International School Admissions in Bandar Seri Begawan: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Quick answer: How do international school admissions work in Bandar Seri Begawan? Most international schools start in August and accept applications from around October, with English and maths assessments for pupils aged 7 and over. Plan on 6 to 10 weeks from form to offer, a non-refundable fee of roughly BND 200 to 500, and a dependant pass before your child can start.

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

Moving to Brunei usually happens quickly. A contract is signed, a start date is set, and suddenly you need a school place in a country with only a handful of international options. This guide to international school admissions in Bandar Seri Begawan walks you through each step for 2026, from the first enquiry to the day your child walks into class.

The process is friendly and manageable. Still, popular year groups fill early, passes take time, and the two calendars in Brunei (January and August) can catch families out.

Where families live and where the schools are

Bandar Seri Begawan is small by capital city standards, and most expat life happens in the Brunei-Muara district around it. Traffic is light compared with Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, so a 20 to 30 minute school run is normal and rarely stressful. Families often rent in Gadong, Kiulap, Jerudong, Beribi and along Jalan Tutong, close to shops and clinics. Many apply for a school first and choose a house second.

The schools are spread out. Jerudong, to the west near the coast, hosts the largest international campus in the country. Salambigar and Berakas, north and east of the centre, are convenient for families near the airport or Muara. Gadong and Kampong Mata-Mata sit in the busy commercial heart.

Curricula you can choose from

The range is narrower than in bigger hubs, which makes the choice simpler:

English National Curriculum: the backbone of the main international schools up to age 14.
Cambridge IGCSE: the standard qualification at 16 in the British-style schools, taken over Years 10 and 11.
A Levels: the traditional sixth form route, widely recognised by universities.
International Baccalaureate Diploma: a two-year pre-university programme offered at the larger international schools as an alternative to A Levels.
Brunei national and Cambridge-based local programmes: used by established private schools, with English and Malay as teaching languages and a January start.

The curriculum affects admissions directly. British-style schools group children by age using a 1 September cut-off, while local private schools follow the January to November calendar, so a child can sit in a different year group depending on the school.

Schools to consider and how their admissions work

Jerudong International School

Founded in 1997 in Jerudong, JIS is the largest international school in Brunei, with more than 1,600 pupils from over 50 countries and boarding from age 8. It follows the English curriculum, with IGCSE and a choice of A Levels or the IB Diploma in the sixth form, and has a strong record of university entry in the UK, Canada, the USA and Australia. Admissions are selective for older pupils: expect online assessments in English and maths, school reports and a reference.

International School of Brunei

ISB is a not-for-profit, fully inclusive school for ages 2 to 18, with day and boarding places and its main secondary campus at Salambigar. It works in English, follows a British framework with IGCSE and the IB Diploma, and is known for a warm community, FOBISIA sport and a wide activity programme. Share any learning support reports early. Admissions run all year where space allows, and the school is used to mid-year arrivals.

Seri Mulia Sarjana International School

Founded in 1998 and based on Jalan Gadong in Kampong Mata-Mata, SMSIS focuses on Early Years and Primary education, teaching in English and Malay. It is well regarded as a solid foundation before secondary school, with an academically rigorous programme balanced by arts and science activities. Admissions are simpler than at the larger schools: a visit, an informal assessment and the usual documents.

St. Andrew's School Brunei

Run by the Anglican Church since 1957, St. Andrew's sits on Jalan Haji Basir and teaches around 1,700 pupils from Kindergarten to secondary level. It is multicultural, although more than 60% of students are Bruneian, and it has a reputation for discipline and good conduct. It follows the January calendar and demand is high, so enquire well before the October to November intake window.

Fees, deposits and what you pay at each stage

Fees follow the curriculum and the size of the school. At the larger international schools, annual tuition runs roughly BND 12,000 to 20,000 in Early Years and primary, and roughly BND 20,000 to 35,000 in the senior years, with boarding charged on top. Local private schools with a Cambridge-based programme are much cheaper, roughly BND 2,000 to 6,000 a year. Many employers cover part of these costs, so check your package.

A useful fact for 2026: the Brunei dollar is still pegged one to one with the Singapore dollar under the Currency Interchangeability Agreement of 1967, and both currencies are accepted at par in Brunei. If your salary or allowance is paid in Singapore dollars, you pay school fees with no exchange risk.

Budget for these extras during the admissions process:

Application fee: roughly BND 200 to 500, usually non-refundable, paid when you submit the form.
Acceptance or enrolment fee: a one-off payment to secure the place once an offer is made.
Refundable deposit: often equal to around one term of fees, returned when your child leaves with notice.
School bus: priced by distance, useful for families in Gadong or Berakas travelling to Jerudong.
Meals, uniforms and trips: uniform packs, lunches and residential trips add a few hundred dollars a year.
Exam entries: IGCSE, A Level and IB exam fees are billed separately in the exam years.

Step-by-step: the admissions timeline and practical tips

Start with the calendar, then the paperwork. For an August start, contact schools between October and February, book a visit or a video call, and submit the form with reports, a reference, passport copies, the birth certificate and vaccination records. Assessments follow within two to four weeks and offers usually arrive shortly after. For a January start at a local school, the window is roughly September to November. Check the age cut-off before you apply: a child born in October may be in Year 3 at one school and Year 2 at another.

Sort the passes early. Children of expats normally need a dependant pass linked to the parent's employment pass, processed through the Immigration and National Registration Department with the employer's help. Schools will accept a pending application to start the admissions process, but most want the pass before the first day. Families without an employment pass, or with a child staying as a boarder, should ask the school about a student pass, which it can support once a place is confirmed.

Do not fear the waiting list, but manage it. If a year group is full, ask to join the waiting list, pay the application fee and complete the assessment anyway, so your child is ready when a place opens. Contracts end all year, so places do open mid-year. Tell the admissions team your exact arrival date and keep in touch every few weeks. A backup application elsewhere is normal.

Compare schools before you apply

Admissions go faster when you have already narrowed your list. To compare curricula, locations and family reviews side by side, see our ranking of the best schools in Brunei, then contact your top two or three schools directly.

More guides to schools in Bandar Seri Begawan

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply for an international school in Bandar Seri Begawan?

For an August start, apply between October and February of the previous school year, since assessments and offers for the most popular year groups are usually settled by spring. Local private schools that start in January take applications from roughly September to November. Mid-year places exist, but they depend on a pupil leaving, so apply as soon as your move is confirmed.

What documents do international schools in Brunei ask for?

Expect a completed application form, the passport and birth certificate of the child, passport photos, the last two years of school reports, a reference from the current school, immunisation records and any learning support reports. For non-Bruneian families, schools also ask for a copy of the parent's employment pass and the child's dependant pass or student pass once issued.

Is there an entrance exam for international schools in Bandar Seri Begawan?

Most schools do not set a pass or fail exam for younger children, but they do assess. Early Years children usually have a short play session, while older pupils sit tests in English and maths, often online, followed by an interview. For entry into Year 10 or the sixth form, previous grades and subject choices carry a lot of weight.