Settling in Vaud is a popular choice for internationally mobile families working in Lausanne, Geneva and across the Lake Geneva region. For those seeking a great educational fit for their children, international schools in Vaud offer a variety of day and boarding options, including English-medium IB programmes, bilingual education, British qualifications and Swiss Maturité pathways.

Whether you are moving to Lausanne, Montreux or elsewhere in the canton, this guide will help you compare schools, curricula and age groups, as well as explain the AVDEP accreditation in the Vaud canton. Our aim is to provide you with a practical starting point for finding a school that fits your child’s needs and your family’s plans.

List of International Schools in Vaud

Below is a selection of international and bilingual schools operating in Vaud. School sizes, programmes and boarding arrangements can change, so confirm current details directly with the admissions team before applying.

International School of Lausanne, Le Mont-sur-Lausanne

The International School of Lausanne welcomes students aged 3 to 18 and operates as a day school. It is a not-for-profit IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme.

English is the principal language of instruction, while French forms an important part of the curriculum. The school describes its community as comprising almost 1,000 students from more than 60 nations, although enrolment figures can vary by academic year. Its continuous IB pathway may suit families looking for one school from early years through to secondary graduation or continuity if planning to move again soon.

Leysin American School in Switzerland, Leysin

Leysin American School is a boarding school for students in Grades 7 to 12, broadly corresponding to ages 11 to 18. It has approximately 300 students from more than 50 nationalities.

The school offers a US High School Diploma alongside the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Advanced Placement courses and English language support. Its Alpine setting and residential model may appeal to families seeking an American-style international education with full boarding.

St George’s International School Switzerland, Montreux

St George’s International School welcomes day students from 18 months to 18 years, with weekly and full boarding available from age 10. The school offers a bilingual French-English environment in its early years, followed by international programmes taught principally in English, with continued French provision.

Students follow the Cambridge pathway before taking IGCSEs and can progress to the IB Diploma Programme. The availability of both day and boarding places gives families more flexibility than a boarding-only school, although the exact arrangements should be confirmed with admissions.

École Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, Lausanne

École Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande (ENSR) educates students from age 2½ through to the end of secondary school. Its early years and primary programmes include a French-English bilingual learning environment, while older students can follow French, English or bilingual pathways.

The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma and Swiss Maturité. Boarding is available for students aged 12 to 18, and the official school information currently describes accommodation for around 60 boarders. Families interested in weekly or other flexible arrangements should check availability directly with the school.

École Internationale de Genève, La Châtaigneraie campus, Founex

La Châtaigneraie is the Vaud campus of the International School of Geneva and serves approximately 1,560 students aged 3 to 18. It is a day school located in Founex, between Nyon and Geneva.

The campus offers bilingual French-English programmes through Year 9. From Year 10, students can choose between an anglophone IGCSE and IB pathway or a francophone Swiss Maturité pathway. This range may be valuable for families who want bilingual education while keeping both international and Swiss secondary options open.

La Côte International School Aubonne, Aubonne

La Côte International School Aubonne is a day school for students aged 3 to 18. It offers early years, primary and secondary education followed by the IB Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 18.

English is the main language of instruction, supported by extensive French provision rather than an equal language split across every year and subject. Its location between Lausanne and Geneva may suit families living or working along the La Côte region.

Aiglon College, Chesières-Villars

Aiglon College has approximately 480 students and offers education from the junior years through to age 18. Its curriculum includes an international junior programme, IGCSE or IB Foundation options and the IB Diploma Programme. English is the common language of the school, supported by French, home-language and wider multilingual provision.

Boarding is central to Aiglon’s model, with around 85% of students living on campus. Day places are available only under particular conditions and are more limited than the original description might suggest. The school places mountain expeditions, outdoor education and character development alongside academic study.

Other schools to consider

Other options include Collège Champittet, Haut-Lac International Bilingual School, Institut Le Rosey, Préfleuri, Surval Montreux and École Moser Nyon. Availability, age ranges and curricula vary, so check each school’s current information before adding it to your shortlist.

Curriculum Comparison in Vaud Schools

Vaud’s private schools follow several different curriculum families. The right option depends on your child’s current education, future moves, preferred language and possible university destinations.

Curriculum	Schools Offering	Best For
International Baccalaureate	ISL, La Châtaigneraie, LCIS, ENSR, Aiglon and St George’s	Internationally mobile families seeking a widely recognised qualification, subject to individual university requirements
British curriculum and IGCSE	St George’s, La Châtaigneraie and Aiglon	Students continuing from a British or international curriculum, perhaps with the aim of further study in the UK.
American curriculum, US High School Diploma and AP	Leysin American School	Students continuing from a US curriculum or preparing for American and other international university systems
Swiss Maturité	ENSR and La Châtaigneraie	Students seeking a route into Swiss universities and an academically broad secondary qualification
French-English bilingual programmes	ENSR and La Châtaigneraie, with different language options at other schools	Families who want children to develop academic proficiency in both languages

Schools sometimes combine systems or offer different pathways at different ages. An American-model school may offer the IB Diploma, for example, while a bilingual school may provide both an international route and the bilingual Swiss Maturité. It is best to confirm the exact programme, examination board and teaching language for your child’s year group.

How to Choose the Right School: A Step-by-Step Guide

Finding the right school can take time, especially when there are several options to compare. Working through the key factors step by step can help you narrow down your choices.

Define your priorities. Consider whether a day school or boarding school would suit your family best, as well as whether your child would thrive in an English, French or bilingual learning environment.
Consider the curriculum. Compare the IB, British, American and Swiss pathways in light of your child’s current education and where your family may live in the future.
Check authorisations, memberships and accreditations. Verify the school’s cantonal status and distinguish AVDEP membership from accreditation by organisations such as CIS or NEASC and authorisation to offer a specific IB programme.
Visit the school. Ask about class sizes, language support, pastoral care, learning support, transport and how the school handles mid-year admissions.
Consider the location. Test the journey at the times your child would normally travel, particularly if you are comparing schools around Lausanne, Nyon, Montreux or the Alpine resorts, as peak hour affects travel times considerably.
Check the full cost. Ask for the current fee schedule and clarify registration charges, deposits, transport, meals, boarding, trips and examination fees.
Speak to current parents. Parent groups can offer useful perspectives on daily routines and community life, although individual experiences should not be treated as objective proof of school quality.

Once you have considered each factor, you can create a shortlist that reflects your child’s needs. From there, visiting the schools and speaking with their admissions teams can help you make your final decision.

Why AVDEP Membership Matters for Your Child’s Education

When comparing international schools in Vaud, it is important to check each school’s memberships, authorisations and external accreditations. AVDEP, the Vaud Association of Private Schools, is the canton’s longest-running and largest private-school association. It was founded in 1940 and now brings together roughly 55 member schools.

For parents, AVDEP membership can provide an additional point of reference for quality because applicants must meet the association’s published admission conditions, including holding a recognised quality certification.

A Parent’s Guide to What AVDEP Membership Means

Category	What it means
Membership requirements	Schools must meet AVDEP’s published admission conditions before joining the association.
Operating history	Applicants must normally have operated for at least two years and hold any required permission to operate.
Professional standards	Member schools agree to follow AVDEP’s code of ethics and the applicable collective employment agreement for private education.
Quality certification	Applicants must hold a nationally or internationally recognised quality certification. Parents should confirm which certification each school holds.
Transparency	AVDEP provides a public directory that allows families to check whether a school is a current member.
Additional reassurance	Membership offers another useful quality indicator, although it does not guarantee a particular curriculum, diploma or standard of teaching.

These requirements can help parents assess a school, but AVDEP membership should not replace their own research. Families should still review the school’s programmes, teaching languages, safeguarding policies, qualifications and external accreditations.

AVDEP vs. Other Accreditations: What’s the Difference?

Parents may encounter several organisations while researching schools, but they do not all serve the same purpose.

AVDEP, Association Vaudoise des Écoles Privées: A cantonal association representing private schools in Vaud. Membership is voluntary and subject to published requirements, but it is not a separate school accreditation.
CIS, Council of International Schools: The Council of International Schools offers both membership and international accreditation. These are separate statuses, so parents should check whether a school is a member, accredited or both.
NEASC, New England Association of Schools and Colleges: The New England Association of Schools and Colleges is a US-based organisation that accredits schools in the United States and internationally.
IB, International Baccalaureate: The International Baccalaureate develops educational programmes and authorises schools to offer them. IB authorisation applies to individual programmes and is different from general school accreditation.

Private schools educating children of compulsory-school age in Vaud are also subject to cantonal requirements and supervision. A school may hold several memberships, authorisations and accreditations at the same time, so families should verify each status through the organisation responsible for granting it.

Frequently Asked Questions About AVDEP

Is AVDEP membership mandatory for private schools in Vaud?

No. AVDEP membership is voluntary. However, private schools educating children of compulsory-school age do remain subject to the relevant cantonal requirements whether or not they belong to AVDEP.

How can I verify whether a school is an AVDEP member?

Check the current school directory on the AVDEP website rather than relying on an old article or prospectus.

Does AVDEP membership affect university admission?

Not directly. Universities primarily assess the student’s qualification, subjects, grades and any institution-specific admission requirements. AVDEP membership should not be presented as giving a diploma additional recognition.

AVDEP membership can offer families an additional point of reference for quality when comparing schools, alongside accreditation, curriculum, facilities and their child’s individual needs.

Hotels in Vaud

If you are visiting Vaud to tour schools, choose accommodation close to the campuses on your shortlist. Founex, Lausanne, Montreux, Leysin and Villars are spread across the canton, so checking journey times before booking can make your school visits easier to organise.

Staying nearby will also give you time to explore the local area and decide whether the location would suit your family’s daily routine.

Frequently Asked Questions About International Schools in Vaud

Which international schools in Vaud offer boarding?

Boarding is available at schools including Leysin American School, St George’s, ENSR, Collège Champittet and Aiglon College. Eligible ages and boarding formats vary. Families should confirm whether the current options include full, weekly or another arrangement.

What is the average tuition fee for international schools in Vaud?

Fees vary considerably by school, year group and boarding arrangement and normally change over time. Compare current official fee schedules and include additional charges such as registration, deposits, transport, meals, trips and examinations.

Can my child transfer from a Swiss public school to an international school?

A transfer may be possible, subject to the international school’s admissions criteria, available places and year-group assessment. Ask how the school supports students moving between French-medium and bilingual/ English-medium education and whether any curriculum gaps need to be addressed.

Which schools offer bilingual education in English and French?

La Châtaigneraie offers bilingual programmes through Year 9, while ENSR provides bilingual learning in earlier years and varied language pathways later. Other schools offer French or multilingual options, but provision varies, so confirm the exact language model for your child’s year group.

Not sure where to start?

Use our School Finder Tool to compare schools by curriculum, age group and location.

Since no single school will suit every family, consider your child’s learning needs, preferred language, daily routine and long-term educational pathway. Once you have defined your priorities, confirm the latest information directly with each school and visit the campuses on your shortlist before making a final decision.

International Schools in Vaud