Basel · School search
International School Basel offers the full IB in English across Aesch and Reinach. SIS Basel provides German-English education with Swiss Matura and IB options.
The two schools differ most in language and final qualifications.
International School Basel, or ISB, is an English-medium day school offering the full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum. Its pupils are split by age across three campuses in Aesch and Reinach, south of Basel. It is the more relevant choice for continuity in an English IB programme.
SIS Swiss International School Basel, at Erlenstrasse 15 in Kleinbasel, teaches in German and English. Its later options include the bilingual Swiss Matura and the IB Diploma. It is better suited to a family wanting systematic German immersion and a possible Swiss qualification.
At ISB, Early Childhood through Grade 6 attend Aesch. Grades 7–8 and Grades 9–12 use different Reinach campuses. Ask which address applies now and after the next transition. At SIS, the single Basel campus covers kindergarten through Year 12.
Ask both schools how they place a child who is new to English or German. “Bilingual” should lead to a concrete answer about teaching time, assessment and support, especially in the years before Matura or Diploma choices.
ISB’s annual schedule includes year-group tuition and a separate CHF 4,500 development fee. Establish which deposits, transport, meals, trips and support costs are additional.
SIS publishes fees per semester, not per year. Multiply the relevant semester charge by two only when the terms confirm two equal billing periods, and label that total as a calculation. Do not compare one SIS semester with one ISB year. SIS receives no federal or cantonal subsidy.
Neither school boards. If residential schooling is required, the search must expand beyond Basel.
Test the journey to the correct ISB campus and to Erlenstrasse from the home you are considering. Also compare the relevant Basel-Stadt or Basel-Landschaft school if the child can join local education. The Basel hub, Switzerland guide and profiles provide the official source links.
Friendly orientation, not formal admissions advice. Always confirm dates with the school.
ISB offers English-language IB education across Aesch, Fiechten and Reinach. Check the campus for each child and budget for the development fee, meals and care as well as tuition.
BaselSIS Basel offers German/English education at Erlenstrasse 15, with bilingual Swiss Matura and IB options in the upper years. Prior bilingualism is not required; fees are quoted per semester.
Chesières, Villars-sur-OllonAiglon combines English-medium study with boarding and regular mountain activities. Choose it for that complete programme, and confirm the day-place rules and full cost for your child’s entry year.
Pully, LausanneCollège Champittet is a co-educational private school in Vaud, part of Nord Anglia Education. Its Pully campus offers day education and boarding, with Swiss Maturité, French Baccalauréat and English-taught IB pathways.
Start with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.
7 minA useful visit should help you picture your child’s school day and resolve the questions that matter to your family. Ask for concrete examples, then separate what you observed from what you were told.