Mathematics, Physics Summer Programme in Switzerland

Course Description: Mathematics, Physics Summer Programme in Switzerland

🎓 Course Overview

This two-week summer programme, "Think Like an EPFL Engineer", helps students aged 14 to 17 consolidate the fundamentals of mathematics and physics with professional engineers from EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. Taught in English or French, it combines rigorous morning revision with a guided visit to EPFL's laboratories and research facilities, and afternoons of sport, outdoor adventure and excursions at a small international boarding school above Lake Geneva.

📚 Academic Content

The morning learning programme runs from 09:15 to 13:15 (around 20 hours of courses a week), in small groups.

Mathematics

• Algebra: consolidating core techniques and problem-solving.

• Geometry: strengthening reasoning and the foundations needed for further study.

Physics

• Mechanics: forces and motion, applied to real engineering problems.

• Energy: the principles behind how energy is stored, transferred and used.

Thinking Like an Engineer

Beyond the syllabus, the course builds independent learning, critical thinking and teamwork. Teaching is led by professional engineers from EPFL, and the programme includes a guided visit to EPFL's laboratories and engineering projects, giving students a first-hand look at one of Europe's leading technical universities.

📍 Campus & Location

The camp takes place at a family-run, year-round international boarding school founded in 1966 in Blonay, in the canton of Vaud. The campus overlooks Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps, close to Vevey, Montreux and Lausanne, with easy access to the rest of French-speaking Switzerland. The summer camp is deliberately small, welcoming around 65 students from all over the world, which keeps the atmosphere personal and family-like. The school holds the Swiss Made label and is a member of the Swiss and Vaud private-school federations (FSEP and AVDEP).

🏫 Accommodation & Meals

Campers live in the school's boarding house, in rooms shared by two or three students, with separate living areas for boys and girls. Full board is provided: breakfast, lunch and dinner are balanced, home-style meals prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Day students take lunch and, on the full-day option, dinner at school.

🚌 Excursions & Activities

Afternoons, evenings and weekends are packed with activities and excursions, all included in the boarding fee:

• Adventure & discovery: lake and mountain adventures by scooter and bike, an outdoor camping experience, sunrise and sunset forest hikes, sleeping under the stars, trips to major Swiss cities and heritage visits such as the salt mines, a chocolate factory and caves.

• Europa-Park: a two-day trip to the theme park in Germany.

• Sport: aquapark visits, kayak, paddle and sailing, self-defence and fitness, ropes park, archery and climbing, football, basketball, volleyball and tennis.

• Arts & creativity: cooking and baking, painting, arts and crafts, dance and music, and 3D printing.

• Evenings: games, workshops, picnics and social events.

Optional professional sport academies, run with local clubs, are available at all levels in football, basketball, tennis, ice hockey, golf and horse riding, and can be combined with the morning programme.

⏰ A Day in the Life

A typical day (subject to change):

• 08:00 — Wake up and breakfast

• 09:15 — Morning learning programme

• 13:15 — Lunch

• 14:30 — Afternoon activities: sports, academies, outdoor adventures and excursions

• 19:15 — Dinner

• 20:30 — Evening activities: games, workshops and social events

• 22:00 — Lights out (depending on age)

2027 Dates & Fees 📅

This is a two-week programme, available within the window from Sunday 27 June to Sunday 18 July 2027. Fees are quoted in Swiss francs (CHF):

• 27 June – 11 July 2027 — 2 weeks — Boarding CHF 4,950 — Full-day CHF 3,200

• 4 July – 18 July 2027 — 2 weeks — Boarding CHF 4,950 — Full-day CHF 3,200

The boarding fee of CHF 4,950 for two weeks is all-inclusive. Students may extend their stay on the general summer camp programme (up to five weeks in total between 27 June and 1 August).

Day camp: a full-day option (08:45–21:45, with lessons, lunch, dinner, activities and excursions) costs CHF 1,600 per week, and a half-day option (lessons and lunch, 08:45–13:45, no activities) costs CHF 1,100 per week. Day students pay CHF 200 for return airport transfers and CHF 300 for the Europa-Park trip if required.

Sport academies (per week): football, basketball, half-day tennis or horse riding +CHF 600; ice hockey, full-day tennis or golf +CHF 800.

Payment: a non-refundable first payment of CHF 800 secures the place, and the balance is due at least 30 days before arrival (in full at registration if booking later). Written cancellations more than 60 days before arrival are refunded except for the first payment; between 31 and 60 days, 50% of programme fees are refunded; within 30 days there is no refund. If a visa is refused, all sums except the first payment are refunded on presentation of the official refusal. Prices are published as indicative.

✔️ What's Included

For boarders: courses and materials (20 hours a week), full board, 24/7 supervision, all activities and excursions, two days at Europa-Park, and airport transfers (08:00–18:00).

Not included: medical insurance (CHF 8 per day), sport academies, and for day students, airport transfers and the Europa-Park trip.

🛡️ Safety & Welfare

The school is run by its founding family, who live on site together with the educational team, providing attentive supervision around the clock. A school health supervisor is on site and a permanent night watch is in place. Boys and girls have separate living areas, and screen time is deliberately limited so that students spend more time on sport, arts, the outdoors and making friends. With only around 65 campers, staff know every student personally and offer individual support.

💡 Who This Programme Is For

This programme suits motivated students aged 14 to 17 who want to strengthen their maths and physics before the new school year, are curious about engineering or science degrees, and would enjoy meeting EPFL engineers and seeing real research labs, all balanced with an active, international summer in Switzerland.

Chantemerle International School — Google Maps ↗

Chem. de Chantemerle 7, 1807 Blonay, Switzerland Google Maps ↗