International Schools in Phuket
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High-quality school education is a decisive factor for expats with families considering a move to another country. In this regard, Phuket is the only tropical resort in Thailand suitable for extended family stays. For more than 30 years, Phuket has developed as a destination for holidays and winter stays for affluent foreigners. During this time, several international schools have opened on the island, offering American, British, French, Canadian, Finnish, and even Russian curricula. With the opening of these schools, it has become possible not only to enjoy extended stays but also to relocate for several years, to the benefit of children’s future.
Phuket offers such a range of schools with leading global programmes that it enables children to gain admission to universities in the USA, Canada, and Europe.
Most international schools in Phuket teach in English. Insufficient knowledge of English does not prevent admission to an English-language international school. Almost all such schools have preparatory and adaptation programmes.
Most international schools are located in the Chalong area — the most popular with expats and a well-developed part of Phuket. Chalong is conveniently located on the east coast of the island: a main transport artery runs through it, providing access to any residential area. Therefore, even if you live in the southern part of the island or in beach resorts, it is easy to reach the schools in Chalong.
School Name | Programme | Age | Tuition 2025 ($/year) | Key Features |
British International School Phuket (BISP) | British Curriculum, IB Diploma | 3–18 | 15,000–29,000 | Prestigious school, new campus, sports complex, hybrid learning |
HeadStart International School | British Curriculum | 2–16 | 9,000–15,000 | Focus on practical learning and soft skills development |
QSI International School of Phuket | American Curriculum, AP | 2–18 | 15,000–29,000 | Preparation for US exams, flexible classes, preschool programmes |
UWC Thailand | IB Diploma | 11–18 | 15,000–28,000 | A new school in the United World Colleges network, with a focus on personal and academic development |
Kajonkiets International School | British & Thai Curriculum | 3–12 | 8,000–13,000 | Primary school with English instruction, geared towards younger children |
British International School Rawai (HeadStart branch) | British Curriculum | 2–10 | 9,000–15,000 | Preschool and lower grades |
Lycée Français International de Phuket | French Curriculum | 3–18 | 7,000–10,000 | French programme, preparation for DELF/DALF exams |
Russian International School Phuket | Russian Curriculum | 3–12 | 8,000–10,000 | Suitable for Russian families, primary grades, Russian-language instruction |
Oak Meadow International School | American / Online Curriculum | 4–18 | 7,000–12,000 | Hybrid programme with online and in-person classes |
Lighthouse Academy Phuket | IB & British Curriculum | 3–18 | 7,000–11,000 | Focus on individualised learning, project-based learning, sports, and creativity |
Montessori House Phuket International School | Montessori & IB Primary | 2–12 | 7,000–11,000 | Montessori method, preparation for IB Primary Years, and early childhood development |
International School of Phuket (ISP) | IB Diploma | 3–18 | 5,000–6,000 | Full IB programme, modern campuses, sports, and creative activities |
BCIS Phuket | British Curriculum | 3–18 | 8,000–14,000 | British curriculum with a focus on academics and international exams |
Buds International School Phuket | British & IB Curriculum | 2–16 | 5,000–6,000 | Primary and secondary school, hybrid formats, sports, and arts |
Finnway International School Phuket | Finnish Curriculum | 3–16 | 8,000–11,000 | Finnish methodology, project-based learning, and preparation for IB / European programmes |
From $593,000
Completion in: 2027.II 37 units in total
From $89,000
Completion in: 2026.IV Total of 398 apartments
From $265,000
Built in 2024 Total of 67 apartments
From $436,000
Completion in: 2027.IV 54 units in total
From $1,185,000
Completion in: 2025.IV 13 units in total
$1,040,000
Total area 2,060 m² Land area: 2,060 m²
$223,000
Total area 90 m² 2 bedrooms
16 International Schools in Phuket
According to the International Schools Database, there are 16 licensed international schools in Phuket. Almost all schools offer nursery and preschool programmes, as well as primary and secondary education.
UWC Thailand
UWC Thailand is located in the north of the island, near the airport and Bang Tao Beach. The school offers the international IB programme, with teaching in English.
UWC is accredited by the international educational organisations such as CIS and EARCOS, and has separate buildings for different age groups— preschool, primary, middle, and upper secondary. There are also rooms and playgrounds for extracurricular activities, clubs, and sports.
Tuition at UWC ranges from 15,000 to 28,000 dollars per year, depending on the stage of study. About 360 students attend the school, most of whom are foreign students from 57 different countries.
British International School Phuket (BISP)
British International School is one of the oldest international schools in Phuket. It was founded in 1996, and its campus is arguably one of the most scenic on the island. The school is located near the Chalong area, close to the east coast.
The British curriculum is designed to strike a balance between academic excellence and the emotional wellbeing of students. Students can develop professional pathways in sport, the arts, business, and science alongside their studies.
The campus facilities are first-class: there is a golf course, gyms, a tennis centre, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. From secondary school upwards, students can board at the school (full board). Assessment follows the IGCSE, IBDP, and LAMDA standards, which enable entry to universities in the UK and Commonwealth countries.
They are admitted to the preparatory group from the age of 3. Tuition is 15,000–29,000 dollars per year, depending on the stage of study. About 900 students study at the school, and 70% of them are foreigners from 50 different countries.
Oak Meadow International School
Oak Meadow International School in the Chalong area offers a comprehensive academic programme as well as additional classes in music, art, and foreign languages.
Teaching is in English, and students may also study Thai and Chinese. Students can enrol in the preparatory programme from the age of 3.
Tuition ranges from 7,000 to 12,000 dollars per year, depending on the stage of study.
Lighthouse Academy
Lighthouse Academy is located in the Rawai area, in the south of the island. The school offers small classes, with an average of 10 students, in which children are taught in English, following the Canadian curriculum, which is in line with international standards, and teaching uses the Montessori method.
After completing their studies, students are awarded the Canadian High School Diploma, which enables entry to universities worldwide. They can also sit exams such as the IGCSE, GED, and SAT, which make them eligible to apply to universities in Canada, where scholarship programmes are available for international students. At Canadian universities, fully funded scholarships are possible at undergraduate level, provided the required exams are passed.
Children are admitted to the preparatory group from the age of 2. Tuition ranges from 7,000 to 11,000 dollars per year.
Montessori House Phuket International School
Montessori House Phuket International High School is located in the Chalong area, surrounded by jungle near the Chalong Temple. The school admits children aged 3–12 years and teaches using the Montessori method.
Tuition ranges from 7,000 to 9,000 dollars per year.
International School of Phuket (ISP)
Another school with a British curriculum, International School of Phuket, has established itself in Phuket since 2008 and was founded by the University of Cambridge. The school is located in the south of the island, in the Rawai area, on a large site that includes a football pitch, an indoor playground, a tennis court, a skateboard ramp, a trampoline, and a stadium for children.
Students follow the Cambridge International programmes, recognised worldwide. These schools operate in 160 countries, so students can easily transfer to another school if they move to a different country.
Tuition ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 dollars per year.
BCIS Phuket
BCIS Phuket Primary and Secondary School is located in the Chalong area. Students can choose one of two academic programmes — Cambridge or French. About 400 students study at the school.
The school has an impressive infrastructure, including science laboratories with a hydroponics laboratory; a literature and language centre with a library; creative studios; a robotics classroom; an art studio and a fashion design classroom; a theatre and a music studio; a photo lab; a planetarium with full-dome projection (the only one in Phuket); an Olympic-sized swimming pool; gym facilities and sports courts for various activities, including rock climbing, tennis, and gymnastics. All these opportunities are available to students at a moderate cost. Tuition ranges from 8,000 to 14,000 dollars per year. The nursery admits children from 18 months of age.
Buds International School Phuket
The Buds School in Chalong specialises in childcare, preschool, and primary education. The school admits children aged 18 months to 12 years. Primary students are taught in English under the American programme based on the California standards, with a focus on academic subjects. They can continue their secondary education at another Phuket school with an American programme, for example QSI. High SAT scores enable entry to universities in the USA or their branches in other countries.
Additional activities include football, music, cooking, swimming, art, and a drama club.
Tuition ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 dollars per year.
QSI International School of Phuket
QSI International School has taught preschool, primary, and secondary students since 2000, following the American curriculum. The school is located in the Kathu area, near Chalong, and students are assessed against American standards, including preparation for the SAT.
Students may choose electives in management skills, athletics, basketball, decorative and applied arts, guitar, and foreign languages such as Thai, French, Spanish, and Russian. The preschool admits children from the age of 2.
Finnway International School Phuket
Finnway International School Phuket is a small school with about 120 students, located in the central part of the island’s east coast. The school follows the Finnish educational programme and teaches in Finnish. After completing their studies at Finnway, students can easily gain admission to universities in Finland and study free of charge on bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes, which are available to both local and international students.
Finland’s secondary education system is recognised as one of the best in Europe. Many countries adopt practices from Finnish schools, which are known for a rich social life and a focus on students’ wellbeing. Finnish schools lead in maintaining low-stress environments and high levels of student engagement in learning.
In addition, students may study Thai and Chinese at the school. A distinctive feature of the school is the early development of digital literacy and communication skills in information systems, starting from preparatory classes.
Optional activities include swimming, tennis, ice skating, dancing, horse riding, robotics, and programming. Tuition ranges from 8,000 to 11,000 dollars per year.
Kajonkiet International School Phuket
Kajonkiet International School Phuket is another school with a British curriculum in the Chalong area. Assessment follows the British IGCSE standard. Its graduates achieve high exam results. It is one of the most popular schools for international students in Phuket: more than 1,500 children study at preschool, primary, and secondary levels. 64% of students are international, from various countries, and the remaining 36% are Thai.
The teaching staff are predominantly British, with high teaching qualifications. The preschool admits children from the age of 2.
Tuition ranges from 8,000 to 13,000 dollars per year, depending on the programme.
HeadStart International School
HeadStart International School is a large international school offering preschool, primary, and secondary education under the British curriculum. Assessment follows the IGCSE standard. In addition, students may study Thai, Chinese, French, and German.
The school offers a wide range of sports and dance clubs, including gymnastics, acrobatics, hip-hop dancing, cheerleading, modern dance, ballet, judo, tennis, swimming, football, rugby, yoga, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and strength training. The school also has its own infrastructure for extracurricular activities.
The preschool admits children aged 2 and over. Tuition ranges from 10,000 to 15,000 dollars per year, depending on the programme.
There are two other schools that have recently been granted international status, not because they teach foreign programmes, but because students actively study English. These schools are Growing Minds International Kindergarten & Learning Center and Wittaya Sathid School.
Growing Minds focuses on children’s creative development. Wittaya Sathid follows the national educational programme, with a strong emphasis on English.
School Transport and Boarding
As the public transport system in Phuket is poorly developed, all schools on the island offer transfer services: they pick up children from different areas and take them home after the school day. However, if a child stays on for after-school activities, parents/guardians must collect them.
Some schools, such as British International School and UWC Thailand, offer full boarding, 24/7.
Student and Guardian Visas
After enrolling at a school, a child may apply for a student visa. Any school will help you with the application process. You can obtain this visa even if you enrol your child in a nursery. Based on the child’s student visa, one parent may also reside in Phuket on a guardian visa.
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