doris
Find Schools Events My shortlist My account Ask doris
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
I

International School of Ticino

Switzerland, Lugano

Shortlist
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Chief Marketing Officer

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees CHF 18,120 - 25,950
Ages 3 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2014
Bus Service Yes
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme)
Taught languages Italian, German, French, Spanish
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

International School of Ticino (IST) is a private international day school in Ticino, Switzerland, offering the IB continuum: PYP, MYP, DP, and the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP). The school serves ages 3 to 18. The language of instruction is English, with an Italian bilingual programme for Grades 2–10 to meet Ticino cantonal requirements. IST opened as a kindergarten in 2014 and expanded to serve international and local families; in 2017 it joined Inspired Education Group. Facilities include bright, well-resourced classrooms with up-to-date technology, an early years learning zone, a first-floor learning hub, a gymnasium for football, basketball, and volleyball, and expansive outdoor spaces for play. The curriculum follows IB standards with inquiry-based learning in the PYP and across eight subject areas in the MYP and DP, plus CP options with seven career-related pathways. IST is a signatory to the Global Schools Program and supports Sustainable Development Goals.

Via Ponteggia 23, 6814 Cadempino, Switzerland

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

International School of Ticino has instruction in English.

Location
Via Ponteggia 23, 6814 Cadempino, Switzerland. Located in the Ticino canton near Lugano. Accessible by local transport and road links.

Stages
Ages 3-18/19; IB continuum from Early Years to High School, including the Career-related Programme (CP).

Type
Private international day school; IB World School (IB continuum); part of the Inspired group of schools.

Pupil Nationality Mix
30 different nationalities represented.

Additional learning support
Inclusion Policy and Inclusion Program in place. Referral procedures identify students with additional learning needs and develop an Individual Learning Plan (ILP). Inclusive assessment arrangements can be made where appropriate. Reviews of ILPs and progress occur regularly, including a six‑week review cycle; support may involve external agencies as required.

Country affiliation
Switzerland
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees

Annual tuition at International School of Ticino ranges from CHF 18,120 to CHF 25,950 for 2026/27.

Application and admission fees

- Student Admission Fee (one‑time, payable at initial enrolment): CHF 3,000.
- Registration Fee (payable annually): CHF 1,950.

Tuition fees by year group (annual and scheduled payments for 2026–2027)

Each line below shows: Annual tuition — 1st payment (due 17 Feb 2026) — 2nd payment (due 23 Aug 2026) — 3rd payment (due 1 Dec 2026).

- Kindergarten — CHF 20,735 — CHF 5,184 — CHF 10,368 — CHF 5,184.
- Kindergarten (Half Day) — CHF 12,300 — CHF 3,075 — CHF 6,150 — CHF 3,075.
- Transition — CHF 20,735 — CHF 5,184 — CHF 10,368 — CHF 5,184.
- Grade 1 — CHF 23,640 — CHF 5,910 — CHF 11,820 — CHF 5,910.
- Grade 2 — CHF 24,840 — CHF 6,210 — CHF 12,420 — CHF 6,210.
- Grade 3 — CHF 24,940 — CHF 6,235 — CHF 12,470 — CHF 6,235.
- Grade 4 — CHF 24,940 — CHF 6,235 — CHF 12,470 — CHF 6,235.
- Grade 5 — CHF 25,190 — CHF 6,297 — CHF 12,595 — CHF 6,297.
- Grade 6 — CHF 26,410 — CHF 6,602 — CHF 13,205 — CHF 6,602.
- Grade 7 — CHF 26,410 — CHF 6,602 — CHF 13,205 — CHF 6,602.
- Grade 8 — CHF 26,410 — CHF 6,602 — CHF 13,205 — CHF 6,602.
- Grade 9 — CHF 26,410 — CHF 6,602 — CHF 13,205 — CHF 6,602.
- Grade 10 — CHF 27,435 — CHF 6,859 — CHF 13,718 — CHF 6,859.
- Grade 11 — CHF 27,435 — CHF 6,859 — CHF 13,718 — CHF 6,859.
- Grade 12 — CHF 29,185 — CHF 7,296 — CHF 14,593 — CHF 7,296.
- Grade 13 — CHF 29,185 — CHF 7,296 — CHF 14,593 — CHF 7,296.

Additional fee items:
- Lunches (annual): CHF 2,600 — billed as CHF 1,300 at the 2nd payment and CHF 1,300 at the 3rd payment (no amount at 1st payment).
- EAL / Additional Inclusion Support (annual): CHF 4,200 (no instalment amounts shown).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- 1st Payment: due by 17 February 2026 — includes NSAF + Registration Fee + 25% of the tuition fee.
- 2nd Payment: due by 23 August 2026 — includes 50% of lunches + 50% of the tuition fee.
- 3rd Payment: due by 1 December 2026 — includes 50% of lunches + 25% of the tuition fee.
- The fee schedule states: "Fees must be paid by the dates indicated."

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not listed in the school fee schedule; there are no boarding fees shown.

Other costs and what tuition does not cover

- Tuition fees do not include bus service, daily school trips, field trips, laptop, school uniforms, and external exams.
- For Grades 12–13, textbooks are listed separately (not included in tuition).
- The Registration Fee is stated to include stationery and educational resources.

Refund information

- The published school fee schedule does not specify a refund policy or refund conditions in the fee document.

Fee payment options and bank details

- Payment method accepted: bank transfer only (credit card payments are not indicated).
- Bank details provided for payments:
- Bank: UBS SA
- Beneficiary: INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF TICINO SA
- IBAN: CH25 0023 6236 1115 0901 A
- BIC / SWIFT: UBSWCHZH80A.
Academics

International School of Ticino teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
IS Ticino is an IB Continuum school offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). The language of instruction is English, with an Italian Programme that provides a bilingual structure for Grades 2–10 to meet Ticino Canton requirements. The Early Years curriculum uses a trans-disciplinary inquiry approach inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy and provides full immersion in an English language context. The Primary Years Programme focuses on inquiry-based learning through PYP themes, while the Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme follow IB frameworks across eight subject areas and core components. The school aligns with IB standards and is part of Inspired Education Group.

Student Teacher Ratio
Small class sizes due to a small student population.

Higher Education Progression
Career and higher education counselling is provided by university counsellors to advise on tertiary education pathways. University destinations include the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United States, Switzerland, and elsewhere, with more than 50% of graduates going to UK universities.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions

Admissions
IS Ticino accepts applications via an online form. After submission the admissions team will contact families to discuss the application process. IS Ticino admits international children arriving or leaving in the middle of the academic year. For Early Years and Elementary, IS Ticino provides an international education with English as the main language of instruction and operates a non-discriminatory admission policy. IS Ticino will accept children with no previous experience of speaking English. Although not all families are fluent in English, all communication with the school is primarily in English, and at least one parent should be able to speak English, communicate with staff in English, discuss English-language activities with the child, and read teacher notes and converse with teachers in English. Admission is by the Principal when it is evident the student can benefit from the programme and the school has sufficient staffing and programme capacity; placement for a different grade requires the Principal's recommendation. Priority for entry is given to families with siblings already enrolled and to international families whose children are fluent in English; all other applications are processed in strict chronological order and in compliance with the Admissions Procedure. Submit an application via the contact form (Apply Now). The language of instruction is English and applicants are assessed for English proficiency before a decision is made, including language assessments for PYP and DP where appropriate. Enrollment requires documents such as student and parent passports, Swiss permit if non-Swiss, birth certificate, vaccination record and Swiss health insurance.

Scholarships
Nsouli Scholars Programme: The Nsouli Scholars Programme provides full scholarships to 50 extraordinary students at any one time to attend Inspired schools on a full scholarship for the duration of their education. The endowment honours Nadim Nsouli, and several scholarships are awarded to individuals of Lebanese origin.

Waitlist
Waiting lists: If a class is fully subscribed, successful applicants are invited to place their name on a waiting list. Priority is given to siblings of current IST students, children of ex-IST students, applicants from the international community, and applicants who are proficient in English or transferring from English-medium schools.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Switzerland View all schools in Lugano View all schools in Switzerland IB curriculum schools in Switzerland Open days & tours in Lugano What is the IB curriculum? View all schools Search all schools