International School Admissions in Bogotá: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Quick answer: How do international school admissions work in Bogotá? Most international schools in Bogotá start in August and open admissions the previous September or October. Expect an online form, two years of reports, an age-appropriate assessment, a family interview and, at the leading schools, a one-off entrance bond of roughly COP 20 to 60 million on top of annual fees of COP 30 to 65 million.

Last reviewed: September 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Handling international school admissions in Bogotá is a project in its own right. Colombia's capital has a mature private education sector, and the dozen or so schools that expat and internationally minded Colombian families compete for are selective, run on a different calendar from the national system and ask for a significant one-off payment at entry. This guide walks through how the process works in 2026, the documents you will be asked for, how assessments are run for different ages, what it costs to secure a place and which schools are worth shortlisting.

How the Bogotá school system is organised

Colombia has two official school calendars. Calendar A runs from late January or February to November and is used by public schools and most local private schools. Calendar B runs from August to June and is used by almost every international school in Bogotá, which makes transfers from Europe, North America and Asia much easier because your child does not lose or repeat a semester.

The international schools sit almost entirely in the north of the city and just beyond it. Some are inside Bogotá in Usaquén, Suba and the areas around Calle 100 to Calle 200; others are on the Autopista Norte or in the neighbouring municipalities of Chía, Cota and La Calera. Expat families typically live in Rosales, Chicó, Santa Bárbara, Cedritos or Usaquén and accept a school bus ride of thirty to fifty minutes, because Bogotá traffic makes a car commute unpredictable.

Private school fees in Colombia are regulated. Each year the Ministry of Education issues a resolution setting the maximum percentage increase private schools may apply, tied to their self-evaluation and certification status, so approved increases are public information and worth checking before you sign. Educational services are also exempt from IVA, Colombia's 19% value added tax, so the fee you are quoted is the fee you pay.

Curricula available in Bogotá

International Baccalaureate: the dominant framework at the top schools, several of which offer the full PYP, MYP and Diploma continuum alongside the Colombian bachillerato.
British curriculum: a small number of schools run IGCSEs and A Levels or a hybrid British-IB model.
American curriculum: US-style schools with AP courses and a US high school diploma, often accredited by Cognia or NEASC.
Bilingual Colombian schools: a large group of well-regarded local schools teaching in Spanish and English and preparing for the national Saber 11 exam as well as international qualifications.
Other national curricula: German, French, Italian and Swiss schools follow their home systems with Spanish as the second language.

International schools in Bogotá to shortlist

The English School

An IB continuum school in the north of Bogotá founded in the 1960s, known for the full PYP-MYP-DP programme and a strong record of Diploma results. It draws a mix of Colombian and expat families and has a long waiting list at its early years intake, so early registration matters more here than almost anywhere else in the city.

Colegio Anglo Colombiano

One of the most established bilingual schools in the country, with British roots, the IB Diploma in the final two years and the Colombian bachillerato certificate. It is large, academically selective and popular with Colombian professional families, which gives expat children a genuinely local peer group.

Colegio Gran Bretaña

A smaller British curriculum school with a high proportion of expat and diplomatic families, running IGCSE and the IB Diploma. Because it is smaller, mid-year admissions are often possible and the transition team is used to children who arrive with no Spanish.

Gimnasio Vermont

A bilingual school on the northern edge of the city offering the IB Diploma, with strong sports and arts provision and a large campus. It is mainly Colombian in intake but well used to international transfers, and fees sit slightly below the most expensive schools.

Knightsbridge Schools International

Part of a small international group, this school follows a British curriculum framework leading to the IB Diploma and is known for smaller cohorts and an inquiry-led primary. It is a good option for families who want a personalised approach and a less pressured admissions process.

The admissions process step by step

Timeline. Applications for an August start usually open the previous September or October, with the main assessment rounds between November and March. Offers for oversubscribed year groups often go out by April. Mid-year entry is possible when a seat exists, and most schools keep a waiting list they draw on when families leave in December or June.

Documents. Expect to provide a completed online form, passport or cédula copies for the child and parents, the last two years of school reports, a recommendation or confidential reference from the current school, vaccination records and, for children with learning support needs, any educational psychology reports. Documents in languages other than Spanish or English may need a certified translation. Once a place is accepted, the school will need the child's Colombian visa or residence documentation to formalise enrolment with the Ministry.

Assessment. For pre-school and early primary, most schools run a play-based observation session. From around Year 3 or third grade, expect English and maths assessments, sometimes a cognitive test such as CAT4, and a writing sample. For IB Diploma entry, schools check subject grades and may interview the student about subject choices. A family interview with the head of section is almost universal.

Offer and enrolment. Offers are usually conditional on paying the entrance bond or admission fee within two to four weeks. Read the refund conditions carefully: some bonds are partly refundable when the child leaves, others are not.

What admission costs in Bogotá in 2026

Bogotá's leading international schools quote fees in Colombian pesos, sometimes as ten monthly instalments, sometimes as an annual figure. As a rough guide for 2026, annual tuition at the schools above runs from roughly COP 30 million to COP 65 million depending on age and school, with the IB Diploma years at the top of the range. Bilingual Colombian schools with an international flavour can be considerably less, roughly COP 15 to 30 million.

Application fee: roughly COP 300,000 to 1,000,000, non-refundable.
Entrance bond or admission fee: the biggest surprise for newcomers, roughly COP 20 to 60 million per family or per child at the top schools, sometimes partially refundable.
Matrícula: the annual enrolment payment, typically equal to one month of tuition and paid before the year starts.
School bus: roughly COP 4 to 8 million a year, almost unavoidable given distances and traffic.
Uniforms: roughly COP 1 to 2 million per child per year.
Lunches, books, technology and trips: ask for last year's actual figures; IB exam fees are billed separately in the final year.

Practical advice for families applying in Bogotá

Negotiate the bond into your relocation package early. Many employers cover tuition but not the entrance bond, and at the top schools that bond can equal a full year of fees. Raise it with HR before you accept the posting, and ask the school whether it offers a corporate or diplomatic rate.

Apply to two or three schools in parallel. Because assessment rounds overlap and places are limited, most experienced families apply to their first choice and at least one alternative at the same time. Application fees are modest compared with the cost of arriving in August without a confirmed seat.

Plan for Spanish. Even at the most international schools, Spanish is taught daily and Colombian social studies is part of the timetable. Ask what support exists for children arriving with no Spanish, and how long it typically takes them to join mainstream Spanish classes.

Compare Bogotá schools before you apply

Every school in this guide has a verified profile on International School Advisor with fees, curricula, reviews and contact details. Start with the ranking of the best schools in Colombia to see how the Bogotá schools compare with the rest of the country, then shortlist and book your visits.

More guides to schools in Bogotá

Frequently asked questions

When do international schools in Bogotá accept applications?

Most international schools in Bogotá run on calendar B, starting in August, and open applications for the following year in September or October. Assessments take place mainly between November and March and offers for popular year groups go out by April. Mid-year entry is possible when a seat is free, so it is always worth asking even after the main round has closed.

What documents do I need for a school application in Bogotá?

You will typically need the online application form, passports or cédulas for the child and parents, two years of school reports, a confidential reference from the current school, vaccination records and any learning support reports. Documents in other languages may need certified translation into Spanish or English, and the school will ask for the child's visa or residence document once you accept a place.

How much is the entrance bond at international schools in Bogotá?

At the leading international schools the one-off entrance bond or admission fee is roughly COP 20 to 60 million, on top of annual tuition of roughly COP 30 to 65 million. Some bonds are partially refundable when the child leaves, others are not, so read the contract carefully and ask your employer whether the bond is covered by your relocation package.