Istanbul hosts roughly 15 credible international schools serving expat and Turkish upper-middle-class families. The market splits between IB schools (MEF, Enka), British curriculum (BUPS), and national curriculum schools (German, French, Italian).
The Istanbul international school market
Istanbul hosts roughly 15 credible international schools serving expat and Turkish upper-middle-class families. The market splits between IB schools (MEF, Enka), British curriculum (BUPS), and national curriculum schools (German, French, Italian).
The 2026 shortlist
MEF International School (IB), Enka Schools (IB), British International School Istanbul, Istanbul International Community School, the German School Istanbul, and the French Lycée. Fees range from USD 12,000 to 25,000 per year for senior years.
Curriculum choice
IB Diploma sits at MEF and Enka. British IGCSE and A-Level sit at BUPS. The German, French and Italian schools deliver their national qualifications with university destinations skewed accordingly.
Neighbourhoods
European side schools cluster in Etiler, Levent and Ulus. Asian side schools cluster in Suadiye and Atasehir. The traffic crossing is severe; choose your district around the school.