Ages 
Institut Montana Switzerland is a well-rounded, culturally-diverse school with great flexibility in, and support for, academic choices as well as offering a huge range of outdoor activities in a beautiful natural location. Students learn the importance of intercultural harmony while making life-long global friendships. And the cosy boarding programme helps even the youngest of children feel nurtured and ‘at home’.
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Overview
- Student numbers
- 380
- Curricula
- Other curriculum
- International
- British
- SEN provision
- SEN considered case by case
- Offers boarding
- Boarding available
- Religion
- Non-denominational
- Fees
- Day CHF 32,900 - CHF 36,800 CHF; Boarding CHF 70,400 - CHF 72,800
- Ownership
- Privately owned
Head of school
Collective leadership
Franziska Welti
Since January 2024, the leadership team is collectively running Institut Montana Switzerland and is 'committed to making it relevant for society today'.
Families' day-to-day contact will more likely be with head of schools, academic
Entrance
Year-round rolling admissions, with families encouraged to apply early. When waitlists are in operation, priority is given to siblings, alumni and boarding students. A culturally diverse school, with a 10 per cent cap on each nationality, attention
Exit
Supports smooth transitions for families joining and leaving at all stages.
In 2022, 21 students graduated from the international section, the majority onto universities throughout the UK (eg King's College London, uni of Bath), Europe (eg
Latest results
The international school section produces sound academic results.
In 2025, the IB diploma average was 32 with a 99 per cent pass rate. The highest scorer achieved 41. In the same year at IGCSE, 30 per cent A*/A with an 88 per cent pass rate across
Teaching & learning
The Swiss bilingual (English/German) primary school (grades 1-6) is based on an adapted and accredited primary curriculum of the Canton of Zug, preparing students for one of three secondary pathways: the international section which follows the
- Curricula & qualifications
- Other curriculum - Swiss Lehrplan 21
- Other curriculum - Adapted or school-developed curriculum
- Other curriculum - Based on curriculum of Canton Zug
- International - International Baccalaureate (Diploma)
- British - International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
- International - Cambridge International Secondary 1 Programme
- Other curriculum - Swiss Matura
- Bilingual programmes
- German/English
Learning support & SEN
Admission for students with learning needs is limited to one or two per class. Teachers are trained to look out for potential issues.
The dedicated learning support teacher can support students with mild issues (eg dyslexia, dyscalculia, speech
Language support
Classes are small, students support each other, and teachers are available for after-school study sessions, so students in the younger grades who are less fluent in English or German may not need additional formal support to get up to speed. EAL (for
Arts & extracurricular
Music and performing arts are an important part of the curriculum and parents report they are nicely done, with concerts held throughout the year. Students are actively encouraged to join the all-school choir (compulsory for those attending the Swiss
Sport
The extensive, non-competitive PE programme makes the most of the surroundings eg: skiing, skating and sledging in winter and hiking, climbing and activities on the lake in summer, and gets good feedback from parents. No participation in competitive
Boarders
Boarders (from aged 10) make up approximately one-third to a half of the student population. Separate accommodation for girls and boys, organised by age groups on separate floors, with most students sharing a double room (there are some singles at
- Student numbers
- 380
- Boarding numbers
- 120
Ethos & heritage
School location is mind blowing: it sits on top of the Zugerberg, a mountain directly above the town of Zug and Lake Zug, with panoramic views. The huge (60-acre) sprawling campus includes attractive meadows, pastures, and woods, and is well-used
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
High praise from parents for the way the school integrates the many different student and staff nationalities, saying ‘school is very diverse and inclusive, they ensure harmony.’
In-house support teams include counsellors and mentors, for both day
Classroom & community
A quarter of families are Swiss and the remainder from a wide mix of other backgrounds, with around 50 nationalities represented, mostly from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. School celebrates different national festivals eg
- School year
- End August – end June, with two terms
- School hours
- 8:10am – 4:40pm, depending on co-curricular activities
- Student nationalities
- Swiss: 32% German: 10% British: 5% Russian: 7% Chinese: 6%
- Student nationalities - total
- 55
- Uniform requirements
- Yes (only for bilingual primary school students)
Money matters
School is owned by friends, family and alumni of the school via shares. Operating costs are funded through school fees, which are deemed reasonable by most parents.
A scholarship programme offers a limited number of students the opportunity to
- Annual fee range
- Day CHF 32,900 - CHF 36,800 CHF; Boarding CHF 70,400 - CHF 72,800
- Fee information
- Boarding school fees include:
- Accommodation in a twin room
- Supervision and full board (five meals a day)
- Class instruction for all mandatory subjects
- Study hall supervision during the school day
- Use of media centre, internet and cost of copying
- Supervision during study time (weekdays)
- On-campus care during short-term illnesses
- Participation in the activities programme
- Use of sports facilities
- Class instruction for all mandatory subjects
The last word
Institut Montana Switzerland is a well-rounded, culturally-diverse school with great flexibility in, and support for, academic choices as well as offering a huge range of outdoor activities in a beautiful natural location. Students learn the
Accreditations, inspections & memberships
- Accreditations/Inspections
- Council of International Schools (CIS)
Authorised by International Baccalaureate Organization (not to be confused as an inspection or accreditation agency)
Department of Education of the Canton of Zug, Switzerland (school licensed, not inspected)- Memberships
- World Schools, Swiss Schools, My Premium Europe, SGIS – Swiss Group of International Schools, KiVa Antibullying Programme, Cambridge International Examination centre.
