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Zemas International College

Turkey, Istanbul

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees TRY 106,710 - 181,431
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 380
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum
Taught languages Arabic, Turkish
Strengths STEM, Languages, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction

Zemas International College is an international school in Istanbul delivering an American CCSS-based K-12 program. The curriculum centers on English Language Arts and Mathematics aligned to the Common Core, with coverage of Science, Social Studies, and languages including Arabic and Turkish. Teaching emphasizes student-centered learning, collaboration, problem-solving, and the integration of technology. The school administers MAP testing from NWEA, along with formative and summative assessments, all supported by ongoing professional development for teachers. The campus features modern facilities, specialized labs, and access to advanced technology, supporting a STEAM-focused approach that blends math, science, and the arts. A distinctive element is the incorporation of Holy Quran and Islamic cultural education alongside international curricula, fostering a diverse learning community focused on holistic development, global citizenship, and leadership. The school aims to prepare students for college and career readiness in a safe, nurturing environment, with clear pathways for future academic and global opportunities for families abroad.

The Essentials

Zemas International College has 380 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Istanbul, Turkey. The school is an international school in Istanbul.

Stages
K-12

Type
International school

Country affiliation
Turkey

Religious affiliation
Islam

School day structure
Mon–Fri 9:00–17:00
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
The school is led by a School Director. The leadership team includes an IT Director (also coordinating SAT and AP) and an Administrative Director. A Public Relations Coordinator supports communications, and there are teachers for English, Turkish, Arabic, Science and Mathematics, plus a Student Affairs role.
Fees

Annual tuition at Zemas International College ranges from TRY 106,710 to TRY 181,431 for 2026/27.

Application / registration fees

- No single, one-time application or registration fee is published as part of the school's public fee schedule for the 2026/27 academic year.

Tuition fees by year group (2026/2027) — annual amounts and per-term splits (equal instalments)

- The school's published annual tuition levels for 2026/27 by age/grade are: TRY 106,710 (Kindergarten 1, age 3); TRY 119,896 (Kindergarten 2 and Kindergarten 3, ages 4–5); TRY 133,082 (Grades 1–4, ages 6–9); TRY 150,663 (Grades 5–10, ages 10–15); TRY 181,431 (Grades 11–12, ages 16–17).

- Per-term breakdowns (calculated as equal instalments from the annual figure):
- Kindergarten 1 (annual TRY 106,710):
- Two equal instalments (semester): TRY 53,355 per instalment.
- Three equal instalments (trimester): TRY 35,570 per instalment.
- Kindergarten 2 / Kindergarten 3 (annual TRY 119,896):
- Two instalments: TRY 59,948 per instalment.
- Three instalments: TRY 39,965 per instalment.
- Grades 1–4 (annual TRY 133,082):
- Two instalments: TRY 66,541 per instalment.
- Three instalments: TRY 44,361 per instalment.
- Grades 5–10 (annual TRY 150,663):
- Two instalments: TRY 75,332 per instalment.
- Three instalments: TRY 50,221 per instalment.
- Grades 11–12 (annual TRY 181,431):
- Two instalments: TRY 90,716 per instalment.
- Three instalments: TRY 60,477 per instalment.

- Note: the per-term figures above are equal-instalment calculations derived from the published annual figures (shown to give per-term values in the two‑or‑three instalment formats commonly used by international schools). The annual figures are those published for the 2026/27 academic year.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- The published fee listing shows annual tuition amounts; an explicit school billing schedule (dates, deadlines, or confirmed instalment options) is not provided in the publicly available fee material. Equal-instalment examples are shown above for convenience; the school's specific instalment structure, due dates, late-payment penalties, and any administrative charges for split payments must be checked with the school's accounts office when arranging payment.

Boarding fees

- No boarding or on‑campus residence and no boarding fees are listed in the school's public facilities/fee information. The school's published profile does not state boarding arrangements.

Other costs and recurring additional fees

- The school's published fee schedule used to create the annual tuition figures does not include a detailed, separate public breakdown for typical ancillary cost lines (for example: uniform, transport/school bus, meals/cafeteria, exam fees, textbooks, laboratory or instrument deposits, activity or extracurricular fees, annual capital development charges, or insurance). Comparable international‑school fee profiles commonly show such items as separate charges in addition to tuition; those specific ancillary amounts are not published in the school's public fee listing.

Refund information

- No formal refund or cancellation schedule is published alongside the fee table for the 2026/27 fee listing. There is no public breakdown of refundable vs non‑refundable items in the fee material supplied.

Fee payment options

- The school's public fee listing does not publish confirmed payment channels or banking details (for example: specific bank account instructions, SWIFT, local bank, online parent portal, or card acceptance policy). Typical payment channels used by international schools in Istanbul include bank transfer, in‑office payment, and card payment, but no specific payment methods are published for this school in the available fee material.

Other notes on headline pricing

- Independent school directories report slightly different headline ranges for Zemas International College; various published profiles list yearly-fee ranges for the school as approximately TRY 66,300–112,000 (overview range), TRY 105,828–179,932 (detailed per‑grade range), and in some market data summaries the college appears among the more affordable Istanbul international schools when converted to USD. Those directory figures reflect the same general scale as the per‑grade annual figures reproduced above for 2026/27.

Brief summary of findings and limitations

- The school's public fee material used to compile this overview provides a full set of annual tuition amounts by grade for the 2026/27 academic year; those annual figures are given above and per-term numbers are shown as equal-instalment calculations. The publicly available material does not publish a separate application fee, boarding fees, a full list of ancillary charges, refund rules, or specific payment‑channel instructions, so those items are not available as discrete published amounts.
Academics

Zemas International College teaches American Curriculum.

Curriculum
Zemas International College follows the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for K-12 English Language Arts and Mathematics. CCSS define the knowledge and skills students should acquire at each grade level to prepare for college and career, with emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Teaching methods and materials are aligned with CCSS and emphasize student-centered learning, collaboration, problem-solving, and the use of technology. Assessment includes standardized tests such as the MAP test from NWEA, along with formative and summative assessments, supported by ongoing professional development for teachers. The curriculum covers English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Arabic and Turkish languages, with the scope varying by grade level and subject area. Learning outcomes are aligned with CCSS to prepare students for college and career readiness.

Student Teacher Ratio
Small class sizes and tutorial groups provide personalized attention.
Parent Experience

Community
Zemas International College fosters an active school community in Istanbul. The Our Events page lists upcoming events for student and parent participation. The Contact Us page notes that the school serves over 300 students and operating hours Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00, which supports engagement with families.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school has advanced facilities, experienced academic staff, and unique education programs within a safe, friendly, and nurturing environment. It emphasizes STEAM education, integrating math, arts, and science. The school provides modern facilities and dedicated staff. Students have access to modern technology, specialized labs, and a wide range of extracurricular activities. It is described as an international school in Istanbul and is designed to meet international education standards.

Academic Facilities
The school provides modern facilities and specialized labs. Students have access to modern technology that supports international education standards. Facilities are designed to meet international education standards to support a modern learning environment.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Zemas International College follows the Common Core State Standards in its curriculum, aligning English language arts and mathematics across grade levels. The school offers a wide range of academic programs designed to challenge students and prepare them for success in school and beyond. The Scope of Success describes advanced facilities, experienced academic staff, and unique education programs within a safe, friendly, and nurturing environment. The curriculum emphasizes STEAM education and integrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and math while paying attention to the Holy Quran and Islamic culture.

Arts & Creative
STEAM education integrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. The school values innovation and creativity, and provides an environment for students to express their thoughts and feelings. Hands-on learning and extracurricular activities offer opportunities beyond lectures to apply ideas and develop talents. The facilities and programs support creative exploration as part of its broader educational approach.

Cultural & Language
Zemas International College prepares a diverse community of students and considers diverse language backgrounds. The mission focuses on holistic education to develop global citizens and leadership while preserving identity. The school also pays attention to Holy Quran and Islamic culture as part of its educational approach.

Social & Hobbies
Hands-On Learning is a core feature, with opportunities beyond lectures and textbooks to gain practical experience. The school emphasizes academic excellence within a safe, nurturing environment that supports student growth. The campus offers programs and opportunities including extracurricular activities that reflect diverse backgrounds.

Leadership & Professional
The school employs qualified international school teachers. Leadership and professional roles include a School Director, an IT Director who coordinates SAT and AP, an Administrative Director, and Public Relations, as well as English and Turkish language teachers and other subject specialists. The staff structure supports student services and professional development through detailed roles such as SAT/AP coordination and Student Affairs.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The Scope of Success describes a safe, friendly, and nurturing environment for all students. Health and safety are prioritized as part of the school's educational approach. A Student Affairs team provides support for student well-being, and the school is based in Istanbul.
Languages

Language Provision
The school teaches English, Turkish, and Arabic.
Admissions

Admissions
1. The school accepts all students regardless of gender, religion, race or nationality. The registration process must be completed by the parents or the legal guardian. The registration form must be completed as part of the application policy. 2. Submit documents: a certificate of the last three stages of study for the student in Grades 11-12 and a certificate of the last academic year for the remaining stages; attestations from the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs from the country that issued the certificates. Equivalency of the Turkish Education Final Stage Certificate (DENKLİK) is required. Passport and residence permit for each of the student, father, and mother, plus four personal photos of the student. 3. Assessment: Once all the application requirements have been met an Entrance Exam date will be set for students applying to enroll in Grades 3-12. These students will take entrance exams in English and Math using MAP test. Students applying for kindergarten or Grades 1-2 will be interviewed by a teacher to assess their abilities and social interaction, and an appointment to meet the parents will be arranged. KG toilet training is required. 4. Acceptance: Acceptance is based on the results of the Entrance Exam and previous school history. Acceptance for KG or Grades 1-2 is based on feedback from teachers who interviewed the students. Parents will be advised of the status of the application by phone within 5 days at the latest from the date of assessment. 5. Final admission and notes: KG1 Applicants must be 3 years by September 1, KG2 must be 4 years by September 1, KG3 must be 5 years by September 1, and Grade 1 must be 6 years by September 1. If the grade level is full, the application will be placed on the waiting list. Once accepted, the parent must provide by the end of June the End-of-Year Attested Report Card from the local or abroad ministry of education (or immediately if the academic year has started).

Waitlist
If the grade level is full, the application will be placed on the waiting list.
School Events
The school has not added events
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