Compare 3 international schools in Madeira, Portugal. Filter by curriculum, fees (average EUR 8,859), location, and more to find the right international school now.
International schools on Madeira are relatively few and concentrated in and around Funchal, so choices for English-medium international education are far smaller than on mainland Portugal. Provision on the island includes Cambridge-based early years and primary teaching at the International School of Madeira, a full International Baccalaureate (PYP - MYP - DP) continuum at the International Sharing School - Madeira, and a hybrid/hub model serving older secondary students. Annual tuition commonly runs from the low-to-mid five-thousands of euros at early years and primary levels up to the low-to-mid tens of thousands for upper secondary or Diploma programmes, with additional charges for enrolment, transport, meals and activities. Admissions follow a September school year with many schools taking enquiries year-round, but spaces - particularly for upper secondary and the IB Diploma - can fill early so families should contact schools well before a planned move.
What curricula and languages will my child encounter in Madeira’s international schools?
The main international options on Madeira include Cambridge Early Years and Cambridge Primary at the International School of Madeira and the IB Primary, Middle and Diploma Programmes at the International Sharing School - Madeira, while older learners can also access hybrid IGCSE/A-Level and international secondary pathways. Instruction is typically English-medium; schools also provide daily Portuguese lessons and a range of additional modern languages to support local integration and bilingual development.
How much should we budget for international school fees on Madeira?
Tuition varies by school and age but typically starts in the low-to-mid five-thousands of euros per year for early years and primary places and rises for middle and senior years, sometimes exceeding €12,000 a year in Diploma/sixth-form stages; families should also allow for one-off enrolment fees, transport, meals and extracurricular costs. Fee schedules and billing options (annual, termly or monthly) differ between schools, so ask each school for the current, itemised fee sheet.
When should we apply and how rigid are admissions windows?
Most international schools in Madeira work to a September academic year and accept enquiries year-round, but many operate rolling admissions and fill popular year groups early. For upper secondary and IB Diploma places schools sometimes close entry after the academic year starts, so parents planning a relocation should contact admissions teams several months ahead to check availability and the school’s assessment or entry testing process.
What ages and stages do the island schools cover?
Coverage differs by provider: the International School of Madeira serves early years and primary pupils (approximately ages 3 - 10), the International Sharing School - Madeira offers an IB continuum from early years through to the Diploma (approximately ages 3 - 18), and hybrid hub providers support secondary and sixth-form learners. If your family needs a continuous K - 12 pathway, check each school’s upper-secondary provision and progression routes carefully.
Do children need to speak Portuguese before starting at an international school in Madeira, and is schooling compulsory?
Most international schools teach in English and provide Portuguese as a taught language so prior Portuguese is not usually required, though learning Portuguese helps with local life and school activities. Portuguese law requires schooling from about age 6 to 18, so families relocating to Madeira should factor national compulsory-education rules into long-term plans and verify how an international school’s programme aligns with those requirements.
