A European School (Schola Europaea) is an educational institution established and accredited to provide a multilingual and multicultural education primarily to the children of employees of EU institutions. European Schools prioritize the enrollment of EU staff children and offer a unique curriculum that culminates in the European Baccalaureate, a qualification recognized across the EU.

Importantly, staff of EU institutions do not have to pay a school fee for their children. This is one of the key advantages of working for the EU institutions. However, European Schools can and do charge substantial fees for catering, transportation, and extracurricular activities.

Most geographic locations where there are large EU institutions have a European School. In locations where a European School is not available, employees of EU institutions receive a double Education allowance to cover tuition in private schools.

The European Schools are not part of the “EU system” of institutions, however, they are jointly controlled by the European Commission and the EU member states. The daily affairs are managed by the Office of the Secretary-General of the European Schools.

List of locations with an Accredited European School

Article on the Education allowance