Portugal · Lisbon
Deutsche Schule Lissabon is a German day school from kindergarten to Grade 12. Pupils may leave with a German lower-secondary certificate or continue to the German International Abitur. A preparatory German course offers a separate possible route into Grade 5.
Deutsche Schule Lissabon, or Escola Alemã de Lisboa, is a co-educational day school at Largo Willy Brandt. The school contract names its operator as the Deutscher Schulverein in Lissabon.
The school describes itself as a Begegnungsschule. In this German model, pupils from German and local backgrounds learn together through a German curriculum, while the school also teaches Portuguese.
There is no boarding provision. A relocating family needs its own Lisbon home and a workable daily journey.
Pupils may leave with a German Hauptschulabschluss or Realschulabschluss. These are lower- and intermediate-secondary certificates within the German system.
Those who complete the upper school can take the Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA). The DIA is a German university-entry qualification; it is not the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
DSL is a coherent choice for a family wanting German curriculum continuity through secondary school. Portuguese remains part of the education, but families should ask how much is taught in each language at the child’s stage.
For British, French or Portuguese routes, use the Lisbon school guide. Compare the final qualification and the child’s language readiness before comparing campuses or annual prices.
The school advertises a German preparatory course, or Vorkurs, for Portuguese-mother-tongue children seeking entry to Grade 5. This is a specific entry route, not general beginner-German support at every age.
The published course charge is EUR 605, including registration. The fee page says it is not refunded if the family withdraws.
If the child is later admitted, the ordinary new-pupil enrolment charges still apply. Ask what German level the course expects and how the school decides whether to offer a Grade 5 place.
The live fee page labels tuition as “per school year (ten months).” It publishes these totals for 2026-27:
| Stage | Tuition | Included item |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | EUR 8,385 | Morning and afternoon snacks |
| Primary, Grades 1-4 | EUR 8,495 | Snacks |
| Grades 5-9 | EUR 8,506 | No additional inclusion stated |
| Grades 10-12 | EUR 8,615 | No additional inclusion stated |
The current table has one amount for each stage. It does not reproduce the older Lisbon and Estoril kindergarten split, so obtain the applicable campus and price in writing.
A new pupil first pays a EUR 355 reservation charge. The school refunds it only if it cannot offer a place.
After an offer, the family pays a further EUR 645 enrolment charge. The two charges total EUR 1,000.
The fee page requires the payment and signed contract within five working days. It says the enrolment charges are not refunded when a family withdraws.
A former pupil returning after an absence pays EUR 355 after receiving an offer. A guest pupil staying more than five days pays the full EUR 1,000 enrolment amount, followed by tuition calculated by month.
These are different situations. Ask the school to identify the applicable category before making a non-refundable payment.
The published sibling reductions are 10% for the second child, 25% for the third, and 40% for the fourth and later children.
Where siblings are in different stages, the page says the reduction applies to the higher tuition amount. The reduction is unavailable when an employer pays the school fees.
For 2027-28, the school says it plans a non-refundable re-enrolment charge. It expected to publish the amount and deadline during the first half of the school year, probably in early December.
Leave room for this additional cost rather than assuming it will be zero. Ask when the amount will be confirmed, whether every continuing pupil pays it and what happens if a family later leaves.
Choose DSL if the child is ready to study through German and the family wants a route to the DIA in Lisbon. The Grade 5 preparatory course may help a Portuguese-speaking applicant, but it does not itself guarantee admission.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
CAISL is a coeducational, non-profit day school in Linhó, Sintra. It teaches in English from age 3 through Grade 12, with Portuguese as a core subject. Graduates earn an American High School Diploma and may add the IB Diploma.
LisbonSão João de Brito is a co-educational Jesuit day school from age three to Year 12. Teaching follows Portugal’s national curriculum, and admission depends on a points ranking, an interview and available places.
LisbonA French day school in Lisbon from age 3 through the Baccalauréat. Check French readiness, the applicable nationality fee category and the seven-day acceptance period.
Barcarena, OeirasOIS offers the IB programmes from primary to Diploma in English. Its three-campus arrangement from September 2026 makes year-group location important. Registration is already in the published annual fee; the new-pupil capital levy is additional.
Lisbon-area schools lead to British, American, IB, French, German and Portuguese qualifications. Choose the route first, then test the actual western or city commute.
7 minStart 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.