How many British schools in Seoul
Seoul has a small but distinctive British school cluster: two full English National Curriculum schools running from EYFS through to A Level sixth form, plus a handful of smaller primary-only or secondary-only British-influenced options. The two full-stage schools are Dulwich College Seoul in Banpo, Seocho, the sister school to Dulwich College in London, and the British International School Seoul-Yongsan in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. Both deliver the English National Curriculum across EYFS, Key Stages 1 to 4, and a CIE-anchored A Level sixth form. Both are tightly regulated foreigner-only schools under Korean MOE rules.
British curriculum delivery in Seoul sits inside a wider international school context dominated by the American AP cohort. Korean families seeking a UK pathway have historically chosen Dulwich College Seoul as the natural fit, but in recent years many have also routed children through Seoul Foreign School and Korea International School where the IB Diploma plays a parallel role to A Level for UK university entry. Outside the city itself, North London Collegiate School Jeju on Jeju Island is the largest British-curriculum school in Korea by total enrolment, with weekly boarding for Seoul-based families a notable option. NLCS Jeju is not in Seoul but features in Seoul-family decision-making at Year 9 and Year 12 entry points.
The British curriculum offering is therefore concentrated in Seoul itself at two anchor schools. Total English National Curriculum enrolment across Dulwich College Seoul and BISS Yongsan runs at around 1,400 students in 2026, making British curriculum the second-largest international curriculum in the city after American AP. For the wider Seoul international context see our Seoul city hub and the global British curriculum hub.
Fees and the cost-of-place picture
Tuition at Seoul British schools ranges from KRW 30 million per year at EYFS and lower primary, to KRW 42 million per year at A Level in 2026. In US dollar terms that is roughly USD 22,000 to USD 30,000. Capital or development fees of KRW 6 million to KRW 12 million on entry, transport of KRW 3 million to KRW 5 million, lunch around KRW 1.5 million, and IGCSE plus A Level examination fees of KRW 1.5 million in Year 11 and Year 13 sit on top. The all-in cost-of-place at Dulwich College Seoul A Level runs around KRW 50 million per year, or USD 36,000.
Both Seoul British schools operate corporate fee schemes for multinational employer-sponsored families, and a small number of academic and music scholarships at Year 7 and Year 12 entry. Sibling discounts of 5 to 10 percent are standard from the second child onwards. Most family allowances at multinational employers cover the full tuition tier but excluding capital fees, transport and exam fees, which combine to add KRW 10 to KRW 15 million per child per year to the overall cost. For the full fee detail see our Seoul fees guide, and use the cost calculator for broader relocation budgeting.
Dulwich, BISS Yongsan or NLCS Jeju boarding?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three British curriculum options based on your district, your university target and your budget.
Illustrative example schools
The three schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each runs a long-established English National Curriculum programme with a distinct identity in the Korean British curriculum market.
Dulwich College Seoul in Banpo, Seocho district, runs the English National Curriculum from EYFS through to A Level. Sister school to Dulwich College London, with the Dulwich brand identity and a strong tradition in music, sports and IB Diploma as an alternative sixth-form option. The largest single English National Curriculum cohort in Seoul, with leavers placed across Oxbridge, Russell Group, US Ivy League and Korean SKY universities in measurable numbers. The campus sits adjacent to the Han River south bank with extensive sports facilities.
British International School Yongsan-dong Seoul in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, runs the English National Curriculum across EYFS, primary, secondary and A Level. Smaller cohorts than Dulwich, central Seoul location adjacent to the former US military base and the diplomatic quarter, and a strong focus on personalised pastoral provision. The default British-route choice for families based in Hannam-dong and Itaewon who prefer to avoid the southern Seoul commute to Banpo.
North London Collegiate School Jeju, on Jeju Island and not in Seoul itself, deserves a mention because Seoul-based families regularly consider it as a weekly boarding option for Years 7 to 13. NLCS Jeju delivers the English National Curriculum with strong Oxbridge placement, and its Seoul-family boarding cohort runs into the hundreds. For families willing to consider boarding from age 11, NLCS Jeju represents a fee structure broadly similar to in-Seoul British schools with a stronger academic peer group at sixth form.
Where British curriculum families live
British curriculum families in Seoul cluster around two anchors. Hannam-dong, Itaewon and Yongsan in central Seoul for families using BISS Yongsan, with the diplomatic quarter, the former US military base, and the long-established expat residential infrastructure concentrated here. Three-bedroom family apartments run KRW 5 million to KRW 9 million per month in this cluster, with single-family villas and corporate-tied housing absorbing much of the premium stock. Banpo, Seocho and the southern Han River bank for families using Dulwich College Seoul, where mid-rise family apartments and serviced residences run KRW 4 million to KRW 8 million per month and the Banpo subway anchors the daily commute.
For families willing to live further from central Seoul to access the lower per square metre rental costs, Hannam-The-Hill remains the corporate-tied premium choice, while Pyeongchang-dong and Seongbuk-dong offer more individual villa stock at KRW 6 million to KRW 12 million per month for larger family homes. Compare our Seoul IB hub, Seoul American curriculum hub and best international schools in Seoul for the wider context. The Seoul fees guide walks through cost-of-place arithmetic in detail.
Admissions, F-visa rules and A Level routes
Seoul British schools apply the same Korean MOE foreigners-only enrolment rule as other international schools in the city. Foreign passport holders are eligible without restriction. Korean nationals are eligible only if they have lived overseas for at least three consecutive years at the point of application. Returnee Korean families are an important cohort at both Dulwich College Seoul and BISS Yongsan, particularly at Year 7 and Year 12 entry points. Applications for August 2026 entry opened at both schools in October 2025 with assessment days through January and February and offers issued by mid-March. Mid-year transfers are accepted on a rolling basis through Year 9 subject to places.
The A Level pathway from Seoul British schools leads predominantly to UK universities through UCAS, with the standard January application deadline and predicted grades issued in October. Russell Group offers are competitive at AAB to A*AA depending on subject. US university applications via Common Application use A Level predicted grades alongside SAT or ACT scores, with both Dulwich and BISS Yongsan delivering Common App support through dedicated US counsellors. Korean universities admit A Level holders through the international admissions track, with subject prerequisites varying by university. Compare with our Seoul American curriculum hub and Seoul French curriculum hub for the wider entry guidance.
Frequently asked questions
How many British curriculum schools are there in Seoul?
Seoul has two full English National Curriculum schools running from EYFS through to sixth form, Dulwich College Seoul in Banpo and Dulwich Yonsei-affiliated Dulwich Music Academy alongside the Dulwich College campus. A third, the smaller British Cherry School, runs primary only. North London Collegiate School Jeju is on Jeju Island, not in Seoul.
What is the difference between IGCSE and A Level at Seoul British schools?
IGCSE is the Year 10 to 11 examination credential, equivalent to GCSE in the UK, with most students taking 8 to 10 subjects. A Level is the Year 12 to 13 sixth form qualification, with most students taking 3 to 4 subjects in depth. UK universities expect three A Levels plus minimum IGCSE grades.
How much do British schools in Seoul cost?
Tuition at Seoul British schools ranges from KRW 30 million per year at primary to KRW 42 million per year at A Level in 2026. Capital fees of KRW 6 million to KRW 12 million on entry, transport of KRW 3 million to KRW 5 million and examination fees of KRW 1.5 million at IGCSE and A Level sit on top.
Can Korean nationals attend British schools in Seoul?
Seoul British schools admit foreign passport holders and returnee Korean children who have lived overseas for at least three consecutive years. The MOE's foreign school restriction applies. Korean nationals without overseas residency cannot enrol at Dulwich College Seoul or BISS Yongsan.
When do applications open at Seoul British schools?
For August 2026 entry, Dulwich College Seoul and BISS Yongsan opened applications in October 2025. Assessment days run January and February with offers issued by mid-March. Mid-year transfers are accepted on a rolling basis subject to places, with Reception through Year 9 the most flexible cohorts.
