How many international primaries in Mumbai
Mumbai has roughly 25 schools running formally international primary programmes from Class 1 to Class 5. The cluster splits in three by framework. The largest group is the IB Primary Years Programme cohort, with around twelve schools authorised by the IB and delivering PYP through to the Class 4 or Class 5 exhibition. The second group is the Cambridge Primary or IGCSE primary cohort, with eight schools running the Cambridge framework before transitioning to IGCSE in middle school. The third group is the CBSE-international or ICSE blended primary, where Indian board schools layer international assessment, English-medium delivery and an extended second-language requirement on top of the Indian board curriculum.
Geography matters. The Bandra Kurla Complex apartment and office corridor anchors the highest concentration of international primaries, with Dhirubhai Ambani, ASB and Aditya Birla within ten minutes of each other. Juhu and Andheri West cover the western suburbs intake. Goregaon East and JVLR host the larger campuses with sports fields and outdoor space, including Oberoi and Singapore International. Powai supports the eastern industrial corridor with Hiranandani Foundation, Bombay Scottish and the IB primaries serving the SAP, Bosch and L&T cohorts. South Mumbai is served principally by Aditya Birla, Cathedral and the smaller Hill Spring.
Mumbai's international primary supply is unusually selective by Indian standards. The waitlists for Class 1 at Dhirubhai Ambani, ASB and Aditya Birla typically extend 12 to 24 months for non-sibling applicants. Bridge places open through natural expatriate churn but remain genuinely competitive.
Fees and the primary tiers
Mumbai international primary fees split into three tiers. The value tier, INR 3 lakh to INR 6 lakh a year, covers CBSE-international and ICSE blended primaries plus the value-tier Cambridge Primary schools in the suburbs. The mid tier, INR 6 lakh to INR 11 lakh, captures most established IB PYP schools and the urban Cambridge Primary cohort. The premium tier, INR 11 lakh to INR 17 lakh and above, sits at Dhirubhai Ambani International, the American School of Bombay, Ecole Mondiale, Oberoi and Aditya Birla.
Two extra costs are worth budgeting. Most premium-tier schools charge a one-off admission deposit of INR 2 lakh to INR 5 lakh per child, of which roughly half is refundable on departure. School bus serving Bandra to BKC to Powai routes adds INR 80,000 to INR 1.3 lakh a year. For the wider Mumbai fee picture see our Mumbai international school fees guide and the cost calculator for total relocation budgeting.
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Illustrative example schools
The schools below are illustrative, not a ranking.
Dhirubhai Ambani International School Primary in BKC runs an IB PYP-aligned primary through Class 4 inside the city's most academically selective IB continuum school. Around 400 children across the primary years, with the same cohort flowing into IB middle school and IB Diploma on the same campus.
Ecole Mondiale World School Primary in Juhu is the city's longest-established full IB continuum school, delivering PYP from Class 1 through to the Class 5 exhibition. Around 350 primary children, with feeder relationships into the school's own IB middle years and Diploma programmes.
Oberoi International School Primary across Goregaon East and JVLR runs IB PYP at scale, with around 700 primary children between the two campuses. The newer JVLR site is preferred by eastern suburbs families.
American School of Bombay Lower School in BKC runs a US-aligned standards-based primary curriculum with AERO references and a strong PYP overlay. Around 320 lower school children, drawing primarily from the diplomatic, banking and consulting expatriate community.
Aditya Birla World Academy Primary in Tardeo runs IB PYP with a structured Hindi stream. Around 280 primary children. The South Mumbai location anchors the school's strong Cuffe Parade, Worli and Lower Parel intake. For the wider Mumbai picture across all curricula see our best international schools in Mumbai long read.
Which primary framework
The most useful planning question for a Mumbai primary family is the onward pathway. IB PYP suits families heading toward IB Diploma at the same school or transferring to another IB World School elsewhere. Cambridge Primary and IGCSE primary suit families heading toward IGCSE at age 16 and A Level at age 18, the dominant UK pathway. CBSE-international and ICSE blended primary suit families likely to stay within the Indian system longer term, including Indian-passport families on rotation back from overseas.
The practical advice for international families on shorter Mumbai rotations is to match the primary framework to the likely next posting. Families heading to Dubai, Singapore or another IB-heavy city after Mumbai favour PYP. Families heading to a British-curriculum city like Hong Kong, London or a UK-international Asian city favour Cambridge. For the wider Mumbai schooling map by curriculum see the Mumbai British curriculum hub, the Mumbai American curriculum hub and the Mumbai IB hub.
Admissions and onward transitions
Most Mumbai international primaries open admissions in October to December for the following June intake. Sibling priority is universal and observed strictly. Class 1 entry is the most competitive intake and routinely runs waitlists of 12 to 24 months at Dhirubhai Ambani International, ASB, Ecole Mondiale and Aditya Birla. Mid-year transfers from overseas are possible across most schools given expatriate churn.
Documentation expected at application includes prior school reports for transferring children, a passport or Aadhaar, and at the premium tier a short readiness assessment plus a parent interview. The natural onward transition from international primary is into the school's own middle school in a through-school setting. Where a primary school does not extend into senior years, the principal feeder relationships into IB Diploma sit with Ecole Mondiale, Dhirubhai Ambani, Oberoi and ASB. For onward planning see the Mumbai secondary schools hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many international primary schools are in Mumbai?
Mumbai has roughly 25 schools running formally international primary programmes from Class 1 to Class 5, the majority within larger through-schools. Approximately 12 deliver IB PYP, 8 follow Cambridge Primary or IGCSE primary, and the remainder follow CBSE-i or ICSE blended frames.
What age does primary school start in Mumbai?
Primary in Mumbai begins at Class 1 at age 5 to 6, following Senior KG. The primary years run from Class 1 to Class 5 in most international schools, ending around age 10 to 11. A small number of IB schools end primary at Class 4 in line with PYP exhibition timing.
How much do Mumbai primary schools cost?
Mumbai international primary fees range from INR 3 lakh a year at value-tier CBSE-i and ICSE schools to INR 14 lakh at the IB PYP through-schools. The American School of Bombay and Dhirubhai Ambani International sit at the top of the fee range, both around INR 13 to 17 lakh.
Is IB PYP or Cambridge Primary better in Mumbai?
Neither is objectively better. IB PYP suits families heading to an IB Diploma exit and wanting inquiry-led primary years. Cambridge Primary and IGCSE primary suit families heading to A Level or planning a UK or British-international onward posting. The strongest predictor of fit is the senior school plan, not the primary framework.
When do Mumbai primary admissions open?
Most Mumbai international primaries open admissions in October to December for the following June intake. Class 1 entry is most competitive. Mid-year transfers from overseas are typically possible at the IB and IGCSE primaries given the natural churn of expatriate families.
