Cities / Munich / Munich International School
Munich International School
The largest and best-known international school in the Munich area, founded 1966 on a 55-acre lakeside estate at Schloss Buchhof in Starnberg. Full IB continuum for around 1,300 students.
In brief
The largest and best-known international school in the Munich area, founded 1966 and set on a 55-acre lakeside estate at Schloss Buchhof in Starnberg/Percha. Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) for around 1,300 students.
MIS is CIS and NEASC accredited and has been an IB World School since 1980. The Class of 2023 hit a 100 percent IB Diploma pass rate; the Class of 2025 averaged 35 points with a 95 percent diploma rate. German is the compulsory second language. The campus, 20 km southwest of central Munich in a nature reserve, is genuinely a draw for families and a logistical commitment for those living in the city.
Families consistently describe a welcoming culture, strong relocation support from the school and the parent association (PTV), and high engagement from teachers. The campus, the facilities, and the breadth of programming are repeatedly cited. Upper-school fees push past 27,000 euros, and most central-Munich families ride the bus network the school operates.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| EC Morning (4-5 hrs/day) | 3 | €14,120 |
| EC Short Day (5-6 hrs/day) | 3 | €16,066 |
| EC Regular Day (6-7 hrs/day) | 3 | €18,013 |
| EC Extended Day (7-8 hrs/day) | 3 | €20,841 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | €19,002 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | €19,002 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | €19,002 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | €19,002 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | €21,744 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | €21,744 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | €21,744 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | €21,744 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | €23,863 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | €27,218 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | €27,218 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | €28,659 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | €343 | |
| Registration Fee | €2,100 | |
| Entrance Fee (Year 1) | €9,788 |
Reviews
- The school is the IB choice of much of Munich's senior expat workforce, with parents and Reddit calling out the campus, the lake-edge setting and the IB programme.
- One parent described MIS as their child's favourite school across several moves; an MIS staff commenter said the school is "great, not perfect but no school is" and that pupils are set up for success.
- IB Diploma results are consistently strong: a 100% pass rate for the Class of 2023 and a 35-point Diploma average for 2025, well above the world average.
- Cost is the dominant criticism. Parents repeatedly call MIS very expensive and say the fees only make sense with employer support.
- Location at Schloss Buchhof in Starnberg is described as beautiful but tricky to reach by public transport. The school's bus network and parking come up as the practical workaround.
- Parents note the intake mixes international staff families with affluent local German families.
Positives
- IB programme and outcomes. Strong Diploma results and a near-universal full-Diploma pathway.
- Setting and facilities. Lake Starnberg campus and Schloss Buchhof routinely praised.
Considerations
- Cost. Fees of around EUR 20-30k per year are a recurring barrier without employer relocation support.
- Commute. Limited public transport links from central Munich; school bus network and parking compensate.
- Intake mix. Mix of multinational expat families and wealthy local Germans.
Leadership
Mr. Timothy Thomas
Timothy Thomas has been a teacher and school leader in international schools in Germany for over two decades. He studied linguistics, history, and education in the U.S., Great Britain, and Germany. He holds an M.A. in German Language and Literature and a M.A.Ed. from Washington University. Previously, he held leadership roles at Dresden International School before joining Munich International School as Deputy Head in 2013 and becoming Head of School in 2015. He is an Executive Board Member of the Association of German International Schools (AGIS) and holds the Grosses deutsches Sprachdiplom (C2). He is set to transition from his role in 2026 to pursue a PhD in Education Management.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 02
Academic results
- IB Diploma average (2025) 35 points
- IB pass rate (2025) 95%