For European families weighing up the international schools in Taipei, Taipei European School is the obvious starting point because it is three national systems under one roof. It was formed in 1992 from the merger of the Taipei British School, the French school and the German school, and the three were fully integrated and renamed Taipei European School in 2003. Today TES teaches more than 1,800 students from around 57 countries across British, French and German sections that share administration, buildings and a common upper school.
Taipei European School (TES) at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | British, French and German sections; Cambridge IGCSE then the IB Diploma Programme; an authorised IB World School |
|---|---|
| Stages | Ages 3 to 18, from early years through to the High School |
| Founded | Sections from around 1990; combined in 1992 and renamed Taipei European School in 2003 |
| Accreditation | IB World School authorised for the Diploma Programme; Cambridge International examinations |
| Fee band | Premium, among the highest in the city (see Taipei fees) |
| Campus area | Swire European Primary Campus on WenLin Road in Shilin; Secondary and High School campus on Yangmingshan |
Curriculum and academics
TES is unusual in running three distinct national curricula side by side. The British Section follows the English National Curriculum, the French Section teaches the French programme including a bilingual stream, and the German Section follows the German curriculum, each in its own language for the younger years. From the secondary years the sections converge on a shared academic spine: students sit the Cambridge IGCSE, then the great majority move into the IB Diploma Programme for the final two years, which TES is authorised to deliver as an IB World School.
That structure lets a French or German speaking child keep their home language and system through primary, then join an internationally recognised diploma for university entry. The IB Diploma is the common exit qualification, opening routes to universities across Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and Asia. Families comparing the IB options across the city will find TES set in context in our guide to the best IB schools in Taipei, where its multilingual sections are its clearest point of difference.
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Taipei European School (TES) fees
TES sits in the premium band of our guide to international school fees in Taipei, at the top of the range alongside Taipei American School, particularly at the secondary and IB Diploma stages. Tuition rises by stage, lowest in the early years and highest in the High School, and is set separately by section, so check the schedule for the section and year your child will enter. Fees are revised annually, so treat any figure you find as a snapshot.
As with other premium Taipei schools, budget beyond tuition for a refundable deposit, a registration fee, school transport from across the city, uniform, lunch and the examination entry fees that fall in the IGCSE and IB Diploma years. Use the compare tool to set TES next to two other schools on fees, curriculum and stage so the decision is made like for like rather than on tuition alone.
Admissions
Admission is by section, and the most common entry points are the early years and the start of secondary, though TES admits across year groups as places allow. The school reviews prior reports, considers language readiness for the section a family is applying to, and assesses where a child fits within that section's curriculum. With three sections and a single upper school, demand is high at popular entry years, so early application is wise.
The school year runs on an August or September start. Families moving to Taiwan partway through should approach the relevant section directly, as mid year vacancies appear when expatriate families rotate out. Entry into the secondary years is also the point at which the IGCSE and then IB Diploma pathway is mapped out, so subject choices and language options are discussed at application.
Location and who goes there
TES operates on two campuses. The Swire European Primary Campus on WenLin Road in Shilin holds the younger children, while the Secondary and High School campus sits higher up on Yangmingshan and takes students from age 11 to 18. The split keeps primary children close to the established expatriate neighbourhoods of Shilin and Tianmu, while the hillside secondary campus gives older students space and facilities away from the city centre.
The intake is genuinely European and international, drawn by the chance to keep a French or German education abroad and finish on the IB Diploma. Families cluster in Shilin, Tianmu and the northern districts within reach of both campuses and the school bus routes. For how those neighbourhoods compare on housing, commute and school choice, the Taipei city hub sets out the wider map for relocating parents.
Taipei European School (TES) reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Taipei European School fees?
TES is in the premium band for Taipei, among the highest tuition in the city, with fees set by section and rising by stage to the High School. Fees are revised each year, so confirm the schedule for your child's section and year, and budget for a deposit, registration, transport and IGCSE or IB examination fees.
What curriculum does Taipei European School follow?
TES runs British, French and German sections, each on its own national curriculum in the younger years. From the secondary years students take the Cambridge IGCSE and then the IB Diploma Programme, which the school is authorised to deliver as an IB World School.
What ages does Taipei European School take?
The school takes children from age 3 to 18, with early years and primary on the Swire European Primary Campus in Shilin and secondary and High School on the Yangmingshan campus.
Where is Taipei European School located?
TES has two campuses: the Swire European Primary Campus on WenLin Road in Shilin for younger children, and the Secondary and High School campus on Yangmingshan for ages 11 to 18.
When do Taipei European School applications open?
The main intake aligns with the August or September start of the school year, with the early years and the start of secondary the most common entry points. The school also admits across year groups when places open, so apply early for popular years.
