South Korea, Seoul
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Seoul Foreign School (SFS) is an international school in Seoul serving students ages 2–18. Students learn on a 25-acre hilltop campus across four sections: British School, Elementary, Middle and High School. SFS offers two curricular pathways which are the International Baccalaureate Continuum and the English National Curriculum. In Elementary, students follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and in Middle School, they follow the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). The High School offers the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Grades 11–12. Early learners in the British School Foundation follow the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) and primary years they use the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) alongside Maths and Literacy linked to the English National Curriculum. For performing arts, SFS lists multiple theatre venues, including the Lyso Center for the Performing Arts.
39 Yeonhui-ro 22-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Seoul Foreign School has 1,500 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English.
Seoul Foreign School is located at 39 Yeonhui-ro 22-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03723, South Korea. The hilltop campus sits on about 25 acres in the Yeonhui area of Seoul and hosts four sections on one site, including the British School, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. The school's Seodaemun-gu location places it on a central-west side neighborhood that is served by city transport; the campus is described as a hilltop setting with extensive facilities.
Seoul Foreign School consists of four sections: the British School (Early Years–Year 6), the Elementary School, the Middle School, and the High School, all on one hilltop campus. The school offers two curricular paths: the English National Curriculum in the British School and the International Baccalaureate continuum (PYP in Elementary, MYP in Middle, and DP in High) across sections. Ages map to the sections as follows: Ages 2-5 can join the British School Foundation or Elementary School PYP; Ages 5-11 can follow British School Key Stage 2 or Elementary School PYP (Grades 1-5); Ages 11-14 attend Middle School (MYP); and Ages 14-18 complete High School (DP).
Seoul Foreign School is a co-educational international day school.
Seoul Foreign School provides on-site, full-time Student Support Services with specialists who support language and literacy, learning needs, school psychology, counseling, and speech-and-language therapy. The program includes Language Support, Learning Support, School Psychology Services, School Counseling, and Speech and Language Therapy, with collaborative processes to inform admissions and ongoing support.
There is no formal country affiliation for Seoul Foreign School; it functions as an international school offering IB DP, MYP, PYP and the English National Curriculum.
Seoul Foreign School has a Christian orientation, with the mission centered in Christ, and holds membership in the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Middle School starts at 8:10 AM and the day typically runs until around 3:00 PM, with Period 1 beginning at 8:10 AM and advisory time scheduled near the end of the day. After-school activities and late buses are available for eligible students, and advisory periods provide structured end-of-day time. The school operates on a rotating Six Day Schedule for ES/BS/MS and a Twelve Day Schedule for HS.
Seoul Foreign School owns and operates a fleet of 25 full-sized buses, with 24 routes that bring more than 1,000 students to school daily, designed to keep drive times close to one hour and to reach popular Seoul neighborhoods. Each bus has a safety monitor, and all monitors speak English. Parents receive a text message confirming assigned bus stops and times in early June, with contact details for drivers and monitors.
Annual tuition at Seoul Foreign School ranges from KRW 37,612,549 to KRW 52,279,697 for 2026/27.
Seoul Foreign School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), British Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.
Seoul Foreign School offers two complementary educational paths—the International Baccalaureate Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) and the English National Curriculum (British School)—across ages 2-5, 5-11, 11-14, and 14+. In Elementary (ages 5-11), the school delivers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), organized around transdisciplinary units with learning in reading, writing and mathematics, science, social studies, and Korean and Chinese world languages, aligned to the American Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. In Middle School (ages 11-14), Seoul Foreign School implements the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), with a focus on Approaches to Learning and Service as Action, spanning Language & Literature, Science, Language Acquisition, Individuals & Societies, Mathematics, Arts, Physical & Health Education, and Design. In High School (ages 14+), the IB Diploma Programme (DP) is offered for Grades 11-12, featuring the Core (Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity & Service, Extended Essay) and six subject groups, with Standard or Higher Level options and a 45-point maximum. More than 95% of graduates undertake the full IBDP, reflecting the DP's central role within the IB pathway.
Social and emotional learning at Seoul Foreign School is supported through the High School Counseling Program, which addresses the academic, personal and social development of students and provides responsive services, a counseling curriculum, individual meetings, student support procedures, and parent education opportunities, with Counseling Seminars delivering a comprehensive guidance curriculum for all students.
SFS offers on-site, full-time specialists in Language Support, Learning Support, School Psychology Services, School Counseling, and Speech and Language Therapy as part of its Student Support Services, indicating integrated support for learning needs rather than a standalone SEN institution.
Language Support is listed as a service within Student Support Services, staffed by on-site, full-time specialists including language support and a speech and language therapist; an explicit English as an Additional Language (EAL) program is not described.
Mental wellbeing is addressed through the IB Diploma Programme, which is designed to address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well‑being of students, and through the High School Counseling Program with seminars that support social-emotional development.
Safeguarding is supported by a Child Protection Policy, a safeguarding guide and curriculum for students, clear reporting protocols, safeguarding training for faculty and staff, designated child protection leaders, a secure campus with CCTV, lanyards/ID cards for adults on campus, and a whistleblower policy.
1. Admissions Process
1. Review Eligibility Requirements. The school admits students based on developmental readiness, prior achievement, and readiness for its program, with eligibility dictated by Korean regulations. There are five key eligibility pathways (A, B, or C) that determine whether a family qualifies to apply, including passport status and residence history. The process also considers English proficiency for any needed ELL support and requires parent agreement to partner with the school's rules and mission. Evidence such as birth certificates, family registries, and Alien Registration Cards are typically required, and the policy notes the school may exercise discretion in admissions.
2. Check Availability. Before submitting an online application, submit an Inquiry Form to check seat availability, because many grades may be full at the start of the school year. The school recommends confirming seat availability for the 2026–2027 year through the inquiry process, since the 2025–2026 year had many grades already full. For the 2026–2027 year, the online application form becomes available on November 13, 2025.
3. Submit an Application. If a seat is available and you proceed, you create a username and password to begin the online application, complete the form, and pay a non-refundable application fee before processing. Completed applications are reviewed, and the school informs applicants of admissions decisions by email. The first day of the 2026–2027 school year is August 10, 2026, which provides a planning reference for timelines.
4. Application Requirements. All applicants must submit a non-refundable application processing fee (KRW 400,000 per applicant) and a set of standard documents, including birth certificates translated into English (or an English-language Family Relations certificate if applicable), and passport copies for the student and parents. If at least one parent holds a non-Korean passport, additional forms and resident status documentation are required, and SFS does not sponsor student visas. Age-specific requirements add further documents and steps, such as report cards, teacher recommendations, and possible informal interviews or admissions tests. Details vary by age: PK2–KG require a set of early-childhood documents and sometimes an informal interview; Grades 1–5 require report cards and teacher references and may involve an informal interview; Grades 6–8 and 9–12 require multiple teacher recommendations and counselor references, plus an admissions test and Writing Test.
5. Admissions Decision. After eligibility and all requirements are completed, the admissions decision is communicated via email. The school notes the decision timing is contingent on completing all eligibility checks and submission requirements. The admissions process also includes an assessment component ( Admissions Test and potential ELL evaluation) for certain age groups, with the specifics varying by grade level.
2. Waitlist/Pool
When there are more qualified candidates than seats available, Seoul Foreign School establishes a waitpool. If openings arise, the admissions committee selects which candidate(s) to admit based on the overall profile of the class and how well the candidate's needs and qualifications align with the school's current resources. This waitpool approach reflects the school's effort to balance class composition and available capacity.
3. Scholarships
Seoul Foreign School maintains limited scholarship-related resources through restricted funds. The Jack R. Moon Biology Scholarship is an established endowment supporting biology education, honoring a longtime faculty member; gifts to this fund support future recipients. In addition, the Annual Fund provides tuition assistance for Christian workers in need, reflecting targeted financial support beyond tuition revenue. Endowment and restricted funds, including Building for the Future, support facilities and program investments that can indirectly affect the school's financial aid capacity.
Fees (Admissions context)
For new applicants, there are mandatory fees payable at different points in the process: the non-refundable application fee (KRW 400,000); if accepted, a one-time Registration Fee (KRW 600,000) and an Entrance Fee (KRW 5,500,000). There are also ongoing costs such as the annual bus fees (Round trip KRW 4,000,000; Afternoon only KRW 2,900,000) and other incidentals. The 2025–2026 fee schedule provides per-program tuition figures in KRW with additional USD amounts where applicable. These details are published on the Tuition and Fees page and include programs for Elementary, Middle, High School, and the British School track.
Notes and dates to be aware of
- The Admissions section confirms the school's program options include IB and English National Curriculum paths, with English-language assessment and ELL considerations as part of eligibility.
- SFS does not sponsor student visas; families should plan accordingly for visa and residency documentation.
- The first day of the 2026–2027 school year is August 10, 2026, which helps with planning timelines for applications and decisions.
Cited sources provide the admissions steps, waitpool policy, scholarship options, and fee structure as of the 2025–2026 school year. If you'd like, I can summarize the exact fee amounts by program for the 2025–2026 year or help compare SFS to other international schools in Seoul.}]}