In this guide
The Bangkok IB landscape
Bangkok has hosted IB programmes since the early 1990s and now sits among the largest IB markets in Southeast Asia. NIST International School, founded in 1992, was the first Thai school authorised for all three IB programmes. By 2026 around fifteen Bangkok schools deliver at least one IB programme, with twelve running the Diploma, ten the MYP and eight the PYP.
The Bangkok IB cohort is unusually international. NIST, Bangkok Patana, ISB and KIS each enrol pupils from sixty or more nationalities, with no single group dominating. The IB curriculum hub covers programme structure across PYP, MYP and Diploma if you are new to the framework. Look for IB authorisation plus CIS or WASC accreditation as the baseline credential, and ask the school for the most recent IB evaluation report at application stage.
How we rank
This list weights five factors. Academic outcomes carry the most weight. Cohort depth and subject choice at Higher Level follow, because a thin cohort constrains real-world subject combinations. Faculty stability matters next, because the strongest IB outcomes tend to come from teams with multi-year tenure. Parent satisfaction from our verified review database and physical infrastructure complete the framework. We treat fees as a separate axis.
The 2026 IB schools list
NIST International School
Thailand's original IB continuum school and still the academic benchmark. Recent Diploma averages have sat between 36 and 38, with multiple pupils scoring 40 plus each year. Deep Higher Level subject choice across all six groups, full extended essay supervision capacity, and a long established Theory of Knowledge faculty. The natural shortlist anchor for any family committed to IB through to Diploma.
Bangkok Patana School
The largest expat school in Thailand. Primary and secondary run a British framework that transitions to an A-Level or Diploma choice at sixth form. The Diploma cohort sits around eighty to one hundred, with averages typically in the 35 to 36 range. Suits families wanting both pathways open until Year 12 and a strong British cultural environment alongside the IB option.
International School Bangkok (ISB)
The largest American-curriculum school in Thailand and one of the strongest dual pathway schools in Asia. Pupils choose between a US high school diploma with AP options and the IB Diploma in Years 11 and 12. The IB cohort runs around one hundred, with averages in the 34 to 36 range. Strong North American university pipeline alongside a credible UK destination record.
KIS International School
The other full IB continuum school in central Bangkok, founded in 1998. Diploma averages typically 33 to 35, with a tightly knit cohort and individualised university counselling. Smaller than NIST, with the trade-off of fewer Higher Level options but a more personal academic culture. Often chosen by families wanting genuine IB pedagogy without the NIST waitlist.
Concordian International School
A trilingual school running Thai, English and Mandarin instruction inside the IB continuum. Strong outcomes for families wanting genuine Mandarin alongside English and IB pedagogy. Diploma averages around 33 to 34, with a steady record of placements at Chinese, US and UK universities. The default IB school for mixed Asian-international families.
Compare and shortlist
Use the comparison tool to place up to three Bangkok IB schools side by side on fees, cohort size and outcomes. Or run the school finder quiz to surface a personalised shortlist matched to your child's year group, curriculum preference and Bangkok housing area. Talk to our team for a free shortlist review.
St Andrews International School Sukhumvit
Part of the Cognita group. British primary and secondary that offers the IB Diploma alongside A-Levels in the sixth form. Diploma averages typically 32 to 34. Strong programme for families wanting British primary and IB senior years inside one school, particularly those based in eastern Sukhumvit.
Berkeley International School
An American-curriculum school in eastern Bangkok offering the Diploma in the senior years. Smaller cohort than ISB but with strong faculty stability and a focused academic culture. Suits families based around Pattanakarn or eastern Sukhumvit wanting an American-flavoured route into the Diploma.
Wells International School
A three-campus American school with a senior IB Diploma option at the Bang Na campus. Diploma averages have moved up steadily in recent cohorts toward the low 30s. Strong choice for families wanting a smaller cohort and an integrated kindergarten through Diploma pathway under one operator.
Garden International School Bangkok
British primary and secondary with the Diploma alongside A-Levels at sixth form. The Diploma cohort is small, with the trade-off of limited Higher Level breadth but a strong individualised counselling offer. Suits families based in central or eastern Bangkok wanting a calm, small-school IB environment.
Mulberry House International School
One of the more established PYP-only schools in central Bangkok. No MYP or Diploma, so most pupils transition to NIST, KIS or Concordian at Year 7. Suits families wanting genuine inquiry-led primary education before moving to a larger continuum school.
Fees and the all-in cost
Bangkok IB schools span a wider fees range than most Asian cities. The premium tier (NIST, ISB, Bangkok Patana) charges THB 700,000 to 1.1 million per year for senior years. The mid tier (KIS, Concordian, St Andrews, Berkeley) charges THB 450,000 to 800,000. The lower tier (Wells, Garden, smaller schools) charges THB 400,000 to 700,000. Add 18 to 25 percent for the all-in cost including capital fees, transport, books, lunches, uniform and exam fees. A THB 800,000 tuition typically becomes THB 950,000 to 1,000,000 all in.
External exam fees at Diploma level are the most variable line item. Most schools charge IB exam fees separately at THB 30,000 to 60,000 per child in Year 12, depending on subject combination. Capital levies on first admission run THB 100,000 to 350,000 and are often non-refundable. The full picture sits in international school fees in Bangkok, and the fees explorer lets you model a specific school combination.
Admission timing and waitlists
Bangkok IB admissions follow the same pattern as the rest of Asia: top tier capacity-constrained, mid tier rolling. NIST and Bangkok Patana hold the longest waitlists at Reception, Year 7 and Diploma entry, often running 12 to 18 months ahead at peak cohorts. ISB sits in a similar bracket. KIS, Concordian and the second-tier schools usually have rolling availability inside three to six months for most year groups, with the exception of Diploma entry which is capped by class size at most schools.
The practical sequence is to apply 12 months ahead for the top three, 6 months ahead for the mid tier, and 3 to 6 months ahead elsewhere. Most schools assess applicants through a combination of school records, an English assessment for non-native speakers, and a family or pupil interview. The admissions timing by city piece has the cross-city sequence and the typical assessment expectations.
How to choose between them
For most expat families the decision narrows quickly once two filters are applied. Filter one is full continuum versus dual pathway. If you want the IB from Year 1 onwards with no major transition at Year 7, NIST, KIS and Concordian are the natural shortlist. If you prefer a British or American primary route with the Diploma kept as a senior option, Bangkok Patana, ISB and the St Andrews network are the candidates. Filter two is location, because Bangkok traffic shapes daily family life. NIST and KIS in central Sukhumvit suit families based in Phrom Phong, Thong Lor or Asok. Bangkok Patana and Concordian suit families based in Bang Na or eastern Sukhumvit. ISB suits families based in Nichada Thani or northern Bangkok.
The harder calls happen at the margins. A family choosing between NIST and Bangkok Patana faces a real trade-off between the largest IB cohort in Thailand and a school that keeps both A-Level and Diploma options open. A family weighing KIS against Concordian needs to consider whether Mandarin alongside English changes the language equation for their child. The best international schools in Bangkok piece covers the broader curriculum decision, and moving to Bangkok with kids sets the family relocation context.
Cohort depth and subject choice
The Bangkok IB cohort is large enough at the top tier that subject choice is rarely the binding constraint. NIST and ISB typically run multiple class sections of Higher Level Mathematics, Higher Level Biology, Higher Level Chemistry and Higher Level Economics. The rarer Higher Level subjects, including Music, Theatre, Film, Latin and Visual Arts, run every year at NIST and most years at ISB and Bangkok Patana. The Group 2 language options are unusually broad in Bangkok because of the nationality mix, with Mandarin, Japanese, Korean and French commonly available at both standard and Higher Level.
The mid tier schools run thinner cohorts and that has practical consequences. A Diploma cohort of twenty can leave the unusual combinations without delivery. Ask the school for the subject menu actually delivered in the last two years and the firm offer for the year your child would enter Year 12. The SL vs HL explainer covers how the subject choice interacts with university application strategy.
University outcomes from Bangkok IB schools
The destination map from Bangkok IB schools is broader than from any Bangkok British or American-only school. The United States remains the single largest destination, accounting for 35 to 45 percent of leavers at NIST, ISB and Bangkok Patana in recent cohorts, with strong placement at Ivy League, top liberal arts and the leading public flagships. The UK is the second largest destination at 25 to 35 percent of leavers, with Russell Group placements running 30 to 45 percent of UK-bound students.
Continental Europe, Canada and Australia each take 5 to 12 percent. Top scoring NIST and ISB pupils regularly enter Oxford, Cambridge, the Ivy League, ETH Zurich, McGill and the Australian Group of Eight. The university counselling offer varies meaningfully between schools. NIST, Bangkok Patana, ISB and KIS each run a multi-counsellor team with established calendars for UK, US, Australian and European admissions. Smaller schools share counselling with senior leadership, which can stretch capacity in the autumn application window. The university counselling article covers how to evaluate the offer.
Related guides
- Best international schools in Bangkok
- International school fees in Bangkok
- Moving to Bangkok with kids
Frequently asked questions
How many IB schools are there in Bangkok?
Bangkok has around fifteen schools authorised to run at least one IB programme in 2026. The Diploma is offered by around twelve schools, the MYP by ten and the PYP by eight. A handful, led by NIST, KIS and Concordian, deliver the full continuum from PYP through Diploma.
What is the average IB Diploma score in Bangkok?
The established Bangkok IB schools post Diploma averages in the 33 to 38 range. NIST sits at the top, with averages consistently in the 36 to 38 band. Bangkok Patana, ISB and KIS sit comfortably in the 34 to 36 band. The worldwide average is around 30.
Is the IB Diploma the best choice in Bangkok?
For families targeting universities in the UK, US, Europe or Australia the Diploma is an excellent fit and is the dominant senior pathway at the top tier in Bangkok. For families certain to return home for university, the British, American or Australian pathways may be more direct. Cohort depth at the chosen school matters more than the headline curriculum.
When should we apply to an IB school in Bangkok?
For top tier schools apply 12 to 18 months ahead. NIST and Bangkok Patana hold the longest waitlists at Reception, Year 7 and Diploma entry. The mid tier IB schools typically have rolling availability inside 3 to 6 months, particularly outside the peak entry points.
Are Bangkok IB schools cheaper than Singapore equivalents?
Yes. Top Bangkok IB schools charge THB 700,000 to 1.1 million per year, which converts to roughly USD 20,000 to 31,000. A comparable Singapore IB school typically charges SGD 45,000 to 55,000, or roughly USD 33,000 to 41,000. Bangkok runs around 25 to 40 percent below Singapore at equivalent quality tier.