At a glance
Fairview International School opened in 1978 with the aim of making a quality international education affordable, and it has grown into the oldest and largest IB provider in Malaysia. Its distinguishing feature is the full IB continuum under one roof: a child can join in the Primary Years Programme and stay through the Middle Years Programme to the Diploma without changing school or system, which is a meaningful advantage for relocating families who value continuity. The Kuala Lumpur campus is the flagship of a group that now spans several Malaysian cities and a campus in Scotland. To place Fairview within the city's wider field of IB and other schools, our hub on international schools in Kuala Lumpur and the dedicated page on IB schools in Kuala Lumpur set the context.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Full IB continuum: Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes |
| Stages | Early years to pre university (the three IB programmes) |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School for the PYP, MYP and DP |
| Fee band | Mid (see the Kuala Lumpur fees guide) |
| Campuses | Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur (main); also Subang Jaya, Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru |
Curriculum and academics
Fairview is built entirely around the International Baccalaureate. The Primary Years Programme frames early learning as inquiry across transdisciplinary themes, the Middle Years Programme carries that approach into the secondary years with a stronger subject structure, and the IB Diploma Programme caps it with six subjects, theory of knowledge, the extended essay and creativity, activity and service. Being authorised for all three is rare in Malaysia and central to Fairview's identity. The school has been recognised among the stronger IB Diploma performers internationally in recent years, but parents should ask the admissions team for the latest average Diploma score and university destinations rather than relying on a ranking headline, since cohort size and profile shift year to year. The full continuum means a pupil's whole journey can sit within one consistent philosophy, which is the school's central pitch to families weighing IB against the British or American routes.
Fairview International School fees
Fairview International School fees sit in the mid band for the city, and the school has long marketed itself as a more accessible way into a full IB education than the premium IB schools in Mont Kiara and the centre. Tuition rises by programme, with the IB Diploma the most expensive stage, reflecting the depth of the two year course. We do not print a single figure here because fees are revised annually and vary by year group and campus; the admissions office issues the current schedule on request. To model the full run from entry to the Diploma, use our school fee calculator, and sense check the band against our guide to international school fees in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond tuition, budget for a registration or assessment fee, a refundable deposit and optional bus charges, which are standard across the market.
Work out the real cost to graduation
Our fee calculator models tuition plus the extras across every year to the IB Diploma. Free, independent, no school pays to appear.
Admissions
Admission runs on a rolling basis across the academic year. Assessment is age appropriate: the youngest applicants are observed informally, while older pupils sit assessment in English and mathematics and supply previous school reports and references. Entry to the IB Diploma is conditional on Middle Years results or an equivalent record, so families joining at that stage should open the conversation in the preceding year. Because Fairview is large, it can sometimes absorb mid year arrivals more readily than a smaller school, but the most sought after year groups still fill ahead of time, so register as early as a move to Kuala Lumpur is confirmed. The school asks for prior records and may interview the family before confirming a place.
Location and who goes there
The main campus sits in Wangsa Maju, an established residential township in the north east of Kuala Lumpur, well connected by the LRT and more affordable to live around than Mont Kiara or the centre, which fits the school's value for IB positioning. The community is genuinely diverse, with the school reporting dozens of nationalities across its campuses, and it draws Malaysian families alongside expatriates who want the IB without a premium price. Families living in the northern and eastern suburbs find it an easy commute, while those further out rely on the bus network. The presence of sister campuses in other cities also makes Fairview a practical choice for families who may move within Malaysia. For a neighbourhood read on where to settle, return to the Kuala Lumpur city hub.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once they are verified. If your child attends or has attended Fairview International School, you can submit a review to help other relocating families. We never display a star rating without real, checked reviews behind it.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Fairview International School fees?
Fairview International School fees sit in the mid band for Kuala Lumpur, positioned as a more affordable route to a full IB education than the city's premium schools, with tuition rising by programme towards the IB Diploma. The school issues a current schedule on request. Budget separately for registration, a deposit and optional bus charges.
Is Fairview International School a good school?
Fairview is Malaysia's oldest and largest IB World School and has been recognised among the top IB schools internationally for its Diploma results in recent years. Whether it suits your child depends on stage, budget and whether the full IB continuum from PYP to Diploma is what you want.
What curriculum does Fairview International School follow?
Fairview teaches the full International Baccalaureate continuum: the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme. Its Kuala Lumpur campus is among the few in Malaysia authorised to offer all three.
When do Fairview International School applications open?
Admission is rolling across the academic year, but the most popular entry points fill earliest, so register as soon as a place is foreseeable. IB Diploma entry depends on prior results and is best discussed in the preceding year.
Where is Fairview International School located?
The main Kuala Lumpur campus has been in Wangsa Maju, in the north east of the city, since 2009. Fairview also runs campuses in Subang Jaya, Penang, Ipoh and Johor Bahru.
