At Haut-Lac, our Swiss boarding school pairs the warmth of a close-knit family with the resources of a leading IB school in the canton of Vaud.
With up to 40 boarders aged 11-18 in a 600-student school, every student is known by name. By their house parents who provide 24/7 care. By their friends. By their teachers. And by their excellent IB results too.
Think bilingual English-French or English-only tuition, full IB programmes, modern facilities, and over 150 after-school clubs in one of Europe’s most stunning settings, between the Swiss Alps and Lake Geneva.
It’s our home away from home for full and weekly boarders aged 11 to 18 from international and expat families. Accredited by the BSA, SGIS and CIS.
With over 30 years’ experience, our academic and boarding house teams ensure Haut-Lac boarders make the most of their studies and time in Switzerland.
They do so through high-quality academic lessons, followed by diverse after-school activity clubs, supervised evening study sessions, and relaxing downtime before bed.
| MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:10 - 8:30 | HOMEROOM / DAILY REGISTRATION | ||||
| 8:30 - 9:20 | Science | Computer Science | Tutor time | Drama / German / Spanish | Maths |
| 9:20 - 10:10 | Music | Science | English | Computer science | French |
| 10:10 - 10:30 | BREAK | BREAK | |||
| 10:30 - 11:00 | Geography | French | French | Technology | |
| 11:00 - 12:10 | Maths | Drama / German / Spanish | Maths | Science | Geography / History |
| 12:10 - 13:10 | French | Geography / History | Technology | Geography / History | LUNCH |
| 13:10 - 13:50 | LUNCH | Technology | LUNCH | Sciences | |
| 13:50 - 14:40 | Technologies art | Sport | LUNCH | Maths | English |
| 14:40 - 15:30 | Dance / Music | Sport | CLUBS / STUDY SUPERVISION |
||
| 15:30 - 17:00 | CLUBS / STUDY SUPERVISION | CLUBS / STUDY SUPERVISION | |||
| 17:00 - 18:00 | |||||
Haut-Lac earns its reputation as one of the best boarding schools in Switzerland through the progress students make every day: academically, personally, and socially.
Our graduates achieve an average IB score of 35 points and a 98–100% pass rate, which places them among the top performers in Swiss international education.
Life at the Haut-Lac Boarding House is a family-oriented.
When not at school or doing homework, Haut-Lac boarders can be found enjoying activities and trips with their extended boarding family.
are about study and being with friends. Once homework is done, boarders hang out together over a game of pool, some karaoke, a film and popcorn, or a bowl of cereal before bed.
are about adventure, fun, exploration and meeting up with friends.
Our Enrichment Programme includes regular trips to cities in Switzerland, Italy and France, plus activities like white water rafting, high-ropes courses, skiing and paddle boarding.
When they’re not on organised trips, boarders often meet up with friends in Vevey or Montreux for the afternoon.
see boarders sign up for city trips across Europe. Recent destinations have included Venice, Milan, Turin, Aosta and Germany.
Haut-Lac boarding students enjoy a warm, supportive environment where they can be themselves and take on new challenges that build confidence, resilience, and friendships.
They are guaranteed:
As a Swiss international boarding school, we understand that choosing the right boarding family for your child is a difficult decision.
They need a home away from home.
A place where the habits of home are woven into daily activities; their life milestones are celebrated; their achievements are recognised; and where they are sure to find a friendly face at the end of the academic day.
They need a home led by parents like their own. Parents who care and provide them with a welcoming, structured environment in which to develop their independence. Parents who are there to listen, encourage, and support them on their individual path.
As one of the best international boarding schools in Switzerland, we prioritise student learning and well-being.
Browse our school blog to see how Haut-Lac boarding students develop valuable life skills and create lifelong memories.
Consult our FAQs for more on boarding in Switzerland for international students, what makes our Swiss Boarding School unique, and the cost of boarding and studying in Switzerland.
The top boarding schools in Switzerland each have something different to offer.
Academic programmes, extra-curricular activities, staff experience, and the international makeup of the community are all worth looking into.
Ultimately, the right choice comes down to what matters most to your child.
Every Swiss boarding school has its own admissions process, so it’s worth starting early. As a general rule, applying a year or two in advance gives you plenty of time.
At Haut-Lac, we encourage families to visit to get a real feel for the school and ask the questions that matter before starting the paperwork.
If your child currently lives outside the EU/EEA, you’ll need to factor in extra time for the visa process too.
Yes, we offer both options.
Boarders can choose to stay at the Boarding House 7 days a week or 5 days a week.
We also provide termly boarding for students who wish to spend a term studying abroad at Haut-Lac in Switzerland.
Every boarding school in Switzerland sets its own fees based on its programmes and boarding arrangements.
At Haut-Lac, the annual boarding and tuition fees for 7-day boarders range from CHF 86,000 to CHF 88,000, depending on the class.
The annual boarding and tuition fees for 5-day boarders range from CHF 68,000 to CHF 71,400, depending on the class.
Contact [email protected] for a personalised quote.
To enroll in one of the best private boarding schools in Switzerland, it is important to start the process up to 2 years before the desired start date.
Each Swiss boarding school has a unique application process, and if you are an international family, you may need to allow extra time for visa applications.
Yes. The school’s admissions team provides boarding students with all the necessary paperwork, which they must complete and sign before submitting to the Swiss embassy in their home country.
Boarding students typically stay in twin bedrooms with en-suite facilities and an enclosed balcony.
Our boarding community brings together students from across the globe, and that diversity is one of the things that makes the experience so valuable. Living alongside peers from different backgrounds builds the kind of cross-cultural understanding that stays with you long after school.
Since 2022, we have welcomed boarders from France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Hungary, Belarus, the United States, Mexico, Singapore, China, Japan, and Mozambique.
To keep the community balanced, no single nationality makes up more than 10% of the Boarding House.
The best international boarding schools in Switzerland shape students in and out of the classroom. At Haut-Lac, that means academic challenge alongside real personal growth in confidence, independence and cultural awareness
All top boarding schools in Switzerland require a certain financial investment. At Haut-Lac, we direct this investment toward the future by helping the next generation forge valuable skills for a better tomorrow. We guide our students in finding purpose and developing their own unique academic and personal talents.
At Haut-Lac, we accept boarding students aged 11 to 18 who wish to follow the renowned International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP), International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) or a US High School Diploma at a boarding school in Switzerland.
Like the day students at Haut-Lac, boarding students can choose from over 150 sporting, creative, linguistic and cultural after-school clubs. Registration for these activities takes place at the end of one term for the following term.
Haut-Lac boarding students also enjoy a diverse weekend activities, tailored to the season and the length of the weekend. For example, they ski and ice-skate in winter, go paddle-boarding and swimming in summer, enjoy local favourites such as Adventure Park, Laser Game, mountain hiking and Swiss city exploring at other times.
With students from over 64 nationalities, Haut-Lac is one of the most internationally diverse day and boarding schools in the Lake Geneva region.
Discover what our students and parents have to say about their experience at Haut-Lac, and how our international community helps every learner grow with confidence and curiosity.
Living at the boarding house has allowed me to become more independent and responsible. The friendships I’ve made here will last a lifetime.
I will remember boarding by the individuals that helped shape this place. The boarding parents, the boarding students, the cleaners, and the cooks. Regardless of the ups and downs, it’s a place I’m proud to have called home.
I think boarding helped me a lot with the overall school experience. I feel like I’m a whole different person to when I first came here in 2023 and now I’m graduating in 2025. I feel like a whole new person and yeah it was great and I will miss it so much.
Haut Lac is a wonderful school. Our son was very happy and learned a lot. His international experience abroad was perfect. We thank all the members and teachers of Haut-Lac for this, without doubt all the wonderful memories will remain with him forever.
The people our daughter met there were so wonderful and it was hard to leave, so she would love to return someday.
Since leaving Haut-Lac in 2010 with 40 points in the IB, I have graduated university, done two more courses, and started my own business. Thank you Haut-Lac for giving me the foundations I needed to be where I am today!
“I love being a houseparent – it is a great responsibility looking after the students in the house, but it is also a great privilege to play such an important role in their lives during their formative years. There is never a dull moment!”
“Being a houseparent is like having a huge extended family, which I love. Getting to know the boarders and supporting them is not only a great responsibility but also a privilege. Life in a boarding house is great fun, every day is full of surprises and no two days are the same!”
Daniel brings enthusiasm and a passion for active living to the Haut-Lac Boarding House. A keen sportsman from Spain with a particular love for football, he thrives in the outdoors and has travelled extensively.
With degrees in Sports Science and Secondary Education, Daniel has worked on numerous projects with young people and teenagers.
He understands how to motivate students and build their confidence. Whether organising weekend sports or encouraging students to try something new, he creates an energetic, supportive environment where everyone feels inspired to get involved.
With an international upbringing, Marta understands first-hand what it’s like to live in different cultures and uses that knowledge to create an inclusive, welcoming environment for every student.
She’s an expert at balancing fun with safety so that every evening activity, weekend adventure and cultural trip is both meaningful and memorable.
