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

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

Alcobendas, just north of Madrid, has one of the densest concentrations of private and international schools in Spain, largely because La Moraleja and Soto de la Moraleja fall within its boundaries. That choice is good news, but it also means popular year groups fill early and each school runs its own process. This guide to international school admissions in Alcobendas sets out the timeline, the documents and the Spanish rules on year groups that catch many relocating families out.

We cover three schools with verified profiles on International School Advisor: Liceo Europeo, the International section of the Swedish International School of Madrid, and Brewster La Moraleja. They differ in size, language and curriculum, and each section below explains what that means when you apply.

Alcobendas and La Moraleja: where families live and how the school run works

Families settle here for the business parks along the A-1 motorway, the head offices in Alcobendas and neighbouring San Sebastián de los Reyes, and quick access to Madrid-Barajas airport. Central Madrid is roughly 15 to 20 kilometres to the south.

The municipality has three distinct faces. The town centre of Alcobendas is a mix of apartments and shops with Cercanías and Metro connections. La Moraleja, to the south-west, is a low-density area of detached houses and gardens where several schools sit, including Liceo Europeo on Calle del Camino del Sur and the Swedish International School on Calle del Camino Ancho. Soto de la Moraleja, further north, is newer and also largely residential. Brewster La Moraleja is on Paseo del Conde de los Gaitanes, in the same 28109 postcode.

Most families here rely on school buses or the car. The A-1 and M-40 can be slow at peak times, so a family living in central Madrid should time the journey at 8am before committing. Ask each school whether its bus routes reach your neighbourhood in Madrid or the northern suburbs, and request the route map early, because the bus can matter as much as the classroom.

Curricula and languages on offer

• Cambridge (British) programme: the International section of the Swedish International School teaches entirely in English and is authorised to offer Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary and Advanced.
• Swedish curriculum: the same school's Scandinavian section follows the Swedish curriculum and teaches in Swedish.
• Spanish system stages: both sections of the Swedish school also cover Early Childhood Education, Primary, Secondary and Bachillerato, and the school is authorised by Spain's Ministry of Education to teach Spanish and foreign pupils.
• Active learning model: Liceo Europeo builds its teaching around active, personalised learning from age 1 upwards, with an international outlook.
• English-medium teaching: Brewster La Moraleja lists English as its language of instruction.

The schools and how to approach each application

Liceo Europeo

Liceo Europeo has been teaching since 1982 and is a secular, coeducational private school of around 1,200 students and 120 teachers, a ratio of about 10 students per teacher. Its approach is based on active learning, meaning learning by doing, discovering and researching, and it starts from the moment children join at the age of 1. Each student has a personal educational project that is reviewed over time, and every stage has a permanent tutor, called a Technical Director, who coordinates follow-up.

Tip: the school has an in-person open day on 23 October 2026 at 10:00, which falls neatly at the start of the main admissions season for September 2027. Go with questions about the language balance by stage, the diploma routes in the final years and how the tutor system works for a child joining mid-way through school.

Swedish International School of Madrid, International section

Formerly the Scandinavian International School, this is a small school of around 400 pupils from 18 months to 18 years, owned and run by a non-profit association of parents. Its International section follows the Cambridge programme in English. The school holds international school accreditation from NEASC, is a member of the Council of International Schools, and its International section is authorised by the local authorities after inspection by NABSS and certification by the British Council.

Tip: English entry requirements rise with age. No English is needed at 2 to 3 or in Reception, basic English for Year 1, a good level for Year 2, a high level for Year 3 and a very high level from Year 4. If your child falls short, the school may still offer a place conditional on joining its English Language Support programme, provided the teacher sees the potential to catch up within the year.

Brewster La Moraleja

Brewster La Moraleja is on Paseo del Conde de los Gaitanes 23 and lists English as its language of instruction. Its profile currently gives little further detail on stages, curriculum or fees, so we cannot say more with confidence.

Tip: before visiting, ask in writing which age range the school covers, which curriculum and qualifications it follows, how it is authorised in Spain and what the admissions steps are. A clear written answer makes comparison with the other two schools much easier.

Fees and the costs that come with an offer

Liceo Europeo's profile gives an indicative monthly cost band that works out at roughly €900 to €1,800 a month, depending on stage and options. The other two schools do not publish fees on their profiles. As an indicative guide for international schools in Alcobendas:

• Nursery and early years (1 to 5): roughly €700 to €1,200 a month.
• Primary (6 to 12): roughly €850 to €1,500 a month.
• Secondary and Bachillerato or Cambridge Advanced (12 to 18): roughly €1,000 to €1,800 a month.

Fees are usually spread over ten or eleven monthly payments, or paid termly or annually, sometimes with a small discount for paying upfront. Extras to budget for:

• Application or assessment fee: often non-refundable.
• Enrolment fee or deposit: paid on acceptance to secure the place, sometimes once and sometimes each year.
• School bus: priced by route and often one of the larger extras.
• Lunch: most schools charge a monthly comedor fee.
• Uniforms, books and devices: including a laptop or tablet in later years.
• External exams: such as Cambridge assessments in the upper years.
• After-school activities, music lessons and trips.

Practical advice: the admissions timeline step by step

Start a year ahead for September. In Spain children are placed in school year groups by calendar year of birth (1 January to 31 December), not by a September cut-off, and compulsory schooling runs from age 6 to 16. The Spanish school year starts in early September. In practice that means enquiries and open days from October, applications between roughly November and March, assessments and interviews in late winter, offers in spring and a deposit within a few weeks of the offer. Entry points such as age 1 at Liceo Europeo and ages 2 to 3 at the Swedish school are popular, so families with toddlers should apply as early as they can.

Check placement for children born late in the year. The calendar-year rule means a child born in November joins the same year as a child born the previous January, so a child moving from the UK or the US may land a year above or below what you expect. British-curriculum sections may describe year groups differently, so ask each school, in writing, which year your child would join and why, especially if they were born between September and December.

Gather documents and plan for mid-year entry. Schools typically ask for passports or NIE, the child's birth certificate, two or three years of reports, a reference from the current school and any learning support reports. For Spanish Bachillerato routes, foreign school records may need official recognition (homologación), which can take months, so start early. Mid-year entry is possible at many international schools in Alcobendas if a place exists; if your first choice is full, join its waiting list and secure a confirmed place elsewhere until it comes through.

See how Alcobendas schools compare

Alcobendas is only one part of a large market. To compare these schools with options across the capital and its northern suburbs, see our ranking of the best international schools in Madrid, with profiles, curricula and family reviews.

More guides to schools in Alcobendas

• International school fees in Alcobendas
• best international schools in Madrid

Frequently asked questions

When do I need to apply to international schools in La Moraleja?

For a September start, most families enquire and attend open days from October, then apply between roughly November and March. Offers usually come in spring with a deposit due soon after. Popular entry ages such as 1 to 3 fill first, so families with toddlers should apply in the autumn before the year they need a place.

Which school year will my child join in Spain?

Spain places children by calendar year of birth, from 1 January to 31 December, rather than a September cut-off. A child born in December therefore joins the same year as one born the previous January. Children moving from the UK or US can end up a year away from what they expect, so ask schools to confirm placement in writing.

Does my child need to speak English to join an international school in Alcobendas?

It depends on age. At the Swedish International School's International section no English is needed at ages 2 to 3 or in Reception, while a very high level is expected from Year 4. Children slightly below the level may receive a conditional offer if they join the school's English Language Support programme.