Sweden · Stockholm
SIS offers English-medium IB education on two central campuses. Admission requires an international connection. Published parent fees remain payable alongside municipal funding, and a funding shortfall costs extra.
Stockholm International School (SIS) is worth considering for families seeking English-medium International Baccalaureate (IB) education from early childhood through the Diploma Programme. Its central campuses are convenient for a city-based family, but admission requires an international connection and the published parent fees remain payable even when municipal funding is approved.
SIS is a not-for-profit foundation governed by a volunteer board; it says surplus income is reinvested. It is a day school, with no boarding. Do not confuse it with the municipal International School of the Stockholm Region, which has its own admissions process.
The criteria welcome applicants with an international connection who meet one of these descriptions:
The last two categories are broader than temporary relocation, but both carry an explicit language requirement. Ask how SIS assesses your child’s English and what language support is appropriate for the intended grade.
Applications are considered year-round, using the criteria, sibling priority and submission date. A full class means a waiting list, not a guaranteed place; enrolled siblings receive priority. Offers must be accepted within 10 working days.
Primary pupils attend Johannesgatan 18. Middle and Upper School pupils attend Norra Latin, Drottninggatan 71B, about 750 metres away. Norra Latin has a large assembly hall, science laboratories, drama and art spaces, shared learning areas and a canteen. Both campuses serve hot lunches prepared by kitchen staff. Campus information.
The central location makes public transport and cultural visits practical, but assess the actual journey from your home. On a visit, look at classrooms, outdoor play and sports areas as well as the historic building. Ask how pupils are supported when they move to Norra Latin in Grade 6.
SIS presents its education as an IB continuum: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). Its administrative divisions are Primary, from Early Years to Grade 5; Middle School, Grades 6–9; and Upper School, Grades 10–12. Those divisions should not be treated as programme boundaries. The published overview leaves Grade 10’s precise programme placement unclear; confirm it with Upper School before a transfer.
The placement guide uses age on 31 August, with individual assessment. These are age comparisons, not promises of equivalent course content or leaving qualifications.
| Age on 31 August | SIS | Swedish stage for comparison | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | EY3 | Preschool | Johannesgatan |
| 4 | EY4 | Preschool | Johannesgatan |
| 5 | Kindergarten | Preschool | Johannesgatan |
| 6 | Grade 1 | Preschool class | Johannesgatan |
| 7 | Grade 2 | Grade 1 | Johannesgatan |
| 8 | Grade 3 | Grade 2 | Johannesgatan |
| 9 | Grade 4 | Grade 3 | Johannesgatan |
| 10 | Grade 5 | Grade 4 | Johannesgatan |
| 11 | Grade 6 | Grade 5 | Norra Latin |
| 12 | Grade 7 | Grade 6 | Norra Latin |
| 13 | Grade 8 | Grade 7 | Norra Latin |
| 14 | Grade 9 | Grade 8 | Norra Latin |
| 15 | Grade 10 | Grade 9 | Norra Latin |
| 16 | Grade 11 | Upper-secondary year 1 | Norra Latin |
| 17 | Grade 12 | Upper-secondary year 2 | Norra Latin |
The table ends at Grade 12, but that does not itself exclude older applicants: the school advertises ages through 19. Ask about individual placement rather than treating the table as an age limit.
The IB Diploma is a different qualification from Sweden’s gymnasieexamen. For Swedish university plans, discuss subject and language requirements with SIS’s university counsellors and consult the Swedish admissions authorities. Neither an IB place nor counselling guarantees admission to a university.
The published 2026/27 dates are Welcome Day on 18 August 2026, teaching from 19 August to 11 June 2027, and graduation on 4 June 2027. Check the school calendar for individual breaks.
The application process starts online, with a non-refundable fee per child. Required documents include:
The admissions committee reviews the file. A provisional offer brings the enrolment invoice through OpenApply; payment on receipt confirms the place. Read the programme-specific entrance requirements on the criteria page for your child’s stage.
English is the teaching language. Ask about Swedish teaching hours and grouping, and whether your child’s home language is offered this year at an additional cost. Share learning assessments early and obtain an agreement about the support SIS can provide. Included learning support does not establish that every level of need can be accommodated.
Student-life examples include the Nepal Project and pupil playleaders. Ask how a newcomer can join everyday activities, not only major trips.
The 2026/27 fee page makes parents responsible for the amounts below. Municipal funding, called skolpeng, is additional to these parent fees. If the contribution is unavailable or insufficient, the shortfall is charged to parents; it is not a discount to subtract from the table.
| One-time fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application, per child | SEK 3,000 |
| Enrolment, on provisional acceptance | SEK 60,000 |
The enrolment fee is discounted by 20% for the third and subsequent children.
| Annual tuition, 2026/27 | Amount |
|---|---|
| EY3–EY4 | SEK 190,500 |
| Kindergarten | SEK 190,500 |
| Grades 1–5 | SEK 135,000 |
| Grades 6–9 | SEK 152,000 |
| Grade 10 | SEK 179,000 |
| Grades 11–12 | SEK 191,500 |
A calculated first-year Grade 6 total is SEK 215,000: 3,000 + 60,000 + 152,000. This assumes no enrolment discount and excludes any funding shortfall and optional extras.
Municipal funding requires local registration and a Swedish personal number. SIS describes possible contributions for Grades 1–9 meeting admissions requirements, and Grades 10–12 with municipal approval; non-EU diplomatic families in Grades 10–12 are generally ineligible. SIS applies, but parents must promptly supply complete details and keep their address updated.
Tuition includes lunch, a device, learning support, additional-English support and many curriculum trips. Optional care, activities, instrumental lessons and extracurricular trips may cost extra. Annual fees are normally invoiced in two equal advance instalments, in April and November; embassy-funded families are billed annually. Midyear invoices precede enrolment. Second-term entrants pay 50%; otherwise late arrival, absence or withdrawal brings no reduction or refund. Invoice due dates apply.
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.
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Stora EssingenLFSL is a natural Stockholm choice for a child who needs continuity with the French system. The important decisions concern language readiness, the senior qualification, and municipal funding. A Swedish personal identity number does not by itself secure the lower fee.
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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.