The Guide
Mon, 15 June 2026

Cities / Istanbul / British International STEAM School Istanbul

British International STEAM School Istanbul

The boutique city campus sister to BIS Istanbul, focused on early years and primary in Etiler with a Cambridge curriculum and a STEAM specialism. BISS is the city side feeder for the wider British International School Istanbul group, covering ages 2 to 11.

British International STEAM School Istanbul campus
British International STEAM School Istanbul, Etiler (Levent & Etiler). Photograph · School

Curriculum
A-Levels / IB
Fees, annual
TRY 1.1m–2.1m
Ages
3 to 11
Pupils
~80
Founded
2000

The boutique city campus sister to BIS Istanbul, focused on early years and primary in Etiler with a Cambridge curriculum and a STEAM specialism.

BISS is the city-side feeder for the wider British International School Istanbul group, covering ages 2 to 11. The Etiler campus consolidated earlier Levent, Alkent, and Etiler sites into one location in 2017 and adopted the STEAM identity in 2022. The curriculum follows England's National Curriculum and the Cambridge framework, with English, Maths, Science, and Digital Literacy structured to Cambridge standards.

The student body sits around 80 children, which keeps the environment small and personal compared with the larger Zekeriyaköy senior site. Most BISS pupils transition into the BIS Zekeriyaköy primary or secondary campus after Year 6. Fees are toward the upper end of the Istanbul private school market, roughly 1.1 to 2 million TRY, which reflects both the small class sizes and the central Etiler location.


Annual fees

Year level Age Fee
Pre-School / EYFS 3 TRY 1,108,996
Primary Year 1-2 6 TRY 1,400,000
Primary Year 3-4 8 TRY 1,650,000
Primary Year 5-6 10 TRY 2,067,952

  • The review pool for the STEAM-branded campus is very thin, separate from the better-known British International School Istanbul (BISI) in Sariyer.
  • Most directory listings cluster the three British School Istanbul divisions (BIS, International, STEAM) and apply BISI's four-out-of-five rating to all of them; little STEAM-specific parent voice.
  • The school's positioning sits around STEAM-led primary into Cambridge Lower Secondary and IB Diploma routes.
  • Parents discussing Istanbul international schools mention BIS but do not distinguish the STEAM division.
  • Confusion with BISS Istanbul (the Russian-curriculum school) and Tarabya British School flagged elsewhere by parents and teachers.

Considerations

  • Sparse signal. Almost no STEAM-specific reviews online; directory pages re-use BISI ratings for all three divisions.
  • Programme positioning. STEAM-led primary into Cambridge and IB Diploma is the curriculum frame.
  • Brand confusion. Parents have to differentiate BISS STEAM from BISI, BISS the Russian-curriculum school, and Tarabya British School.

Leadership

Sarah Zarzo

Here at the British International STEAM School in Istanbul, we believe that our high quality teaching and learning creates successful students who are committed, lifelong learners. Our main goal is to ensure that they are also capable of adapting and rising to the challenges of an increasingly complex world.

Accreditations

  • Council of International Schools 01
  • COBIS Patron's Accreditation and Compliance 02
  • Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools 03

  • Result IB DP avg 33 points 2025
  • Result 100% pass rate
  • Result IGCSE 88% A*-C 2025
  • Result top score 40 points IB DP 2025

Cengiz Topel Cad. Tugcular Sk. No:27, Etiler, Besiktas, Istanbul

School website