Quick answer: How do international school admissions work in Baku? Most international schools in Baku admit on a rolling basis for a mid-September start, with applications opening the previous autumn. Families submit two years of school reports, a passport copy, immunisation records and a teacher reference, then children sit an English and maths assessment. Decisions usually arrive within two to four weeks. Waitlists are common in early primary at the two largest schools.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
International school admissions in Baku are less competitive than in Dubai or Moscow, but the process has its own rhythm. The oil and gas calendar drives arrivals, the two largest schools operate waitlists in the youngest years, and paperwork from Azerbaijani authorities can take longer than newcomers expect. This guide walks through the 2026-27 admissions cycle step by step, from first enquiry to first day. Every school named here has a verified profile on International School Advisor.
How the Baku school market shapes admissions
Baku has around ten schools teaching primarily in English, ranging from a large non-profit IB school founded for the oil industry to smaller British and American-curriculum schools and several Azerbaijani-owned schools with international programmes. Demand comes from energy companies, embassies, international organisations and a growing number of Azerbaijani families who want an English-medium education and an international qualification.
Most international schools sit in two clusters: the Stonepay and Badamdar area on the hill above the city, and the newer developments around Bilgah and the northern coast. Families in the central Sahil and Port Baku districts face 30 to 45 minute commutes either way, so admissions decisions and housing decisions are usually made together.
Curricula and how they affect entry requirements
- International Baccalaureate: the largest school runs all three IB programmes; entry to the Diploma years requires strong English and solid grades in the previous two years.
- British (Cambridge and Pearson): IGCSE and A Level pathways with year-group placement by age and an entrance assessment in English and maths.
- American: US diploma programmes that place by grade level and use standardised assessments such as MAP.
- Azerbaijani schools with international tracks: national programme plus Cambridge or IB Diploma; admissions often include an interview in Azerbaijani or Russian as well as English.
Five schools and how their admissions differ
The International School of Azerbaijan
TISA is a non-profit IB continuum school in Stonepay, founded for the energy sector and still the first choice of most corporate families. Admissions run on a rolling basis with priority given to corporate partner families, which means independent applicants can wait longer for early primary places. Expect a CAT4 or similar assessment from age 7.
British School in Baku
A British-curriculum school offering IGCSE and A Level. Admissions are handled by year group with an English and maths assessment and a review of previous reports. Mid-year entry is straightforward where space exists, and the school is a common second choice for families waitlisted elsewhere.
Baku Oxford School
An Azerbaijani-owned school offering Cambridge programmes alongside the national curriculum. The admissions process includes an assessment in English and, for local students, an interview in Azerbaijani. Places are generally available, and fees are lower than at the expatriate-founded schools.
SABIS Sun International School
Part of the SABIS network, this school uses its own diagnostic placement tests in English and maths and may place a child a year below age group if the assessment indicates gaps. Admissions are open year-round and decisions are usually quick.
Azerbaijan British College
A British-curriculum school with IGCSE and A Level, popular with Azerbaijani and mixed-nationality families. Applications require previous school reports and an entrance assessment, and the school interviews parents as well as students for secondary entry.
The admissions timeline and documents step by step
Step 1, enquiry and tour (12 to 6 months before start): most schools offer in-person or virtual tours; ask directly about waitlists in your child's year group. Step 2, application (by March for September): submit the online form with two years of school reports, a passport copy for child and parents, a recent photograph, immunisation records and a confidential teacher reference. Step 3, assessment: children from about age 5 sit an English and maths assessment, in person or online; secondary applicants may also be interviewed. Step 4, decision (2 to 4 weeks): an offer, a waitlist place or a decline with reasons. Step 5, acceptance: pay the enrolment fee and deposit to secure the place. Step 6, before the first day: provide the child's Azerbaijani residence registration if already issued, uniform orders and transport contracts.
Fees due during the process: an application fee of roughly AZN 300 to 800, non-refundable; an enrolment or capital fee of roughly AZN 2,000 to 8,000 at the leading schools; a deposit equivalent to part of a term; then tuition of roughly AZN 15,000 to 45,000 a year depending on school and age. Transport, uniforms and IGCSE, A Level or IB exam fees are additional.
A hard fact worth planning around: the Azerbaijani academic year begins on 15 September by national regulation, and most international schools align with it or start in the final week of August. If you arrive in October or later, you are applying for mid-year entry, and schools will typically pro-rate tuition but still charge the full enrolment fee.
Practical advice for families applying in Baku
Apply to two schools, not one. Waitlists at the largest school can take a full term to clear in early primary. Holding a confirmed place elsewhere costs a deposit but protects you from a gap in schooling.
Get school reports translated and certified before you leave. Schools accept English-language reports directly, but reports in other languages need a certified translation, and arranging that in Baku takes longer than at home.
Check the corporate priority rules. If your employer is a founding or partner company at a school, your child may move up the waitlist. Ask HR before you assume you are applying as an independent family.
Compare Baku schools before you apply
Our ranking of the best schools in Baku compares curricula, accreditation, facilities and parent reviews for every international school in the city, and lets you contact admissions directly from each profile.
More guides to schools in Baku
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply to an international school in Baku?
Apply as soon as your move is confirmed, ideally by March for a September start. The two most sought-after schools fill early primary classes by late spring, and their waitlists move slowly. Applications for mid-year entry are accepted at most schools throughout the year, subject to space, with January the second most common intake point.
Do children need to speak English to be admitted?
Not fluently, but expectations rise with age. Up to about age 8, most Baku schools accept beginners and provide English as an additional language support. From age 11 onward, schools typically require a working level of English so that students can access IGCSE or IB coursework, and some will decline applicants for the final two years if English is below the required standard.
What fees are due during the admissions process in Baku?
Expect a non-refundable application fee of roughly AZN 300 to 800, followed on acceptance by a one-off enrolment or capital fee of roughly AZN 2,000 to 8,000 at the leading schools and a deposit equal to part of a term. Tuition is then billed by term or semester. Ask whether the enrolment fee is per child or per family.