In this guide
Secondary fee range at a glance
New Delhi spans a very wide fee range because mainstream CBSE secondaries sit alongside full international campuses offering the IB Diploma and Cambridge IGCSE. Secondary is the most expensive stage in the international sector: fees step up when a child enters secondary, then again at the IGCSE years and once more at the IB Diploma, where the smallest classes and the heaviest examination load sit. The premium international schools reach INR 9 to 15 lakhs a year, while solid mid tier schools sit far lower. A lakh is one hundred thousand rupees. The bands below are 2026 estimates tied to our New Delhi fees report, with secondary and sixth form pricing at the upper end of each whole school tier.
Secondary fee table by tier
| Tier | Annual secondary tuition (INR) | Approx USD |
|---|---|---|
| Premium international | INR 9L - 15L | USD 10,800 - 18,000 |
| Upper-mid | INR 5L - 9L | USD 6,000 - 10,800 |
| Mid | INR 1.5L - 4L | USD 1,800 - 4,800 |
| Value / entry | INR 0.4L - 1.5L | USD 480 - 1,800 |
Bands are 2026 estimates tied to our New Delhi fees report. Secondary and sixth form tuition sits at the top of each tier; the IB Diploma years are usually the most expensive. New Delhi sits slightly below Mumbai for comparable schools.
Added and one-off costs
| Cost item | Typical range (INR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| One-time admission fee | 4L - 8L | Generally non-refundable, charged at entry |
| Refundable security deposit | 5L - 10L depending on year | Returned when the child leaves |
| Resource fee | 10,000 - 25,000 per year | Includes device programmes |
| Exam entries (IGCSE, IB) | 25,000 - 70,000 | Concentrated in the senior years |
| School bus | 50,000 or more per year | Distance based |
What drives the cost
Three forces shape New Delhi secondary fees. The first is the curriculum split. Schools running the IB Diploma, Cambridge IGCSE or A-levels charge several times the cost of a mainstream CBSE secondary because they carry small classes, international curricula, specialist teaching, university counselling and examination fees paid to boards abroad. The second is the heavy front loading of one-off charges: the admission fee and the refundable security deposit together can dwarf a single year of tuition, so the cost of entry is a major part of the decision. The third is location and brand within the National Capital Region, where the most established international campuses in south Delhi and Gurugram command the top of the band.
Because the up front charges are so large, families should look at the all-in first year cost rather than the headline tuition, and model the IGCSE and Diploma years forward rather than judging affordability on the entry figure alone.
Compare secondary fees across cities
Put New Delhi secondary fees next to Mumbai and other host cities side by side before you commit.
Hidden costs beyond tuition
Headline tuition is only part of the bill, and in New Delhi the one-off charges are unusually large. The biggest items are the one-time admission fee of INR 4 to 8 lakhs, which is generally non-refundable, and a refundable security deposit of INR 5 to 10 lakhs that is returned when a child leaves. On top sit a resource fee of INR 10,000 to 25,000 a year, examination entries of INR 25,000 to 70,000 in the IGCSE and IB years, school bus from INR 50,000 a year on a distance basis, devices for one to one programmes, trips and lunch. Confirm which charges are annual, which are one-off and which are refundable before you commit.
Compare secondary fees
New Delhi secondary fees sit just below Mumbai at the top of the Indian range and well below the East Asian and Gulf cities in dollar terms. Use our compare fees tool to put New Delhi next to other host cities and curricula, then read the full New Delhi school fees breakdown for the all stage picture and the all-in cost of a place.
FAQ
How much is secondary international school in New Delhi? Secondary and sixth form international school fees in New Delhi run from a few lakh rupees a year at value schools to INR 9 to 15 lakhs at the premium international schools, with the IGCSE and IB Diploma years at the upper end. Most families also pay a substantial one-time admission fee, a refundable security deposit, exam entries and transport on top.
Why are international fees in New Delhi higher than local CBSE schools? International schools offering the IB Diploma, Cambridge IGCSE and A-levels charge far more than mainstream CBSE schools because they carry small classes, international curricula, specialist teaching, university counselling and examination fees paid abroad. The premium tier reaching INR 9 to 15 lakhs is several times the cost of a typical CBSE secondary place.
Which New Delhi schools offer the IB Diploma and IGCSE? New Delhi and the wider National Capital Region have a strong international offer. The British School New Delhi and The American Embassy School run international curricula through the IB Diploma, while schools such as Pathways and Step by Step offer the IB. Many established schools run Cambridge IGCSE alongside the Indian CBSE board.
Is the admission fee refundable in New Delhi? Usually not. New Delhi international schools commonly charge a one-time admission fee of INR 4 to 8 lakhs that is non-refundable, alongside a refundable security deposit of INR 5 to 10 lakhs that is returned when a child leaves. Always confirm which charge is which, and the refund terms, in writing before paying.
What are the hidden costs of secondary school in New Delhi? Beyond tuition, families add a one-time admission fee, a refundable security deposit, a resource fee of INR 10,000 to 25,000, school bus of INR 50,000 or more, examination entries of INR 25,000 to 70,000 in the IGCSE and IB years, devices, trips and lunch. The admission fee and deposit are the largest items and fall at entry.