Best boarding schools in Germany 2026

Germany is one of those countries where many issues are approached carefully and scrupulously. The list of areas of control here includes the educational sector, in particular, secondary schools. For example, the period of secondary education in this country is not 12 years, as in most countries abroad, but as many as 13. It is worth noting that in German schools, curricula are taught not only in German, but also in English, and sometimes even in French. Thus, international students will be able to enroll in one of the international programs: Abitur, IB or A-level.

German educational institutions have a list of advantages, thanks to which they are chosen annually by international students from all over the world.:

• The educational process in Germany implies the active application of scientific achievements and modern technologies, which are constantly growing and improving.
• The excellent academic and language preparation of students in German institutions gives them the opportunity to successfully enter leading colleges and universities not only in this country, but also in Europe and the world.
• Students who study at a German private boarding school are confident in at least English and German by the time they complete the course. As you know, in the modern world, the demand for knowledge of foreign languages is only growing from year to year. Therefore, knowledge of an additional foreign language will definitely not be superfluous.

There are many secondary educational institutions in Germany, and they may differ from each other in academic direction, location, cost, and more, but the quality of educational services offered in them remains at a consistently high level. Studying at a private secondary school in Germany is a great way to start an educational journey in this country. This is especially true for foreign students, because in a secondary school they will be able to receive a German Abitur diploma, prepare for admission to higher education in Germany and beyond.

In addition, studying at a German school allows a foreign student to adapt to the new system faster and enter a university without taking additional studying courses or passing language tests. Moreover, if a foreign student receives a German-issued certificate, there will be no need to additionally confirm it (as it will need to be done with a domestic one).

Now let's tell you about several German secondary schools that are considered elite and prestigious private schools.:

• One of the first educational institutions to be named, located in the town of Rosenheim in the south of the country, near Munich and Salzbug, is the Newbern School (Schloss Neubeuern). This elite institution accepts children from the age of 10, as the school specializes in educational programs for middle and high school students (from 5th to 12th grade). The campus is a medieval castle, the territory of which is equipped with the latest technology. The location of the school grounds is recognized as the best in terms of ecology. Up to 240 students study here every year, 150 of whom study on a full—time basis, and the rest are full-time students.  The following school has one of the largest territories not only in Germany, but throughout Europe.
• Plus, the Schule Schloss Salem educational institution has more than 100 years of educational history, so there can be no doubt about the high status of this institution. The curriculum of this school is based on classical postulates, which, if necessary, are added with modern methods and technologies. Schule Schloss Salem offers its students a wide range of disciplines and classes that help each student achieve comprehensive development. At the same time, teachers strive to provide an individual approach for each of the students.
• Another boarding school, which is located in a medieval building, is the Stiftung Louisenlund. The school's campus is located in the north of the country in the city of Gyuby. This educational institution has a rather intimate atmosphere with an annual number of students of no more than 350 people. This number of students helps to increase the prestige of the institution itself, and gives the staff the opportunity to work more carefully with each of the students. In this case, the latter receive high-quality academic preparation to implement their future plans in the field of education. Stiftung Louisenlund specializes in courses for middle and high school students, so only students who have reached the age of 10 can enroll here. 
• The next in the list of leading educational institutions in the country is the Berlin Brandenburg International School. This institution, which was founded in 1990 in Brandenburg, provides students not only with first-class knowledge in all necessary disciplines, but also helps them develop curiosity, an independent thirst for knowledge, and an interest in the educational process itself. The main emphasis during the studying period is on unlocking the academic or creative potential of children and adolescents, so that in the future the children can show their competitiveness and easily conquer new heights.
• At the Schloss Torgelow privates Gymnasium, all students are accommodated on full board, and the age category belongs to the middle classes: from 12 to 16 years old. The conditions of study and accommodation in this institution meet the necessary European standards, and the teaching staff is highly qualified. There are excellent leisure facilities here: there is a private cinema and billiard room on site. The only difference between this school and all the previously named ones is that classes are held only in German. The annual number of students is up to 220 people.

Jamie Perfect

Director of the International School of Bremen

Why do parents value primary and secondary schools in Germany so much?

German primary and secondary schools offer a balanced education that prioritizes critical thinking, discipline, cultural understanding, and practical skills. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program, offered by many international schools including ISB, is highly esteemed worldwide.

Secondary education in Germany varies depending on the institution where the future student enters. For example, in independent schools that offer boarding-type accommodation to students, a year will cost an average of €25,000 to €45,000. The package of services will include tuition itself, boarding accommodation, on-campus meals, additional educational materials, and field events.

Sometimes this list is expanded, sometimes it is narrowed, but the following items of expenditure most often remain outside the total amount and require additional investments:

• Transfer from and to the airport or train station,
• Medical insurance,
• Purchase of souvenirs, clothes and other things,
• Tickets to Germany in general and a specific city within the country,
• Tickets to the student's home country if he plans to go home for the holidays.

Do not forget to include various fees and charges in the list of expenses, for example, for issuing visas to a child and an accompanying person.

In general, the admission process to a private boarding school in Germany is not particularly different from similar procedures in public institutions. However, due to the fact that private schools in Germany have a more prestigious status internationally, many foreign students want to join them, so the level of competition is high. It is also supported by the requirements that the school puts forward for applicants: for example, foreign students wishing to enter a private boarding school in Germany must have academic achievements and a good, confident knowledge of German — from B2 and above.

The specific requirements and conditions for admission vary from school to school, but the list of documents that a student's parents or guardians must provide with the application is usually fairly standard.:

• Photocopied pages of a foreign passport,
• Assessment tables showing marks for the two academic years preceding the application and for the current period,
• Newly obtained documents confirming the level of language knowledge, for example, certificates of international tests,
• Correctly filled out registration forms.

Additionally, admissions officers at private schools in Germany often ask applicants for author's motivational essays and letters of recommendation from teachers and principals. Most German boarding schools conduct entrance exams to assess a child's academic readiness for a foreign language; they usually choose mathematics and German or English to take the tests. If all the documents are submitted correctly, the registration fee is paid, and the entrance tests are passed, the student is invited to an online or offline interview.

We recommend that parents start preparing the application documents in advance, as well as preparing their children to take the entrance test. A package of documents is usually sent to one or more schools 8-9 months before the start of the next academic year. During the same time, the applicant passes entrance tests, a personal interview, and so on. In addition, it is considered good practice to visit a potential boarding school beforehand, and this can be done as part of the Open Day, which is organized annually by almost every institution in Germany.

Another good option to introduce your child to a potential school is summer language courses at your chosen educational institution. This will help not only to see the campus, but also to understand whether the student will be comfortable here, and how quickly he will be able to adapt to a new foreign environment.

If your child is not sure of his or her knowledge of German, English, or basic subjects, language courses will help him or her fill in all the gaps so that he or she is 100% ready by the beginning of the school year at a foreign school.

Please note that, as the official representatives of most German private boarding schools, we help with the free selection and organization of admission to the desired schools for our students and clients.

The prospect of entering leading international universities and colleges is one of the main advantages of studying at private boarding schools in Germany. Graduates of independent boarding schools choose the best higher education institutions and the most relevant areas of study in Europe, the USA and Canada.

Among the European universities where former students of private boarding schools in Germany are enrolled are:

• Heidelberg University,
• Technical University of Munich,
• University of Heidelberg,
• University of Freiburg,
• Humboldt University of Berlin,
• University of Oxford,
• University of Cambridge,
• Imperial College London,
• University College London,
• University of Edinburgh,
• University of Manchester,
• Sorbonne University,
• University of Paris-Saclay.

Among American and Canadian higher education institutions are:

• Harvard University,
• Stanford University,
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
• University of Toronto,
• University of Vancouver.

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