Admission FAQs

ISB provides a nurturing and welcoming environment for students who have no prior or little knowledge of English.

Students who enter the English as an Additional Language (EAL) support programme can access three learning stages: 

• Emerging 

• Developing 

• Consolidating 

Students’ English competency is evaluated at the admission stage and thereafter, to inform their appropriate placement and subsequent support. There are different expectations based on the programme/school section to which they are applying.

English as an Additional Language

Applications for admission need  to be completed in English. Any documents that are not written in English need to be officially translated. Please attach original documents to the translations. 

Applications are considered in view of the following factors:

• Completion of all application forms. 
• Outcomes of additional assessment, if appropriate
• Availability of space in classes and option groups offered
• Level of English/Learning Support needs
• Availability of places for siblings
• Appropriateness of programmes
• Discretion of the Director and the appropriate Principal.

The processing of the application takes 1 to 2 weeks. The Head of Admissions will contact you to confirm receipt of your application via email once we receive all the required documentation.

We do not require students to take a formal entrance exam. However in certain cases, depending on information received from the application documentation or gathered during the interview, further assessment may be necessary. This  may include:

• English as an Additional Language (EAL)
• English
• Mathematics
• Learning Support

As part of the admissions process, applicants may also be required to spend time in the appropriate school section to undergo assessment. This will be scheduled as part of the school visit if it is known prior to the visit that additional testing is necessary.

In Senior School, students will ordinarily be interviewed by the Senior School Principal as part of the admissions process. Students may need to complete assessment tests to determine their general standard of English, general subject knowledge and background to determine whether they are suited for specific programmes in Senior School.

While we encourage all students to start the new school year in August, we accept students throughout the school year, providing there is space in the relevant grade.

ISB does not provide financial assistance. Read the ISB Financial Regulations for more information.

No, but we  require a copy of your child’s vaccination record and the health forms to be completed during the Application

You are welcome to contact the Head of Admissions to arrange for a school tour or visit. In addition, at the beginning of every school year, there is a New Family Event Day for new families and students where you can familiarise yourselves with the buildings and teachers.

Students are placed in the year level according to their birth year following the entrance placement table below.

2022/2023 Year Placement Chart

Your will receive login credentials for the school website portals with the acceptance letter from Admissions.

We have approximately 1,380 students at our three campuses.

This varies greatly but the average span is about 4 years. We have a growing number of families who are making Basel their home. This offers a great deal of stability to the student population.

Although students at ISB are not required to wear a school uniform, there is a student dress code. Students are expected to dress appropriately on campus and at all school activities. This means that student’s appearance should be:

• Suitable for a workplace
• Conducive to learning
• Not distracting to others

We don't offer a school bus service, Instead, ee encourage our students to use public transportation to lessen the traffic volume. The number 11 tram stops outside all three campuses:

• "Reinacherhof" for Reinach
• "Reinach Süd" for Fiechten 
• "Arlesheimerstrasse" for Aesch

For more information see the BVB website.

ISB offers learning support services to students with a range of learning profiles (mild, moderate, intensive) . When prior evaluations and documentation indicate a learning disability or learning challenge, the Admissions Team will determine the appropriate placement, program, and resources needed to meet the student’s individual needs.

If the School is unable to coordinate the necessary resources to meet a student’s intensive academic, cognitive, physical, emotional and/or behavioral needs, the application will not be accepted.

Learn about student Support

The purpose of Home Learning is to allow students to acquire routines at an appropriate level for their age and stage. As students grow and develop, they become independent and a gradual release of responsibility takes place, and teachers work with parents to support this. 

The Home Learning and Practice program focuses on a partnership between school and home aimed at supporting students' continued development both at school and at home. Teachers, parents and students work in partnership to plan, support and complete home learning and practice tasks.

Parents will receive login credentials for the school website portals with the acceptance letter from Admissions.

Admission to the school is determined by the Director, with the advice of the academic staff, based on information about:

a) the potential of the applicant to benefit from the educational programme available;
b) the capacity of the school to meet the educational needs of the student;
c) the availability of places.

Initial year level placement is determined on the basis of age. The decision of the school in year level placement will be communicated to parents prior to acceptance and is considered final. Decisions with respect to:

a) promotion from one year level to another
b) retention in a particular year level
c) continued enrolment at ISB will be based on academic, personal, behavioural and social/emotional aspects of a student's school record.

ISB reserves the right to deny admission or to dis-enrol a student if:

a) the student's best interests and needs cannot be met effectively by the school's programmes and services;
b) the student's behaviour is deemed to jeopardize the welfare of the school community;
c) educationally significant information is withheld from the school; or
d) school fees are not paid in accordance with ISB Financial Regulations or a previous school reports a default in payment.

A decision to withdraw a student from the school would follow consultation with the parents/guardians and a thorough review of the educational interventions that have been attempted and documented.

Admission may be postponed if a year level is full. In this case, the applicant is placed on a waiting list. Qualified applicants are then accepted in order of the date of application, subject to the above conditions.

Your application will be considered in view of the following:

• Completion of all application documents. All documentation needs to be in English or be officially translated into English (original documentation should be attached to the translation)
• Outcomes of additional assessment, if appropriate
• Availability of space in classes and option groups offered
• Level of English/Student Support needs
• Availability of places for siblings
• Appropriateness of programmes
• Discretion of the Director and the appropriate Principal

GRADE LEVEL PLACEMENT

ISB believes that it is important for children to be placed in classes with their age peers, especially at Early Childhood (ages 3 to 5) and in the early levels of the Junior School.

Students who apply from schools or educational systems with a different school calendar (like those commonly found in schools in Korea, Japan, Singapore or Australia and occasionally in Brazil or India) will be placed in the grade that they are currently attending if they are admitted at the start of the new school year. If they are accepted as a Mid-Year student, they will be placed in the grade that they have just completed in their previous school.

All students must graduate from Grade 12 before their 20th birthday.

Level of English

Up until Grade 2, new students are not required to have prior knowledge of English. New students entering Grade 3 - 5 are recommended to have prior skills in English.

Middle School students must be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of English. Senior School students must offer evidence of English proficiency, spoken and written. At certain Year Levels, it may be possible to offer a restricted curriculum to students who are undergoing an intensive programme of support outside of ISB in order to enhance their acquisition of English. As the level of competence in English improves, a full curriculum will be offered accordingly.

Minimum English proficiency requirements for students joining Senior School
ISB uses the Common European Framework Reference (CEFR).

Grade of Entry on Joining	Minimum Requirement	IB Diploma Programme Requirement
Grade 9	A2	B1
Grade 10	A2	B2
Grade 11	B1	B2
Grade 12	B1/B2*	*Only students already successfully participating in IBDP programme

Testing: ISB uses the Oxford Online Placement Test (OOPT) as part of our Admissions process for Grade 6 and above. The test is administered by the ISB Admissions Team on campus, sent to the applicants’ current school to be administered, or in rare circumstances administered by parents. Those students at level B1 (Grade 9 and 10) or B2 (Grade 11 or 12) or lower may also have a follow‐up EAL screening.

Student Support Services

ISB offers learning support to students with a range of learning profiles (mild, moderate, intensive). When prior evaluations and documentation indicate a learning disability or learning challenge in the school setting, the Admissions Team will review the student’s complete file to determine the appropriate placement, programme, and resources needed to meet the student’s individual needs.

In exceptional circumstances, a student may be admitted on a conditional enrolment and the school may require parental agreement for provision of additional supports and services. Any additional costs incurred are the responsibility of the parents. 

Where the school is unable to coordinate the necessary resources to meet a student’s intensive academic, cognitive, physical, emotional and/or behavioral needs, the school will deny admission and provide a reason for the denial of enrolment.

Learn more about Student Support services