Geneva · Schools
Italian in Geneva’s collèges and schools
Where Italian is taught in Geneva, from the cycle d’orientation to the maturité, based on what the canton and the schools publish.
At a glance
| School | Italian |
|---|---|
| Cycle d’orientation | Free optional course, by enrolment, outside the regular timetable. |
| Collège de Genève | Second national language, as an alternative to German, or third language. |
| Collège Sismondi | The only collège offering the Italian specific option for the 2026 school year. |
| École de culture générale | One of the languages to choose from, depending on the course. |
| École de commerce | Italian or German, in addition to English, depending on the course. |
| Ecolint | Italian in the International Baccalaureate Diploma. |
At the cycle d’orientation
An optional Italian course is offered outside the regular timetable. It is free and open to students by enrolment. It is not graded on the school report: regular attendees receive a certificate at the end of the course.
Deadlines and host schools change from year to year: check them on the canton’s page.
At the Collège de Genève
On entering the collège, each student chooses a second national language, German or Italian, then a third language: the national language not chosen, English or Latin. As a core subject, Italian takes 4, 3, 3 and then 3 periods a week, from year 1 to year 4.
The Italian specific option
It adds one more language to the student’s profile, with 4, 4, 4 and then 5 periods a week. The canton presents it as a major asset in Switzerland, with possible exchanges in Ticino. For the 2026 school year, only the Collège Sismondi offers it. Options are shared out among the schools and whether they run can depend on enrolment.
The bilingual maturité in Italian
From the 2027 school year, the bilingual maturité through a stay abroad will also be possible in Italian, at all the schools, with a B2 target level.
Geneva’s 10 collèges
- Collège André-Chavanne
- Collège Calvin
- Collège de Candolle
- Collège Claparède
- Collège Emilie-Gourd
- Collège Madame de Staël
- Collège Rousseau
- Collège de Saussure
- Collège SismondiItalian specific option, 2026 school year
- Collège Voltaire
We have not found an official list showing, school by school, which Italian classes run as a second or third language. For enrolment, check with the school.
At other schools
École de culture générale
Italian is one of the languages to choose from, with German and English, depending on the course.
École de commerce
On full-time courses, English is compulsory and students choose German or Italian, depending on the course.
Ecolint
Italian is part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The Campus des Nations offers Italian B at higher and standard level, and Italian ab initio. La Grande Boissière offers Italian ab initio at standard level for 2026-2027. The World Languages Programme also includes Italian, in the curriculum or as an extracurricular activity.
Other private schools in Geneva may offer Italian: ask them directly.
Give the school, the year group and the date of the next test in your request: the lesson can start from what is expected in class.
These schools are mentioned as points of reference, based on their own publications or those of the canton. Professor+ has no formal link with them.
Sources and reference points
Sources and access dates below.
- Collège de Genève — Nos écolesAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- République et canton de Genève — Brochure du Collège de Genève, rentrée 2026Accessed on 5 November 2026.
- République et canton de Genève — Répartition des options spécifiques et des filières du Collège de GenèveAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- République et canton de Genève — Options spécifiques du Collège de GenèveAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- République et canton de Genève — Nouvelle maturité genevoiseAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- Cycle d’orientation — Cours facultatif d’italienAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- République et canton de Genève — École de culture généraleAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- Enseignement secondaire II — Brochure « Concrétisez vos projets »Accessed on 5 November 2026.
- International School of Geneva (Ecolint) — Campus des NationsAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- International School of Geneva (Ecolint) — La Grande BoissièreAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- International School of Geneva (Ecolint) — World Languages ProgrammeAccessed on 5 November 2026.