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

Quick answer: How do international school admissions work in Bucharest? Most Bucharest schools open applications in January for the September start and keep accepting until places fill. Expect an assessment in English and mathematics, two years of school reports, and a registration fee. Tuition runs roughly EUR 6,000 to 18,000 a year depending on curriculum and year group.

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

Bucharest has quietly become one of the more interesting international school markets in central Europe. The city has drawn a steady flow of technology, energy and professional services relocations, and school provision has expanded to match, with British, American, German and IB routes all represented.

Romania completed its accession to the Schengen area in stages, with air and sea borders opening in March 2024 and land borders on 1 January 2025. For relocating families that has made the practical business of arriving considerably simpler, and the volume of enquiries reaching Bucharest schools reflects it.

This guide sets out how international school admissions in Bucharest work in practice, what each stage asks of you, and where families lose time they did not need to lose.

Step one: get the timing right

The Romanian academic year starts in September, and most international schools in Bucharest open applications for it in January. The busiest period runs from January to April, and popular year groups at the established campuses can be full by late spring.

If you are arriving for September, aim to apply by March. If your relocation date is later, apply anyway. Bucharest schools are generally accommodating about mid year entry, and being on file early is worth more than a perfectly timed application.

One practical note: several campuses run a waiting list rather than a straight refusal when a year group fills, and movement on those lists is real, because expatriate populations turn over. Ask to be told where you sit and how many places have opened in that year group over the last two years, rather than accepting a place on a list as a dead end.

Step two: the documents

Romanian administration is more straightforward than its reputation suggests, but it does want paperwork in the right form. Getting translations done before you arrive saves the most time.

Non EU families should start the residence process early, since several schools ask for a residence document at enrolment even if they accept the application without one. EU families have a simpler path but still need the registration certificate for most formalities.

Passport and, for non EU families, the residence permit or application receipt
School reports for the last two academic years, translated into English or Romanian by an authorised translator
Birth certificate, sometimes required with apostille
Vaccination record, checked by Romanian schools as a matter of course
Any psychological or educational assessment, which you should share rather than withhold
Proof of previous curriculum, useful where year group placement is not obvious

Step three: assessment and placement

Most Bucharest schools assess in English and mathematics, with a short interview for secondary applicants and an observed session for younger children. The purpose is placement more than selection at most campuses, though the best known British and IB schools do turn applicants away in full year groups.

English level is the practical gate. Schools will generally accept a child with limited English into primary and support them, and are more careful in upper secondary where a student needs the language to handle examination courses. Ask what English as an additional language support exists, how many hours a week it runs, and whether it is charged separately. In Bucharest the answer to that last question varies.

Remote assessment before arrival is widely offered here. Request it, because it removes an awkward week from an already busy relocation.

Five Bucharest schools to visit

British School of Bucharest

One of the established British curriculum campuses in the city, running through to post sixteen provision. Ask about A Level subject breadth, which is the practical constraint at every school of this size. See the British School of Bucharest profile on International School Advisor.

Verita International School

An IB oriented campus worth seeing if portability matters to you. Ask how many students sat the Diploma last year and what the subject offer looks like, since a small cohort limits choice. See the Verita International School profile on International School Advisor.

Genesis College

A long established option with both Romanian and international provision. Useful for families who expect to stay in Romania and want their child able to move between systems later. See the Genesis College profile on International School Advisor.

Hermann Oberth International German School

The German system campus in Bucharest. The obvious first stop for German speaking families, and worth a look for anyone who wants genuine German immersion rather than German as a subject. See the Hermann Oberth International German School profile on International School Advisor.

Bucharest Beirut International School

A smaller community focused setting. Visit on an ordinary school day rather than at an open event, which is the most useful hour you will spend on any Bucharest shortlist. See the Bucharest Beirut International School profile on International School Advisor.

Step four: fees, deposits and what you commit to

Bucharest is one of the better value capitals in the European Union for international schooling. Annual tuition runs roughly EUR 6,000 to 10,000 in primary and roughly EUR 9,000 to 18,000 in secondary at the established campuses, with the IB Diploma years at the top of that range. German and Romanian bilingual provision generally sits lower.

Educational services are exempt from value added tax across the European Union, so tuition on a Romanian invoice should not carry VAT. Ancillary services such as transport or catering may be treated differently, so check any line that does show tax.

Registration and assessment fee, roughly EUR 100 to 500, not refundable
Enrolment deposit, usually credited against the first instalment
Bus, roughly EUR 800 to 1,800 a year depending on district
Lunch, uniform and materials, billed separately at most campuses
Examination entry for IGCSE, A Level or the IB Diploma in the final years
English language support, charged as an add on at several Bucharest schools

Three things worth doing differently

Decide north or centre before you choose a school. Most international campuses sit in the northern districts, around Pipera, Baneasa and Otopeni, and much of the expatriate housing follows them. Living centrally and schooling north means a daily journey on roads that do not forgive optimism. Drive it at 08:00 before you sign anything.

Ask what the fee increase has been for three years. Bucharest fees have risen faster than headline inflation at some campuses as the market has expanded. Three years of actual figures tells you more about your six year cost than any single quote.

Get the withdrawal clause in writing. Relocations to Romania are often project linked and end earlier than planned. Some schools refund a term on proper notice, others retain the full year. Read that clause before you take the annual prepayment discount.

Compare Bucharest schools first

Before you narrow your shortlist, it helps to see the national picture, so browse the best international schools in Romania.

More guides to schools in Bucharest

Frequently asked questions

When do Bucharest international schools open applications?

Most open in January for the following September and keep accepting until year groups fill. March is a sensible target for a September start. Mid year entry is generally possible and widely accommodated, since the expatriate population turns over steadily through the year.

Do we need Romanian residence before enrolling?

Schools will usually accept an application without it, but many require a residence document to finalise enrolment. Non EU families should start the process as early as possible. EU families need the registration certificate, which is quicker but still worth doing in your first weeks rather than your third month.

Will my child need Romanian language lessons?

At an international school, Romanian is normally taught as an additional language rather than as a medium of instruction, and the requirement varies by school and by whether your child is in the Romanian accredited stream. Ask each campus what is compulsory and what is optional at your child's year level.