Boarding Schools in Switzerland

Swiss boarding schools have a long history and an excellent reputation worldwide. They offer high academic standards in a healthy, balanced environments and benefit from key advantages of living in Switzerland, such as:

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• breathtaking scenery with advanced infrastructure

• outdoor sports and active living

• first-class transportation network

• one of the safest environments in Europe

• excellent healthcare services

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The overall setting fosters a true 'home away from home' atmosphere, where students feel secure, supported, and inspired.

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You might be asking yourself: 

• What makes Swiss boarding schools so special?

• When is the best time for my child to start boarding school?

• At which kind of boarding school would my child feel most comfortable? 

• Which diplomas and learning-approach fit best? (Swiss Matura, IB, AP, A-Level)

• What are the differences between the schools?

• What kind of activities do they offer?

• Which universities will my child be able to apply to?

• Will a boarding school increase my child’s chances of entering a top university after high school?

We are very familiar with these kinds of questions and based on our experience, we can help provide you with the answers.

Schoolfinders goes behind the scenes and visits each boarding school on a regular basis. As Swiss based consultants, we also understand the country’s culture, mentality and educational system. We know the differences between the schools, the heads of each school, the specific curriculum offered, the school’s philosophy and its range of activities and most importantly, we know each school’s unique spirit and culture. Living close to many of these schools enables us to develop strong collaboration with admissions teams and respond quickly to our clients’ needs, ensuring truly first-class and personalized service. Living close to many of these schools enables us to develop strong collaboration with admissions teams and respond quickly to our clients’ needs, ensuring truly first-class and personalized service.

We can help you find the optimal boarding school, doing our utmost to ensure your child finds the right environment for a happy, fulfilling experience.

What sets Swiss boarding schools apart from boarding schools in other countries?

Here are some of the reasons we have observed as advisors and also heard from families:

• Swiss boarding schools are often located in beautiful natural settings yet offer top facilities.

• Their manageable size ensures a more personal relationship between teachers and students, as well as among students, helping to build lifelong relationships. 

• Students lead healthy lives, spending much of their free time taking up outdoor activities of all kinds. 

• Due to a strict language quota, Swiss boarding schools have a true international spirit and ensure a broad mix of nationalities. Students from all over the world come together as a family.

• Unlike in other countries, where many local students return home for the weekend, boarders seldom return home during the semester which encourages bonding and helps friendships form. The quota ensures there are just as many international students as local students. In addition, each school offers a unique weekend activity program, which few want to miss out on.

• The diverse nationalities, long history and high academic level of boarding schools contribute to a great alumni network for the future.

• Swiss boarding schools value discretion. All children are treated equally, regardless of their origins. 

• The level of language teaching is excellent due to the variety of languages spoken in Switzerland already.

• Because Switzerland is ranked as one of the safest countries to live in, older students can enjoy a certain freedom of movement in their free time. This is especially the case for boarding schools located in rural settings or up in the Alps, where a walk to the bakery or village shops is an everyday pleasure, one even taken for granted. 

All of these factors together contribute to students’ emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.