Boarding FAQ

We aim for our boarding students to be sociable, mature, and courteous students who enjoy being part of a unique boarding community that comprises more than 60 nationalities each year. We seek students who are motivated academically and who are ready to contribute to school life by taking an active approach to their learning and in their community.

Our dormitories mainly consist of double occupancy rooms ranging from en suite to shared bathrooms. We also have several larger spaces that host up to four residents with en suite facilities and room to make each space their own.

We allocate all students to dormitories and to rooms based on our extensive placement experience and on the educational interests of students. We try to ensure that students who speak the same native language are not placed in the same room (unless their native language is English).

While room assignment changes are generally not allowed, returning boarding students complete a questionnaire in May in which they have the option to request a roommate for the following year. (Note that these requests are not always granted.)

Study hours are strictly enforced from Sunday to Thursday evenings. Students in good academic standing must study in their assigned rooms, the library, or other designated areas approved by the dorm parent on duty. Students facing academic challenges will receive additional support from the dorm.

To maintain a focused environment, quiet must be observed during study hours, and movement between rooms is not permitted. Parents should also be aware that boarding students are not allowed to receive phone calls during this time.

Meals provide a valuable opportunity for our community to come together, as students, administrators, staff, faculty, and faculty children find time to relax and discuss their days. The majority of meals are buffet-style and are served in the historic Villa de Nobili, which also offers ample terrace seating that diners take advantage of all fall, spring, and summer.

Our talented Dining Services staff offers a wide variety of healthy, nutritious meals. A hot breakfast is offered each morning along with an assortment of cereal, yogurt, and fruit. Lunch and dinner feature hot and cold options, including vegetarian dishes and an extensive salad bar.

In addition to the main dining room, our student lounge (Convivio) sells an extensive range of snacks and drinks, and fresh fruit is available all day in the dormitories. There are also many popular local restaurants that deliver to the School.

Middle School boarding students also enjoy a family-style dinner once a week.

We offer a full boarding program, which includes many exciting weekend activities and trips that are designed to appeal to a wide variety of students. Examples include structured sports and activities on campus, adventure trips around Switzerland, and cultural visits to cities such as Lucerne, Milan, and Venice. Students may also propose their own activities to the Weekend Activities Coordinator.

Every boarding student without commitments to a varsity sport or arts performance is required to take part in at least one activity per month that falls into the white (snow sports), blue (cultural) or green (mountain/outdoor educations) category.

We expect students to take part in activities, as we believe that enjoying all that the surrounding area has to offer while having fun and memorable experiences is an integral part of boarding life at TASIS. Within the first few weeks of each academic year, all boarding students are required to take part in a weekend trip with their dorm.

On certain weekends, students may be permitted to check out from campus to see family or friends.

The exact check-in window within these times is determined and communicated by each dorm to their residents:

Boarding students are expected to observe the lights-out times and should not leave their dormitories before 6:00 AM. Students out of their dorms after check-in times are liable to severe disciplinary action, including the possibility of suspension or dismissal.

All students who meet the School’s other requirements (disciplinary, academic, and administrative) may travel when under appropriate adult supervision—provided that it is not a closed weekend at TASIS. Boarding students may leave campus on Friday after their last school obligation and must return by the first check-in on Sunday. They must meet the following conditions before they are granted permission to check out:

• Weekend travel requests are due on the Tuesday prior to the weekend of travel, before low lights. 
• The host assuming responsibility for the student must be 26 years old or older.
• Parental permission is required for all travel, whether supervised travel or independent travel.

During the week, students may check out only with their own parents.

Students are required to stay on campus during the academic day and through the end of
their after-school commitments. Students who need to leave campus for any reason must first come to the Residential Life Office.

The campus is closed during extended holidays and major Academic Travel sessions. Students may not be in the dormitories during these times.

Boarding students must attend all lessons and may leave on the designated date after their last lesson. Dormitories generally remain open for one day after the end of the final lesson or exam.

Boarding students must be back in their dormitories before early check-in on the day before classes begin.

The School coordinates all transportation from airports for Middle School students. High School boarding students must arrange for their own transportation from airports, which can be coordinated with help from Reception.

We recommend that boarding students have some pocket money available at all times. They can collect pocket money from the ATM on campus, and parents should ensure that their children’s accounts are maintained. The School provides individual safes in each room, as students are responsible for the safekeeping of their money.

There is a post office and a small market within a short walk from campus, and during the week students in grades 10-12 can visit downtown Lugano if they have no after-school obligations. Otherwise, Friday after school and Saturday are the popular days for students to visit the local shops in and around Lugano. There are many online shops also that our students use and have delivered to school.

Each student has a safe and a cupboard with a lock in his or her room. We recommend that students do not bring valuable items to school, but if they choose to do so, these items must be securely stored. Passports are kept in a locked cabinet in the Residential Life Office.

Yes, the School provides and washes all bedding, including sheets, blankets, and pillows. However, students are welcome to bring their own if they prefer.

A professional laundry service is available to all boarding students. Each dorm has a specific laundry cycle (assigned drop-off and pick-up day), and laundry is picked up and returned in less than a week. There are also two separate laundry facilities for students to use if they wish to do their own laundry for a minimal cost.

Yes, All boarding students are required to have a smartphone with 3G/4G/5G capabilities and must give their numbers to the school. The use of mobile phones is not permitted during meals, in class, during study hours, or after power down. (See the times listed in “When do I need to be in my dormitory?” section.)

Projectors and game consoles are not allowed in student rooms but may be used in common spaces on non-academic days. Computer towers are not allowed in the dorms at all.

Yes. There is a uniform, and students must follow the guidelines in the Middle School and High School Student Handbooks.