Turkey, principally Istanbul, hosts an established international school market driven by multinational corporate postings, diplomatic placements, and a Turkish upper-middle-class market increasingly seeking English-medium international education.
The school landscape
Istanbul's international schools include MEF International School (IB), BUPS (British), the German School Istanbul, the French Lycée, Robert College (Turkish-American), and Hisar Schools (Turkish bilingual). Fees range from USD 10,000 to 25,000 per year.
Neighbourhoods
The European side (Etiler, Bebek, Levent, Ulus) hosts most expat-favoured international schools. The Asian side (Suadiye, Kalamis, Atasehir) has its own credible school cluster.
Currency
Turkish lira volatility has been a structural feature of the past several years. International school fees are sometimes USD-denominated. Most expat families maintain foreign-currency banking.
What to know
Istanbul traffic is severe. School-catchment housing matters more than in most cities. Public transport is materially better than a decade ago but still does not replace a school bus or car for most families.