Key takeaways
- Thailand had 280 international schools in 2026, more than 45% of them in Bangkok.
- Average Bangkok tuition is about THB 839,000 a year for 2026/27, before registration and other fees.
- British, American and IB curricula are all widely available.
- Apply 9 to 12 months ahead where possible.
Thailand has one of the largest international school markets in Asia. According to Kasikorn Research, there are 280 international schools in Thailand in 2026, teaching about 86,000 students, and more than 45% of them are in Bangkok (The Nation, October 2026). For expat families, the choice comes down to four things: curriculum, location, fees and whether your child can get a place.
This guide compares well-known international schools in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Koh Samui, with 2026/27 tuition fees, the extra costs schools charge on top, and how admissions work.
International schools in Thailand at a glance
- Number of schools: 280 in 2026, up from 234 in 2022.
- Average Bangkok tuition: about THB 839,000 a year for 2026/27, around 5% more than 2025/26 (Kasikorn Research).
- Typical tuition range: about THB 260,000 a year at the more affordable schools to over THB 1,200,000 for the final years at top Bangkok schools.
- Main curricula: British (IGCSE and A-Level), American (US diploma and AP) and the International Baccalaureate (IB).
- Regulator: the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC), part of the Ministry of Education.
- First international school: International School Bangkok (ISB), founded in 1951.
How international schools in Thailand are regulated and accredited
International schools in Thailand are licensed by the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC) under the Ministry of Education. A newly licensed school must join an accreditation body recognised by OPEC within one year and complete a full accreditation visit within five years. Schools that only teach pre-primary children are exempt (Chambers and Partners).
Recognised accreditors include WASC, CIS, NEASC, COBIS, Cognia and MSA-CESS. Schools are also assessed by Thailand’s Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA). When you shortlist schools, ask which body accredits them and when their last visit took place. The International Schools Association of Thailand (ISAT) is a membership association, not an accreditor.
Curricula: British, American or IB?
British curriculum
Most international schools in Thailand follow the National Curriculum for England. Children start in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), take IGCSEs at about 16 and A-Levels at 18. Schools include Bangkok Patana, Shrewsbury, Harrow, Brighton College, Wellington College, Traill, HeadStart Phuket and Regents Pattaya. British schools usually place children by a 1 September to 31 August birthday cut-off.
American curriculum
American schools follow US grade levels from Pre-K to Grade 12 and award a US high school diploma, often with Advanced Placement (AP) courses. International School Bangkok, Ruamrudee International School and Wells International School teach an American programme, and some also offer the IB Diploma.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
The IB has three stages: the Primary Years Programme (PYP, ages 3 to 12), the Middle Years Programme (MYP, ages 11 to 16) and the Diploma Programme (DP, ages 16 to 19). NIST International School describes itself as Thailand’s first full IB World School. KIS International School and Concordian International School also teach the IB from early years.
Other curricula
There are also Singapore-curriculum schools (such as SISB), Finnish early-years schools, and national schools for German, French and Japanese families.
International school fees in Thailand 2026/27
The following table lists annual tuition for day students, from the youngest year group to the most expensive year. Fees are from school fee pages or the International Schools Database and Thaiger school guides, checked in October 2026. Fees change every year, so confirm the current figures with each school before you apply.
| School | City | Curriculum | Annual tuition (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| International School Bangkok (ISB) | Bangkok (Nonthaburi) | American + IB DP | 659,000 to 1,197,000 |
| NIST International School | Bangkok | IB (PYP, MYP, DP) | 650,200 to 1,132,800 |
| Bangkok Patana School | Bangkok | British + IB DP | 515,000 to 1,014,000 |
| Shrewsbury International School | Bangkok | British | 696,300 to 1,256,700 |
| Wellington College International School | Bangkok | British | 639,250 to 1,283,500 |
| Harrow International School | Bangkok | British (boarding available) | 571,100 to 1,063,000 |
| Brighton College Bangkok | Bangkok | British | 609,200 to 1,050,500 |
| KIS International School | Bangkok | IB | 459,800 to 984,700 |
| Concordian International School | Bangkok | IB | 646,200 to 993,300 |
| Ruamrudee International School | Bangkok | American, IB, AP | 538,400 to 790,500 |
| St Andrews International School Sukhumvit 107 | Bangkok | British + IB DP | 580,500 to 799,000 |
| Traill International School | Bangkok | British | 408,300 to 615,150 |
| Wells International School | Bangkok | American + IB | 259,000 to 570,000 |
| British International School Phuket (BISP) | Phuket | British + IB | 489,000 to 982,700 |
| HeadStart International School | Phuket | British (IGCSE, A-Level) | 347,000 to 540,000 |
| UWC Thailand | Phuket | IB | 345,000 to 933,000 |
| Prem Tinsulanonda International School | Chiang Mai | IB | 416,000 to 814,000 |
| Lanna International School | Chiang Mai | British and international | 423,400 to 813,400 |
| Regents International School Pattaya | Pattaya | British + IB DP | 440,800 to 854,050 |
| Garden International School | Rayong | British + IB | 268,500 to 609,800 |
| Hua Hin International School | Hua Hin | IB + British | 603,150 to 740,550 |
| International School of Samui | Koh Samui | British | 456,252 to 649,514 |
Sources: ISB fees, Bangkok Patana admissions, International Schools Database and Thaiger. UWC Thailand says its fees include trips and camps.
Extra costs on top of tuition
Tuition is only part of the cost. Most schools also charge:
- Application fee: usually THB 4,000 to 8,000, sometimes with a separate assessment fee.
- Registration or enrolment fee: a one-off, non-refundable fee. Top Bangkok schools charge about THB 200,000 to 265,000 (for example ISB 260,000 and NIST 265,000). Schools outside Bangkok usually charge THB 60,000 to 200,000.
- Capital or development fund: some schools ask for a large refundable deposit or an annual fee instead. NIST, for example, offers a refundable THB 575,000 Campus Development Fee or THB 60,500 a year.
- Refundable deposit or bond: often THB 50,000 to 225,000.
- School bus: ISB charges THB 111,300 to 178,000 a year depending on distance; schools in Phuket typically charge THB 40,000 to 80,000.
- Lunches, uniforms, devices, trips and exam fees: often THB 30,000 to 70,000 a year.
As a rule of thumb, budget 15 to 20% above headline tuition, plus the one-off registration fee in the first year. Ask about sibling discounts: some schools, such as BISP, give 5% to 30% off for second and later children.
International schools in Thailand that offer the IB Diploma
About 31 schools in Thailand offer the IB Diploma Programme. Well-established IB Diploma schools include:
- Bangkok: International School Bangkok (since 1984), NIST, Bangkok Patana, KIS (both campuses), St Andrews Sukhumvit 107 and Dulwich College Bangkok.
- Phuket: UWC Thailand and British International School Phuket.
- Chiang Mai: Prem Tinsulanonda International School and Panyaden International School.
- Eastern Seaboard and Hua Hin: Regents International School Pattaya, Garden International School Rayong, International School Eastern Seaboard, St Andrews Green Valley, Wells International School Chonburi and Hua Hin International School.
International schools by city
Bangkok
Bangkok has the widest choice and the highest fees. Most schools are clustered in Sukhumvit, Bang Na and Samut Prakan, and around Nonthaburi and Ramkhamhaeng. Traffic is a real factor, so many families choose a school first and then rent nearby. For neighbourhood ideas, see the best areas to live in Bangkok.
Phuket
Phuket’s main international schools are BISP, HeadStart, UWC Thailand and the new Glenalmond Phuket at Thanyapura. Fees are lower than at the top Bangkok schools, but living costs on the island are close to Bangkok’s.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai offers IB schools such as Prem Tinsulanonda and Panyaden alongside Lanna International School, with a lower overall cost of living than Bangkok or Phuket.
Pattaya, Rayong and Chonburi
The Eastern Seaboard has Regents Pattaya (with boarding), Garden International School in Rayong, International School Eastern Seaboard and St Andrews Green Valley. Highgate International School Thailand opened in Chonburi in 2026.
Hua Hin and Koh Samui
Smaller towns have fewer options: Hua Hin International School teaches the IB and British curricula, and the International School of Samui follows the British curriculum.
More affordable international schools
If the top-tier fees are out of reach, several accredited schools charge considerably less. Examples from the 2026/27 table include Wells International School in Bangkok (from THB 259,000), Garden International School in Rayong (from THB 268,500), HeadStart in Phuket (from THB 347,000) and Traill in Bangkok (from THB 408,300). Lower fees can mean larger classes or fewer facilities, so visit the school and ask about class sizes, teacher qualifications and accreditation.
Preschool, primary and secondary
Many international schools take children from age 2 (Nursery), and early years are usually the cheapest year. Fees rise steeply in secondary school: the final two years (IB Diploma or A-Level) often cost 1.6 to 2 times the nursery fee at the same school. For younger children, see our guide to choosing a preschool in Thailand. For older students planning ahead, see the best universities in Thailand.
New international schools opening in 2026
Several schools opened in August 2026, including Dulwich College Bangkok (Prawet, British and IB), Wycombe Abbey International School Bangkok (Samut Prakan), Highgate International School Thailand (Chonburi), Glenalmond Phuket and Middleton in Pinklao. Brighton College opened a second Bangkok campus at Vibhavadi in August 2025. New schools can be easier to get into, but have no exam results history yet.
How to apply to an international school in Thailand
- Shortlist schools by curriculum, location and budget, and check accreditation.
- Apply online and pay the application fee. Most schools ask for two years of school reports, the child’s birth certificate, passports for the child and parents, photos and a teacher recommendation.
- Complete the assessment or interview. Younger children are usually observed; older children often take English and maths tests. Some schools charge extra for English as an Additional Language (EAL) support.
- Accept the offer and pay the registration fee, usually within days.
- Arrange a visa: non-Thai students need a valid non-immigrant visa.
Apply 9 to 12 months ahead where you can. Popular schools such as Bangkok Patana use waiting pools and give priority to siblings, and many year groups for 2026/27 filled early. Bangkok Patana opened applications for 2027/28 on 1 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What was the first international school in Thailand?
International School Bangkok (ISB) was the first. It was founded in 1951 as the International Children’s Center on the grounds of the US Embassy, and it is also the oldest international school still operating in Thailand.
How much do international schools in Thailand cost?
Annual tuition ranges from about THB 260,000 at more affordable schools to over THB 1.2 million for the final years at top Bangkok schools. The average in Bangkok for 2026/27 is about THB 839,000, before registration fees and other extras.
Which international schools in Thailand offer the IB?
About 31 schools offer the IB Diploma, including ISB, NIST, Bangkok Patana, KIS, St Andrews Sukhumvit 107, UWC Thailand, BISP, Prem Tinsulanonda and Regents Pattaya. NIST, KIS and Concordian teach the full IB programme from early years.
Can expat children attend Thai government schools?
Yes, but lessons are taught in Thai, so most expat families choose an international or bilingual school.
When should I apply?
Ideally 9 to 12 months before your child starts. Some schools take rolling applications for families moving to Thailand, but the most popular year groups fill early.
This guide was compiled from school fee pages, the International Schools Database, Thaiger and Kasikorn Research, and checked in October 2026. Fees and policies change every year, so always confirm details directly with the school.
