Munich · School search
Munich International, Bavarian International and the European School serve different locations and admissions routes. Start with eligibility, qualification and the actual campus.
The two private IB schools in this comparison are outside central Munich. The European School uses two south-eastern city sites. A home convenient for one may create a difficult journey to another.
Munich International School, or MIS, is at Schloss Buchhof in Starnberg. It offers International Baccalaureate education from the early years through the Diploma, alongside its own high-school diploma. German is part of the curriculum for every pupil.
Bavarian International School, or BIS, has its main campus in Haimhausen and a primary campus in Munich’s Schwabing district. It also offers the IB sequence. A primary place in Schwabing does not mean that secondary school remains at that address.
Compare MIS and BIS for the child’s current stage, subject choices and language support. Neither “IB” nor an impressive campus decides between them. Ask which location serves each sibling and what happens at the next school transition.
European School Munich teaches the European Schools curriculum through the European Baccalaureate, not IB. Kindergarten and primary are in Fasangarten; secondary is in Neuperlach.
Its admissions categories determine priority and fees. Category I includes eligible children of the European Patent Office, EU and school staff; they are entitled to admission without tuition. Category II rests on an individual agreement. Category III applicants can be admitted only to a limited extent.
Category III is therefore not an automatic refusal, but neither is it an open private-school admission route. Confirm the category, language section and current intake conditions directly.
If the family expects to remain in Bavaria, compare a local state or church school as well. A German Gymnasium leads towards Abitur; its language and entry demands differ from an English-medium IB route.
For every option, request the current fee and transport details. A tuition figure does not establish the bus route, after-school care or family cost. Test Starnberg, Haimhausen, Schwabing, Fasangarten or Neuperlach from the home you are actually considering.
The Munich hub locates the schools, and the Germany guide explains the national context.
Friendly orientation, not formal admissions advice. Always confirm dates with the school.
BIS is an English-medium day school with primary provision on both campuses and secondary provision in Haimhausen. It offers all four IB programmes, but its Grade 11–12 routes do not carry the same recognition. Admissions are rolling and capacity-led.
MunichEuropean School Munich offers a multilingual route to the European Baccalaureate, with kindergarten and primary in Fasangarten and secondary in Neuperlach. Category I pupils have an admission entitlement and pay no tuition. Other families need to establish eligibility, available places and fees.
StarnbergMIS offers English-medium IB education at Schloss Buchhof in Starnberg, with German for every pupil. Check older-year English requirements, the commute and tuition plus three years of entrance fees.
KleinmachnowBBIS offers English-language education from age three through Grade 12, with boarding from Grade 9. Its Kleinmachnow location and the separate tuition, registration and boarding charges are central to the decision.
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.