International Education in Berlin
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There is no other city that better represents modern Europe than Berlin. Home to people from all walks of life, with a thriving nightlife and cultural scene, the expat experience in Germany’s capital is hard to beat.
For expat families, bars and nightclubs may not top the list of ‘must haves’. But Berlin has just as much to offer parents and children. One of the many benefits of moving here is a choice of excellent international schools.
The public school system in Germany comes very highly regarded. Its standards are set and upheld at individual state level, and international schools are subject to the same standards and requirements. Any of Berlin’s international schools will provide your child with a top tier, well-rounded education. Schools affiliated with the Association of German International Schools or the Council of International Schools - or both! - are the ones to look out for especially.
As a major capital city of Europe, you’ll hear many languages on Berlin’s streets and in its international schools. Bilingual teaching is a common feature - teaching is usually offered through English, German or sometimes both. The International Baccalaureate curriculum along with the German and British curricula tend to be the most common, but you can find schools teaching curricula from just about anywhere else in the world, too.
A unique feature of international schools in Germany is that they often don’t have fixed fees. In most other countries around the world, you’ll pay a monthly or yearly tuition fee that is usually the same for everyone. In Germany however the fees you pay will be based on your gross family income, up to a certain maximum fee which changes per school.
Fees are calculated using various methods; some schools use a percentage of your income or a sliding scale, for example. If you would rather not have to disclose or justify your income, some schools will provide an option to pay the maximum, fixed fee instead.
Many international schools in Berlin are relatively new compared to other cities with well-established expat communities. They also tend to have a higher than average percentage of local students; in many schools, the most common nationality of students is German. For some this may take away from the multicultural aspect of international schooling somewhat, but on the other hand, it also makes it easier for international children to integrate into their new city and country.
Due to the up and coming nature of the international school scene in Berlin, as well as the higher proportion of local students, many parents note that there is a more welcoming, no-fuss atmosphere here than in other cities.
Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Berlin according to our users. However, there are another 13 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Berlin based on your requirements.
