doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
I

International School of Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Co-founder & CEO

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees MNT 44,821 - 69,690
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 224
Type Co-educational
Opened 1992
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages English, French, Mandarin, Spanish, Korean, German, Dutch, Japanese
Typical class size 16
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Kindergarten
Introduction

The International School of Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's only IB Continuum school, offering the International Baccalaureate across Pre‑School to Grade 12: PYP for ages 3–12, MYP for Grades 6–10 and the DP for ages 16–19. It is an independent, non‑profit, co‑educational day school situated on a purpose‑built campus on the south side of Ulaanbaatar, near the Tuul River and the Bogd Khan mountains. The two‑storey campus houses primary and secondary sections with shared facilities (cafeteria, nurse's clinic, theatre, swimming pool) and dedicated spaces: the primary includes a makers' space, library, gym and art/music spaces; the secondary includes Design Technology labs, science laboratories, a library, and performing arts venues. Sport facilities include two air‑conditioned gymnasiums, a 25‑m pool, three grass fields, a 400‑m track and a fitness centre. The program emphasizes inquiry‑based, experiential learning, service learning with local communities, and a broad co‑curricular offering in arts, sport and leadership. ISU is an English-language international school with multilingual library resources and participates in UBAC and ACAMIS, including Week Without Walls.

Four Seasons Gardens Road 17011, 18th khoroo, Ikh Mongol Uls street -63, Ulaanbaatar 17032, Mongolia

The Essentials

International School of Ulaanbaatar has 224 pupils, typical class sizes of 16, instruction in English.

Location
ISU is located at Four Seasons Garden, Khan-Uul District, 18 Khoroo, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia-17032. The campus is in the city of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. School office hours are Monday to Friday 07:30 AM–04:30 PM.

Stages
ISU offers the International Baccalaureate continuum from Pre-School to Grade 12. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) runs from Pre-School to Grade 5. The Middle Years Programme (MYP) runs from Grade 6 to Grade 10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) runs from Grade 11 to Grade 12.

Type
The school is an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
A diverse community of approximately 25 nationalities is represented.

Additional learning support
ISU uses a multi-tiered learning support framework with an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) for students who need more than differentiated in-class support. English as an Additional Language (EAL) is provided for Grades 1–12, with immersion and differentiated instruction as appropriate. A school counselor supports academic and social-emotional needs.

Country affiliation
Mongolia

School day structure
Office hours are Monday to Friday 07:30 AM–04:30 PM. The school calendar is published for daily, weekly, and term schedules. ISU offers the IB Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school is a day school and does not offer boarding.

Food Options
The school has a shared cafeteria and a Coffee House. The Cafeteria opens at 7:30am for breakfast (grades 6 and above); purchases are made with the ISU ID card, with healthy options such as salad, soup, sandwiches, fruit and yogurt. The Coffee House serves sandwiches, cookies, pastries, snacks and beverages.

Governance and Ownership
ISU is a non-profit association with stakeholders, not shareholders. Parents enrolling their children become members of the Association of the International School of Ulaanbaatar, which elects a Board of Trustees to govern the school and appoints the Director who runs it.
Fees

Annual tuition at International School of Ulaanbaatar ranges from MNT 44,821 to MNT 69,690 for 2026/27.

Application / Registration Fees

- Registration fee: USD 150 (annual; non‑refundable).
- Capital Building Fund fee: USD 4,500 (annual). Refunds of the Capital Building Fund are subject to the school's prorating/refund rules.

Annual Tuition — Standard Rate (for families whose employers provide education assistance)

- Pre‑kindergarten 3 & 4 (full school day programme): USD 24,190.
- Primary Years Programme (Kindergarten to Grade 5): USD 34,000.
- Middle Years Programme (Grades 6 to 10): USD 41,300.
- Diploma Programme (Grades 11 and 12): USD 44,060.

Annual Tuition — Discounted Rate (for parents paying without employer assistance)

- Pre‑kindergarten 3 & 4 (full school day programme): USD 20,070.
- Primary Years Programme (Kindergarten to Grade 5): USD 28,340.
- Middle Years Programme (Grades 6 to 10): USD 34,420.
- Diploma Programme (Grades 11 and 12): USD 36,720.

Payment plans and instalment amounts (per programme, examples of available plans and instalment timing)

- Four payment plan options are available: Early payment (3% discount if paid by the early deadline), Regular (single payment), Semester (two instalments; +2% on annual total), and Quarter (four instalments; +4% on annual total). Specific instalment amounts for each programme under each plan are published and available for selection when completing billing information. Examples of totals and instalment breakdowns are:
- Diploma Programme (Standard rate): Early USD 42,740 ; Regular USD 44,060 ; Semester USD 44,950 (two instalments of USD 22,475) ; Quarter USD 45,830 (four instalments of USD 11,457.50).
- Middle Years Programme (Standard rate): Early USD 40,070 ; Regular USD 41,300 ; Semester USD 42,130 (two instalments of USD 21,065) ; Quarter USD 42,960 (four instalments of USD 10,740).
- Primary Years Programme (Standard rate): Early USD 32,980 ; Regular USD 34,000 ; Semester USD 34,680 (two instalments of USD 17,340) ; Quarter USD 35,360 (four instalments of USD 8,840).
- Pre‑School (Standard rate): Early USD 23,470 ; Regular USD 24,190 ; Semester USD 24,680 (two instalments of USD 12,340) ; Quarter USD 25,160 (four instalments of USD 6,290).
- Equivalent instalment and total examples for the Discounted rate are published using the same Early/Regular/Semester/Quarter structure (for example: Diploma Discount Early USD 35,620 ; Regular USD 36,720 ; Semester USD 37,460 ; Quarter USD 38,190).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Registration and Capital Building Fund fees are due by June 1 (annual deadline).
- Regular tuition single‑payment (regular plan) and the first instalment options have a due date of August 1 (annual).
- Early payment deadline (to receive the early payment reduction) is June 1.
- Semester plan instalment due dates: by August 1 and by January 12.
- Quarter plan instalment due dates: by August 1, October 9, January 12, and March 19.
- Bus service for the school year commences on the first day of classes (example service start date indicated as August 19).
- Tuition may be paid in USD or in MNT (converted at the depositing bank's commercial non‑cash USD selling rate on the payment day); any bank charges for currency conversion or transfer fees are the responsibility of the payor.
- Fees unpaid after a 30‑calendar‑day grace period are subject to a late penalty of 1.5% per month on the outstanding balance; accounts outstanding by 60 days may lead to student de‑registration.

Deposits, optional services and other charges

- Refundable library deposit: USD 120 (payable on admission; refundable on return of library resources in good order).
- Refundable textbook deposit (Grades 6–12 only): USD 325 (payable on admission; refundable on return of textbooks in good order).
- Bus service (K–12, 180 school days): USD 1,050 per year; charged as USD 525 for each semester when applicable.
- Piano lessons (Grades 1–12): 30 lessons @ USD 20 per lesson = USD 600 (per year for a 30‑lesson package).
- Sibling discount: 5% tuition discount for younger sibling(s).
- Longevity discount: 5% tuition discount for students enrolled more than four years.
- No separate boarding fees apply because the school operates as a day school.

Uniforms and other school‑supplied items

- A specific separate uniform fee is not identified in the published fee schedule. Charges for items such as lunches, specific extra‑curricular activities beyond the optional items above, or special materials may be billed separately; parents should note optional service charges listed above.

Refunds and withdrawal / late‑enrolment adjustments

- Capital Building Fund refunds: refund eligibility is limited and prorated; the Capital Building Fund may be refunded up to a maximum of 50% only when a student is withdrawn within the first 20 school days of attendance. No refund is permitted if the student attends more than 20 school days.
- Tuition refunds: refunds and reductions for enrolment after the school year begins, or refunds for withdrawals before the school year ends, are determined on a prorated basis using the school's published refund scale; there is no refund for withdrawals on or after March 15 of the school year.
- For partial withdrawals during the year, pro‑rata calculations apply and a prior‑commitment deduction (typically 30% of a semester) is applied in the published refund calculation method.
- The Registration fee (USD 150) is non‑refundable under all circumstances.
- Refunds of refundable deposits are conditional on return of school property (textbooks, library items) in acceptable condition; loss/damage reduces the refunded amount.
Academics

International School of Ulaanbaatar teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
The school offers the International Baccalaureate curriculum from Pre-School to Grade 12, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3 to 12, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6 to 10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for students aged 16 to 19.

Higher Education Progression
University & College Counseling supports post-graduation planning for secondary students, assists with university and college applications, administers PSAT and SAT exams, arranges visits by university admissions officers, hosts information sessions for parents, and uses CIALFO to help students research universities and organize their college lists.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
ISU provides school counseling to support students' academic and social-emotional needs. The counselor conducts individual, group, or family counseling and oversees the pastoral care program; they also run workshops for parents and faculty and act as liaison between school and home. When social-emotional needs are supported, academic achievement rises. Counseling strengthens teacher-student relationships, fosters a positive self-image, helps with problem solving and decision making, and builds resilience, self-awareness, and effective study strategies.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
ISU uses a multi-tiered framework to support learners, providing early, systematic, and intentional assistance to meet individual needs. A program of learning support is provided by trained professionals through an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP). The approach includes co-planning, co-teaching, and co-assessing and uses a mix of push-in and pull-out services. A Student Success Team helps ensure every student is appropriately challenged, supported and successful. Inclusion is an ongoing commitment to value, respect, empower, and support all students in pursuing excellence.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
ISU's EAL program reflects an inclusive culture that ensures accessibility to learning for all students, with all teachers serving as language teachers to deliver a rigorous curriculum. EAL students from Grades 1-12 are supported; Grades 1-5 embed EAL in the regular classroom with shared responsibility, while secondary students are supported in EAL class with differentiated instruction. Placement is informed by assessments and recommendations from EAL and grade-level teachers, and admissions data includes EAL considerations.

Mental Wellbeing
ISU supports mental wellbeing through the School Counseling program and pastoral care. The counselor provides individual, group, or family counseling and leads wellbeing workshops for students, parents and staff, serving as a liaison between school and home. Services aim to strengthen relationships, foster resilience and positive self-image, and develop coping strategies to manage stress and academic demands.

Safeguarding
ISU uses safe recruitment practices for child protection and verifies the identity, credentials, and work and criminal histories of all prospective employees. The school is committed to the well-being and safety of its students.
Parent Experience

History
The International School of Ulaanbaatar was the first international school in Mongolia and began operation in September 1992 to meet the needs of a growing international community. In 1997 the Mongolian Ministry of Education certified ISU. ISU joined ECIS in 1999 (the organization later split into CIS and ECIS). ISU was first accredited by CIS and NEASC in 2003, and its first graduating class of three students followed in 2004, the same year ISU received full authorization from the International Baccalaureate. ISU moved to a new campus in the Four Seasons Garden area in 2007, and opened its new Secondary School building in 2016.

Community
ISU's community is a resounding strength, carefully nurtured and broadly celebrated, with a strong sense of belonging among students. New ISU parents are welcomed into a community of active and collegial parents, and the Parent Teacher Group (PTG) offers opportunities to connect with other parents and support ISU areas that matter to families. Talented and dedicated parent volunteers work to create extraordinary experiences for ISU students and families to learn, grow, and have fun. The ISU Student Council (StuCo) is a student leadership organization representing the student body to improve both the academic and non-academic student experience, and to develop leadership skills.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The PTG is an active group of parents and teachers that comes together to support and benefit ISU community. They are involved in promoting activities and programs that enrich the education of the students and community spirit. The PTG core goals are: Facilitating Communication; Organising Events; Celebrating Successes; Supporting Community Projects; Welcoming New Parents; Enriching Extra Curricular Activities.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The International School of Ulaanbaatar is situated on a purpose-built campus on the south side of Ulaanbaatar, near the Tuul River and the Bogd Khan mountains. The two-storey school buildings accommodate both primary and secondary sections, with a shared cafeteria, nurse's clinic, theatre and swimming pool. The primary school has a makers' space, a dedicated library, a gymnasium and its own art and music facilities. The secondary school has Design Technology facilities for both food and materials, a library, a large gymnasium with a rock-climbing wall, wet- and dry-science laboratories, a visual arts studio and performing arts spaces.

Sports Facilities
Two air-conditioned gymnasiums with electronic scoreboards accommodate basketball, volleyball, badminton and table tennis. A rock-climbing wall is available in the gym. A seven-lane, 25-meter swimming pool is used for PE classes and swim team training. Three grass soccer fields with goal posts are used for PE classes, clubs and weekend tournaments. A 400-meter synthetic track with four lanes and a sand pit supports running events. A fitness centre with weight and aerobic machines is available to Secondary School students and employees during posted hours.

Academic Facilities
The secondary school has four purpose-built science laboratories, including labs for Physics, Biology and Chemistry, with discipline-specific equipment for IB Diploma investigations. Design Technology facilities support both food and materials studies. The ISU Library Resource Centers comprise more than 35,000 fiction and non-fiction resources, including books, reference texts, periodicals and online resources, with foreign language titles in Mongolian, Korean, Japanese, French, German and Spanish. Students and faculty may borrow laptops, iPads and e-readers for short-term use.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Performing arts spaces include a black box, theatre, music classrooms and practice rooms. The Co-curricular Activities programme offers many opportunities for students to participate in music and drama productions. The swimming pool is used for physical education and after-school training and meets, supporting swim teams and related activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
ISU offers the International Baccalaureate curriculum across Pre‑School to Grade 12, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). It is an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school located in Ulaanbaatar and Mongolia's only IB Continuum school. The program emphasizes inquiry-based, experiential learning and aims to promote both intellectual growth and personal development.

Arts & Creative
Creative and performing arts are taught across the PYP and MYP. In the Primary years ISU offers Performing Arts and Visual Arts; in the Middle Years the focus is on Drama and Visual Arts; in the Diploma Programme DP Visual Arts is an option. The Co-curricular Activities programme also offers opportunities for music and drama productions.

Cultural & Language
Language learning in the Primary involves oral (speaking), visual (viewing) and written (reading and writing) strands and is integrated into the unit of inquiry. ISU operates as an English-language international school.

Social & Hobbies
ISU's co-curricular activities include sports, arts and crafts, academics, hobbies, student government, music and drama. The Athletics program supports competitive sport and ISU has an aquatics program with swimming for all primary students and a secondary swim team. ISU is a founding member of the Ulaanbaatar Athletics Conference (UBAC) and the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS).

Community & Service
ISU connects with the local community through service-learning projects and regular excursions into Mongolia's countryside as part of the curriculum and co-curricular activities. Students and teachers have volunteered with Rainbow Center, Vision-Impaired State School #116, State School #107, State Kindergarten #111 and other local organizations. ISU's first community clean-up marks the school's ongoing commitment to service.

Leadership & Professional
The University & College Counseling program supports students in planning for post-graduation; it provides career awareness and guidance for university and college applications, and arranges for admissions officers to visit. The program administers standardized tests such as PSAT and SAT and uses CIALFO to organize university research and lists.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
ISU offers Athletics with competitive sports for students at all grade levels and an Aquatics program with swimming for Pre-K to Grade 5 and a secondary swim-team. The program emphasizes health and wellness. Experiential Learning includes field trips, camps and Week Without Walls to connect students with Mongolian culture and the environment.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the language of instruction across IB programmes. Mongolian language studies are offered as Mongolian A and Mongolian B in the Primary Years Programme, and Mongolian A Language & Literature is offered in the Middle Years Programme. English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available for students who do not have English as a first language. Language Acquisition includes French B and Mandarin B.

Bilingual Teaching
ISU teaches in English. Mongolian is taught as Mongolian A and Mongolian B studies. English instruction is complemented by English as an Additional Language (EAL) support. In the IB Middle Years Programme, English A Language & Literature and Mongolian A Language & Literature are offered, and Language Acquisition includes French B and Mandarin B.
Admissions
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Mongolia View all schools in Ulaanbaatar View all schools in Mongolia IB curriculum schools in Mongolia Open days & tours in Ulaanbaatar What is the IB curriculum? View all schools Search all schools