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Best 10 International Schools in Istanbul

International Education in Istanbul

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Istanbul is Turkey’s biggest city, and arguably its most diverse too. A literal land bridge between Europe and the Middle East, this city is a true melting pot and no stranger to expat communities. Although it has its challenges, living in Istanbul offers a truly unique experience for everyone.

One of the biggest challenges of Istanbul life is the language barrier. Since public schools in Istanbul teach through Turkish, many expats end up sending their children to an international school. Luckily, there is an impressive range to choose from; here’s what you need to know about them.

Although there are plenty of international schools in Istanbul, there is still a high demand for school places. Most schools are large, with several hundred or even 1000+ students. Class sizes remain small however, and native English-speaking teachers are very common.

The standard of education to expect is the same as international schools all over the world, and the same is true of school facilities. Most school campuses are large and have fantastic sports grounds, as well as extensive extra curricular activities.

The International Baccalaureate is the most common curriculum offered in Istanbul’s international schools. Following closely behind are the British and American curricula, but there is a wide choice of others too.

By attending an international school in Istanbul, your child will mix with lots of other international students. While some do offer a program for local students, the typical international school’s student body is largely made up of expat children.

International schools in Istanbul do help international children integrate into their new city, however. Turkish language lessons are commonly offered, and many schools organise cultural outings and events to help children get to know their new country and city.

Additional languages are also offered depending on the school. International schools with many students from the Middle East will teach Arabic. Similarly, schools with a largely European student body may teach French, German or other European languages.

Traffic congestion is a major issue in Istanbul. Unfortunately, commute times and location will be an important factor in your international school search. It’s best to choose a school in the same general area as your home, unless you want your child to spend hours of their free time stuck in traffic jams. On the plus side, most international schools in the city do provide a school bus service.

Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Istanbul according to our users. However, there are another 26 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Istanbul based on your requirements.

Best 10 International Schools in Istanbul

Out of a total of 36 International Schools in Istanbul.

Based on the aggregated preferences of our users in the last 30 days.

The British International STEAM School

STEAM is embedded at the school as a way of 'being', not an act of simply 'doing'. It is based on best practices related to both project and problem based learning, and focuses on concept and inquiry based learning. It is community based and provides opportunities for student agency. It promotes the individual as a learner in all aspects of life including social, emotional and intellectual. STEAM is focused on the process and skills of learning and what it means to be a learner in the real world. Through using the scientific, the engineering, and the creative process students not only successfully learn fundamental skills, in literacy, numeracy and knowledge of the world, they also explore bigger question thinking and address real world issues. These often connect with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, financial literacy, sustainability and what it means to be a global and a digital citizen. STEAM works to support students becoming successful, happy, caring, responsible, resilient, independent, empowered, and well-prepared members in our society.
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 11
Yearly fees - 2024/2025
from: 611,507TL
to: 1,408,008TL

The British International School Istanbul

The British International School Istanbul has a worldwide reputation for the education it provides. It is a leading private international School in Turkey, offering a modified English National Curriculum, IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The BIS is an academic school and it sends its graduates to universities throughout the world, predominantly to the UK and USA.
Curriculum
IB, British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2024/2025
from: 587,006TL
to: 1,494,646TL

Istanbul International Community School

Istanbul International Community School is an International Baccalaureate School in Istanbul. Founded in 1911 to educate the children of the Robert College faculty, the school has maintained a century-long tradition of academic excellence. IICS is an independent, co-educational day school, offering a full IB program from pre-kindergarten (ages 3) to grade 12 (ages 18) for international students (holders of non-Turkish passports).
Through its challenging curriculum and strong staff-student relationships, IICS provides a caring environment that inspires each student to excel and to be inquisitive, creative, compassionate, balanced, and internationally-minded.
IICS aims to be a top international school—not just in our region, but among the best international schools worldwide. To provide the best education to meet the needs of every learner is the target that directs all our planning and action as an educational institution. Every learner should be empowered.
Curriculum
IB
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2024/2025
from: 647,949TL
to: 1,337,578TL
Reviews
(5 reviews)

LWIS Istanbul International School

-Individualized care / Learning support / International programmes / World languages / Integration of technology / Robotics & AI (Coding) / IB PYP Qualified, native and native-like teachers (English language)
Curriculum
American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2024/2025
from: 250,309TL
to: 432,040TL
Reviews
(1 review)

Istanbul International School

Multi-cultural close-knit learning community. We care about our students' social, emotional and academic well being.
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
4 to 18
Yearly fees - 2024/2025
from: 559,475TL
to: 857,399TL
Reviews
(8 reviews)

BISI National School

The BISI National School is a division of “The British School İstanbul”. The British School İstanbul has been one of the leading educational institutions in the sector for 28 years and continues to have a global range of schools.
Curriculum
British, Turkish
Languages of instruction
English, Turkish
Ages
3 to 18
This school does not make their fees public.

NÛN Schools

NUN Schools are committed to providing an outstanding education to each student. The primary focus of NUN Schools is raising “good human beings”. We believe academic success is an asset only if the individual holds up the humanly values. NUN Schools aim to uphold these values in every aspect of education.
Curriculum
IB, Turkish
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
This school does not make their fees public.
Reviews
(1 review)

Brights International School of Istanbul

Brights International School of Istanbul is an international school situated in the area of Büyükçekmece west of Istanbul. Brights hosts the American Curriculum in alignment with the common core state standards. Brights offers Arabic and Turkish classes to all students. At Brights, students from all nationalities are welcome to enroll.
Curriculum
American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2024/2025
from: 138,119TL
to: 223,621TL
Reviews
(2 reviews)

Gokkusagi Schools

Gokkusagi Schools offer academically challenging and rewarding international programmes focusing on the cultivation of individual talents and social and emotional development.
Curriculum
IB, British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
This school does not make their fees public.
Reviews
(3 reviews)
Curriculum
IB, American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
This school does not make their fees public.
Reviews
(2 reviews)

Find the Best International School in Istanbul FOR YOU!

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