ENKA Schools, Istanbul
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$17K - US$31K
Curriculum: IB PYP · IB MYP · IB DP · Turkish National Curriculum
Age Range: 3-18
Students: ~1,200
Location: Istinye (Levent & Etiler), Istanbul
Updated April 2026
In Brief
ENKA is the strongest large-scale IB option in the Istinye corridor, with a sports complex that no other Istanbul school comes close to matching. The student body is predominantly Turkish nationals - if you want a majority-international classroom feel, compare carefully with BISI or IICS before deciding.
ENKA Schools Istanbul has run IB programmes from an unusually large campus inside the Sadi Gulcelik Sports Complex in Istinye since 1996, and the facilities reflect that scale: an athletics track, multiple sports pitches, indoor pools, and a campus footprint that the fee level alone does not explain. The school is IB-authorised for PYP, MYP, and Diploma - one of the few schools in Istanbul to run all three in one building - and the graduate university record is strong, with around 80-90% of students going on to universities outside Turkey. Entry to the school does not require an entrance exam, and sibling discounts are available.
The daily reality depends heavily on which part of Istanbul you live in. Istinye sits at the northern end of the European side, roughly equidistant between Levent and Sarıyer - manageable from most of the Bosphorus corridor on the European side, but a significant commute from the Asian side or the far west of the city. Families in Levent or Etiler can expect 20-30 minutes; families in Beşiktaş or Şişli around 30-40 minutes. The campus feels more like a Turkish school with IB accreditation than a purpose-built expat school, and the classroom language is English for the international programme.
The honest trade-off is the student demographic. ENKA serves around 1,200 students, the overwhelming majority of whom are Turkish nationals - some with dual citizenship, but very few international families in the traditional corporate-relocation sense. Families who have been at BISI or IICS describe a different social dynamic. The IBO accreditation is real, and the academic results are genuine, but the community character is closer to a high-performing Turkish private school than to the international schools that BISI and IICS represent. Fees are competitive at US$17K-31K, but the year-on-year variability across grade levels is worth examining closely before budgeting.
What parents value
- –Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) on a single campus with sports facilities well beyond what most Istanbul schools offer - athletics track, swimming pools, multiple outdoor pitches, all within the campus boundary.
- –Fees run US$17K-31K depending on year group - a wide band, but the lower grades are priced below BISI and IICS for equivalent IB provision. Sibling discounts and no published entrance exam for international admissions.
- –Strong university destination record - 80-90% of graduates going abroad. The school has been operating IB programmes since 1996, which gives it a track record that newer IB-authorised schools in Istanbul cannot yet match.
Points of consideration
- –The school serves a predominantly Turkish-national student body. International families who want a majority-international peer environment should ask about the proportion of non-Turkish passport students in their child's prospective year group before visiting.
- –Some reviews note that English-medium delivery varies in practice - a few subjects have been taught in Turkish despite the English-medium mandate. Ask the school specifically about language of instruction at the year group your child would enter.
- –The fee structure is unusual: kindergarten (K1-K3) is actually more expensive than several senior grades. Map out the full fee trajectory for your child's age range rather than just the entry year before comparing with other schools.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| K1-K3 (Kindergarten) | 3 | NaN |
| Grade 1-2 | 6 | NaN |
| Grade 3 | 8 | NaN |
| Grade 4 | 9 | NaN |
| Grade 5-6 | 10 | NaN |
| Grade 7-8 | 12 | NaN |
| Grade 9-10 | 14 | NaN |
| Grade 11 | 16 | NaN |
| Grade 12 | 17 | NaN |
Fees converted from TRY. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Academic Results
Academic results have not been made publicly available by this school.
Extra Curriculars
Contact the school for details on co-curricular activities and facilities. Ask what a normal week looks like outside lessons for your child's age group.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
- IB authorised: PYP, MYP, and Diploma Programme.
- Sibling discount available.
Accreditations
- IBO
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
Around 1,200 students attend ENKA Schools Istanbul, the majority Turkish nationals or dual citizens. Around 80-90% of graduates go on to universities abroad. Contact the school for current international family enrolment and nationality breakdown.
Leadership
School leadership
Contact the school for details.