Private and public international schools and high schools

International schools Luxembourg|Lycée français Vauban Luxembourg-Limpertsberg

Are you moving to Luxembourg and would like your child to continue his or her education in his or her home school system? Would you prefer a solution other than the Luxembourg public school system? 

Choosing an international school in Luxembourg

Luxembourg has a strong education system with a wide range of international, private and public schools. The choice is vast. Which school should you choose?

When choosing a school for your child, it's important to consider factors such as curriculum, location, admission policies and cost, as well as family support.

Here you'll find all the information you need on private and international education as an alternative to the Luxembourg public school system.

Open days at international schools in Luxembourg

International and private school systems

Overview of the Luxembourg school system

The Luxembourg school system is essentially public. It is free for families, with the exception of catering services in the lower grades and other miscellaneous costs.

Language learning is one of the key strengths of the Luxembourg school system. From the earliest years, children learn the 3 official languages (Lëtzebuergesch, German, French). By the end ofbasic education, children already master these 3 languages.

As soon as they enter high school, children start learning English. They will continue to learn languages throughout their secondary education.

Transfer from the Luxembourg basic school (6 years of education) to a secondary school other than the Luxembourg system will require admission on the basis of a minimum dossier. Applicants may even be asked to sit a supplementary examination.

International school system, an alternative to the Luxembourg system

As an alternative to the Luxembourg public school system, there are several international schools in Luxembourg, both public and private.

International and private schools in Luxembourg

The best-known private international schools in Luxembourg are the International School of Luxembourg (ISL), St. George's International School, the European School and the Lycée Français Vauban.

Other popular private schools in Luxembourg include the École privée Notre-Dame Sainte-Sophie, which offers a French and Luxembourg curriculum, the Fieldgen School for Luxembourgish education and the Waldorf School in Mersch, which offers an international education. See Luxembourg high schools.

Which school system is best for your child?

Before deciding on a school for your children, it's important to compare the different schools and courses on offer. Your decision should take into account factors such as location, curriculum, language of instruction and extra-curricular activities.

Curriculum for international and private schools

International schools in Luxembourg generally offer the International Baccalaureate (IB), British, European or French curriculum.

Private schools in Luxembourg can offer a range of study programs, including the French or German curriculum, as well as IB programs.

Admissions to private schools in Luxembourg

Admission policies vary from school to school. However, international and private schools in Luxembourg generally require students to apply on the basis of their academic record.

The admissions process may also include interviews, tests and/or essays. Some schools also require students to demonstrate proficiency in the language of instruction.

Private school tuition fees

Unlike Luxembourg public schools, which offer free tuition, international and private schools in Luxembourg charge fees.

Tuition fees can range from around 5,000 to 25,000 euros per year, depending on the school and level of education.

School locations

Luxembourg's international and private schools are spread throughout the country. Many are located in or near the capital, Luxembourg City.

It's important to consider location when choosing a school for your child. Travel time and easy access to public transport is a major criterion to consider when choosing a new home. Choose your neighborhood based on your children's schools.

Choosing an international school in Luxembourg

We've put together a list of international schools where you can send your child to school in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. These offer an international curriculum and prepare for a secondary school diploma recognized outside Luxembourg.

French and French-speaking schools, French secondary schools and high schools

Would you like to enroll your children in a French or French-speaking kindergarten, school, collège or lycée?

Only 2 schools in Luxembourg offer a French education recognized by the French Ministry of Education and the AEFE (Association des Etablissements Français à l'Etranger):

To date, the French baccalauréat is only prepared by the Lycée Vauban.

British schools and colleges

Given Luxembourg's multicultural make-up, there is a wide range of schools with a British curriculum. Students prepare for A-Level.

These include the following schools:

International and European high schools

International and European lycées prepare Luxembourg students for higher education abroad. The diplomas awarded are recognized internationally. Students prepare for the International Baccalaureate or the European Baccalaureate.

At the end of secondary school, students can choose between continuing their higher education in Luxembourg or at an international university.

International schools

A number of Luxembourg public high schools and fee-paying private schools offer international baccalaureates in Luxembourg. This is recognized by many higher education establishments around the world. 

  • Lycée public Athenée de Luxembourg in English
  • Lycée public Technique du Centre in Luxembourg in French
  • Lycée public Mathias Adam in Lamadelaine and Differdange) in French
  • Private school International School of Luxembourg in English and in conjunction with IGCSE
  • OTR International School in French and English
  • Private Waldorf school in German and English.

European schools

The European School I (Luxembourg-Kirchberg) and II (Mamer) are European schools, dedicated more specifically to the children of European civil servants. They do, however, accept other pupils, depending on the number of places available in each specific section.

Several public high schools in Luxembourg also offer a European curriculum (primary and secondary), culminating in the European Baccalaureate at the end of the final year. These include the following establishments:

  • Lycée international Lenster in Junglinster LLIS
  • Edward Steichen School in Clervaux EIES
  • international school of Differdange and Esch-sur-Alzette EIDE
  • Anne Beffort International School in Mersch EIMAB
  • Mondorf les Bains International School EIMBL
  • Gaston Thorn International School in Luxembourg EIGT.

For more information on the International Baccalaureate, visit www.ibo.org.

Find here the list of Open Days for high schools in Luxembourg

Enrolling your child in an international school

Places in private or international schools are limited. A review of your child's academic record or an entrance exam may be required before your child can change schools during the course of his or her education.

Don't forget to check several months before the start of the school year in September for application deadlines! Open houses are usually held from March onwards, when you can visit the schools.

Consult the Maison de l'Orientation website for a complete school map of Luxembourg: an overview of the different school systems and the particularities of each school.

Find out more about primary education in Luxembourg

Private international schools in Luxembourg

Vauban French School Campus

The Vauban French Campus brings together the French nursery school, primary school, middle school and high school in Luxembourg. It has been based in Luxembourg-Gasperich since the start of the 2017 school year in the new Ban de Gasperich district.

Campus Vauban is a private educational establishment in Luxembourg, approved by the French Ministry of Education. It is part of the AEFE network of French schools abroad. The programs followed by our students comply with French requirements and prepare them for French educational diplomas.

International German and English classes are also available.

Thanks to a competent and attentive team, the school offers personalized follow-up for all its students, establishing a relationship of trust with their parents.

French nursery and primary school Vauban

École maternelle et primaire Vauban (formerly Ecole Française de Luxembourg EFL) welcomes children from age 3 (from petite section de maternelle) to age 11 (CM2). German is taught from kindergarten.

Collège et lycée français Vauban

The school caters for children aged 11 to 18, from primary school onwards, to prepare them for the Brevet des Collèges and French Baccalauréat exams.

The success rate for the 2023 bac was 100% in all bac sections: ES, L, S and STMG. The baccalauréat exams are held on the school premises.

Language learning, international and European sections

At Vauban College and Lycée, languages are at the heart of the teaching team's concerns. At this school, learning foreign languages such as German, Italian, Chinese and Spanish takes center stage. The school prepares students for Cambridge, Goethe and Cervantes certifications.

The school offers a European section (British and German) accessible from seconde. The baccalaureate diploma will be annotated "European section" with the language.

The international section (British and German) is accessible from 6ème or seconde. The French baccalauréat then includes an OIB option with language mention. The German Ministry of Education issues the Abitur to students in the German OIB.

Vauban registration and open day

To enroll at the Lycée Vauban, all students must pre-register online in February for the following school year.

Please note: for students coming from a different school system, an entrance test is compulsory. Pupils in 5th grade of the Luxembourg primary school system can apply to enter 6th grade at Lycée Vauban. Once pre-registration has been received, children will be invited to take entrance tests in a number of subjects. These tests are based on the Education Nationale curriculum for the years from CM2 (last year of primary school) to sixième (first year of secondary school).

During its Open Day , the Lycée Vauban presents not only its premises and courses of study. It also gives pupils and their parents the chance to meet teachers and students already enrolled, to witness experiments or to observe work carried out by students. The open house is also an opportunity to find out about the various enrolment procedures.

Tuition costs are around 5,000 euros per student per year for middle and high school.

Ecole Primaire et Collège français Notre-Dame Sainte Sophie

In addition to the Luxembourg school system, Notre Dame Sainte Sophie also offers a French curriculum at nursery, elementary and collège level. Sainte Sophie is located in the Luxembourg-Weimershof district.

Sainte-Sophie French School opened in 2007. It is approved by the French Ministry of Education. It is a partner school of AEFE (Agence pour l'Enseignement Français à l'Etranger). 600 students attend the school.

In the French school system, children are enrolled from age 3 (petite section de maternelle) to age 11 (CM2), and learn strictly according to the French Education Nationale curriculum. German is taught from the very first year of kindergarten.

The Collège Sainte-Sophie offers a French education, so that students can be reintegrated into a French collège or lycée abroad. Luxembourg's multiculturalism and multilingualism provide a suitable environment for equivalent learning of German and English from 6th grade. One hour per week is devoted to learning the language and culture of Luxembourg.

Registrations open in January for the following school year.

Please note: if your child comes from the Luxembourg school system, and you would like him/her to attend the Collège français Sainte-Sophie, he/she must have completed the 6 years of basic schooling.

More information on secondary schools and secondary education in Luxembourg

Changes are possible between the 2 systems in France and Luxembourg.

Tuition costs are around 4,000 euros per year for primary school and 3,000 euros for secondary school.

European School I and II in Luxembourg

Curriculum at the European School of Luxembourg

The European School in Luxembourg welcomes children from 4 to 18 years of age, for the whole of their schooling: from nursery school, through primary school, to the end of secondary school. TheEuropean School diploma is the European Baccalaureate, recognized throughout Europe.

Two campuses are open, one in Luxembourg-Kirchberg for the European School I, the other in Mamer for the European School II. Placement at either school depends on the parents' place of residence and the school section chosen.

The 2 European Schools I and II offer the 3 cycles of kindergarten, primary and secondary, with English, French and German sections. Irish is also taught in both schools.

The European School I gives priority to pupils with Bulgarian, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish mother tongues and sections. European School II gives priority to pupils with Czech, Danish, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Maltese, Romanian, Slovenian, Slovakian and Croatian mother tongues and sections.

In most cases, teaching takes place in the child's mother tongue, except in special situations. The second language of primary education can be chosen from English, French or German. A third and fourth foreign language are gradually introduced in secondary classes.
Children who speak a language not taught at the European School will be directed to one of the German, English or French sections. To facilitate linguistic integration for these children, language support courses are offered.

The high linguistic level of students graduating from the European School is recognized by many European universities, which do not require additional language entrance tests such as IELTS.

Enrolment at the European School Luxembourg

Priority for enrolment at the European School is given to the children of European civil servants. However, depending on the number of places available, other children may be accepted on application.

Applications are made between April and May for the start of the school year in September. Parents will be informed by the school of the validation of their application in mid-July.

Tuition fees vary according to 3 categories:

  • category I: pupils one of whose parents is employed by one of the European institutions or an equivalent organization for the school year in question; these pupils are exempt from payment of the minerval.
  • category II: students with a parent employed by a company or organization committed to paying the child's school fees
  • category III: other students

International School of Luxembourg - ISL

The International School of Luxembourg in Luxembourg-Merl opens its doors to the International Baccalaureate. It is recognized by the European Council of International Schools and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. ISL welcomes children aged 3 to 18 (end of secondary school).

ISL offers university preparatory courses leading to the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma or IB certificate and the ISL secondary school diploma. French and German are taught from primary school level.

ISL's declared aim is to enable students to evolve within the school, but above all in today's multicultural and multilingual societies. Intellectual, physical and emotional balance is a priority. The school offers a wide range of sports, recreational and creative activities.

The registration procedure is carried out one year in advance. Parents must complete an online application form, and attend a personal interview. Admission is by application. Depending on the class the child is entering, language level requirements vary:

  • Grade 8 (corresponds to 4th grade in the French school system): ability to work with a level of English - Advanced Beginner
  • Grade 9: ability to work at a level of English - Higher Intermediate
  • Grade 10/11: ability to work at an academic level of English.

An entrance test is scheduled at each level. The student/teacher ratio is 8:1.

Fees vary according to class. Tuition costs are around 20,000 euros per student per year.

ISL was founded in 1963 under the name Ecole Privée Dupont de Nemours to provide schooling for the children of Dupont de Nemours employees. Supported by the Luxembourg government, the school benefited from larger, more suitable premises before being bought out by Goodyear. Ell is renowned as the English language school in Luxembourg. Today, the school has around 1,300 students of 50 different nationalities.

St George's International School in Luxembourg

Located in Luxembourg-Hamm, Saint George's School is a renowned institution for British education in Luxembourg. It prepares students for the GCSE General Certificate of Secondary Education and A-levels. 

Pupils are welcomed from the age of 3 for elementary school and from 11 to 18 for secondary school. Numerous extra-curricular activities are also on offer.

Tuition is around 16,000 euros per year per child.

OTR International School

Formerly Over The Rainbow, OTR International School is a private international school in Luxembourg-Belair. It offers bilingual teaching in French and English.

The school welcomes children from age 3 up to secondary school. Pupils can choose between a French section and an English section. It is possible to learn a 3rd language from secondary school onwards.

The OTR International School promotes language learning, scientific and mathematical knowledge, general culture and digital skills.

Les Poussins, French-speaking nursery school in Luxembourg

Les Poussins is a French-speaking nursery school in Luxembourg-Bonnevoie . The Mini-Collège nursery school is located in the Kirchberg district of Luxembourg .

The school welcomes children aged 18 months to 6 years from 7:45 am to 6:15 pm, Monday to Friday. The school is managed by a team of kindergarten teachers and a nurse.

Charlemagne French nursery and primary school

Ecole Charlemagne is a French nursery and elementary school located in the commune of Walferdange.

Teaching and methodologies are traditional and family-oriented. Please note that the school is not approved by the French Education Nationale.

Waldorfchoul School Lëtzebuerg

Ecole Waldorfschoul Lëtzebuerg is a Luxembourgish private international school offering nursery, primary and secondary classes in Lëtzebuergësch, German and French.

English is taught as a foreign language.

The pedagogy is that of Steiner-Waldorf, based on human freedom and recognition of the individual. It offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum.

Scuola materna cattolica internazionale

SMCI is a Catholic nursery school for children up to the age of 6. Recognized by the Luxembourg Ministry of Education, it offers a choice of two languages: French, Italian and English.

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