How many IB schools in Bangkok
Bangkok has roughly 18 authorised IB World Schools listed with the International Baccalaureate Organization, the deepest IB market in Southeast Asia outside Singapore. Around 14 deliver the IB Diploma Programme at sixth form, six the IB Middle Years Programme and 13 the IB Primary Years Programme. NIST International School and International School Bangkok run the full PYP, MYP and Diploma continuum on a single site, the most demanding authorisation level the IB awards.
The Bangkok IB cluster has grown steadily since the mid-1990s, when NIST opened as the original UN-mandated international school. Bangkok Patana, originally a UK-curriculum school, added the IB Diploma in 1995 and now runs both A Level and IB pathways side by side, an unusual hybrid that suits dual-mobility families. The 2020s wave added Concordian International, KIS, Wellington College Bangkok and the IB stream at Wells International, taking the city well past the supply seen anywhere else in mainland Southeast Asia.
Fees and the Bangkok tiers
IB tuition in Bangkok divides into three rough tiers. The value tier sits at $14,000 to $19,000 a year and covers the smaller IB schools and the IB streams within the mid-market international cluster, including KIS, Concordian primary and Ekamai International. The mid tier runs $19,000 to $25,000 and captures Wells, Australian International School Bangkok, Garden International and the Bangkok Patana A Level cohort. The premium tier, $25,000 to $32,000, includes NIST, ISB, Bangkok Patana sixth form, Concordian senior and Harrow IB stream.
Registration fees are non-refundable and run THB 8,000 to THB 60,000 depending on the school. Most schools charge a one-time refundable capital levy of one to two terms of fees. School bus fees of THB 60,000 to THB 90,000 a year are standard for families outside walking distance, an important consideration given Bangkok traffic. For a wider Bangkok cost picture see our Bangkok fees deep dive.
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Illustrative example schools
The schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each has at least 20 years of recorded IB outcomes or a full PYP through Diploma authorisation.
NIST International School in Sukhumvit Soi 15 is the city's oldest dedicated IB school, founded 1992 as the UN-mandated international school for Bangkok. Around 1,650 students from age 2 to 18 across the full IB continuum, with an average Diploma score consistently above 36.
International School Bangkok, on the diplomatic Nichada Thani campus north of the city, is the largest international school in Thailand at around 1,800 students. ISB runs an American-style core curriculum with the IB Diploma at sixth form, a hybrid that suits Korean, Japanese and American families.
Bangkok Patana School in Bangna is the largest British international school in Thailand at around 2,200 students. Patana sixth form offers both A Level and IB in parallel, with the IB cohort averaging 35 to 36 points and the A Level cohort delivering strong UK university outcomes.
Concordian International School in Bangna is Thailand's first trilingual school, teaching in English, Mandarin and Thai. It runs the full IB continuum and is a frequent choice for ethnically Chinese-Thai and mainland Chinese families.
KIS International School in Ratchadapisek is one of central Bangkok's two full IB continuum schools, popular with diplomatic and inner-city expatriate families.
For a curated editorial pick see our best IB schools in Bangkok long read.
Where IB families live
IB families in Bangkok cluster around four broad zones, each shaped by traffic and school catchment. Sukhumvit remains the central spine, hosting NIST in Soi 15, Wells in Soi 17 and Ekamai International further east on Soi 63. Diplomatic and finance-sector families live in Sukhumvit Sois 23 to 49, with NIST and KIS within a short tuk-tuk ride. Nichada Thani, north of the city near Pak Kret, is a purpose-built diplomatic compound and ISB's neighbourhood; families living on the compound walk to school. Bangna, in the eastern outskirts, supports Bangkok Patana, Concordian, Wellington and Brighton College, with most families living in compounds along Bangna-Trad Road. Ratchadapisek and the inner Sathorn-Silom belt support KIS, NIST commute and the IB streams in the central schools.
Korean families form the largest single national community at ISB and a significant cohort at NIST and Wells. Japanese families dominate at the Japanese School of Bangkok which is non-IB, and the bilingual IB streams at Wells. Mainland Chinese families have grown sharply at Concordian and the IB streams of Patana over the past five years.
Admissions calendar
Most Bangkok IB schools run on a continuous rolling admissions cycle but commit places at the start of each August academic year. Year 12 IB Diploma entry rounds open at NIST, ISB, Patana, Concordian and Wells in October of the preceding year, with most subject combinations confirmed by March. Late applicants for August entry are reviewed on a rolling basis subject to space.
The most over-subscribed entry points are pre-school and reception, where waiting lists at NIST, ISB and Patana can stretch 18 to 24 months. Mid-year entry is common at lower year groups due to expatriate movement, particularly at January for families relocating during the European Christmas window. For a fuller picture of admissions across Bangkok see the Bangkok city hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many IB schools are there in Bangkok?
Bangkok has roughly 18 authorised IB World Schools, of which around 14 deliver the Diploma Programme at sixth form. NIST International School and International School Bangkok run the full PYP, MYP and Diploma continuum on a single site.
What is the average IB Diploma score in Bangkok?
Bangkok IB schools posted an average IB Diploma score of 34.1 in the May 2025 session, above the global average of 30.3. NIST and ISB routinely average between 35 and 37 points across the cohort.
How much do IB schools in Bangkok cost?
IB Diploma tuition in Bangkok ranges from $14,000 a year at the smaller IB-stream schools to $32,000 at the premium internationals NIST, ISB and Patana. Median Diploma fees sit near $22,000.
Which IB school in Bangkok is best for British families?
Bangkok Patana School in Bangna runs both the IB Diploma and A Levels at sixth form on the same site, which makes it the natural choice for families weighing both qualifications. Patana, NIST and ISB together host the majority of British IB students in the city.
When should I apply for an IB school in Bangkok?
Apply 12 to 24 months ahead for reception or pre-school entry at NIST, ISB and Patana, the three most over-subscribed schools. Year 12 sixth form entry opens in October of the preceding year with most subject combinations confirmed by March.
