International schools in Kuala Lumpur

Are you trying to decide between international schools in Kuala Lumpur? You might be in for a headache. There are many options, whether you are an expat moving to KL or a local parent looking for a different schooling option.

Malaysia is actively promoting international schools as an engine of growth, and new international schools have opened up across the country.

Tier one schools, facilities are amazing – especially for someone coming from a culture of government schools. Teachers are qualified and typically native English speakers on expat contracts. Technology is integrated into the teaching, some schools even give students their own iPads. These schools are accredited by international institutions and have established curricula. They put a lot of effort into high student scores, have established sports teams, extensive after school activities and typically have high rates of teacher retention.

They also typically have non-refundable registration fees of RM20,000 and up, require a sizable deposit and charge annual fees starting roughly at RM40,000. This article is a good indication of fees – which are available on the respective schools’ websites.

How to choose a school?

We are not qualified to rate the international schools in Kuala Lumpur, but there are also many so called tier two schools, that typically have good facilities, and where most of the teachers are qualified. These schools are often a great choice if you cannot or don’t want to pay the extortionate fees of the top schools.

There are also a lot of schools out there that don’t offer good value for money. Our advise would be to do research online, on Facebook forums and by talking to parents. The telltale signs to stay away would be bad facilities, high turnover rates of staff, minimal technology and high proportion of teachers that are unqualified or in positions that they are not qualified for. You should also ask about student scores in IB or IGSCE.

You could safely say that the international schools in Kuala Lumpur that fall in the top category are at least International School of Kuala Lumpur, Alice Smith, British School of Kuala Lumpur, Mont Kiara International School, Garden International School, and The International School @ Parkcity. It doesn’t mean that the others listed below are not good. Indeed, there are many other international schools in Kuala Lumpur that offer great value in terms of good education for slightly more affordable school fees.

Attend the open days to get a feel of the school, and talk to other parents. One particularly useful group on Facebook is the Malaysia International Schools Parents Support Group (MISPSG).

We feel that the best strategy in choosing a school is to narrow down your curriculum and price range, and start by looking at a location that is convenient for you. Traffic in KL can be horrible, and often somebody in the family will end up spending a lot of time in the car. Use Google maps and figure out real driving times between home, school and work. Most schools have buses available for an extra fee.

One thing to consider is to live in a neighbourhood where other families from your chosen school live – this will make it easier for the children to form friendships. Make sure you also read Choosing an international school for tips for choosing an international school.

A list of international schools in KL

This list is by no means comprehensive, but gives a good overview of schools in KL. The schools are listed here in alphabetical order.

Alice Smith School

The oldest British school in Malaysia and one of the oldest in Southeast Asia. Primary Campus at Jalan Bellamy, secondary campus at Taman Equine, Seri Kembangan. English National Curriculum.

Foundation to Sixth Form
IGCSE, GCSE, A-Levels and AQA Baccalaureate

Alnoor International School

An international school in Bukit Petaling, with a curriculum that blends British, Bahraini and Indian curricula.

Kindergarten – Secondary
IGCSE, A-Levels

Asia Pacific International School

APIS is located in Subang.

Early Years to Cambridge Secondary
IGCSE

Australian International School Malaysia

Australian Curriculum
Australian Early Years Learning Framework
BOSTES Curriculum (NSW)
NSW High School Curriculum

Baseerah International School

Baseerah International School is an international school with English language as its medium of instruction coupled with Arabic language and Islamic studies at Sri Gombak Heights.

Kindergarten, Cambridge Primary
Secondary (Qatari syllabus & Cambridge, IGCSE)

Beaconhouse Malaysia

Beaconhouse has campuses in Sri Inai, Taman SEA and the Newlands Campus in Cheras.

Cambridge Primary
Cambridge Secondary 1 & 2
IGCSE

British International School of Kuala Lumpur

Established in 2009, BSKL operates in a new, modern building with great facilities in Bandar Utama.

Early Years – Sixth Form
IGCSE, AS and A-Level

Deutsche Schule KL (German School of KL)

The only German school in KL, located in Petaling Jaya.

Kindergarten, Primary School, Secondary School
German University Entrance Qualification (DIAP)
Realschulabschluss, Mittlere Reife
Hauptschulabschluss

Eaton International School

Eaton at Jade Hills follows the English National Curriculum with an awareness of the international and local contexts. Eaton’s sister school is the Eaton School House Montessori preschool in Bukit Damansara.

Early Years to Year 10.
IGCSE

ELC International School

ELC is located in Sierramas, Sungai Buloh and follows the National Curriculum for England.

From Early Years to Year 11.

IGCSE

Etonhouse International School

An international Baccalaureate World School near KLCC. Reggio Emilia inspired in Early Years and Primary sections.

Early Years to Primary (2-12)

Fairview International School

An IB World school with five campuses in Malaysia.

Primary to IB Diploma

Garden International School KL

Garden International School (GIS) is the largest private, co-educational, British international school in Malaysia with two campuses in Kuala Lumpur: an Early Years Centre in Desa Sri Hartamas and a Primary and Secondary School in Mont’ Kiara. Established in 1951, GIS is consistently ranked among the top international schools in Asia.

Early Years to Sixth Form
UK Curriculum, Cambridge Secondary, IGCSE, A Levels

GEMS International School, Tropicana Metropark  

GEMS is a new school in Subang Jaya, that follows the National Curriculum for England, enriched with Bahasa Malaysia, History and Moral or Islamic Studies.

Early Years – Sixth Form
IGCSE, A-Levels

Global Indian International School (GIIS) Malaysia

Located at Brickfields, GIIS Kuala Lumpur is a part of Global Schools Foundation network.

Global Montessori Plus Programme
Dual curricula for Year 1 to Year 12 for Central Board of Secondary Education – International (CBSE-i), India, and Year 1 to Year 12+ for Cambridge curriculum
IB Diploma

Havil International School

An international school in Brickfields.

Cambridge Primary
Cambridge Secondary 1 & 2
IGCSE

Help International School

Help International School is located in Subang Bestari and follows the British Curriculum.

International Early Years Curriculum, International Primary Curriculum and International Middle Years Curriculum
IGCSE with Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
A-Levels

Hibiscus International School

In Taman Sri Segambut, Hibiscus follows National Curriculum for England.

Early Years- Secondary
IGCSE

IGB International School

IGBIS is Kuala Lumpur’s newest IB World School, located in Sungai Buloh.

Early Years, IB Primary Years, IB Middle Years and IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11 – 12)

International Modern Arabic School

An international school in Putrajaya, that uses Arabic and English as the medium of instruction.

Pre School – Secondary and Upper Secondary
Yemeni High School certificate
IGCSE

International School of Kuala Lumpur

International School of Kuala Lumpur’s new campus in Ampang Hilir opened in 2018, and has extensive facilities. ISKL is a non-profit school and offers International Baccalaureate (IB) and American Curriculum.

Prep Reception (from 3 years on) – High school
IB Diploma and IB Certificates
Advanced Placement (AP) courses

Kingsley International School

In Putra Heights, Kingsley International School offers the National UK Curriculum for Nursery to Year 9 students while the Cambridge IGCSE Curriculum is offered to the Year 10 and 11 students to both international and local students.

Early Years – Sixth Form: IGCSE, A-Levels

Lycée Français de KL

Located on Jalan Dutamas Raya, on the back of Mont Kiara, LFKL follows the the French National Curriculum.

Kindergarten, Elementary, Collège, Lycée

Maz International School

Campuses in Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam. Boarding available at Shah Alam.

British Curriculum
Preschool – Pre University
IGCSE, A-Levels and AS-Levels

Mutiara International Grammar School

With a campus on Jalan Kerja Ayer Lama, Ampang Jaya, Mutiara follows the National Curriculum for England.

Reception to Senior School

Mont Kiara International School

MKIS in Mont Kiara offers a North American academic curriculum supplemented with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program on an optional basis for grades 11-12.

Kindergarten Preparatory to High School
IB Diploma and US High School Diploma

Nexus International School

Located in Putrajaya, Nexus follows the British National Curriculum.

Early Years and Primary: International Primary Curriculum
IGCSE, IB Diploma

Nobel International School

Located in Kelana Jaya.

Years 1-11
Cambridge Primary Programme and Cambridge Secondary 1 & 2
IGCSE

Oasis International School

Located in Bandar Rimbayu, Selangor, Oasis International School offers the American Curriculum.

Elementary School
Middle School
High School
Advanced Placement (AP) Program

Peninsula International School Australia (PISA)

PISA is set to open in Setia Alam in January 2018, offering Australia’s Victorian Curriculum based Primary and Secondary education for students from Year 1 (Age 7) to Year 12 (Age 18).

Rafflesia International School

Rafflesia has campuses in Puchong and Kajang.

Early Years: International Primary Curriculum
Cambridge Secondary 1 & 2
IGCSE

R.E.A.L. International School

With campuses in Cheras and Shah Alam, R.E.A.L. follows National Curriculum for England.

Pre School – Secondary
IGCSE

Sayfol International School

Sayfol offers ‘British based education with an emphasis on holistic development’ with a campus on Jalan Ampang.

Early learners to Secondary
IGCSE  and A-Levels
Year 12 and Year 13:  the Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Examinations

Seven Skies

Seven Skies is a private islamic international school in Petaling Jaya offering a curriculum that is a blend of Cambridge International Curriculum, Arabic language, Qur’an and Islamic studies.

Kindergarten – Secondary

Sri KDU International School

Located in Kota Damansara, Sri KDU follows English National Curriculum.

Primary to IBDB
IGCSE and IB Diploma

Sri Kuala Lumpur School

An international school with a strong emphasis on local culture in Subang Jaya, follows British Curriculum.

Cambridge Primary to secondary (IGCSE)

Sri Utama International School

A British School Curriculum in Setapak.

Kindergarten -Secondary
IGCSE, A-Levels

St. John International School

A privately funded international school that is in collaboration with the La Salle Brothers Malaysia on Jalan Bukit Nanas.

Cambridge Primary
IGCSE, A-Levels and AS-Levels

St. Joseph’s International School

A Lasallian international school located in Petaling Jaya.

International Primary Curriculum
IGCSE IB Diploma: SJII Malaysia is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and is pursuing authorisation as an IB World School.

Sunway International School

A private international school located in Bandar Sunway.

Grades 7 to 11: Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
Grades 11 to 12: IB Diploma

Tanarata International School

A small international school along the Kajang-Serdang Road with Cambridge Education Curriculum.

Primary – Secondary
IGCSE, A-Levels and AS-Levels

Taylor’s International School

In 2014, Sri Garden International was rebranded as Taylor’s International School, Kuala Lumpur. Located in Taman Maluri, TSI follows an international curriculum based on the National Curriculum of England.

Early Years and Primary: International Primary Curriculum
IGCSE, A-Levels

Tenby Schools

Tenby has campuses in Setia Eco Park and Setia Eco Hill and covers early years to secondary.

International Primary Curriculum (IPC) at Key Stage 1 and 2 (Early Years and Primary).
Secondary follows the National Curriculum for England appropriately modified for international students.
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) and IGCSE

The International School @ ParkCity

Broadly based on the English National Curriculum. International Primary Curriculum.

Early Years – Sixth Form
IGCSE, A-Levels, AS-Levels and AQA Baccalaureate

Victoria International School

Located outside KL, in Banting with National Curriculum for England.

Pre School-Secondary
IGCSE, A-Levels

Vikas International School

Affiliated to CBSE, India. Located on Jalan Klang Lama, with the option of boarding.

Kindergarten – Secondary

Wesley Methodist School Kuala Lumpur International

A methodist secondary school off Jalan Sentul.

Cambridge Secondary 1 for Year 7 to 9: Cambridge Secondary 1 Checkpoint Tests
Year 10 and 11 IGCSE

If you are new to KL, also read our guide to Best neighbourhoods for families in KL. 

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