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Bangalore gives families an unusually wide choice of schools and two competing academic calendars, and the school you can realistically get into depends as much on timing and year group as on preference. Begin with our directory of international schools in Bangalore to see the field, then follow the five steps below. We have kept to facts you can verify and have not invented any school's dates or fees, because those change each year and are best confirmed with the school.
Step 1: choose a curriculum and shortlist
Decide on the pathway before the school where you can, because it narrows the field quickly. The international schools commonly run the IB Programme or the Cambridge IGCSE and A Level route; The International School Bangalore, for example, teaches IGCSE in Grades 9 and 10 and the IB Diploma in Grades 11 and 12. Alongside these sit Indian-curriculum CBSE and ICSE schools on a different calendar. All the international pathways lead to university entrance in India and abroad, so the choice is about fit rather than prestige. Our IB curriculum guide explains the Diploma, and the best Bangalore schools for university preparation shortlist sets out which schools run which pathway. Use the school finder to turn your priorities into a matched shortlist.
Step 2: get the timing right
There is no citywide deadline in Bangalore, and the calendar a school uses decides the rest. International and IB schools such as TISB, Stonehill and the Canadian International School run an August to June year and admit on a rolling basis, with the main intake at the August start and common entry at the early years, the start of primary, and the move into senior school. Indian-curriculum schools instead run an April to March session. For an in-demand year group, register as early as you can, because popular years fill before August. Our guide to international school application deadlines in Bangalore 2026 sets out the windows, and the Bangalore school holidays 2026 calendar shows when terms start.
Step 3: prepare your documents
The core checklist
Schools assess faster when the paperwork is complete. Have the child's recent school reports, proof of date of birth and a passport copy, and for international families details of visa or residency status. Most international schools add references and an entrance assessment. Gather these before you apply rather than after, because a complete file moves through a selective admissions process more quickly.
Your residency status matters because it can affect documentation and the fee position at some schools, so tell each school your situation early and confirm any visa requirements with the relevant Indian authorities if you are unsure.
Step 4: apply, assess and visit
Submit the application through the school's own admissions page, then expect an assessment to follow, since many Bangalore international schools are selective and run an entrance test or interview before an offer. The International School Bangalore registers applicants for an assessment within its January to April Open Mornings, which combine a tour and a parent question session with the assessment itself. Wherever you can, visit before you commit: an open day or private tour is the best way to judge atmosphere and transport, and to ask about class sizes and support for children joining from another system. See our guide to international school open days in Bangalore 2026 for how visits work.
Match your child to Bangalore schools
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and priorities and the school finder returns a matched Bangalore shortlist to apply to.
Start the school finderStep 5: offer, fees and enrolment
An offer usually comes with a deadline to accept and a deposit to secure the place, after which the school confirms enrolment and a start date. Fees at international schools rise with year group and are billed ahead of the August start, so budget for the first invoice falling before term, and ask whether items such as admission fees, development levies, transport, examinations and activities are included or charged separately, because the first-year total can run well above the headline tuition. Our guide to international school fees in Bangalore sets out the bands. If you are relocating mid-year, a rolling start is realistic at most schools, with the Grade 11 IB Diploma year the exception that must begin in August.
Applying in Bangalore: FAQ
It depends on the school, but most international schools in Bangalore run an August to June year and admit on a rolling basis, so the practical answer is to apply as early as you can before the August start you are aiming at. Popular year groups fill ahead of August, and The International School Bangalore runs its Open Mornings from January to April, so the new year into spring is the strongest window. The Grade 11 IB Diploma year is the exception, as it must begin at the start of the year.
Bangalore offers a wide spread. International schools commonly run the IB Programme and the Cambridge IGCSE and A Level pathways, with schools such as TISB teaching IGCSE in Grades 9 and 10 and the IB Diploma in Grades 11 and 12. Alongside these sit Indian-curriculum CBSE and ICSE schools, which usually follow an April to March year. Decide the pathway before the school where you can, because it narrows the shortlist quickly.
Expect to provide the child's recent school reports, proof of date of birth and a passport copy, and for international families details of visa or residency status. Most international schools add an entrance assessment or interview, and may ask for references. Requirements vary by school, so check each school's admissions page and have the paperwork ready, because a complete file is assessed faster.
Often yes. Many Bangalore international schools are selective and run an entrance assessment or interview as part of admission; The International School Bangalore registers applicants for an assessment within its Open Mornings programme. The assessment is one reason to start early, because a place is usually confirmed only once the child has been assessed and the file is complete.
Often yes. Most international schools in Bangalore admit on a rolling basis when a place exists in the year group, so a mid-year start is realistic for relocating families, except for the Grade 11 IB Diploma year, which must begin in August. Availability varies by year group and school, so contact the admissions team to check before you commit to a move.