City as campus
Life at ISSH extends far beyond the classroom as the city itself becomes part of the learning experience. Join a local football team and stay active while practising your German. Take painting classes with Swiss artists to spark your creativity. Or dive into the region’s culture through festivals and community events. Every day offers new opportunities to explore, connect, and grow.
Start your morning with breakfast alongside housemates before hopping on the shuttle to school. Schaffhausen’s compact size makes it easy to get around on foot or by public transport, while offering all the amenities of a larger city right on the banks of the beautiful Rhine River. Regular trips to Zurich or Basel add excitement to weekends, while the safe and welcoming environment allows students to explore with confidence and develop independence through real-world experiences.
Beyond Academics: Community, Independence, and Swiss Life
Weekends
In the ISSH boarding house
Weekends offer a time for rest, recharging, and responsibilities. Students enjoy a more relaxed daily rhythm with time to sleep in, and the chance to structure much of their time as they wish. Saturdays begin with room cleaning; each student is responsible for their own personal space. With their rooms shipshape, boarding students are free to sign out of the boarding houses and enjoy all that Swiss weekend life has to offer.
With a population just under 40,000, Schaffhausen combines small-town safety with surprising cosmopolitan character.
Home to many international companies, the city boasts a diverse population from many countries and cultures. Schaffhausen offers an impressive range of recreational opportunities from handball teams and martial arts studios, to archery clubs, providing the diversity of activities found in much larger cities with the safety and community feel of a small Swiss town.
We actively support and encourage students to form meaningful connections with the local community through participation in clubs and sports teams. This engagement not only enriches their international boarding school experience but also provides valuable opportunities to practise German language skills in authentic settings, an invaluable aspect of attending boarding school in Switzerland.
