International Baccalaureate (IB) schools in Nepal are a small but visible part of the international-school sector, concentrated mainly in the Kathmandu Valley and made up of both authorised and candidate schools that offer one or more IB programmes (PYP, MYP and/or DP) rather than a single uniform pathway. Instruction is typically in English, with Nepali normally taught as a subject and other modern languages (for example Hindi, Mandarin or French) offered at some schools depending on resources and demand. Published fee guides and school schedules show wide variation in annual tuition - from modest local international-school charges to premium programmes with fees in the tens of thousands of US dollars - so families should check each school’s current published fee schedule and whether extras (exam, transport or capital levies) apply. Admissions and term dates vary: some schools follow the Nepali academic year (new session in mid-April) while others keep an August/September international intake, and many schools also accept mid-year transfers, so parents should confirm specific term dates, assessment requirements and capacity at the schools they are considering.
What do the IB PYP, MYP and DP actually cover and what ages do they serve?
The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) is an inquiry-based framework for young children, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) is for roughly 11 - 16 year-olds and provides a broad, interdisciplinary secondary curriculum, and the Diploma Programme (DP) is a two-year pre-university course for students aged about 16 - 19. Schools may offer the full PYP→MYP→DP continuum or only parts of it, so check whether the grade ranges you need are authorised at each school.
Is instruction in English and will my child fall behind if they don’t speak Nepali?
Most international IB schools in Nepal use English as the primary medium of instruction while teaching Nepali as a subject or language option; many schools also provide English language support for new arrivals. If your child is not fluent in Nepali, that usually does not block entry to English-medium IB classes, but you should ask each school about their English-as-additional-language support and how they manage language transition.
How much should we budget for tuition and extra costs at an IB international school in Nepal?
Published fee information shows a wide spectrum: some international-style schools publish relatively modest annual charges while others operate at a premium level where total annual tuition and associated costs can reach into the tens of thousands of US dollars; additional expenses commonly include enrolment/registration fees, exam levies, transport and activity or capital charges. Always ask schools for the current full fee schedule (annual tuition, term instalments, compulsory extras and refund/cancellation terms) because advertised tuition is frequently only part of the total cost.
When should we apply and what does admissions usually involve?
Admissions timing differs by school: many institutions that follow Nepal’s national calendar open new-year admissions in the Chaitra - Baisakh period (roughly mid-March to April) while other international schools keep an August/September intake to match a northern-hemisphere academic year; many schools also accept mid-year transfers when space allows. The process typically includes an enquiry or application form, proof of previous school records, an age/grade check, and an assessment or interview (and sometimes a meeting with parents); ask schools early for their assessment dates and required documents.
What should parents check when comparing IB schools in Nepal?
Verify the school’s IB authorisation status and which IB programmes (PYP, MYP, DP) are actually authorised at the campus you are considering, confirm medium-of-instruction and language support, and review the published fee schedule, term dates and any extra charges. Also ask about class size, specialist support (learning-support and EAL), university or career guidance for older students, safeguarding policies and how the school handles mid-year transfers and credit for previous study.
