How many international senior schools in Mumbai
Mumbai has roughly 20 schools running formally international secondary and sixth form programmes. The cluster splits across three exam pathways. Around 14 schools offer the IB Diploma in Class 11 and 12, the largest single sixth form cluster in India. Around 12 schools deliver IGCSE in the middle years, of which eight extend into Cambridge International A Level at sixth form. Several schools run both IB and A Level in parallel at sixth form, including Aditya Birla World Academy and JBCN. A smaller cohort run CBSE-international or the older Indian School Certificate ISC track with English-medium delivery and structured second language.
Geography matters at senior level. The Bandra Kurla Complex anchors the highest-fee senior schools, with Dhirubhai Ambani International and the American School of Bombay within ten minutes of each other. Juhu hosts Ecole Mondiale, the city's longest-running full IB continuum school. Goregaon East and JVLR support Oberoi International School. Tardeo and South Mumbai are served by Aditya Birla World Academy and the smaller Hill Spring International. Powai supports Hiranandani Foundation and the IB Diploma cluster serving the eastern industrial corridor.
Mumbai's IB Diploma results are competitive by global standards. The leading senior schools deliver mean scores in the 36 to 39 range and place graduates routinely at Russell Group, Ivy League and IIT through the JEE Advanced pathway. The IGCSE and A Level cohorts at Aditya Birla, JBCN and Hill Spring achieve broadly comparable strength, with stronger UK Russell Group placement and a smaller but growing cohort heading to Australian Group of Eight universities.
Fees at IGCSE and sixth form
Mumbai international senior school fees split into three tiers. The value tier, INR 5 lakh to INR 9 lakh a year, covers CBSE-international and ISC blended senior schools plus the smaller Cambridge providers in the suburbs. The mid tier, INR 9 lakh to INR 14 lakh, captures most IB Diploma and Cambridge A Level schools at the established mainstream sites. The premium tier, INR 14 lakh to INR 20 lakh, sits at Dhirubhai Ambani International, the American School of Bombay, Ecole Mondiale and Oberoi.
Three extra costs are worth budgeting at sixth form. Most premium schools charge a one-off admission deposit of INR 2 lakh to INR 5 lakh per child. IB Diploma external exam registration adds USD 700 to USD 1,500 per candidate depending on subject load. University application fees and admissions test costs for SAT, ACT, UCAT or JEE add a further INR 50,000 to INR 1.2 lakh across the Class 11 and 12 cycle. For the wider Mumbai fee picture see our Mumbai international school fees guide. Stress-test the full budget with the cost calculator.
Picking a senior school in Mumbai?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three senior schools by your child's profile, your university plan and your timeline. Free, no obligation.
Illustrative example schools
The schools below are illustrative, not a ranking.
Dhirubhai Ambani International School Senior in BKC delivers the IB Diploma to a highly selective cohort of around 180 senior pupils. Recent average IB scores have sat in the 38 to 40 range. The school is one of the small handful of Indian institutions placing graduates routinely at MIT, Stanford, Oxford and Cambridge.
American School of Bombay High School in BKC delivers both Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma alongside US-aligned graduation. Around 280 senior pupils. Particularly strong for families heading to US universities and for inbound diplomatic and banking children continuing AP from a previous US-curriculum posting.
Ecole Mondiale World School Senior in Juhu is the city's longest-running full IB continuum school, with around 220 senior pupils and a strong record of IB scores in the 35 to 38 range. Particularly well-suited to families wanting through-school continuity from Class 1 to Class 12.
Aditya Birla World Academy Senior in Tardeo delivers both Cambridge International A Level and the IB Diploma in parallel at sixth form, with around 240 senior pupils across the two pathways. The dual offer is rare in Mumbai and lets families switch routes between IGCSE and sixth form.
Oberoi International School Senior across Goregaon East and JVLR delivers the IB Diploma at scale, with around 320 senior pupils between the two campuses. Strong demand from the western suburbs corporate community. For the wider Mumbai picture see our best international schools in Mumbai long read and the best IB schools in Mumbai article.
IB Diploma versus A Level
The most useful planning question at sixth form is the university destination. The IB Diploma suits students targeting selective US universities, EU and Singapore institutions and works well for students who prefer breadth across six subjects plus the core elements of theory of knowledge, the extended essay and creativity, activity and service. Cambridge A Level suits students targeting UK universities and works well for students wanting depth in three or four subjects without the wider Diploma core. Mumbai has strong provision of both.
The practical signal is the student's profile. Students who are equally strong across humanities, sciences and mathematics tend to do well with the IB. Students who are clear about a single specialism, such as engineering, medicine or fine arts, often prefer the A Level concentration. 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 entry points
Most Mumbai senior schools open admissions in October to December for the following June intake. The three competitive entry points at senior level are Class 6 entry into middle school, Class 9 entry into the IGCSE pathway and Class 11 entry into the IB Diploma or A Level sixth form. Class 11 has the highest mid-year mobility because IB Diploma cohorts admit candidates from a wide range of previous IGCSE, ISC and other systems. Most schools require entrance assessments in English, mathematics and a third subject for senior entry, plus a parent and student interview. For wider planning see our Mumbai city hub and the Mumbai primary schools hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many international secondary schools are in Mumbai?
Mumbai has roughly 20 schools running formally international secondary and sixth form programmes. About 14 offer the IB Diploma. About 12 offer IGCSE in the middle years and a further eight extend into Cambridge International A Level at sixth form. Several schools run both IB and A Level options.
What age does secondary start in Mumbai?
Secondary in Mumbai begins at Class 6 at age 10 to 11. Middle school runs Class 6 to 8. IGCSE is taken at Class 10 around age 15 to 16. The sixth form runs as Class 11 and Class 12 with IB Diploma or A Level, completing at age 17 to 18.
How much do Mumbai secondary schools cost?
Mumbai international senior school fees range from INR 5 lakh a year at value-tier CBSE-international and ICSE schools to around INR 20 lakh at the American School of Bombay and Dhirubhai Ambani International. IB Diploma at the premium tier typically sits at INR 14 to 18 lakh.
Is IB Diploma or A Level better in Mumbai?
Neither is objectively better. The IB Diploma suits applicants targeting selective US universities and EU institutions and works well for students who like breadth. Cambridge A Level suits applicants targeting UK universities and works well for students wanting depth in three subjects. Mumbai has strong provision of both.
When do Mumbai senior school admissions open?
Most Mumbai senior schools open admissions in October to December for the following June intake. The competitive intake windows are Class 6 entry, Class 9 entry into the IGCSE pathway, and Class 11 entry into the IB Diploma or A Level. Mid-year transfers are widely possible given expatriate churn.
