On this page
Parents searching for when applications open in Bangalore are usually weighing a move, and the honest answer is that the question itself works differently here than in cities with a single admissions round. Begin with our directory of international schools in Bangalore to see the field, then use the school type and its calendar, not a fixed date, to plan your timing. We have grounded the windows below in facts you can verify and have not invented any school's dates.
The short answer by school type
International and IB schools keep applications open continuously. You enquire and apply, and where a year group is full a place is offered when one opens rather than waiting for a date to reopen. These schools, including The International School Bangalore, Stonehill International School and the Canadian International School, run an August to June year, so the application is effectively always open and the constraint is availability in your child's year. Indian-curriculum CBSE and ICSE schools work to an April to March calendar, which moves their main intake earlier in the year. So the school type and its calendar, not a single open date, set your timing. Our guide to application deadlines in Bangalore 2026 covers both routes in more detail.
Intake months and the school year
The international school year in Bangalore runs August to June, so the largest intake is at the August start. Because admission is rolling, mid-year entry is also common, particularly for families relocating part way through, where many schools add a place when one exists. The one fixed point is the Grade 11 IB Diploma year, which has to begin in August. The table below sets out the practical intake points for the international schools.
| Intake | Month | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Start of year (main intake) | August | Families settled before the year starts; largest number of places; required for Grade 11 IB Diploma |
| Rolling, mid-year | Through the year | Mid-year relocations where a place exists in the year group |
| Indian-curriculum schools | Around April | Families choosing CBSE or ICSE on the April to March calendar |
For the full term and holiday framework, see our Bangalore school holidays 2026 calendar, which shows exactly when each term begins.
How far ahead to apply
This is the figure that actually matters. For the sought-after international schools, apply as early as you can before the August start you want, because popular year groups fill ahead of the date even though applications stay open. The new year into spring is the natural window, lining up with The International School Bangalore's January to April Open Mornings, and it leaves time for the entrance assessment that many schools run before confirming a place. The main entry points are the early years and Kindergarten, the start of primary, and the move into senior school, so applying for one of these year groups improves your chances. An off-cycle year depends on a place opening up.
Find Bangalore schools with places
Tell us your child's year group and start date and the school finder surfaces Bangalore schools to approach about availability.
Use the school finderApplying from overseas
Families still abroad can apply to Bangalore schools, and many assess remotely with an online interview and tests. Tell the school your move timeline and residency status early, because they affect the documents you need and how an assessment is arranged, and confirm any visa requirements with the relevant Indian authorities. Our step-by-step guide to applying to international schools in Bangalore walks through the documents and stages, and the international school fees in Bangalore guide covers what enrolment will cost.
When applications open in Bangalore: FAQ
There is no single open date. International and IB schools keep applications open continuously and admit on a rolling basis, subject to a place existing in the year group, so the question is how far ahead to apply rather than when a window opens. The main intake is the August start of the academic year, and The International School Bangalore runs Open Mornings from January to April. Indian-curriculum CBSE and ICSE schools run an April to March year, which moves their main intake earlier.
For international schools the largest intake is at the August start of the academic year, which runs August to June. Because admission is rolling, mid-year entry is also common for relocating families where a place exists, except for the Grade 11 IB Diploma year, which begins in August. Indian-curriculum schools on the April to March calendar take their main intake around the start of that year instead.
Apply as early as you can before the August start you are aiming at, because popular year groups fill ahead of August even though applications stay open. The new year into spring is the natural window, lining up with The International School Bangalore's January to April Open Mornings, and it leaves time for the entrance assessment that many schools run before confirming a place.
International schools in Bangalore take their largest intakes at the early years and Kindergarten, the start of primary, and the move into senior school, with the Grade 11 IB Diploma year a fixed August entry. The Canadian International School, for example, opens admissions across Kindergarten through Grade 11. Applying for one of these natural entry points improves your chances; an off-cycle year depends on a place opening up.
Yes. Bangalore international schools accept applications from families still abroad, and many assess remotely with an online interview or test. Tell the school your move timeline and residency status early so it can advise on documents and the assessment, and confirm any visa requirements with the relevant Indian authorities.