British International School Cairo, widely known as BISC, is one of the longest established British schools listed on our Cairo city hub. It was founded in 1976 and ran for decades from Zamalek, the island district in central Cairo, before moving in 2008 to a purpose built campus in the Beverly Hills compound in 6th of October City on the western edge of the capital. That history makes it one of the anchor institutions for British families in Egypt, with a long record well before many of the newer Cairo schools opened.
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At a glance
Curriculum and academics
The school follows the English National Curriculum from the early years through to IGCSE, the international version of the GCSE sat at the end of secondary. The distinctive feature is what comes next. Rather than the A Levels offered by many British schools, BISC runs the IB Diploma in its sixth form, so students move from a British lower and middle school into the broad two year Diploma for their final qualification. That combination gives a recognisable British structure for most of school with an internationally portable leaving qualification at the top.
This British to IB pathway is worth understanding before you choose. The IB Diploma asks students to study six subjects across the disciplines alongside Theory of Knowledge, the extended essay and creativity, activity and service, which is a broader load than the three or four subject A Level route. Families weighing this against a British school that finishes on A Levels can read our British curriculum guide and IB guide to see how the two leaving routes differ before deciding which suits their child.
Weighing BISC against other Cairo schools?
Put it side by side with up to two other schools on curriculum, fees and location before you decide.
British International School Cairo fees
Published fees place the primary years in roughly the four hundred thousand to five hundred and fifty thousand Egyptian pound range a year, and the secondary and IGCSE years higher, in the order of five hundred and fifty thousand to seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds, rising by stage. That puts BISC in the upper part of the Cairo market in local currency terms. Treat any figure as one that changes each academic year, and remember that fees quoted in Egyptian pounds shift in real terms with the exchange rate, which matters when budgeting from another currency. Confirm the latest schedule directly, then set it against the bands in our Cairo international school fees guide.
Budget beyond tuition. Registration, the confirmation of a place, transport across greater Cairo, lunch, trips and activities all add to the annual bill, and in the sixth form IB examination entry is charged separately. The school is a not for profit institution, fee financed rather than run for profit, which families often weigh alongside the headline numbers. Ask how fees are staged across the year and use our fee tools to model the full cost.
Admissions
The school admits for a September start and reviews applications through the year subject to space. Entry draws on prior school records and assessment to place students correctly and confirm readiness, with particular attention going into the IGCSE years, where course choices begin, and into the sixth form, where the IB Diploma subject combination shapes the final two years. As a long established and well known school, BISC sees steady demand, so popular year groups can fill ahead of the new year.
Families planning a move should apply early, ask directly about availability in their child's year group, and confirm sixth form subject options if their child is approaching the Diploma years, since the right combination of higher and standard level subjects depends on what runs that year.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits in the Beverly Hills compound in 6th of October City, on the western side of greater Cairo, a planned area of gated compounds and newer housing that has drawn many families out from the older central districts. The school moved there in 2008 from Zamalek, trading a central island setting for a larger purpose built site with facilities including a theatre and an Olympic size swimming pool. That move put it within reach of the western suburbs while asking families on the eastern side of the city to factor in the commute.
The community is international with a strong British core, reflecting the curriculum and the school's long history, alongside internationally minded Egyptian families. For the wider picture of who settles where across the capital and how this British school compares with the American, IB and bilingual options, see the Cairo city hub and our guide to the best international schools in Cairo for British families.
Reviews
We do not yet have verified parent reviews for this school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish reviews only once we can confirm they come from real families. If your child attends or has attended British International School Cairo, we would value your first hand account. Share your experience through the school reviews hub and help the next relocating family decide with better information.
Frequently asked questions
How much are British International School Cairo fees?
Published fees place primary years in roughly the four hundred thousand to five hundred and fifty thousand Egyptian pound range a year, and secondary and IGCSE years higher, in the order of five hundred and fifty thousand to seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Figures change each year and shift in real terms with the exchange rate, so confirm the current schedule directly.
Is British International School Cairo a good school?
British International School Cairo is one of the oldest British schools in Egypt, established in 1976, teaching the English National Curriculum to IGCSE then the IB Diploma in the sixth form. It is a not for profit school inspected through the British Schools Overseas framework and a member of COBIS. Whether it suits depends on your child and your destination. We do not publish a rating without verified reviews.
What curriculum does British International School Cairo follow?
The school follows the English National Curriculum from the early years to IGCSE at the end of secondary, then switches to the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the sixth form rather than A Levels. It is a British school with an IB sixth form.
Where is British International School Cairo located?
The school is on a purpose built campus in the Beverly Hills compound in 6th of October City, on the western side of greater Cairo. It moved there in 2008 from its earlier home in Zamalek in central Cairo.
When do British International School Cairo applications open?
The school admits for a September start and reviews applications through the year subject to space. Entry uses prior school records and assessment, so families planning a move should apply ahead and confirm availability in their child's year group.
