German Swiss International School

The school is a not-for-profit, multicultural institution that fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and cross-cultural understanding. It operates under a 'one school' philosophy, emphasizing collaboration across its two streams and a commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, and the development of resilient global citizens. The school integrates traditional knowledge with 21st-century skills, including technology and AI, while prioritizing the human capabilities of communication, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

The school offers two academic streams: the German International Stream (GIS) and the English International Stream (EIS). The GIS follows the German curriculum (State of Thuringia) from Kindergarten to Secondary, with instruction in German and English, leading to the German International Abitur (DIA). The EIS follows a British-style curriculum, including the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in Kindergarten, leading to IGCSEs and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. Languages taught across the school include German, English, Mandarin, Latin, and French.

Students in the German International Stream graduate with the German International Abitur (DIA) Diploma, which is recognized by universities worldwide and allows for tuition-free university education in Germany. Students in the English International Stream follow a curriculum leading to IGCSE examinations and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. Both streams award internationally recognized diplomas that prepare students for diverse global career opportunities.

The school provides holistic support through dedicated well-being counsellors and university counselling services for students in the German and English Secondary departments. These services are designed to nurture the social, emotional, and personal growth of each student alongside their intellectual development.

The school provides a guided application process for students from Kindergarten to Secondary levels. Families are encouraged to carefully consider the choice between the German International Stream (GIS) and the English International Stream (EIS) before applying, as the school does not recommend changing streams mid-way. Admission conditions include language proficiency requirements: EIS applicants must be fluent in English, while GIS applicants for Kindergarten and Pre-Primary must be able to communicate well in either German or English. Special programmes like CLIPPY and Fast Track are available to support students entering the GIS without prior German knowledge.

The school operates on an annual academic calendar, with specific schedules published for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. Families can access the detailed school calendar through the school's portal.

The school operates two campuses on Hong Kong Island: the Pok Fu Lam Campus for Early Years (Kindergarten and Lower Primary) and The Peak Campus for Upper Primary and Secondary students. Pok Fu Lam features an outdoor adventure playground, a library with German, English, and Mandarin resources, and an indoor Physical Education room. The Peak Campus includes indoor multi-purpose sports halls, an indoor swimming pool, outdoor basketball and football courts, an auditorium for performing arts, libraries with over 20,000 resources, and a dining hall. Classrooms across the school are equipped with smartboards.

The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including arts (art, music, drama), sports (football, tennis, cricket, hockey, netball, gymnastics, fencing, touch rugby), and leadership opportunities (Head Students, Prefects, House Captains, student-run Academic Societies, and the Global Initiatives Group). Additionally, the BVB International Academy Hong Kong provides professional football training for students and non-students, featuring UEFA-licensed coaches and specialized development programmes. Annual events such as Discovery Week further foster collaboration across the school's two streams.