IB Schools in Lisbon: the complete list

The IB landscape in Lisbon

For a city the size of Lisbon, the IB cluster is unusually deep. There are currently six IB World Schools running the Diploma Programme inside the metropolitan area, and a further handful of schools authorised only for the Primary Years or Middle Years Programme. The strongest schools sit on the Cascais coast and in the northern suburbs of Carcavelos, Sintra and Estoril. A second tier of city-centre schools is growing fast, helped by a wave of post-2020 expat arrivals from the United States, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

Two things shape Lisbon's IB scene more than anywhere else we cover. First, Portuguese state schools are genuinely competitive at the academic top end, which keeps IB fees lower than in Madrid, Paris or Geneva. Second, the Golden Visa and digital-nomad inflows of the past five years have produced a younger, more mobile parent base that values portability, which in turn favours the IB Diploma over the local Portuguese 12th-year exams. The result is a market where credible IB places are still available with one to two terms of notice, rather than the 18-month waitlists you see in London.

The 2026 list, ranked

PYP and MYP feeders worth knowing

If you are arriving with primary or middle-school-age children, the picture widens. Several Lisbon schools hold PYP or MYP authorisation without yet offering the full Diploma. These are useful feeders into the schools listed above. Prime Lisbon International School, Astoria Lisbon and the recently authorised Greenwood House all run credible PYP programmes and feed into Diploma cohorts elsewhere in the city. For Middle Years, the most established option outside the six Diploma schools is Park International School Lisbon's MYP, which sits below its own Diploma. Families taking a multi-year view tend to start their child in a PYP or MYP feeder and apply for Diploma places in Year 10, where availability is far better than at sixth-form.

It is worth remembering that the IB continuum is a curriculum framework, not a fixed school chain. A child who completes PYP at one school and MYP at another will not lose any ground, provided each school is properly authorised. Lisbon's compact geography makes cross-school moves more practical than in cities like London or São Paulo.

Fees and the hidden cost loading

Lisbon remains the cheapest credible IB market in western Europe. Premium IB places at St Julian's, CAISL and TASIS cost EUR 19,000 to EUR 22,000 per year in Years 12 and 13. Upper-mid schools come in at EUR 14,000 to EUR 18,000. By contrast, premium IB places in Geneva start at CHF 35,000 and in London above GBP 30,000.

The headline figure is, of course, not the all-in cost. Lisbon schools charge registration, capital levies, exam fees, books, transport and trips on top, which typically add 25 to 30 percent. A premium IB place at EUR 21,000 of tuition will cost EUR 27,000 to EUR 28,000 all-in. Read our hidden fees guide for the full structural picture and the line items that tend to surprise relocating families.

Neighbourhoods that match these schools

School commute drives housing choice for most Lisbon relocators. The Carcavelos and Cascais corridor is the traditional expat belt, anchored by St Julian's, and most families with children there cluster between Estoril and Parede. The Sintra corridor, anchored by CAISL and TASIS, is greener and quieter, with newer family-led developments around Quinta da Beloura. Central Lisbon families with children at BSL or ULIS tend to live in Lapa, Estrela or Parque das Nações, with shorter school runs but tighter housing inventory. The choice is rarely a free one: schools are typically the constraint, and neighbourhoods are chosen around them.

For a wider read on how Lisbon's neighbourhoods map onto family life, see our Lisbon city guide, which covers schools alongside healthcare, the NHR tax regime and after-school logistics.

Admissions timing

Diploma year places at the top three Lisbon IB schools are tight, but nowhere near London or Singapore levels. St Julian's typically runs a waitlist for Year 12 entries of three to six months for arrivals starting after January, with September entries best secured by the preceding November. CAISL and BSL have shorter timelines, often accepting applications for September entry as late as the previous March. The newer schools (ULIS, Park International) have rolling availability throughout the year and can usually accept Diploma starters within four to six weeks. See our broader piece on admissions timing by city for the full table.

When IB is not the right call

The IB Diploma is not the best fit for every family in Lisbon. If your child is targeting Portuguese universities exclusively, the Portuguese 12th-year exams remain the most efficient pathway, and several private bilingual schools run that route to excellent standards. If your child has a strong subject focus and is targeting UK universities, A-Levels through St Julian's or Park International give more depth in two or three subjects and are still a credible route. And if your child is mid-IB at a previous school and arriving in Year 12 or 13, mid-Diploma transfers are technically possible but rarely advisable. Read our switching schools guide for the timing rules and an honest view of when a transfer pays off.

A separate consideration is whether IB is the right call by child profile. The Diploma rewards generalist learners who enjoy breadth across humanities, sciences and languages, and who are comfortable with a heavy non-examined workload (Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, CAS). Children with a sharply specialist profile (deep maths, deep humanities) sometimes find A-Levels a more rewarding fit, and the Lisbon British schools support both pathways. Children with significant learning support needs should examine the SEN provision at each Lisbon IB school carefully, as the depth of in-school support varies materially.

A short structural view of Lisbon IB

The Lisbon IB cluster has matured considerably since 2020. Five years ago, the obvious choice for a credible Diploma was St Julian's, with no real second tier. Today, CAIS, BSL and ULIS have all reached genuine credibility, with cohort averages above 33 and clear university pipelines into UK, Dutch, Spanish, US and Portuguese institutions. The newer entrants (ULIS, Greenwood House for PYP) signal continued growth.

For relocating families, the practical implication is that the Lisbon market now has both depth and choice. Five years of growth has created enough credible options that families no longer need to compete for a single school, and admissions stress is materially lower than London, Singapore or Hong Kong. That ease of access is one of the more under-appreciated practical advantages of choosing Lisbon over its larger European peers for a school-age family relocation.

FAQ

How many IB schools are there in Lisbon?
Six schools hold IB Diploma authorisation, with four offering the full PYP to DP continuum. A further handful of feeder schools hold PYP or MYP only.

What is the average IB Diploma score in Lisbon?
The city-wide weighted average is close to 33.5. The strongest schools (St Julian's, CAISL) produce five-year averages above 35. The lower end of the cluster sits around 32.

Is the IB Diploma recognised by Portuguese universities?
Yes. The Portuguese Ministry of Education recognises the IB Diploma for university admission, with score conversions published annually. A 40-point IB score typically converts to a Portuguese university entry score above 18.5 out of 20.

How does Lisbon compare to Madrid or Barcelona for IB?
Cheaper and slightly less competitive at the top end, but the strongest Lisbon schools (St Julian's, CAISL) are now broadly comparable to Madrid's top tier. See our Madrid IB schools list for a direct comparison.

Related guides

• The best international schools in Lisbon 2026 (all curricula)
• International school fees in Lisbon 2026
• IB curriculum explained