Quick answer: How do international school admissions work in Belgrade? Applications open in autumn for the following August, with an online form, a fee of 100 to 300 euros, two years of school reports and a teacher reference. Children over 6 sit English and mathematics assessments. Offers arrive within two to three weeks and are secured with a registration fee of 1,000 to 4,000 euros. Apply six to nine months ahead.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
International school admissions in Belgrade are more straightforward than in the big Western European capitals, but the small size of the market means that the most sought after year groups fill up earlier than newcomers expect. Serbia's capital has a handful of English medium schools, one full IB continuum school, and a growing intake of families arriving with technology employers, embassies and the many Russian and Ukrainian professionals who have relocated since 2022. This guide walks through the admissions calendar, the documents and assessments schools use, the fees you will be asked to pay at each stage, and how to improve your chances of a place in the school you actually want.
Why Belgrade's international school market is growing
Belgrade has become a regional base for software companies, gaming studios and consultancies, and the arrival of tens of thousands of skilled migrants from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus since 2022 has pushed demand for English medium schooling to record levels. Most international schools are in the leafy Dedinje and Senjak districts south of the centre, with newer campuses in New Belgrade and towards Zemun. Rents in these areas have risen sharply, but they remain well below Vienna or Budapest, and the school run from most expatriate neighbourhoods is under 20 minutes.
Capacity has not kept pace with demand. The established schools added classes and, in some cases, new buildings between 2023 and 2025, but waiting lists remain in the early primary years and at entry to secondary. Applying six to nine months ahead of your move is now standard advice.
Curricula and school types in Belgrade
- International Baccalaureate: the International School of Belgrade runs the PYP, MYP and Diploma.
- British: Cambridge pathways to IGCSE and A Level at the British International School and at Chartwell.
- English medium international programmes: smaller schools such as Brookhill and PRIMA offer international curricula for primary and early secondary, often with Serbian language integration.
- Serbian bilingual private schools: a lower cost alternative, teaching the national curriculum with a strong English component; not covered here but worth knowing about.
International schools in Belgrade and how their admissions work
International School of Belgrade
ISB is the oldest and largest international school in Serbia and the only IB continuum school. Admissions run on a rolling basis but priority rounds for August entry close in the spring. Applications require previous school reports for two years, a confidential teacher reference, and for older children an English assessment and a mathematics placement task. Fees run from roughly 13,000 euros in early years to 22,000 euros in the Diploma years, with a one off capital fee. Diplomatic and corporate families make up most of the intake, and places in Grades 1 to 3 are the tightest.
British International School Belgrade
A Cambridge curriculum school from early years to A Level. Admissions include an informal interview for younger children and a written English and mathematics assessment from Year 3 upwards. Fees are broadly 9,000 to 16,000 euros. The school is popular with families who expect to move on to other British schools abroad and value continuity of curriculum.
Chartwell International School
Chartwell follows the Cambridge programme and has grown significantly in the last decade. Admissions are rolling, with an assessment day for secondary applicants. Fees sit roughly between 8,000 and 14,000 euros, and the school offers a Serbian language track alongside the international one, which appeals to mixed nationality families.
BrookHill International School
A smaller school with an international programme for kindergarten and primary, with fees in the region of 6,000 to 10,000 euros. Admissions are informal and fast, often decided after a single visit and a play based observation for younger children. It is a realistic option for families who arrive mid year and find the larger schools full.
PRIMA International School
PRIMA offers an English medium international curriculum for primary and lower secondary at fees of roughly 6,000 to 11,000 euros. Its admissions process is similar to BrookHill's, and it is one of the few schools that regularly accepts children with limited English, with additional language support built into the timetable.
The admissions timeline, documents and fees
Most schools follow a similar sequence:
- Enquiry and visit: from September for the following August. Visits can usually be arranged within two weeks.
- Application and fee: an online form and a non refundable application fee of 100 to 300 euros.
- Documents: passport copies, birth certificate, two years of school reports translated into English, immunisation records, and a teacher reference for the larger schools.
- Assessment: play based observation for children under 6; English and mathematics tests from about age 7; for IB Diploma entry, a subject choice interview and evidence of results in Grade 10.
- Offer and acceptance: usually within two to three weeks of assessment. Accepting requires a registration or capital fee of 1,000 to 4,000 euros and at some schools a refundable deposit of one term's fees.
- Enrolment: tuition is invoiced annually or per semester; expect roughly 6,000 to 22,000 euros depending on school and age.
A regulatory detail that affects Serbian families in particular: since the 2023 amendments to Serbia's Law on the Foundations of the Education System, children who are Serbian citizens attending international schools must have their status registered with the Ministry of Education and take the national curriculum equivalence exams in Serbian language, history and geography if they later transfer to a state school or want their foreign diploma recognised for Serbian university entry. International schools handle the paperwork, but ask about it during admissions if any member of the family holds a Serbian passport.
Practical advice for securing a place in Belgrade
Apply to two schools, not one. With only a few schools in the city, a single application carries real risk in the tight year groups. Application fees are low, and holding two offers costs little compared with arriving without a place.
Have documents translated before you arrive. Schools accept English, but reports in other languages need certified translation, which can take weeks if you leave it to the last moment. Bring originals; some schools ask to see them.
Be honest about English levels. The larger schools test English and may decline older children with limited proficiency, while the smaller schools offer structured support. Asking directly about English as an additional language provision before you apply saves time and disappointment.
Compare international schools in Serbia
To weigh up Belgrade schools on results, facilities and parent reviews before you apply, browse our independent ranking of the best international schools in Serbia.
More guides to schools in Belgrade
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply to an international school in Belgrade?
Apply six to nine months before your intended start date, ideally between September and February for entry the following August. The early primary years and the first year of secondary at the larger schools are the most oversubscribed. Mid year admissions are possible at most schools if a place is available.
What assessments do Belgrade international schools use?
Children under about 6 are observed in a play based session. From age 7 most schools set short English and mathematics tests and review previous reports. For IB Diploma entry, schools interview the student about subject choices and check Grade 10 results. Assessments are used mainly for placement rather than selection, except at the largest school.
What does it cost to apply and enrol in Belgrade?
Application fees are 100 to 300 euros and non refundable. On acceptance, schools charge a registration or capital fee of 1,000 to 4,000 euros and some require a refundable deposit of one term. Annual tuition then ranges from roughly 6,000 euros at the smaller schools to 22,000 euros in the IB Diploma years.