International High School for Day Students

Our international Swiss high school for all students living in the region: a combination of day and boarding school.

High school can be so much more. Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz offers a diverse, world-class educational programme not only for boarding school students from abroad but also for boys and girls from regions within the Canton of Graubünden. These day students profit equally from everything we offer. They have the option to commute from home or stay on campus in the Convict Lärchenhaus.

A diverse community

Our school is internationally oriented and educates around 120 day school students from the region and 220 boarding school students from over 45 countries. Day students play an important role in high school, as they make up more than 70 per cent of the student body in the Matura diploma programme. Together with our boarding school students, this creates a cultural diversity which is not only international but also rooted in the Engadin and the country of Switzerland itself. The unique culture comes to life through the close friendships between the local students and those from around the world.

Additional Information

Admission & Preparation Course

Each canton in Switzerland requires an entrance examination to attend high school, including the Canton of Graubünden. We recommend enrolling in a preparation course for the best results. The Lyceum Alpinum offers a variety of course options.

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Boarding School Services

All academic programmes, recreational activities and services are fully available to day students as well.

For more information on boarding, health, housekeeping, clothing and school shop, click here:

Services for Day School Students

Contact Us

Any questions about our services or registration? Please contact:

Janine Stupan (Secretariat)

Matura at an International High School

Homefield advantage: a high school with boarding school benefits

In four or six years, the Lyceum Alpinum teaches a comprehensive general education as part of the Swiss Matura. The Swiss Matura at Lyceum Alpinum provides students with a comprehensive education over four or six years. Like the boarding school students, day students select a major and minor subject and, in this way, can deepen their knowledge in certain subject areas. Graduating with a Matura Diploma qualifies the student entry into any university or college in Switzerland without needing an entrance exam. Furthermore, high-performing students have the option of attending a bilingual Matura programme.

Romansh

Students, who have chosen Romansh as their first language in the entrance examination, attend Romansh lessons until they finish compulsory schooling. For all others, participation is voluntary.

For the Matura our high school offers the following major and minor subjects:

Major subjects

Visual Arts

Observe, construct, move, explore, experiment, question, design, scrap, don’t give up! This major is for those who are willing and eager to create something new, even when the starting point is unclear, or when the path ahead is unpaved. Lines, shapes and colours allow images, objects and space to unfold. All of this begins in the mind. Through a plethora of techniques and materials, we learn to broaden our horizons and express ourselves in our own language. From traditional methods to new mediums; from painting and design, to architecture. Students work on individual projects with teacher guidance but also by studying pieces from different eras and contemporary art. Department Head: Madlaina Fontana

Biology and Chemistry

In this lively, interdisciplinary subject, we discover how our body works. The primary aim is to comprehend the interconnectivity of life’s chemistry. Students will learn that handling different substances is as important as exploring current research on aetiology, nanotechnology and medicine. Ecology, sports physiology, environmental protection, GM foods and toxicology play their part in our ponderings and discussions, as well. Whoever takes pleasure in scientific questions, observation, experimentation and research, will have made the right choice, electing Biology and Chemistry as a major. A sound educational foundation in the natural sciences is advantageous for all those who wish to go into medicine, pharmaceutics or pursue any other scientific/technological career. Department Heads: Peter Süess und Dr Stephan Lehner

Physics and Applied Mathematics

This subject is for all students who want a deeper understanding of the current view of the world, who enjoy systematic and abstract thinking and who are keen on solving more complex problems. Physics and Applied Mathematics tackles the foundational principles of nature. Topics include: understanding and applying the laws of conservation; the physicist’s tool of creating models; processes of nature in the language of mathematics; how to develop mathematical models to draw conclusions and make predictions; understanding how matter is constructed; and insights into research areas in modern physics, such as special relativity and quantum physics. Department Heads: Dr Andres Bühlmann und Dr Stephan Fessler

Spanish

Learning Spanish adds another foreign language to a student’s repertoire. Along with the core languages English, French and Italian, Spanish students can achieve levels B1 or B2 (or even C1). This subject is for students interested in the Spanish language and culture who are willing to engage on a variety of levels. The lessons foster language and communication skills, as well as openness for and appreciation of foreign cultures. Following English, Spanish is the second most widely learnt language worldwide and is spoken by almost 500 million people. It is one of the official languages of the UN, the European Union and other international organisations. Lessons focus on three areas: language (written exercises, listening comprehension, role plays, discussions, presentations), literature (poems, novels, short stories, plays, interpretation of films) and culture (historical and current geographical, political and economic issues, such as the Spanish Civil War or Arab Spain). Department Head: Virtudes Schrepfer-Duarte

Economics and Law

In this subject, students apply thinking strategies and practical techniques to understand, explain and assess economic interconnections. The business section of a daily newspaper serves as our up-to-date resource. The content is divided into four areas: Business Administration deals with organisation, marketing, product and market objectives, wage and work-time models, financing, HR policy, bonds and the function of the stock exchange. To immerse the students in the subject matter, all of them will conduct a stock exchange game together. In Accounting, the topics of double-entry bookkeeping, pricing, VAT and write-offs, hidden reserves, payroll accounting, balance sheet and income statement, balance sheet analysis, cash flow analysis and cost accounting will be covered. Economics is primarily concerned with the economic cycle. Business cycle, inflation and monetary policy are only some of the main topics here. The fourth area is Legal Theory, which provides insight into all relevant contractual and legal foundations, as well as case study solutions. Department Head: Harald Oswald

Minor subjects

Chemistry

Chemistry explains what binds the world together at its core. Are you fascinated by science and eager to learn more about the substances that make up our environment? Do you enjoy chemical experiments and hypothesising about the results? If so, then this minor subject is the right choice for you. Students can choose whether they want to focus on natural sciences in combination with the major subject Mathematics/Physics or combine it with another major subject such as Economics. In any case, sound knowledge of chemistry is advantageous in many fields of study, such as medicine or pharmaceutics. Also, a scientific way of thinking and experimenting is also highly valued in the world of business. In Chemistry as a minor, we mainly deal with the structure and function of biomolecules, chemical reaction mechanisms, acid-base and chemical equilibria, plastics and dyes, the quantum mechanical atomic model, redox reactions and much more. The students’ experimental work in the laboratory complements and reinforces the theoretical study. Teacher: Peter Süess

Economics & Law (taught in English)

This minor subject is taught in English and covers the contents of the Economics & Law as a major, but does not dive as deeply. Students are taught subject-specific thinking strategies for understanding, explaining and assessing economic relationships. This English-taught subject is divided into four different areas: Business Administration, Accounting, Economics and Law. Students learn business models, marketing, organisation, pricing, bookkeeping, economic cycle, monetary policy, globalisation, contracts and law, to name just a few. Teacher: Harry Oswald

Geography

How does global warming affect Swiss tourism? What is “Europe” and what is its future? How can we combine a growing world population and a capitalist system with the earth’s limited natural resources? Students deal with these and other current questions in Geography as a minor. It combines scientific with socio-economic issues, and students can take an in-depth look at spatial conditions and the relationship between people and the environment. Geography as a minor naturally facilitates interdisciplinary thinking beyond the subject itself. The following topics will be the focus: humans in their present environment; spatial planning and tourism; regional geographic studies of individual countries and regions; and global networking between different regions of the world. Teacher: Tiziana Gees

History (taught in English)

This minor subject is taught in English. It is the right choice for the student who finds history fascinating and inspiring, without the strict teaching guidelines of the foundation subject. This course explores and works on unconventional topics, as well. In the past, such topics have included terrorism, secret services, international politics, the philosophy of history and much more. All students will improve their writing style and discussion skills during the course. Those who want to improve their English skills will find themselves in a welcoming environment of like-minded classmates and a teacher who calls himself a “certified history geek.” Teacher: Emiliano Cori

ICT

Computer science is as important as language and mathematics. Students who learn programming will understand the digital world and can then actively participate in shaping it. In this way, young people become creative producers rather than simply consumers. Have you ever wondered what computer science is all about? What are its origins? How does it help us every day? And above all, what else you can accomplish with computer science? If so, then this course is for you. The course contents consist of history (computer science from the beginnings to today); ICT devices (structure and functions of machines); data (structure and creation of databases, programming and application of algorithms), robotics (building and programming a robot); cryptology (encryption techniques); as well as the project management of a personal project. Teacher: Cyrill Meuwly

High school main features for day students

European and internationally recognised qualification for entrance to university
Intercultural exchange
High-quality equipment
All benefits and services of the boarding school freely available
Additional services (board, tutoring, study time)

Bilingual Matura G/E or I/G

All students can opt for the Bilingual Matura as well. Those who choose the German/English option will experience all courses fully immersed in the English language during their last three years. Students with Italian as their native language, or the equivalent thereof, have the option to study Storia and Italian at first language level from 3^rd grade on (Matura I/G – Maturità Bilingue Grigionese). Their official course transcripts will include the remark “at native speaker level.” This note will exempt them from having to take a language test at any Italian institute of higher education.

High school and the job market

A young adult’s transition from high school to higher education is a significant step. Did you pick all the right subjects that prepare you for the future? Did you properly invest in your talents and discover the hidden ones? Will you be able to hold your own, and even thrive, in a competitive world? Answering these questions with a confident “Yes” depends on the school you choose. Public schools, private schools, boarding schools – there are so many options. Together we will gladly help you form a picture and plan to take the next steps in your child’s education. Today’s job market is particularly interested in students who have enjoyed the kind of education that we offer here in Switzerland at the Lyceum Alpinum.

Swiss High School Entrance Exam

The first step

In the Canton of Graubünden, admission to a high school depends on passing the entrance examination for a Bündner middle school. The examination for admission to 1^st grade takes place in February. Children will be tested in mathematics and the first language declared by the parents on the application.

The entrance exam for 3^rd grade takes place in March. The exam tests Mathematics, English and the first language declared by the parents on the application. To qualify for admission to the examination, you must prove that your child has attended 2^nd or 3^rd grade of a secondary school. The exam is not specific to the school where it is taken. After passing the exam, students are qualified to attend any Bündner high school.

Registration for the exam

You can register online for 1^st and 3^rd-grade entrance exams. Please be aware that online registration must take place before the deadline within a limited time window. More information, exam examples and online registration can be found here: Online Registration

Entrance Exam	Exam Registration	Examination Date
First grade	1 October 2024 – 16 December 2024	Tuesday, 11 February 2025
Third grade	28 October 2024 – 13 January 2025	Tuesday, 11 March 2025

If you have any questions about exam registration, please contact our school office. You are also welcomed to make an appointment for a school tour and a face-to-face meeting.

Janine Stupan (Secretariat)

If you have any further questions, please contact the Prüfungssekretariat Aufnahmeprüfungen at the Amt für Höhere Bildung (AHB), call: +41 81 257 61 69

Preparation Course

Attending a preparation course at Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz in Switzerland – an ideal way to prepare for the regulatory entrance exam.

The entrance exam is by no means child’s play, and test anxiety adds to the challenge. We recommend attending one of our preparation courses to avoid any surprises. Experienced instructors lead the courses. Their primary aims are testing strategies and stress management, while deepening the knowledge for the respective subjects. Our exam prep motto for the course is “Testing without stressing.”

Teaching the respective subjects in 1^st and 2^nd grade at our school, our preparation course teachers know precisely what’s expected of the children. Therefore the students can rest assured that their teachers offer the optimal training for the transition to high school. Furthermore, it makes the transition for the students easier, as they are already familiar with some of the teachers.

Brochures for the preparation courses including course dates can be found here.

Costs

The total cost of the preparation course is CHF 500. This price includes the preparation course, mock exam, Zvieri snack bar and access to our media library.

Boarding school à la carte

When parents are out of town, day students who usually live at home can stay at the school for a limited time. This is great for school unity, gives students a chance to experience boarding school life, as well as find out more about their fellow-students’ daily life.

Boarding school à la carte can be booked for at least two days and a maximum of two weeks, depending on availability. The price is CHF 170 per night, including services such as meals, tutoring, games, sports, etc.

Additional informations and booking: Janine Stupan (Sekretariat)

My years at Lyceum Alpinum have been the best years of my life so far. No other public school could have offered me friends from around the world, the best amenities and one-to-one tutoring. It was exactly what I needed for my future.

Isabella

Services for Day Students

Meals

During the morning break, day students can grab a Znüni (snack) in the cafeteria. Snack registration happens at the beginning of the school year and is valid the whole year. A hearty lunch awaits them from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. The three-option lunch menu includes one vegetarian meal, various side dishes, and a salad bar. Registration for lunch is not necessary. Receipts for the meals can be requested at the school office. Supper is served between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm and does not require any registration, either.

Tutoring

After finishing school for the day, all students can benefit from free tutoring in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and French, once a week.

Games and school teams

“Games” (sports) take place twice a week in the afternoon. Whereas Games are mandatory for boarding school students, day school students can participate voluntarily. They can choose regional sports like ice hockey, skiing and snowboarding, or participate in typical English sport activities like cricket, rugby and Eton fives. Day students are also welcomed to join school team sport events. Those include longer trips, which also provide opportunities to experience new cultures.

Community weekends

There are about 12 Community Weekends every school year. Students can choose from a variety of athletic activities or cultural excursions. Day students are warmly welcomed.

Media library

A full learning experience requires a wide range of high-quality media. The comprehensive media library at Lyceum Alpinum consists of over 16,500 digital and physical media items. Those include English and German non-fiction titles, a wide range of fiction in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Romansch as well as films, magazines and newspapers. Furthermore, there are workstations equipped with computers and Wi-Fi access.

Items can be borrowed free of charge, and the media library is open during school hours. More information about the Media Centre as well as links to online media and research portals can be found here.

Career and college counselling

Students have free access to personalised consultation for their school, college and career questions. In addition, there are regular events with universities and alumni, which present a wide range of career and study opportunities. With additional support from Graubünden middle school and ISCO International’s career counselling, all students receive excellent preparation for university as well as personal consultation concerning their talents and possible career paths.

Language diploma / language course

According to our Swiss Matura curriculum, boarding and day students are prepared for the following language certificates:

Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) C1 (mandatory for Matura department)
Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE) B2
Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri (PLIDA) C1
Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française (DELF) B1+/B2
Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE) A2/B1

From 1^th resp. 4^th grade on, we also offer Mandarin as well as Latin and Spanish as language options.

School supplies

Our school shop offers students everything for their daily needs from pens and pencils to printer cartridges and USB flash drives. We have a wide range of products, on-site or ready to be ordered.

Downloads

School Calendar 2025/2026

1st Grade Entrance Exam Brochure (in German)

1st Grade Entrance Exam Registration Form (in German)

3rd Grade Entrance Exam Brochure (in German)

3rd Grade Entrance Exam Registration Form (in German)

Facts & Figures 2024/25 Day School

Day School Registration Form

Contact

Janine Stupan

Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz
CH-7524 Zuoz, Switzerland

T +41 81 851 30 22

janine.stupan@lyceum-alpinum.ch

Would you like more information about day school, the Matura or our curriculum? We would be happy to assist you as well as provide consultation about the entrance examination and preparation courses. You can reach us by phone or email.

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