal resources and foster a healthy, respectful school climate. The school provides access to a school physician for health concerns, with weekly consultation hours, and supports student well-being and related services.

Safeguarding
The school maintains crisis-management resources and safeguarding procedures, including contacts for psychological crises (e.g., PUKZ for child and adolescent psychiatry) and emergency support lines such as Pro Juventute (147) for children and adolescents, and a parent helpline. A crisis-intervention guideline guides staff and families in emergencies.
Parent Experience

History
Established in 1833, Realgymnasium Rämibühl is a public, co-educational Langgymnasium in central Zürich. It offers altsprachliches and neusprachliches Matura profiles and since 2002 a bilingual program combining Matura with the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The campus is in central Zürich near the University of Zürich and ETH, on a site with a landmark building complex designed by Eduard Neuenschwander that houses three state baccalaureate schools. The school emphasizes a rigorous all-round education with emphasis on languages, mathematics, sciences, and the arts.

Community
The school has strong ties with the surrounding community. Two associations—VEGR (alumni, 800 members) and EVRG (parents, 100 members)—support school life. VEGR funds cultural and language projects, supports student exchanges and the upper-school week. EVRG runs parent lectures and facilitates dialogue with the school leadership.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
EVRG is the Parents' Association of Realgymnasium Rämibühl. It is a non-profit, politically and confessional-neutral body representing parents in dialogue with the teaching staff and school leadership. EVRG organizes lectures for parents, welcomes new students, and works with the school on defined topics. It funds cultural and language projects and student exchanges. EVRG's homepage is evrg.ch.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Realgymnasium Rämibühl campus comprises two buildings for general teaching and a separate building for scientific instruction, together with a sport tract featuring outdoor sports facilities, a Mensa cafeteria and an Aula (auditorium). The campus includes a Mediothek as the information center with around 16,000 media items and dedicated study spaces. When construction proceeds, RG@Irchel will operate a provisional campus at the University of Irchel from 2027 to 2031; the provisional infrastructure includes classrooms, BG workshops, rooms for instrumental instruction, spaces for natural science practicums, sport halls, a Kraftraum, and a Mensa. An ASVZ Sports Center remains in use alongside the provisional facilities. The school is part of a broader ecosystem including an IB program and immersion options on offer to students.

Sports Facilities
On the main RG campus, a sport tract provides outdoor sports facilities. The RG@Irchel provisional site includes sport halls and a gym. An existing ASVZ Sports Center serves as the baseline sports facility during the interim period.

Academic Facilities
The campus houses two general teaching buildings and a science building with dedicated spaces for scientific instruction and general classes. The RG@Irchel interim provisions include classrooms, BG workshops, rooms for instrumental instruction, and spaces for natural science practicums. The Mediothek library functions as the information center with around 16,000 media items, 25 student workstations, 2 computer workstations, a web OPAC, and printing/scanning resources. Immersion in English is used as the working language in Mathematics, Biology and Geography within the IB program, with over 1,300 immersive English lessons from Year 3 to Matura.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Verein Solidarität runs humanitarian projects and fundraising activities, including a cake sale during visiting days to support projects in India and Albania. VEGR, the alumni association, provides annual reports, career guidance and support for school initiatives. EVRG, the Elternverein (parents' association), represents parents and funds cultural projects and language exchanges. FC Rämibühl (Football Club Racing Rämibühl) offers school-affiliated football opportunities for students and others.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Arts & Creative
VEGR finances cultural projects at the Realgymnasium Rämibühl. Alumni regularly receive the school's annual report and notices of cultural events, including concerts and theatre. The cultural life of the school is supported through these alumni-led communications and VEGR funding. These activities contribute to the school's cultural offerings and events.

Cultural & Language
EVRG is the Parents' Association of Realgymnasium Rämibühl. It represents the interests of the parents in close dialogue with the teaching staff and the school leadership. It finances language projects and student exchanges, helping students participate in language initiatives and exchanges who might otherwise be unable to participate. EVRG aims to ensure the Realgymnasium Rämibühl maintains modern teaching and learning forms, contributes to positive school experiences, supports holistic development, and fosters a tolerant and peaceful school community.

Social & Hobbies
Verein Solidarität aims to help people less privileged and to illuminate the topic of solidarity in the classroom. International projects include a bake sale during visiting days to support aid projects, with annual support for Usthi in India. Local engagement includes a sponsor run to support IPA, which helps Roma girls in Albania attend school. Amnesty International's letter-writing campaign is incorporated into classroom activities to highlight human rights.

Community & Service
Verein Solidarität's activities demonstrate the school's community and service ethos through both international and local engagement. The bake sale and sponsor run raise funds for charitable projects, and the Christmas gift collection supports youths in refugee housing. The school participates in Amnesty International's letter marathon to advocate for human rights, linking service to real-world advocacy. Alumni and organizational partners contribute to ongoing community-centered initiatives.

Leadership & Professional
The VEGR arranges guidance for graduating students on study and career opportunities, including individual counseling. It provides financial support for cultural projects and for language projects and student exchanges. The VEGR also supports upper-secondary excursions and travel, offering contributions to culturally or naturwissenschaftliche (nature-focused) trips. It enables special teaching acquisitions for the school, helping to fund resources the school otherwise could not afford.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
FC Rämibühl is the school's own football club, founded in 2006 by Roy Bernheim, Basil Bolliger, and Chris Goodman. Since its inception, it has provided Realgymnasium students (and others) with opportunities to play football alongside peers with similar interests. The club began as Switzerland's first school-owned football club and continues to offer football as part of student life. The FC Rämibühl also maintains a presence online with its own site and social media.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the immersion language for three IB subjects—Mathematics, Biology, and Geography—and is used for instruction and assessment through Matura. Over 1,300 immersive English lessons are delivered from Year 3 onward, including a two-week English-intensive course for new Year 3 cohorts. Lower-school immersion began in 2023/24, with Geography, Music, Religions, Cultures, and Ethics taught in English from the second semester of the first grade; no prior English knowledge is required. Admission to immersion in the lower school depends on passing the central entrance exam (Langgymnasium); there is no entitlement if seats are limited, and the school may decide not to form an immersion class if demand is too low.

Bilingual Teaching
Immersion education uses English as the working language in three IB subjects: Mathematics, Biology, and Geography. Papers and examinations are written in English. Students receive over 1,300 immersive English lessons from Year 3 through Matura, and the subjects are taught in English up to Matura, so there is no need to switch back to German. A two-week English-language immersion course is provided for the newly formed class during the first quarter of Year 3.

Immersion Programs
Immersion in the IB program uses English as the working language in Mathematics, Biology, and Geography, with papers and exams in English. Since 2023/24, immersion is also offered in the lower school, with one immersion class formed each year. In the lower school, Geography, Music, Religions, Cultures, and Ethics are taught in English from the second semester of the first grade, and no prior English language knowledge is required. Admission to immersion classes is tied to the Langgymnasium entrance exam; admission is not guaranteed if applications exceed places, and selection is based on the exam average; the principal reserves the right not to form an immersion class if there are too few applicants.
Admissions

Admissions
0. Admission overview. Realgymnasium Rämibühl is a selective six-year Langgymnasium that directly follows primary school (6th grade) and leads to the Swiss Matura and university entrance. It offers both a classical-language Matura profile and a modern-language Matura profile, and per cohort one to two classes may pursue a bilingual Matura together with the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. The school also places emphasis on mathematics and the natural sciences as well as the arts, and a rigorous entrance examination is required for admission to the six-year program.

1. Information session and introduction to the RG and the admissions process. An information session about RG and the admission process is held on November 9, 2026 in the Aula Rämibühl and can be streamed online. It provides prospective students and parents with details about the school, its offerings, and the admission procedure.

2. Schnuppertag (trial day) for prospective RG students. A Schnuppertag is scheduled for November 26, 2026, with registration opening on November 9, 2026. This gives students a hands-on sense of the RG environment and a chance to experience classroom structure.

3. Central entrance examination (Zentralen Aufnahmeprüfung, ZAP) registration. Registration for the ZAP opens January 1, 2027 and all required documents must be uploaded by February 10, 2027. Registration for immersion class occurs together with ZAP registration. The Immersion option is available only if admission requirements are met and there are available places.

4. Central entrance examination (ZAP) and immersion-class conditions. The ZAP assesses Deutsch and Mathematics according to the Zürcher Lehrplan and the ZAP1 requirements. For non-native German speakers, a bilingual dictionary may be used in the Mathematics section; no calculators are allowed in the math portion; candidates may request a Nachteilsausgleich (disadvantage accommodation) by February 10 with appropriate documentation. Immersion-class admission is not guaranteed; if applications exceed places, selection is based on the average score from the entrance examination. The Immersion class, when offered in the Unterstufe, uses English for Geography, Music, and Religions/Cultures/Ethics from the second semester of the first grade.

5. Outcomes and notification. The selection decision is communicated in late March via written letter and through zap.ch. The process follows the guidelines set out for ZAP and the school's immersion-policy, with final decisions communicated to families accordingly.

6. Post-admission considerations. For candidates with special needs, a Nachteilsausgleich can be requested, but such requests must be submitted by February 10 as part of the application to the admission process. The terms of the immersion-program and the selection criteria apply as described above.

Scholarships
The Canton of Zurich offers training contributions (Stipendien/Ausbildungsbeiträge) that may be applied for by students at cantonal secondary schools when families are in financially modest circumstances. These contributions are part of cantonal education policy and aim to promote equal opportunities for students. Information on Ausbildungsbeiträge for 2026 and related checklists are provided for applicants.
School Events
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