Admissions FAQs

Enrollment at BIS is possible any time during the school year, upon successful admission and available space in your child's grade level.  

Our School Holiday Calendars page gives you an overview of the dates of each school term and set holidays.

Not at all. English is the language of our school, but many of our students enter school without fluency in English.

Therefore, we are quite familiar with language support issues and draw upon many years of experience in helping students quickly acquire English-language skills. Our English as an Additional Language Programme (EAL) brings students to a level where they can participate in regular classes as quickly as possible. Further support will then be given in the classroom.

Students who enter BIS will be assessed for their ability to speak English. If necessary, they will then enter the EAL Programme to support their language needs.

We will ask you for the following:

• a copy of your child’s passport
• your child’s immunization record against measles
• a confidential recommendation from your child's current school (required for applications made for Grades 1-12)
• two years of previous school reports

A full application with all of these documents is to be completed by parents/guardians on the BIS OpenApply site before a review of the student application takes place.

Our curriculum follows the programmes of the International Baccalaureate Organization. Therefore, the great majority (90% or more) of our Grade 12 students graduate from BIS with an IB Diploma. This leaving certificate is highly-regarded as the programme fosters well-rounded, mature graduates who have acclaimed critical thinking skills, are exceptionally prepared for university-level coursework and demonstrate academic persistence. Research shows that they are more likely to finish their studies and achieve higher grades. 

Alternative to the IB Diploma is the completion of IB Certificates. Students choosing this path have greater flexibility regarding the combination of subject courses and the levels at which they study. IB subject courses contribute towards “Tariff Points” for placement in some UK colleges and universities and may be given equivalency to ‘Advanced Placement (AP)’ courses in USA.

The BIS High School Diploma is the equivalent to high school diplomas awarded in North America and recognized for application to North American universities.
 

Students at the end of Grade 10 would have completed the equivalent of first two years of high school in the US system, the GCSE years in the British system and Mittlere Reife in the German system.  BIS students may present their examination results at the end of Grade 10 to school authorities in Cologne to receive their Mittelere Reife certificate.

The following admission requirements and grade level requirements help us to place your child in the right class.

• Early Learning 3 students must be 3 years of age before they start and must be toilet trained
• Early Learning 4 students must be 4 years of age before they start and must be toilet trained
• Early Learning 5 students must be 5 years of age by 1 September
• Grade 1 students must be 6 years of age by 1 September
• Grade 2 through Grade 12 students are placed in a grade compatible with their age (using 1 September as a cut-off date guideline) and on evidence of successful completion of the preceding grade.

Please note that we may ask applicants to take admissions tests in Mathematics, English (as appropriate) and German (as appropriate).

German is a compulsory language subject and an important element of our curriculum for all students, from Early Learning to Grade 12.

In Early Learning, our German teachers come into the classroom to introduce our youngest students to German or further develop their skills in a playful manner via picture books, song and theater. Students are divided into two groups according to their knowledge of German and taught during eight periods within a two-week cycle.

In Grades 1 - 4, German native speakers and those newer to the language are divided into four separate groups according to language ability. Lessons follow the state of North Rhine Westphalia curriculum and are held in special classrooms equipped with a range of German language resources. Students have nine German classes within a two-week schedule.

In Grades 5 - 6, German classes bring students from Primary and Secondary Schools together for instruction. In such a way, we are able to offer four levels of German according to proficiency. This system also gives our Grade 5 students the opportunity to experience the expectations and environment they will transition into in the Secondary School. Students have seven periods of German within a two-week schedule.

Students in Grades 7 - 10 continue with their German studies within a system merging two grade levels (Grades 7 and 8 together, and Grades 9 and 10 together). This provides for teaching German at four levels, from mother tongue to beginner, within seven periods during a two-week schedule. 

German is offered in Grades 11 - 12 within the course selection. Students may choose to study German as a Language A option (mother tongue level) or Language B option (additional language). Students who study both English and German (or another mother-tongue) at Language A level are eligible to obtain a bilingual IB Diploma.

Students must live with their parents or guardians while attending BIS. Most families live in the area starting with the zip code 531.. (i.e. 53175, 53173). 

Bonn and its surroundings are safe and commutable. Students walk or bike to school, take the bus or other public transport, get a car ride, or ride their own scooter.

Our Co-Curricular Programme offers more than 100 activities and a broad spectrum of sports on our campus every day of the school week. These give students the opportunity to broaden their talents, develop their interests and mix with others outside the classroom. Our competitive sport teams travel to and compete with other international schools in Europe.

Our three different seasons of sports, from basketball to marathon, allow students to play several different sports within any school year. Recreational sports, played just for the fun of it without tournaments, are also offered on a seasonal basis. Younger students who wish to train in a sport for a whole year join BISSV, the Bonn International School Sport Verein. 

Activities include coding, dance, drama, language lessons, and music. These are available for all age ranges. Some activities like choir run for the length of the school year, others may run for a season to allow for continual variety.

During Carnival, Easter and Summer Breaks, BISSV also hosts children's camps providing child care for working parents and fun, challenging activities for children.

During the normal school year, after school child is available for a fee by KidzKlub, our on-site child care provider. This service may be booked on a regular basis or as needed on a daily basis. KidzKlub is run by child-care professionals and is open until 18:00.

Invoicing takes place after successful admission.  Payment is to be made either in full, or in quarterly/monthly installments from a German bank account, or in full by a Third Party. Arrangements can be made on an as-needed basis in consultation with our Accounting Office.