In this guide
The Doha IB landscape
The IB took root in Doha through the Qatar Foundation's commitment to international curriculum in the early 2000s. Today around 12 schools offer at least one IB programme. The Diploma runs at around 9 schools, the MYP at a similar number, and the PYP at around 10 schools that include early years. Several run the full continuum.
Three structural facts shape the choice. First, Qatar's Ministry of Education and Higher Education licenses and inspects every private school, and inspection ratings are a useful public signal of quality. Schools rated Outstanding or Very Good cluster around Education City, Al Waab, West Bay and the Pearl-adjacent districts. Second, IB authorisation is a three-stage process: candidate school, authorised school, evaluated school. Always confirm a school's current authorisation status directly with the IB if it matters to you. Third, cohort sizes vary. Qatar Academy and the American School of Doha run substantial Diploma cohorts of 60 plus; several smaller schools run cohorts of 15 to 25, which limits subject choice meaningfully.
For the curriculum-level view see our IB curriculum hub, and for the broader school landscape see best international schools in Doha.
Schools offering the full IB continuum
A handful of Doha schools run the full IB continuum: PYP from age 3, MYP from Year 6 or 7, and the Diploma in the sixth form. These schools tend to attract families who have made a deliberate philosophical commitment to the IB across the school journey rather than to specific examination outcomes.
Qatar Academy Doha
The flagship IB school in Qatar, founded by the Qatar Foundation. Strong full continuum from PYP through Diploma. Diploma cohort consistently 60 plus, with averages in the 34 to 36 range and strong university destinations across the US, UK, Canada and the GCC. Excellent faculty stability and the deepest Diploma subject offering in Doha. Particularly suited to academic families and those connected to Education City.
ACS Doha International School
Part of the international ACS network with London and Cobham heritage. Runs the full continuum. Diploma cohort smaller than Qatar Academy but well supported. Premium facilities, particularly strong sport and arts infrastructure. Cohort skews towards British and American expat families with internationally mobile careers.
Qatar Academy Sidra
Qatar Foundation sister school to Qatar Academy Doha, with the same model and similar fees. Diploma cohort smaller and newer. Strong choice for families wanting Qatar Academy's ethos with a smaller cohort.
Compare these schools side by side
Use the compare tool to put any three IB schools next to each other on fees, cohort size, Diploma averages and university destinations. Build your shortlist via the school finder, or browse the full Doha city guide for listings. Want a tailored review? Send us your shortlist.
Diploma and mixed-curriculum schools
The largest group of Doha's IB schools run the Diploma alongside another curriculum. The most common combinations are American high school with an IB Diploma option, and British IGCSE plus A-Levels with a sixth form IB alternative. These mixed schools suit families who want to keep curriculum options open until Year 11 and then choose.
American School of Doha (ASD)
The legacy American school in Doha, with IB Diploma offered as an alternative to AP at sixth form. Strong US university outcomes, with consistent 30 plus percent of leavers to top-50 US universities in recent years. Diploma cohort modest but supported. Premium facilities and a heavily American and diplomatic cohort.
Doha College
The flagship British school in Doha with sixth form IB Diploma alongside A-Levels. Diploma cohort small relative to the A-Level cohort but with strong university destinations. Excellent academic outcomes overall, deep British community, strong sport and music programmes.
Compass International School Doha
Nord Anglia network school with British curriculum through to GCSE, then a choice of A-Levels or IB Diploma at sixth form. Multiple campuses across the city. Diploma cohort smaller but growing. Mid-tier fees relative to Doha College or ASD, with credible academic outcomes.
Park House English School
British curriculum primary and secondary, with sixth form IB Diploma. Strong choice for families in the West Bay and Diplomatic District catchment. Diploma cohort modest, with consistent academic outcomes.
PYP and MYP-focused options
For families with younger children, the PYP options expand the shortlist further. Several smaller schools offer the PYP without continuing into the MYP or Diploma, which suits families using inquiry-led primary education and planning to choose a different secondary route. The decision point becomes Year 6 or 7, when the school's MYP option (or lack of it) shapes the next phase.
Notable PYP-strong schools in Doha include several of the Qatari-founded bilingual schools that have adopted the PYP, and some of the smaller international primary schools across the city. The MYP cluster is narrower because most MYP schools also run the Diploma, so the schools listed above cover most of the MYP landscape. Families considering a primary-only PYP school should plan early for the Year 6 or 7 transition.
Fees and the all-in cost
IB school fees in Doha cluster across three tiers. Premium (QAR 75,000 to 95,000 tuition, QAR 90,000 to 115,000 all-in): ASD, ACS Doha, Doha College sixth form, Compass at the top of its range. Mid-tier (QAR 55,000 to 75,000): Qatar Academy, Compass, Park House. Value tier (QAR 35,000 to 55,000): smaller IB-authorised schools and some bilingual options.
The headline figures understate the true cost by roughly 20 to 25 percent. Add transport (QAR 6,000 to 12,000 per year), books and uniform (QAR 2,500 to 4,500), trips and ECAs (QAR 2,000 to 5,000), and the IB Diploma exam fees in Years 12 and 13 (QAR 3,500 to 5,000 in total). A school quoting QAR 75,000 in tuition will land closer to QAR 92,000 all-in. The school fees in Doha piece covers the full uplift framework, and the fees explorer lets you model a specific shortlist.
Admission timing and waitlists
The popular IB schools in Doha have meaningful waitlists for the in-demand year groups, particularly FS2 entry, Year 1, Year 7 entry into MYP, and Year 12 entry into the Diploma at Qatar Academy and ASD. For September entry at the top tier, applications should be in by the previous October at the latest, with assessments scheduled in November and January for offer decisions in February or March.
Less popular year groups, particularly Years 3 to 5 and Years 8 to 10, tend to have rolling availability across the year. Mid-year transfers are absorbed by most schools, though placement depends on cohort space. Our admissions timing by city guide covers Doha alongside the other Gulf hubs.
How to choose between them
The choice usually comes down to three filters, applied in order. Curriculum philosophy: are you committed to the IB through the whole school journey, or only at sixth form? If only at sixth form, a mixed-curriculum school keeps the British or American option open. Cohort size: a Diploma cohort of 60 supports a much wider subject choice than one of 15. Ask for the current subject offerings at the school's most recent cohort, including the language Bs and any group 6 options. Location and logistics: a 35 minute school run twice a day adds up. Within Doha the practical school catchment is the cluster within 20 to 25 minutes at peak time.
Most international families converge on Qatar Academy, ASD, Doha College, ACS or Compass for the senior years. The school finder quiz at school finder walks through the filters in 4 minutes, and the compare tool puts the final three side by side. For the broader city context including housing and visa, see our moving to Doha with kids piece.
A final practical note. Several Doha IB schools require an in-person assessment for senior school entry, particularly into MYP Year 7 and Diploma Year 12. The assessments are usually short, focused on English and mathematics for younger entrants and including a subject discussion for Diploma candidates. Schools can run these remotely for overseas applicants, but in-person assessment is strongly preferred and often determines the order in which offers are confirmed. Schedule an exploratory visit during the spring half-term if at all possible.
Related guides
- Best international schools in Doha
- International school fees in Doha
- Cheapest international schools in Doha
Frequently asked questions
How many IB schools are there in Doha?
Doha has roughly 12 schools offering one or more IB programmes. The Diploma is offered at around 9 schools, the MYP at a similar number, and the PYP at around 10 schools that include early years. Several schools run the full IB continuum from PYP through to Diploma.
What is the average IB Diploma score in Doha?
Across Doha's established IB schools, average Diploma scores cluster between 32 and 36. Qatar Academy, ACS Doha and the American School of Doha report the strongest averages, with several pupils achieving 40 plus each year. The worldwide IB average is 30 to 31, so Doha sits comfortably above the global mean.
Are IB schools more expensive than British or American schools in Doha?
Marginally. At the premium tier, IB schools sit in a similar QAR 65,000 to 90,000 range to the established British and American schools. Qatar Academy operates on a not-for-profit model and prices below several of the British schools, which is a deliberate accessibility decision by the Qatar Foundation.
Can my child transfer from a British school to an IB school in Doha?
Yes. Schools handle Year 6 to Year 9 transitions routinely. The harder switch is mid-Diploma in Year 12, where transferring partway through can mean repeating content or losing predicted grades. Most schools advise transferring at the end of Year 11 if entering the Diploma cohort.