Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz: Matura, IGCSE and IB with boarding

Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz is a co-educational day and boarding school for Grades 7–12. The campus sits in the upper village of Zuoz, not in Zurich or St Moritz. Families must first choose an academic route and contract type.

Academic routes

The international section begins with Pre-IGCSE in Grades 7–8, usually ages 12–14. IGCSE follows in Grades 9–10. The two-year IB Diploma occupies Grades 11–12 and requires sufficient English. IB candidates complete an interview and admission test.

The Swiss Matura is available through four-year and six-year programmes. General teaching is in German. Pupils may pursue a bilingual German–English Matura during the final three years. An Italian–German option is reserved for pupils whose native language is Italian.

The German Intensive Year prepares international pupils for the Matura route. Its published entry point is A1+ German with A2 English, or A2 German. Applicants take German and mathematics placement tests. The course aims for B1 German and begins in late August.

These routes are not interchangeable. The Matura is a Swiss university-entry qualification. Pre-IGCSE and IGCSE prepare pupils for the IB Diploma. The German Intensive Year is preparation for Matura study, not a final qualification.

Admission and timing

Admission is normally possible in Grades 7–11. Grade 12 entry is considered only exceptionally. The school recommends entry at the start of the academic year. Mid-year admission can occur exceptionally, but is not recommended.

The school reviews reports and teacher recommendations, then invites suitable candidates to an interview and tests. These can take place in Zuoz or online. A place becomes secure only after the signed contract and deposit arrive.

The contract must be returned within two weeks. For boarding, the school recommends applying six to eight months before the August start. Its admissions page says a boarding place can only be guaranteed through registration at least six months ahead.

The regional day Matura route has its own cantonal entrance process. For 2027 first-year entry, registration runs from 1 October to 14 December 2026. The examination is on 16 February 2027.

For third-year entry, registration runs from 2 November 2026 to 18 January 2027. The examination is on 16 March 2027. Confirm the applicable entry point with the school before using these dates.

Day pupils, full boarding and regional lodging

The international boarding guide prices full boarding in a double room. The contract makes boarding integral, so a boarder cannot simply continue as a day pupil. Single rooms cost extra and are not guaranteed.

The current material does not publish a weekly international-boarding tariff. The Matura day guide separately mentions residence places for Graubünden pupils who cannot or prefer not to commute. Places depend on availability, and no price is published.

Ask the school to name the contract if it proposes that residence. Do not treat it as the full international boarding package or assume it is a weekly plan.

The boarding fee includes accommodation, pastoral care, meals, compulsory lessons, books, school health services, psychologists and extracurricular activities. It also includes college counselling, community weekends and the annual mountain pass, including skiing.

The campus covers 130,000 square metres across 12 buildings. It includes sports fields, two ice fields, tennis courts, a golf practice area, media library, theatre, arts rooms, dining hall and café. The school publishes five boarding houses, separated by sex and age group.

Support, visas and holidays

Personalised Learning Coaching has three annual tiers: CHF 3,000, CHF 6,000 and CHF 9,000. The academic team reviews the assigned tier each semester. Changes require parent or guardian consultation and approval.

Tier 3 remains within the school’s available resources. Needs beyond the three tiers receive a separate quotation. Establish suitability, adjustments and the complete price before accepting a place.

The FAQ says the school undertakes administrative work with Swiss authorities for pupils requiring visas. However, visa and residence-permit fees are excluded from boarding tuition. Ask who files each document and which costs remain with the family.

Boarders whose parents live outside Switzerland or the European Union must join the school’s collective health and accident insurance. Other families must provide evidence of cover recognised in Switzerland.

The school closes during holidays. Its current public material does not describe a local-guardian service. International families should agree holiday travel, adult responsibility and emergency arrangements in writing.

Published fees for 2026–27

These annual charges belong to different programmes and eligibility routes:

Contract and route	Annual charge
International day, Grades 7–10 and German Intensive Year	CHF 57,300.
International day, IB Diploma	CHF 67,000.
Full boarding, double room, Grades 7–10	CHF 101,100.
Full boarding, double room, Grades 11–12	CHF 104,900.
Matura day charge, Grades 9–12, under cantonal guidelines	CHF 640.

The CHF 640 Matura line is a cantonal base fee with its own admission and eligibility basis. It is not a cheaper version of CHF 57,300–67,000 international day tuition. Ask the school to confirm eligibility and total Matura charges.

One-time and contract charges are:

Charge	Amount
International application fee, non-refundable	CHF 1,600.
Matura application fee, only when the internal process is required	CHF 1,600.
Boarding Legacy Fund, non-refundable before entry	CHF 3,000.
International day deposit	CHF 6,000.
Boarding deposit	CHF 16,000.
Single-room supplement, if assigned	CHF 15,000 yearly.

The Matura application fee applies to transfers from a non-comparable curriculum or academic programme. The boarding deposit is credited on the final bill. The guides offer a 10% tuition discount for each additional sibling enrolled simultaneously; the eldest pays full tuition.

Further published charges include:

Extra	Amount
Learning Coaching, tiers 1–3	CHF 3,000 / 6,000 / 9,000 yearly.
Private lesson, one pupil	CHF 110.
Private lesson, two-person group, per pupil	CHF 90.
Private lesson, three-person group, per pupil	CHF 70.
International final examination charge	CHF 660.
External IGCSE or IB examination fees	from CHF 1,000.
Matura entrance examination	CHF 110.
Matura final examination	CHF 660.
Cantonal Matura entrance-exam preparation course	CHF 500.
Cultural activities contribution	CHF 170 yearly.
Materials and books for day pupils	about CHF 900 yearly.
Student organisation contribution	CHF 40 yearly.
Day lunch / salad / dinner	CHF 13 / 9 / 9.
Day snack pass	CHF 180 yearly.
Community weekend for a day pupil	CHF 30 daily.
Collective health and accident insurance, where applicable	about CHF 150 monthly.

Trips, excursions and travel are billed at cost, plus a 5% handling fee and 8.1% VAT. Boarding laundry, repairs and dry cleaning are at cost. Airport transfers, medical treatment, university applications and some project weeks are excluded.

The international day guide lists homework support, games and extracurricular activities at no extra charge. Prices for remedial and optional courses are quoted separately.

The boarding guide says its CHF price is binding. Euro invoices use the Graubündner Kantonalbank buying rate on the invoice date, including a 2% safety margin.

Boarders receive personal liability cover up to CHF 5 million, with a CHF 200 excess per event. School cover for their possessions excludes valuables, money and securities. Its limit is CHF 3,000 per pupil and event, with a CHF 100 excess.

Payment, withdrawal and liability

For the international contracts, later withdrawal requires registered notice by 31 October for the semester end. Notice for the school-year end is due by 28 February. Late notice leaves the following semester’s contractual costs payable.

Continue with the Zuoz city guide, the boarding guide and the Switzerland guide.

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