Since 1926, the Institut Montana Switzerland has been a Swiss boarding school and day school. With approximately 360 students from over 50 different countries, our students develop through our founding values: Internationalism, Individualism, integration, and innovation.
Our students are offered individualised academic support, college counselling and are supervised day and night on our 60-acre campus that is well-connected to major cities in Switzerland. As our motto goes, this is the place to grow.
- Alexander Biner
Chairman of the Board of Directors
We have organised the information available for this school into 11 sections and 44 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
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Number of students
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360
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Number of nationalities represented in the school
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55
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Most common nationality
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Swiss
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Ratio of local students to international students
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1:3
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Native English and German speaking teachers
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Yes
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Language support for students not fluent in English and German
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Yes
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Additional language classes offered by the school
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English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese
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Max. number of students per class
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15
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Average number of students per class
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10
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Does the school employ teaching assistants?
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Yes
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Use of technology in the classroom
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All classrooms come equipped with a powerpoint presenter, computer, and beamer
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Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures)
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Yes, we use the E-nstitut Montana Hybrid schooling run on Microsoft 365 and Teams
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Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?
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It is dependent on the student themselves.
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How does the school accommodate non-religious students or students of a different religion?
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We try to accommodate all different needs case by case.
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External examinations or assessments available
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Swiss Bilingual (DE/EN) Primary School Certificate and Swiss Bilingual (DE/EN) Secondary School Certificate, Swiss Matura (accredited by Canton Zug), CLSP Certificate, IGCSE Certificate, IB Diploma, High School Diploma, IB Certificates.
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Results in these examinations
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In 2024, we had a 99% pass rate of our students who completed the Swiss Gymnasium academic pathway and earned the Swiss Matura.
In 2024, our students who completed the IB Diploma Programme had the following results:
Pass rate: 100%
Highest score: 43 (out of 45)
Average score: 32
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Do teachers assign homework to their students?
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Yes
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Approximate hours of homework given
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Students have a daily, supervised study time of two hours. If needed, they can ask for extra supervised study time.
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Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation
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99%
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Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs
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We are not a special needs school but we can evaluate if we are able to offer extra support upon accessing the student's learning profile.
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Learning support offered
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In-class support teachers, after-class care and tutoring as well as extra support where seen fit.
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The school supports gifted, able and talented students
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We challenge our exceptional students with advanced class or grade placements, extracurricular programmes, the Student Council and flexibility within the rules and regulations. We also offer a complimentary Subject Atelier for specific subjects which happens every afternoon.
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Student access to education psychologist
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Every student has a class advisor assigned to them in order to discuss academic and personal development. There is also a student support team which includes a psychologist that students can visit voluntarily.
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Entry evaluation for students
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Yes
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Brief description of entry evaluation required
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We need to see report cards from the previous two years so that we can best advise the school and programme and the support that may be required for the student. Perspective students need to complete a CAT4 Test for cognitive abilities and language assessment for English to enter our International School or a language assessment for German to enter our Swiss High School.
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Waiting list
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Yes, classes are limited to 15 students and we apply nationality quotas to ensure our community remains international.
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Deadline for registration (new academic year)
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We accept applications on a rolling-basis, however, we do have limited spaces available to ensure small class sizes. Thus, it is recommended to apply as soon as possible.
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Students can join after academic year begins
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Yes but we recommend to start at the beginning of each semester
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School start time
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8:15 am
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School finish time
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3:10 pm
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Supervised care before/after school
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Yes, with co-curricular activities and supervised study time.
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School bus service available
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Yes, but only in certain areas that are not covered by public transport.
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School provided lunches
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Yes
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Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc)
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Menus are varied and nutritious food prepared in our own kitchen. Our students and staff enjoy daily meals that include breakfast, cocoa breaks, lunch, afternoon breaks, and dinner. We combine served and buffet-style options, offering cuisine from different countries and eating styles, including vegetarian dishes. There is always something for everyone.
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Uniform required
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Only in the Bilingual Primary School, until grade 6 and for excursions and physical outdoor programme.
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Facilities at the school
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Library, Science Lab, Music Room, Art Studio, Yoga Studio, Incubator/Engineering Room, Auditorium, Study Spaces, Photography Studio, Newsroom
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Sports facilities at the school
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Gym, football pitch, beach volleyball, two outdoor basketball courts, futsal, two tennis courts and fitness rooms.
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Grades/ages available for boarding
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10 years old and older
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Boarding facilities at the school
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• Comfortable single or double rooms
• Spaces to dine, study, meet, play, relax, socialize
• Offices, Media Centre, study hall, fitness area, aula for events and conferences
• Classrooms for art, science, technology, economics, laboratories
• Chalet Suisse where we have our engineering lab studios, art, newsroom, yoga room
• A football pitch, tennis courts, beach volleyball court and basketball courts, mountain bike downhill course; and winter pass-times - sledging run, cross-country circuit and beginner slope ski lift
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Qualities and characteristics best defining the school
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Individualism, internationalism, integration and innovation are our founding values that still guide us today. Respecting and nurturing the individuality of students, while guiding them to a life of responsibility and independence is our main goal. To do this, we always provided a familial atmosphere and a sense of community, maintaining a personalised and supportive relationship with each and every student.
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Teaching approach of the school
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We believe every child harbors talent. Often hidden and undiscovered. We see beyond the surface to tap into their unique potential and envision the person they will eventually become. This is Montana, My Place to Grow.
This is a metaphor to develop our students with a holistic and individualised programme for each and every student. We accomplish this with small class sizes, personal care and an international community.
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Our Location
Our school is in the heart of Switzerland, located on the beautiful Zugerberg Mountain and only 15 minutes from the city of Zug. Our unique and enviable location allows us to be both idyllically secluded in nature and centrally located at the same time, with quick access to Zurich, its international airport, Lucerne and other major European cities.
The quiet, natural surroundings and fresh air foster a healthy lifestyle and provide a sanctuary and a source of inspiration for the students. It’s a perfect location to focus on learning and doing academic activities.
Our Classes
Our key strength is an individualised and personalised approach to learning. Through small class sizes (on average 8-10 students) and personal mentoring, we ensure our students reach their full potential, and become well-rounded and successful members of society. Our wireless connected study hall, media centre, classrooms, labs and crafts rooms provide our students the spaces they need to achieve success.
Our Academic Pathways
Our Swiss programmes, in accordance with the decentralised Swiss education system, are based on the framework provided by the Canton of Zug. We adapt them to the context of our school and offer an international approach that includes bi-lingual (English and German) tracks. Individual and personalized approach to learnings and personal mentoring are given to our small class sizes (average 8-10 students) to ensure students reach their full potential. The goal of our International School is the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, highly respected by the world’s leading universities.
Please explore our academic programmes below to learn more.
Bilingual Primary School
The students of our Bilingual Primaryy School arrive with either German or English. With our bilingual education they grow to be confident in both.
The combination of Swiss Lehrplan21 with British curriculum encourages using technology across school subjects so the children become adept users of computers and proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and so forth.
Bilingual Secondary School
Our Bilingual Secondary School serves as an exceptional educational setting, purposefully crafted to bridge the gap between elementary and high school education. This is a stage at which many young people want to try out different options among academic paths.
They might benefit from personalised support with their languages to reach their goal, whether that be the IB Diploma or the Swiss Matura.
The Bilingual Secondary School at Institut Montana follows the Swiss curriculum, Lehrplan21 to build competence and skill development, especially regarding learning strategies.
International School
At our international school, you work towards the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
The early grades follow the Cambridge Lower Secondary (Pre-IGCSE) and the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum, which lay a strong foundation for an international education.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) followed in grades 11 and 12 teaches you to become enquiring, knowledgeable and caring in an international world.
Swiss Gymnasium
The Swiss Matura offers a well-rounded and comprehensive program, covering a broad curriculum that spans across the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.
The Swiss Matura enables you to continue to higher education at highly respected Swiss universities such as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), University of St. Gallen (HSG) and Swiss Hospitality Management School in Lausanne (EHL).
It is also recognised by universities around the world and we offer a bilingual education track to open these opportunities to you.
Sports & Outdoor Activities
Our students take advantage of our gym, football pitch, beach volleyball and tennis courts, basketball court and fitness rooms. On top of our own facilities, our students also benefit from their natural surroundings and the large range of recreational opportunities living on a mountain offers: from cross-country skiing and ice hockey in the winter, to football and mountain biking in the summer and so much more.
Boarding Facilities
Our school and boarding facilities were two former, grand hotels. Acquired in 1926 and 1937, they have undergone extensive renovation since. Our campus now holds four residential and school buildings, a gym and various areas for extracurricular activities. Each bedroom comes fully furnished with a bed, wardrobe, desk, chair, and small fridge. Laundry service is also available.
Summer Camp
Summer camp is about combining learning with fun. Mornings are dedicated to language classes in English or German. Students improve dramatically to be able to communicate confidently in their foreign language. Afternoon workshops make learning fun. Our approach is ‘learning by doing’ to inspire young people in business and entrepreneurship, science and technology, creativity and the arts. Evenings are filled with activities such as dodge ball, trivia night or karaoke, or simply around a bonfire in a meadow surrounded by new friends. Our motto: Learn. Grow. Move. Meet
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