Guide
International schools in Phuket: fees, curricula and where families live
For families moving to Phuket, the school usually decides the house. This guide sets out the island's main international schools, what each one teaches, what the 2026-27 fees are, and which areas families choose around them.
Updated 27th October 2026 · 9 min read
The short answer
Phuket has more than 20 international schools and kindergartens. This guide looks in detail at the seven larger schools that take children from the early years towards the end of secondary: UWC Thailand, British International School Phuket (BISP), Glenalmond Phuket, HeadStart, BCIS (Berda Claude), Kajonkiet and QSI.
- British curriculum: BISP, HeadStart, Glenalmond, BCIS and Kajonkiet.
- International Baccalaureate: UWC Thailand teaches the IB from early years to the Diploma. BISP offers the IB Diploma alongside IGCSE and BTEC.
- American: QSI, with Advanced Placement courses.
- French: BCIS runs a French national stream next to its Cambridge stream.
Annual tuition at these schools runs from ฿200,000 for a half-day early years place to just under ฿1,000,000 for the senior years at the most expensive. Most schools also charge an application fee, a one-off joining fee and a refundable deposit, which together add roughly ฿110,000 to ฿360,000 in the first year.
Every fee on this page comes from the school's own published schedule for the 2026-27 academic year, checked in October 2026, except where International Schools Database is named as the source. Schools review fees every year, so confirm the current figures before you commit.
2026-27 fees
The main schools at a glance
Annual tuition for 2026-27, lowest to highest year group, as published by each school.
| School | Location | Curriculum | Ages | Annual tuition 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UWC Thailand | Thalang | IB from early years to Diploma | 2 to 18 | ฿345,000 to ฿933,000 |
| British International School Phuket | Koh Kaew | British, IGCSE, IB Diploma, BTEC | 2 to 18 | ฿489,000 to ฿982,700 |
| Glenalmond Phuket | Thanyapura, Thalang | EYFS and National Curriculum in England | Early years and primary (secondary from August 2027) | ฿270,000 to ฿950,000 |
| HeadStart International School | Cherngtalay and Chaofah City campuses | British (Cambridge), IGCSE, A Level, BTEC | Preschool to Year 13 | ฿347,000 to ฿540,000 |
| BCIS (Berda Claude) | Chalong | Cambridge British and French national | 2 to 18 | ฿302,000 to ฿502,500 |
| Kajonkiet International School | Kathu | English National Curriculum, IGCSE, AS and A Level | Pre-nursery to Year 13 | ฿285,000 to ฿454,000 |
| QSI International School of Phuket | Kathu | American, Advanced Placement | 2 to 18 | US$6,600 to US$15,100 (billed in US dollars) |
Sources: each school's published 2026-27 fee schedule, checked October 2026; BCIS one-off fees from International Schools Database, checked November 2026. Excludes one-off fees, transport, uniforms and exam entries.
School by school
What each school offers
In order of where they sit on the island, from north to south.
UWC Thailand
A non-profit day and boarding school on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang, in the foothills of the Khao Phra Thaeo forest in the north of the island. It is the only school on the island teaching the full IB continuum: Primary Years, Middle Years and the Diploma.
Fees 2026-27: ฿345,000 a year for the youngest early years class, rising to ฿933,000 for Grades 11 and 12. On joining: a ฿7,000 application fee, a ฿100,000 placement fee, a one-off School Development Fund of ฿165,000 for one child or ฿220,000 for two or more, and a ฿25,000 security deposit.
Where families live: Layan, Bang Tao, Laguna and Cherngtalay, and the villa estates of Thalang and Pasak.
Glenalmond Phuket International School
The island's newest school, linked to Glenalmond College in Perthshire, Scotland. It opened on 19 August 2026 within the grounds of Thanyapura Sports and Health Resort in Thalang, starting with early years and primary. Secondary opens for Years 7 to 10 in August 2027, with Years 11 and 12 following in August 2028.
Fees 2026-27: ฿270,000 for the Wee Bairns class on up to five mornings, ฿390,000 full time, ฿490,000 for Kindergarten 1 to 3, ฿750,000 for Years 1 to 6 and ฿950,000 for Years 7 to 9. On joining: a ฿5,000 application fee, a ฿200,000 placement fee (฿100,000 for second and later children) and a ฿150,000 refundable deposit.
Where families live: the same northern belt as UWC Thailand: Layan, Bang Tao and Laguna and Thalang.
HeadStart International School
A British school with two campuses. The Cherngtalay campus on the west coast teaches children from age two to around 14. The Chaofah City campus takes pupils from preschool through to IGCSE, A Level and BTEC.
Fees 2026-27: ฿347,000 for Preschool, ฿360,000 for Early Years and Reception, ฿480,000 for Years 1 to 6 and ฿540,000 from Year 7 to Year 13. Meals, a selection of after-school activities and school trips are included. On joining: an ฿8,000 application fee, a ฿100,000 entrance fee and a ฿75,000 endowment fee, refundable on withdrawal under the school's terms. English language support, where needed, is ฿60,000 a year.
Where families live: for Cherngtalay, Bang Tao, Laguna and Cherngtalay, Layan and Surin. For Chaofah City, Chalong, Rawai and Nai Harn and Phuket Town.
British International School Phuket (BISP)
A British day and boarding school founded in 1996, on a 44-acre campus in Koh Kaew on the east side of the island. It teaches the British curriculum to IGCSE, then the IB Diploma or BTEC in the sixth form.
Fees 2026-27: ฿489,000 for Nursery and Reception, ฿750,000 to ฿767,700 for Years 1 to 6, and ฿960,200 to ฿982,700 for Years 7 to 13. On joining: a ฿6,000 application fee, a placement fee of ฿200,000 per family with one child or ฿250,000 with more than one, and a ฿150,000 bond, refundable on withdrawal subject to conditions.
Where families live: Koh Kaew and the Boat Lagoon side, Pa Khlok and Cape Yamu, and Phuket Town.
QSI International School of Phuket
A small American school, part of the Quality Schools International group, on Chalermprakiat Road in Kathu. It follows a mastery-based American programme with Advanced Placement courses in the senior years, and takes children from age two to 18.
Fees 2026-27: QSI publishes its fees in US dollars. Full-day classes for two to four-year-olds are US$6,600 a year (US$4,600 half day), and the five-year-old class upwards is US$15,100. Secondary students pay a further US$1,600 a year to the capital fund, and new families pay a one-off US$600 registration fee.
Where families live: Kathu, Phuket Town and the central part of the island.
Kajonkiet International School
A British curriculum school in Kathu, on Phra Phuket Kaew Road, teaching from Pre-Nursery to Year 13 with IGCSE, AS and A Level examinations.
Fees 2026-27: ฿285,000 for full-day Pre-Nursery to Reception (฿200,000 for half-day Pre-Nursery), rising in stages to ฿454,000 for Years 12 and 13. On joining: a ฿2,000 application fee, a ฿60,000 entrance fee and a ฿50,000 endowment fee, refundable on withdrawal under the school's terms.
Where families live: Kathu, Phuket Town and Chalong.
BCIS International School Phuket (Berda Claude)
A school in Chalong running two streams side by side: a Cambridge British stream to IGCSE and A Level, and a French national stream to the Brevet and the French Baccalaureate.
Fees 2026-27: ฿302,000 for Nursery to Reception, ฿362,000 for Years 1 and 2, ฿403,500 for Years 3 to 6, ฿488,000 for Years 7 to 9, ฿497,000 for Years 10 and 11 and ฿502,500 for Years 12 and 13. The French stream follows the same bands. Registration, entrance and deposit fees apply: a ฿10,000 registration fee, a ฿75,000 entrance fee and a ฿50,000 refundable deposit for 2026-27, as listed by International Schools Database; the school's own fee page names these fees but not the amounts, so confirm them with admissions. Returning pupils pay a ฿5,000 re-registration fee each year.
Where families live: Chalong, Rawai and Nai Harn, and Kata.
Smaller and specialist schools
Beyond the big seven, Phuket has a long list of smaller schools and kindergartens. Some suit younger children only, others follow a particular approach.
- Ruamrudee International School Phuket: American curriculum and EYFS, ages 2 to 14.
- Lighthouse International School: Canadian curriculum, with a kindergarten in Chalong and separate primary and secondary campuses.
- Oak Meadow International School: American curriculum, ages 3 to 18.
- Prasan Gateway International School: British and international programmes for ages 2 to 13, with a Chinese national stream.
- Montessori House Phuket International School: the Montessori approach, ages 2 to 18.
- École Française Jean de La Fontaine: French curriculum, ages 6 to 14.
- Bamboo Valley and The Oak: Waldorf Steiner education.
- Kindergartens: Little Lights in Rawai and Shining Stars in Kamala among them.
Fees for these schools: published 2026-27 tuition runs from about ฿231,000 to ฿408,000 a year at Oak Meadow, ฿240,000 to ฿360,000 at Prasan Gateway, ฿240,000 to ฿368,000 at Lighthouse and ฿300,000 at École Française Jean de La Fontaine, while Montessori House listed ฿241,000 to ฿305,700 for 2025-26. Ruamrudee and Bamboo Valley do not publish fees, so ask them directly. Figures from International Schools Database, checked 7 November 2026.
Budgeting
The fees on top of tuition
The first year costs more than the headline figure. These are the one-off charges for 2026-27, per child unless stated, as published by each school or, for BCIS, by International Schools Database.
| School | Application | Joining fee | Refundable deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| UWC Thailand | ฿7,000 | ฿100,000 placement, plus ฿165,000 development fund (฿220,000 for two or more children) | ฿25,000 |
| BISP | ฿6,000 | ฿200,000 per family with one child, ฿250,000 with more than one | ฿150,000 bond |
| Glenalmond Phuket | ฿5,000 | ฿200,000 (฿100,000 for second and later children) | ฿150,000 |
| HeadStart | ฿8,000 | ฿100,000 entrance | ฿75,000 endowment |
| Kajonkiet | ฿2,000 | ฿60,000 entrance | ฿50,000 endowment |
| QSI | US$600 registration | None published | None published |
| BCIS | ฿10,000 registration (International Schools Database, 2026-27) | ฿75,000 entrance (International Schools Database, 2026-27) | ฿50,000 (International Schools Database, 2026-27) |
Also budget for uniforms, school buses, exam entries, laptops or tablets, trips and, where needed, English language or learning support.
Discounts
Most schools discount tuition for second and later children enrolled at the same time, and some reward early payment.
- HeadStart: 10% for the second child, 15% for the third and later. The entrance and endowment fees are charged for two children only.
- Glenalmond Phuket: 5% for the second child, 15% for the third and later, and a further 5% for paying a full year in advance.
- BCIS: 5% for the second child, 10% for the third and later.
- QSI: early payment discounts of up to US$1,000 a year.
Ask each school for its current terms in writing.
Where to live
Choosing an area around the school
Phuket is bigger than it looks on a map, and the school run sets the rhythm of family life. Families usually pick the school first, then look for a home within a short drive of it.
North and west coast
For UWC Thailand, Glenalmond and HeadStart Cherngtalay. Families settle in Bang Tao, Laguna and Cherngtalay for Boat Avenue and the beach, or Layan for space and quiet. The airport is close too.
East coast
For BISP. Koh Kaew, Boat Lagoon and Pa Khlok offer larger plots and calm water, with the oceanfront estates of Cape Yamu a short drive north.
Central Phuket
For QSI and Kajonkiet in Kathu. Phuket Town and Kathu suit families who want shops and the main private hospitals close by.
The south
For BCIS in Chalong and HeadStart's Chaofah City campus. Rawai and Nai Harn give a settled community and more villa for the money, at the cost of a longer airport run.
Surin and Kamala
Sea views and a short drive north to HeadStart Cherngtalay, or further to UWC Thailand. See the Surin and Kamala guide.
How to choose
Start with the curriculum you will need later. A child moving on to a British sixth form or university will find IGCSE and A Level the easiest path. Families who may move country again often prefer the IB, which UWC Thailand teaches throughout and BISP offers at Diploma level. American families can keep AP courses going at QSI, and French families can stay in the French system at BCIS.
Visit during a normal school day. Ask about class sizes, teacher turnover, English language support and how new children are settled in.
Ask for the full fee schedule. Check what tuition includes. HeadStart, for example, includes meals and some trips, while other schools bill them separately.
Drive the school run before you sign a lease. Try it on a weekday morning at the time you would leave home. A journey that looks short on the map can take far longer in traffic.
Rent first. Khun Mark usually suggests renting near the school for six to twelve months before you buy. The long-term rentals are a good place to start, and the moving to Phuket guide covers visas, healthcare and living costs.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much are international school fees in Phuket?
For 2026-27, annual tuition at the main schools runs from ฿285,000 to ฿345,000 for the early years at Kajonkiet, BCIS and UWC Thailand, up to ฿933,000 at UWC Thailand, ฿950,000 at Glenalmond and ฿982,700 at BISP for the senior years. Most schools add a one-off joining fee and a refundable deposit in the first year.
What is the best international school in Phuket?
There is no single answer. It depends on the curriculum your child needs, their age and where you want to live. UWC Thailand is the only full IB continuum school, BISP is a British school that adds the IB Diploma, and HeadStart, BCIS and Kajonkiet offer British curricula at lower fees. Visit at least two before you decide.
Which schools in Phuket teach the British curriculum?
BISP, HeadStart, Glenalmond Phuket, BCIS and Kajonkiet all teach a British curriculum. BISP adds the IB Diploma in the sixth form, HeadStart and BCIS teach A Levels, and Glenalmond opens its secondary years from August 2027.
Is there an IB school in Phuket?
Yes. UWC Thailand in Thalang teaches the IB from early years to the Diploma, and BISP in Koh Kaew offers the IB Diploma in Years 12 and 13.
Where do families with children live in Phuket?
Most live near their school. Bang Tao, Laguna, Cherngtalay and Layan suit families at UWC Thailand, Glenalmond and HeadStart Cherngtalay. Koh Kaew and the east coast suit BISP families. Chalong and Rawai suit families at BCIS and HeadStart Chaofah City.
Do international schools in Phuket charge joining fees?
Yes, at most schools. For 2026-27, one-off joining fees range from ฿60,000 at Kajonkiet to ฿265,000 at UWC Thailand (placement fee plus development fund for one child), and refundable deposits range from ฿25,000 to ฿150,000.
Moving to Phuket with children?
Tell Khun Mark the school you have in mind and he will find homes within a sensible drive of it, to rent first or to buy. If you are still overseas, he can view them for you.
School fees change every year. Always confirm the current schedule with the school.
