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For the full picture of senior provision, start with our international schools in Cairo directory, which lists every school by curriculum and stage. The schools below all run an examined Years 12 and 13 programme that leads directly to university entry, and they admit by application rather than by catchment. This is a shortlist to research, not a ranking, and provision changes, so confirm current pathways with each school before you apply.
Because Cairo offers both routes, the first question is usually A Level or IB Diploma. If subject specialism in three or four subjects suits your child, read our guide to A Levels and look for the A Level schools below; if a broader six subject programme fits better, weigh the IB Diploma options. Families focused on outcomes should also read our shortlist of the best schools for university preparation in Cairo.
The shortlist
British International School Cairo (BISC)
BISC teaches the British curriculum from the early years to 18 and runs its sixth form on the IB Diploma, a programme it introduced back in 1989, which makes it one of the longest established Diploma sixth forms in the city. The long track record matters in the IB, where experienced teaching and a settled subject offer carry weight, and the school is a natural first stop for families who want a broad six subject Diploma.
New Cairo British International School (NCBIS)
NCBIS is a not-for-profit British school in New Cairo, established in 1978, whose sixth form lets students choose UK A Levels or the IB Diploma. That choice in one school is the standout feature here: a child can pick subject specialism through A Levels or the breadth of the Diploma without changing school. Its not-for-profit status means fees fund the school rather than a shareholder, which some families weigh heavily.
Cairo English School
Cairo English School follows a Cambridge route lower down and runs the full IB Diploma in its senior years, with students taking one subject from each of the six IB groups. For families who want a committed, single track IB sixth form rather than a choice of routes, this clarity is part of the appeal, and the Cambridge IGCSE foundation underneath prepares pupils for the Diploma's demands.
Malvern College Egypt
Malvern College Egypt opened in 2016 in partnership with the UK's Malvern College and takes pupils from 18 months to 18. Senior students sit IGCSE and then choose between the IB Diploma and A Levels, with class sizes kept to around 18. The recent, purpose built campus and the UK partnership make it a strong shortlist entry for families who want a choice of sixth form route on a modern campus in the south east of the city.
How we chose
We included only Cairo schools we could confirm run a genuine, externally examined sixth form leading to university entry, whether A Levels, the IB Diploma or a choice of both, and that enrol students through to the end of Year 13. We did not rank them, score them or attach ratings, because the right sixth form depends on your child's subjects, the qualification universities in your target country prefer, and the fit of the school. King's School The Crown, which opened in 6 October City in 2023, also runs a British sixth form and is worth adding to a West Cairo shortlist. Verify current subject lists and pathways directly, as schools add and retire options year to year.
Shortlist Cairo schools for your child
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and priorities and the school finder returns a matched Cairo shortlist.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
Sixth form fees in Cairo sit at the upper end of each school's fee schedule, and the senior years are typically the most expensive stage. Rather than quote figures that move each year, we keep the live bands in one place: see our guide to international school fees in Cairo for current tuition by school and stage, and confirm the exact sixth form figure, plus any examination and deposit costs, with the school before you apply.
To build a shortlist around your child, use the school finder, browse the full Cairo schools directory, or compare the related shortlists for university preparation and the most affordable international schools in Cairo.
Common questions
British International School Cairo, New Cairo British International School, Cairo English School and Malvern College Egypt all run an examined sixth form leading to the IB Diploma, A Levels, or both, usually after Cambridge IGCSE. King's School The Crown also runs a British sixth form. Confirm the current subject list with each school, as offerings change year to year.
Cairo is unusual in offering both. Several British curriculum schools run A Levels, some run the IB Diploma, and a few offer a choice between the two in Years 12 and 13. If one route matters to you, confirm it directly with the school, since a school may add or retire a pathway.
Sixth form sits at the top of each school's fee scale and is usually the most expensive stage. Figures change annually, so we maintain current tuition by school and stage in our international school fees in Cairo guide rather than quote a number that dates quickly.
No. Cairo international schools admit by application, assessment and interview rather than by residential catchment, so where you live does not guarantee a place. Apply directly to each school and check its entry requirements for the sixth form.
Often yes. Schools assess prior attainment and English, and a strong IGCSE or equivalent record is the usual basis for entry into Year 12. Speak to admissions early, as places in popular subject combinations fill, and confirm whether the school prefers the A Level or IB route for your child.