Cities / Istanbul / The British International School Istanbul
The British International School Istanbul
Triple-accredited school (CIS, COBIS, MSA-CESS) near Belgrade Forest offering British curriculum through IGCSE and IB Diploma. Small class sizes of up to 12, 55+ nationalities, and a forested campus with outdoor sports facilities set it apart from urban alternatives.
In brief
The original British international school in Istanbul, with a Zekeriyaköy campus serving over 55 nationalities through Cambridge primary, IGCSE, and IB Diploma.
BIS Istanbul opened in 1995 and runs across three campuses: Zekeriyaköy on the European side, Çamlıca on the Asian side, and a Bahçeşehir site. The senior school in Zekeriyaköy covers ages 2.5 to 18, follows a modified English National Curriculum to IGCSE, and offers the IB Diploma at sixth form. The IB pass rate sits near 100% with results above the global average.
The student body is genuinely international, drawing from over 55 nationalities, so it is one of the more expat-heavy schools in the city. Fees are at the top end of the Istanbul market, roughly 654,000 to 1.6 million TRY. Some recent feedback flags concerns about specific teachers classroom remarks and a culture that can lean punitive on homework load. Current parents in your year group typically have a more accurate read than the open-day pitch.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-School (Half Day) | 3 | TRY 654,500 |
| Pre-School (Full Day) | 3 | TRY 735,350 |
| Reception | 4 | TRY 900,900 |
| Primary | 5 | TRY 1,432,200 |
| Secondary Y7-10 | 12 | TRY 1,493,800 |
| Secondary Y11-12 | 15 | TRY 1,555,400 |
| Secondary Y13 | 17 | TRY 1,611,225 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | TRY 48,125 | |
| Registration Fee (non-refundable) | TRY 211,750 |
Reviews
- Online reviews put it among Istanbul's better-known British-curriculum options, alongside MEF International and IICS, with international packages paid in dollars.
- Recurring online warning: parents and teachers flag a separate, similarly named school called Tarabya British School as a knockoff to avoid; BISI is the school in the Sariyer area.
- Parent reviews on directory sites cluster around four out of five, with positives focused on cohort diversity and the British curriculum into IB.
- Critical reviews flag heavy homework loads and sparse support for students who struggle, with one review reporting uncomfortable remarks from individual teachers including sexist and homophobic comments.
- Sixth Form draws students looking at UK, Dutch and other European universities.
Positives
- Reputation in Istanbul. Named alongside MEF International and IICS as Istanbul's main international school options.
- University outcomes. Sixth Form students pursue UK and EU universities; IB Diploma the main onramp.
Considerations
- Knockoff school confusion. Parents repeatedly distinguish BISI from Tarabya British School, warned about online for non-payment.
- Workload and support. Homework reported as excessive, with concerns that struggling students are punished rather than supported.
- Teacher conduct. One review describes individual teachers making sexist and homophobic comments.
Leadership
Lynne Jenkins
Lynne Jenkins is the Director of Pre School and Primary at the British International School. She emphasizes high academic standards and a broad curriculum that includes sports, music, art, and drama, fostering a rich learning environment for students from over 55 nationalities.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- COBIS Patron's Accreditation and Compliance 02
- Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools 03
Academic results
- IB Diploma 2025 average 33 points
- IB Diploma 2025 pass rate 100%
- IGCSE 2025 pass rate 88% of grades at A* to C