For British and English speaking families looking across the international schools in Taipei, the British Section of Taipei European School is the largest English medium route into an internationally recognised diploma. It is one of three national sections inside TES, which was formed in 1992 from the original Taipei British School and the French and German schools and renamed in 2003. The British Section delivers a continuous English language education from the early years to age 18, finishing on the IB Diploma rather than A Levels.
Taipei European School British Section at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | English National Curriculum (British curriculum); Cambridge IGCSE then the IB Diploma Programme |
|---|---|
| Stages | Ages 3 to 18, early years, primary, secondary and High School |
| Founded | Traces to the Taipei British School from around 1990; part of TES from 1992 |
| Accreditation | Within an authorised IB World School; Cambridge International examinations at IGCSE |
| Fee band | Premium (see Taipei fees) |
| Campus area | Swire European Primary Campus, Shilin; Secondary and High School on Yangmingshan |
Curriculum and academics
The British Section follows the English National Curriculum through the early years and primary, so a child can move to or from a school in England without losing their place in the system. In the middle secondary years pupils sit the Cambridge IGCSE, the international version of the GCSE, before progressing into the final stage. The point that sets TES apart from a standard British school abroad is the exit qualification: instead of A Levels, the British Section students join the shared IB Diploma Programme for years 12 and 13.
That makes the British Section a hybrid of English style primary and lower secondary teaching with an IB finish, which suits families who want the familiarity of the National Curriculum early on and the breadth of the IB Diploma for university. Because the IB is the common upper school across all three TES sections, British Section students share the High School with their French and German peers. Our British curriculum guide explains how the National Curriculum and IGCSE work and how they travel abroad.
Counting the real cost of a year in Taipei?
Our fee calculator turns tuition, deposit, transport and exams into one annual figure so you can budget with confidence.
Taipei European School British Section fees
The British Section sits in the premium band of our guide to international school fees in Taipei, in line with the rest of Taipei European School. Tuition is set by stage and rises from the early years to the IB Diploma years, and it is revised annually, so confirm the current British Section schedule with the school rather than relying on a single figure.
Plan beyond tuition for the costs the city fees guide flags at premium schools: a refundable deposit, a registration fee, school transport, uniform, lunch and the examination entry fees that arrive at IGCSE and again at IB Diploma. Our fee calculator pulls tuition and these extras into one annual total so you can weigh the British Section against the city's other English medium and IB options on the same terms.
Admissions
Admission into the British Section reviews prior school reports and, for children joining from a different system, looks at English language readiness and where they fit within the National Curriculum year groups. The most common entry points are the early years and the start of secondary, with other years filled as places open. Demand is strong, so families relocating to Taipei are advised to apply ahead of the move.
The school year runs on an August or September start. Entry into the secondary years is the moment when the IGCSE and then IB Diploma pathway is set out, with subject choices discussed so the upper school is mapped before a pupil begins. Mid year places appear when expatriate families rotate out, so it is worth contacting admissions directly if you are arriving partway through the year.
Location and who goes there
The British Section shares the two TES campuses. Early years and primary pupils are on the Swire European Primary Campus on WenLin Road in Shilin, close to the established expatriate neighbourhoods, while secondary and High School pupils move up to the Yangmingshan campus from age 11. The arrangement keeps younger British Section children near home in Shilin and Tianmu and gives older students a hillside campus with room to grow.
The British Section draws British, Commonwealth and other English speaking families, many on corporate or diplomatic postings, who want an English language education that ends on a globally portable diploma. They tend to live in Shilin, Tianmu and the northern districts within reach of the bus routes. For how those areas compare on housing and commute, the Taipei city hub lays out the wider map for relocating parents.
Taipei European School British Section reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Taipei European School British Section fees?
The British Section is in the premium band for Taipei, in line with the rest of TES, with tuition set by stage and rising to the IB Diploma years. Fees are revised each year, so confirm the schedule with the school and budget for a deposit, registration, transport and IGCSE or IB examination fees.
Does the TES British Section do A Levels or the IB?
The British Section teaches the English National Curriculum and the Cambridge IGCSE in the earlier years, but the final two years are the IB Diploma Programme rather than A Levels, shared with the school's French and German sections.
What ages does the TES British Section take?
The British Section takes children from age 3 to 18, from early years and primary on the Shilin campus through to secondary and the High School on Yangmingshan.
Is the TES British Section a British school?
It teaches the English National Curriculum and IGCSE in the way a British school abroad would, but it is one section within Taipei European School and its leavers take the IB Diploma, so it combines a British primary and lower secondary with an IB finish.
When do TES British Section applications open?
The main intake aligns with the August or September start of the year, with the early years and the start of secondary the most common entry points. The section also admits in other years as places open, so apply early for the popular ones.
