At Academia International School, we support children and young people throughout their educational journey – from playful beginnings in kindergarten to the internationally recognised A-Level-qualification. Across our campuses in Basel, Winterthur and Zurich, we create an environment that fosters personal development and opens doors – in Switzerland and around the world.

The school journey at Academia begins at our trusted partner schools:
In Basel and Winterthur, we share our campus with Academia Bilingual School.
In Zurich, kindergarten and primary are located at Terra Nova Bilingual School in Küsnacht.

At all our campuses, children grow up in a familiar and caring environment – with space to thrive, warmth, and a curious outlook on the world.

All schools are officially recognised private schools and follow the official Swiss curriculum (Lehrplan 21) combined with elements of the Cambridge International Curriculum.

Want to learn more? Visit the partner websites or contact us directly.

At our lower secondary school we offer our students a strong academic foundation and prepare them on their path to upper-secondary education or vocational training.

Students learn in a multilingual environment:

• In Zürich and Winterthur, teaching is bilingual (German and English), offering students a truly dual-language experience.
• In Basel, the focus is on English-medium instruction, with selected subjects and project work in German to support language development and local integration.

Across all campuses, we promote essential 21st-century skills such as collaboration, communication and project-based learning – encouraging personal initiative and cross-curricular thinking.

Our schools are officially recognised as private schools by the canton of Basel-Stadt and Zurich Native-speaking teachers follow both the Swiss curriculum Lehrplan 21 and the Pearson/Key Stage 3 curriculum – giving our students a solid foundation and keeping all future educational pathways open, both in Switzerland and internationally.

The transition into our English-language Upper Secondary School (IGCSE/A Level) after Year 8 or Year 9 is seamless and does not require an entrance exam.

Our upper secondary programme leads to globally recognised qualifications:

• IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) after two years
• International A Level (Advanced Level) after four years

These qualifications open the door to university studies in Switzerland and abroad.

The IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is an internationally recognised qualification at upper secondary level. It offers a broad and structured curriculum designed to deepen knowledge and to strengthen skills in critical thinking, problem-solving and communication.

Over the course of these two school years, students take a wide range of subjects – from Mathematics, Sciences and Languages to Humanities and creative disciplines. This allows them to build a strong general education while tailoring their studies to their individual interests and future plans.

Externally examined and internationally benchmarked, IGCSEs are widely accepted in Switzerland and beyond. They provide excellent preparation for further pathways – whether that’s continuing to International A Levels, entering a vocational training programme, or pursuing other options in Switzerland or abroad.

The A Levels are rigorous, highly respected school-leaving qualifications for students aged 16+. They allow in-depth study of 3–4 subjects and provide excellent preparation for university or other advanced education worldwide, including Switzerland.

With a wide choice of subjects, International A Levels are tailored to individual strengths and future plans.

In addition to academic depth, A Levels nurture independent learning, time management and other global skills essential for success in today’s world.

Our students regularly achieve outstanding results in their IGCSE and A Level exams. Most go on to study at universities in Switzerland or internationally.

Want to see where our alumni go?