Cities / Chiang Mai / Prem Tinsulanonda International School
Prem Tinsulanonda International School
Thailand's first four-programme IB World School, offering PYP, MYP, DP and IBCP on a 100-acre campus in Mae Rim with boarding options. 2025-2026 tuition fees range from THB 399,000 (Early Years) to THB 780,000 (Grades 9-12), plus a one-time Foundation…
In brief
Chiang Mai's most established IB school and the only school in Thailand offering all four IB programmes: PYP, MYP, DP, and CP. Day and boarding, on a 100-acre campus in Mae Rim.
Opened 2001, CIS-accredited, around 500 students from 29 countries. Roughly a third board, weekly or termly, in two-bedroom apartments with kitchen and study space. Teachers come from 15 countries, ratios near one to seven. Facilities include an Olympic pool, tennis and basketball courts, a cricket pitch, gymnasium, art rooms, and gardens across the site.
Boarding parents talk about how Chiang Mai's pace lets their children spend afternoons on Prem's farm, on service trips, on sport, rather than stuck in Bangkok traffic. Day families value the IB pathway and the campus. The criticisms that surface centre on value for money at the top of the fee scale and inconsistency between teachers, which is the usual shape of complaints at any large IB school. For a family committed to IB through to university, Prem is the obvious first option in Chiang Mai.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years 1-3 | 3 | Annual | THB 399,000 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | Annual | THB 428,000 |
| Grades 2-3 | 7 | Annual | THB 470,000 |
| Grades 4-5 | 9 | Annual | THB 580,000 |
| Grades 6-7 | 11 | Annual | THB 700,000 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | Annual | THB 740,000 |
| Grades 9-12 | 14 | Annual | THB 780,000 |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | THB 6,000 | |
| Security Deposit (refundable) | One-time | THB 50,000 | |
| Foundation Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | THB 130,000 |
Reviews
- A four-programme IB day and boarding school on a 100-acre rural campus about 30 minutes north of Chiang Mai, with around 500 to 530 students from 30 nationalities.
- Reddit teacher and parent threads consistently rank Prem as Chiang Mai's top international school, with fees rising to roughly 750,000 baht in the upper years.
- A teacher said a long-tenured colleague left because a new head focused on cost cutting "to the detriment of the quality of education," and that the school had moved to hiring more fresh graduates.
- Other teachers describe Prem as tier-two rather than top tier, while parents on directory sites and ISR flag biased teachers, fees they feel are unreasonable, and concerns about student wellbeing.
- Counter-signal exists: parents of boarders describe productive after-school programmes and creative, caring staff, and the rural campus, farm, and IB continuum are recurring positives.
Head of school
Rachel Keys
Rachel Keys is the Head of School at Prem International School, dedicated to fostering a stimulating and engaging environment for students to flourish and fulfill their potential. She emphasizes the importance of the IB programme and the unique learning opportunities available at the school.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
Academic results
- Result IB DP avg 34 pts (historical average consistently above global average)