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

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

If you are planning international school admissions in Kotor, the first thing to know is that the choice is small. There are three schools in the ISA directory for this area, and only two of them are actually in the Bay of Kotor. That makes the process simpler than in a big city, but it also means places in some year groups can be tight and there is little room to switch plan B.

This guide walks through the steps in order, from first enquiry to paying the deposit, with the documents and ages each school asks for. Everything below comes from the schools' own websites and from official sources on Montenegro's education system and currency, checked in October 2026.

Kotor in practice: where the schools are and what to plan around

Kotor is a walled Adriatic town at the end of a fjord-like bay, and the international schools sit around the bay rather than in the old town. KSI Montenegro is on the Porto Montenegro marina campus in Tivat, according to the school. Arcadia Academy is on a private road near Tivat airport, with a Ljesevici address in the Kotor municipality, according to its website. Plan to drive. Bay roads are busy in summer, so test the morning journey in the season your child will actually travel.

The third school, United Kids International Montenegro, is in Podgorica, the capital, at Kotorska 3. It is listed under Kotor in the directory, but it is not a school you would use for a daily commute from the bay, so it matters mainly if you are relocating to the capital or considering boarding elsewhere.

Two practical points on the calendar and money. Montenegro uses the euro; the Central Bank of Montenegro describes it as the sole legal tender. And state schools follow a school year that starts on 1 September as a rule, with the exact dates set each year in a school calendar issued by the education minister. For 2024-25, for example, the year began on Monday 2 September and ended on Friday 13 June. International schools set their own calendars, so confirm 2026-27 dates directly.

Curricula you can apply for

• IB (PYP, MYP and Diploma): KSI Montenegro says it is authorised for all three programmes and calls itself the first IB World School in Montenegro. The school also says it is accredited by the Council of International Schools.
• Cambridge: Arcadia Academy teaches Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE and AS and A Levels, and says it is a full COBIS member licensed by the Ministry of Education.
• IB Primary Years plus Pearson Edexcel: United Kids International Montenegro says it has been an authorised IB PYP school since 2024 and prepares older students for Pearson Edexcel IGCSE and International A Levels.

The three schools and what each one asks of applicants

Knightsbridge School International Montenegro

KSI Montenegro takes day and boarding students aged 3 to 18, with Nursery at ages 3 to 4, Reception at 4 to 5, the PYP from 5 to 11, the MYP from 11 to 16 and the Diploma from 16 to 18, according to its fee page. Boarding is for ages 11 to 18. The school says registrations are accepted throughout the year, and it uses an online platform called OpenApply. It asks for student statements, past school reports and references, a parent questionnaire and copies of identification documents. Secondary entrants aged 11 to 16 sit a short assessment, Diploma entrants are assessed in mathematics and English, and students with English as a second language are assessed for support. Tip: if you need a letter for a visa application, the school has a form that produces a confirmation of enrolment in English, Montenegrin or both within two working days.

Arcadia Academy

Arcadia Academy teaches boys and girls from age 3 in a Cambridge programme, with a Montessori-based preschool. Its website lays out the sequence: a school visit, an optional trial day, a placement test for children entering from age 7 (typically Cambridge Progression Tests in English, mathematics and science, plus English language tests where relevant), school records, then a place offer subject to availability and a completed enrolment form. Candidates for Years 10 to 13 meet or speak with the head. Fees are not published on the site; the school asks families to email its office. Tip: the school says it cannot take pupils whose behavioural record would harm others, so be open about any past issues.

United Kids International Montenegro

UKIM was founded in 2016 by a group of parents and educators and serves ages 3 to 18 in Podgorica. Its admissions page is short: you choose the returning or new student form, complete it and email it to the school, and a confirmation email follows with next steps. It says that submitting an application does not guarantee a place. Fees are discussed by email. Languages: classes are in English, with Montenegrin from Grade 1 and German from Grade 6, according to the school.

Admission steps, in order

1. Enquire and visit: book a tour. KSI and Arcadia both encourage a visit, and Arcadia also offers a trial day.
2. Submit the application: forms go online (KSI) or by email and enrolment form (Arcadia, UKIM), with reports and identification.
3. Assessment and interview: expect a placement test from about age 7 at Arcadia and an interview at KSI, with extra English checks for non-native speakers.
4. Offer: KSI says its process can take up to five working days after review; Arcadia ties the offer to place availability.
5. Pay and confirm: registration fees and the first instalment come before the first day at KSI.

Age cut-offs, documents and mid-year entry

Montenegro's state system makes basic education compulsory from age 6 to 15, and children who turn six in the calendar year of enrolment are the intake. The Eurydice description of the national system adds that a child can be admitted earlier on a parent's proposal, with a school committee's approval. International schools do not have to mirror this: KSI starts at age 3, so use the school's own age bands and ask whether it counts age at 1 September or at the start date.

Documents to prepare: your child's passport or ID, previous school reports for at least the last year, a reference from the current teacher, and any learning-support or language assessments. Non-EU families should also ask the school what letters it can provide for residence applications, and then confirm the rules with the Montenegrin authorities, because the schools do not set residency law.

Mid-year entry is possible. KSI says tuition for a student who joins after the start of the year is prorated by entry date, calculated as the number of days divided by 180 times the annual fee.

Fees and payment terms in euros

KSI Montenegro publishes its annual tuition: EUR 12,280 for Nursery, EUR 16,455 for Reception, EUR 17,960 for the PYP, EUR 20,400 for the MYP and EUR 22,320 for the Diploma. Boarding costs EUR 13,785 for five days and EUR 16,600 for seven days a week, on top of tuition. A one-time registration fee of EUR 800 and a capital levy of EUR 3,200 are charged on joining, and a EUR 2,000 re-enrolment fee is deducted from tuition. Paying the full year upfront earns a 7.5% discount; paying in instalments (25% first, then ten monthly payments) adds 4%. Tuition includes lunch, uniform, books and local trips, according to the school. Arcadia and UKIM do not publish fees, so ask for a written 2026-27 quote.

• Registration fee and capital levy (KSI: EUR 800 and EUR 3,200).
• Re-enrolment fee each year (KSI: EUR 2,000, deducted from tuition).
• Boarding, if used.
• Specialist activities that are not included in tuition.
• Exam entry fees for IGCSE or A Level candidates, which vary by school.

Practical advice

Apply early, even though entry is rolling. KSI says it announces next year's fees by 30 April, so families planning for September can budget in spring. Because the choice in Kotor is small, a late application in a popular year group may leave you with one option.

Match the assessment to the child. A child with limited English will be assessed for language support at KSI and may be asked for extra testing at Arcadia. Ask what support is included and what is charged separately.

Get everything in writing. Ask each school for the offer letter, fee schedule, notice period (KSI requires one month's written notice) and what happens to deposits if you withdraw before the term starts.

Compare the options

To see all the schools in one place, read our Best International Schools in Kotor ranking.

More guides to schools in Kotor

• How to choose an international school in Kotor
• International school fees in Kotor
• Best International Schools in Kotor

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply to an international school in Kotor?

KSI Montenegro says registrations are accepted throughout the year and that it announces the next year's fees by 30 April. With so few schools in the bay, apply in spring for September entry. Allow about two weeks for KSI to review an application, then up to five working days for a decision after the interview.

Do children have to take an entrance test?

It depends on the school. KSI Montenegro runs an interview and a short assessment for secondary entrants aged 11 to 16, and tests Diploma applicants in mathematics and English. Arcadia Academy sets a placement test for children entering from age 7. Both assess English for non-native speakers so the right language support is planned.

What currency are fees in, and what extras should I expect?

Fees are in euros, which the Central Bank of Montenegro calls the sole legal tender. At KSI Montenegro, a one-time registration fee of EUR 800 and a capital levy of EUR 3,200 apply on joining, and a EUR 2,000 re-enrolment fee is deducted from tuition. Boarding is charged separately; Arcadia and UKIM quote fees on request.