Ecolint: choosing a campus, curriculum and teaching language

Ecolint is best considered campus by campus. All three offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, but only La Châtaigneraie offers the Swiss federal maturité, and only Nations offers all four IB programmes. Teaching languages also differ. These choices matter more than the shared school name.

The International School of Geneva is a not-for-profit foundation and a day school for ages 3–18. The IB organisation credits its teachers, working with other international schools, with creating the Diploma Programme. That history does not by itself establish whether a particular campus suits your child.

Admission and support: what “inclusive” means

Ecolint describes itself as non-selective and inclusive, but admission depends on available places and whether it can provide the education a child needs. Earlier applications improve the chances of finding a place, according to Admissions.

There is no boarding. Pupils must live with their parents or a close relative who can be named legal guardian; failure to meet that condition can end the contract.

Children must be toilet-trained before starting. The first six weeks are probationary, and principals may extend that period. During probation the school may end the contract if it cannot meet the child’s educational needs. The class stated in the contract is provisional. Incomplete or inaccurate application information can also put the place at risk.

All three campuses offer learning support. The Extended Support Programme (ESP), for a limited number of pupils with moderate to complex needs, costs double the standard tuition. Other support beyond the general programme may also carry additional fees. Share current reports early and ask which campus can provide the required support and at what cost.

Three campuses, three practical choices

La Grande Boissière is at 7, rue Marie-Thérèse-Maurette, 1208 Geneva (formerly Route de Chêne 62). Primary, Middle and Secondary share wooded grounds with a château, arts and sports centres, science and technology facilities, and libraries. Its published figures are 1,800 pupils, 88 nationalities and 19 languages taught to more than 200 pupils. Secondary has 870 pupils aged 13–18. The campus page names Jonathan Halden as campus and Secondary principal.

Campus des Nations has two sites: Pregny, at 14, route de Pregny, 1292 Pregny-Chambésy, for Pre-Reception to Year 3; and Saconnex, at 11, route des Morillons, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex, for Years 4–13. Saconnex has performing-arts facilities, a sports hall and a cafeteria. The campus lists 1,090 pupils, 181 teaching staff, 90 nationalities and 15 World Languages. Isla Gordon is named as campus and Primary principal.

La Châtaigneraie is at 2, chemin de la Ferme, 1297 Founex, Vaud, about twenty minutes from Geneva according to the school. It lists 1,560 pupils, 82 nationalities and 500 Music School participants annually; Secondary has 1,050 pupils aged 11–18. Soraya Sayed Hassen is named as campus and Secondary principal.

After School Care runs until 18:00 where offered. Lunch and buses cost extra. Check the journey to the actual site and the care available for your child’s year group.

Programmes, languages and hours

At Nations, teaching is primarily in English with a strong emphasis on French. It offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP). This gives a choice of academic and career-related study in the final years, not four interchangeable qualifications.

La Grande Boissière uses its own Universal Learning Programme (ULP), including Years 9–11, followed by the IB Diploma in Years 12–13. ULP is a curriculum framework, not a separate school-leaving diploma. Most subjects at all levels are offered in English and French, with pupils able to choose the teaching language in almost any subject. Ask how that choice works with your child’s language proficiency and subject timetable. Years 9–11 run 08:15–14:50 or 15:35; Years 12–13 can also finish at 16:20.

La Châtaigneraie is bilingual in French and English through Year 9. Years 7–9 follow a curriculum aligned with the MYP; the secondary page reviewed describes full MYP authorisation as still in progress. From Year 10, pupils choose an English-language route through International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) courses to the IB Diploma, or the French-language Swiss federal maturité. A bilingual maturité is also possible depending on subject choices. Years 7–9 run 08:20–14:55; Years 10–13 finish at 16:30, except Friday at 14:55.

The IB Diploma combines six subjects with Theory of Knowledge, an Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service. It is available at all three campuses. Nations’ CP combines academic and career-related learning: ask which career-related study is available for the intended intake. IGCSE courses at La Châtaigneraie cover Years 10–11 and normally precede further upper-secondary study; they do not replace the IB Diploma.

The Swiss federal maturité, available only at La Châtaigneraie, is a distinct university-entry qualification. Families considering Swiss universities should discuss the maturité and IB requirements for their intended courses before choosing the Year 10 route. IB and maturité examination fees are extra, and subject options may be cancelled if too few pupils enrol.

For younger children, Pre-Reception offers “light” attendance (mornings and two afternoons) or “regular” attendance matching the other Primary classes. Regular is unavailable at La Châtaigneraie because of cantonal early-years staffing rules. The choice lasts at least a term; changes require one month’s notice before term-end. Holiday camps for ages 3–13 run Monday–Friday, 08:00–17:30, at Geneva and Founex campuses; these are separate from term-time provision.

World Languages tutorials are additional to tuition. Ask the school secretaries for the relevant language and rate.

Applying

The central Admissions office handles all applications: admissions@ecolint.ch, +41 22 787 26 30. Apply online at any time for the current or a future year. Entry during the school year is possible until 1 May, subject to a place.

The application requires:

• A recent passport-style photograph.
• Proof of date of birth for children aged five or younger.
• The last two end-of-year reports, in English or French, if the child has attended school, plus available current-year reports.
• A short handwritten self-description completed without help, or a self-portrait with the child’s name if they cannot yet write.
• The CHF 250 application payment, by Visa or MasterCard only.

Principals consider current school placement, previous moves, languages, educational goals, maturity and age. Exceptions are considered individually; further information or a meeting with the child may be requested.

September offers are issued by phone or email between February and the end of August. Families have 15 days to accept, sign and pay the registration and Capital Development Fund fees; otherwise the contract is cancelled. Book a campus tour around the relevant age group and programme, not just the general facilities.

Fees for 2026/27

The General and Financial Conditions 2026/27 set out the fees below. All table amounts are Swiss francs (CHF).

New pupils pay CHF 250 for the non-refundable, non-deferrable application, CHF 2,500 for registration and CHF 4,000 for the Capital Development Fund (CDF). Registration and CDF are non-refundable and due with the signed contract. Application and registration fees also apply on return after an absence of two years or more; the one-time CDF is not charged again.

Tuition is a full-year commitment. The normal instalments are 20% / 30% / 30% / 20%, due on 30 June 2026, 31 August 2026, 31 December 2026 and 31 March 2027. From October, new entrants are charged pro rata from the contractual start date. Books and teaching materials are included.

The CHF 1,000 re-enrolment advance per child was due with the re-enrolment contract by 15 February 2026. It is deducted from the first instalment, not added to annual tuition, but retained if the child does not return.

Class	Annual	30 Jun (20%)	31 Aug (30%)	31 Dec (30%)	31 Mar (20%)
Pre-Reception light (mornings + 2 afternoons)	20,000	4,000	6,000	6,000	4,000
Pre-Reception regular*	23,000	4,850	4,850	6,400	6,900
Reception	24,000	4,800	7,200	7,200	4,800
Classes 1–4	28,160	5,630	8,450	8,450	5,630
Classes 5–6	29,550	5,910	8,865	8,865	5,910
Classes 7–9	33,560	6,710	10,070	10,070	6,710
Classes 10–11	35,290	7,060	10,585	10,585	7,060
Classes 12–13	36,540	7,310	10,960	10,960	7,310

Regular Pre-Reception is unavailable at La Châtaigneraie. Its term-based invoicing produces a different instalment pattern.

ESP costs double the tuition shown. The annual CHF 500 capital contribution is additional and separate from the one-time CHF 4,000 CDF.

Other exclusions include World Languages and other tutorials, IB and maturité exams, study trips, field week, winter sports, transport, lunch, extracurricular activities and provision outside the mandatory programme. Campuses publish activity costs during the summer.

A calculated first-year Class 7 total is CHF 40,810: CHF 33,560 tuition, CHF 250 application, CHF 2,500 registration, CHF 4,000 CDF and CHF 500 annual capital contribution. Lunch, transport, trips, tutorials and additional support remain extra. Parents remain responsible under the contract even when an employer pays.

Late instalments may attract charges of up to 1.25% per month. Unpaid invoices can lead to exclusion from classes or final exams and withholding of diplomas, reports and transcripts.

Withdrawal, discounts and financial help

Any term already started is payable. Send written withdrawal notice to Admissions by email, registered post or the online form, stating the exact leaving date.

Notice received	Penalty
Until 30 April 2026	None; non-refundable fees remain payable
1 May–15 June 2026	15% of annual tuition
16 June–31 July 2026	25% of annual tuition
1 August–30 September 2026	1st term
1 October–31 December 2026	1st and 2nd terms
From 1 January 2027	100% of annual tuition

These notice deadlines do not waive fees for attendance after them. For example, a February departure announced before 30 September still incurs terms 1 and 2.

Extra services such as activities, transport and lunch are generally booked for the full year. Exceptions apply for relocation with three months’ written notice before the next term, or illness lasting at least two consecutive months with a medical certificate. After School Care flat rates are never reduced.

Sibling discounts must be requested and renewed annually; they are not backdated. They are 10% for the third child, 15% for the fourth and 20% for each further child. An ESP pupil counts as two children for this rule.

Bursaries are limited, one-year help for existing Ecolint families facing temporary financial difficulty, not a scholarship route for new applicants. Request forms from Finance or bursaries@ecolint.ch.

Lunch and transport

SV Group lunch prices for 2026/27 exclude VAT. Four-day plans cover Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Not every option is available at every campus. Two-day Pre-Reception costs CHF 470 annually; other plans are below.

Group	4-day year	5-day year
Pre-Reception–class 2	920	1,165
Classes 3–6	1,225	1,550
Classes 7–9	1,685	2,130
Classes 10–13	1,915	2,430

Buses have five zones per campus and do not offer door-to-door service. Children must be at least five or turn five during the year. The published booking date is 31 July; availability still needs confirmation.

Zone	Round trip year	One way year
1	3,505	2,625
2	3,740	2,800
3	3,855	2,895
4	4,090	3,070
5	4,440	3,330

Zone maps in the fee document cover routes around Geneva, Vaud and parts of France. Longer routes may cost extra. Children living in France need the required authorisation to leave French territory (AST) paperwork.

Our view

Choose Nations for primarily English teaching and the choice of all four IB programmes. Choose La Grande Boissière for subject-by-subject English/French teaching choices and its ULP curriculum before the Diploma. Choose La Châtaigneraie if keeping the Swiss federal maturité available is important.

The decisive questions are campus-specific: is there a place in the required year, which teaching-language combination is workable, and can the school provide any needed support? Ask what the six-week probation will assess and obtain the complete annual budget and withdrawal terms. If boarding is essential, compare Collège du Léman; Ecolint’s residence rule makes it unsuitable.

Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.