International School Admissions in Montevideo: 2026 Guide

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

Moving a family to Uruguay raises a timing question before any other: when do you actually have to apply? For international school admissions in Montevideo the honest answer is earlier than most expats expect, because the school year starts in March and The British Schools, the one school here with a detailed public process, plans its intake the year before.

This guide covers the legal starting age, the steps and assessments you can expect, and what the paperwork and payment terms look like at three schools: The British Schools, Colegio Stella Maris and Escuela y Liceo Elbio Fernández. Montevideo is a market where data are thin: only The British Schools publishes a full admissions process and payment terms, and no school here publishes a complete tuition table. Where a page is silent or we could not check it, we say so and suggest what to ask.

Compulsory schooling and the Montevideo context

Uruguayan law sets the baseline. Under Article 7 of Ley 18.437, the Ley General de Educacion of 2008, education is compulsory from age 4 (initial education), through primary and secondary education (media basica and media superior). In practice that means a four-year-old arriving in Montevideo is expected to be enrolled somewhere, whether at a public school or a private one.

Montevideo is a compact capital. The British Schools is at Maximo Tajes 6421 in Carrasco, a residential area towards the east of the city. We could not confirm the street addresses of the other two schools from their own pages, so check where each campus is before you choose a neighbourhood. Many families choose a school and then rent nearby, since the school run in the morning can be slow.

The calendar also matters. The southern hemisphere school year runs from March to December, so a family arriving from Europe or North America in August may land mid-year. Some schools handle that case by exception only, so it pays to start talking to admissions offices before you fly.

Programmes you can apply for

• Uruguayan national curriculum: Elbio Fernandez says its graduates receive the national bachillerato alongside the IB; ask The British Schools and Stella Maris how they handle the national curriculum and its validation.
• International Baccalaureate: The British Schools mentions an IB Diploma Coordinator in its admissions process, and Elbio Fernandez says it teaches the IB Middle Years Programme in years 1 to 4 and the Diploma in years 5 and 6 of its bilingual secondary. We could not confirm Stella Maris's senior programmes from its own pages, so ask.
• IGCSE: The British Schools lists IGCSE examination fees as payable before the exam, so external English exams are part of the offer; ask which subjects and years.
• English-language streams: The British Schools assesses candidates in English, maths and Spanish, which points to a bilingual setting; Stella Maris says Spanish is the main language at initial level, with English taught as a subject.

Three schools and how to apply

The British Schools, Montevideo

This is the school with the most detailed published process. The school sits at Maximo Tajes 6421 in Carrasco and organises its stages as Early Years, Junior School and Senior School. Applications of interest are due by the end of February of the year before entry, though the admissions committee may consider exceptions. In March the office contacts parents, who then send a formal application form with a photo, the latest school report and any specialist reports.

Assessments depend on age. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten children attend an open day with about 40 minutes of group play observation, described as not diagnostic. Year 1 has an English and maths assessment, and Years 2 to 11 sit entrance exams in English, maths and Spanish. Every candidate meets the psychologist. Tip: the school says mid-year entry is considered only exceptionally, so a family arriving in the second half of the year should contact the office before planning dates.

Colegio Stella Maris

Stella Maris is linked to the Christian Brothers congregation. Its initial education runs in levels by age reached at 31 December of the year before classes start: Explorers (children who have turned 3), Kinder (who have turned 4) and Prep (who have turned 5). Spanish is the main language of instruction and English is taught as a subject, using the Jolly Phonics programme to build early reading.

The school runs annual pre-registration, with news items for initial and secondary years, and an Inscripcion page headed for 2027 intake. At the time of writing that page does not publish dates, documents or interview details, so call or email the secretariat and ask for the current checklist.

Escuela y Liceo Elbio Fernandez

Elbio Fernandez is a private school in Montevideo. According to its own bilingual secondary page, it uses the IB Middle Years Programme in years 1 to 4 and the Diploma Programme in years 5 and 6, and graduates receive both the national bachillerato and the IB certificate.

We could not load the school's admissions pages for this review, so we have no verified steps, ages, deadlines, documents or fees to report; confirm them directly with the school, and ask for the fee schedule in writing.

What it costs

Only some schools publish amounts. The British Schools does not list tuition or entrance fee amounts online; it says fees are charged in local currency, paid in 10 monthly instalments from January to October, each due by the 10th of the following month. A non-refundable admissions fee is invoiced during the application, and an entrance fee is paid when you accept a place. A guarantee deposit equal to three monthly instalments may be required and is refundable when the student leaves. Sibling discounts run from 10 percent for two children up to 25 percent for five or more, with a further 10 percent for British families and families of former students.

We do not quote a monthly range for Stella Maris or Elbio Fernandez, because the only figures we found were years old and prices in Uruguay have moved since. Ask each school for the current schedule in writing before you budget, and compare like with like: what the monthly quota includes, what is billed separately and whether fees are set in pesos.

Extras to ask about:

• Admissions or application fee, non-refundable.
• Entrance fee or matricula due on acceptance.
• Guarantee deposit and its refund terms.
• External exam fees, such as IGCSE or IB, billed before the exam.
• Uniforms, stationery lists, transport and lunch.
• Notice period: The British Schools requires three months' written notice or one annual quota is payable.

Practical advice for applying

Start a year ahead if you can. If your move date is flexible, schedule it so your child enters in March. The British Schools asks for an application of interest by the end of February the previous year and wants signed acceptance folders, health and vaccination cards and a vision and hearing certificate by 1 October.

Gather documents before you land. Copies of the child's passport or identity card and both parents' IDs are the minimum at The British Schools, along with the last school report. Ask your current school for a report that is recent and, if it is not in English or Spanish, check whether a translation is needed.

Expect assessments in Spanish and English. Older children at The British Schools sit entrance exams in Spanish as well as English and maths. If your child has never studied Spanish, ask what support or adaptation the school offers, and do it before the exam date rather than after.

Compare schools before you apply

Once you have a shortlist and a rough budget, our ranking of the best international schools in Montevideo shows how the schools compare side by side.

More guides to schools in Montevideo

• How to choose an international school in Montevideo
• best international schools in Montevideo

Frequently asked questions

At what age is school compulsory in Uruguay?

Under Article 7 of Ley 18.437, education is compulsory from age 4 with initial education, then primary and secondary. For private schools the entry year depends on birth date: Stella Maris sorts initial classes by age reached on 31 December of the year before classes start, and The British Schools requires Pre-Kindergarten children to be 3 by that date.

When should I apply to The British Schools in Montevideo?

The school asks for applications of interest by the end of February of the year before entry, and the admissions committee may consider exceptions. Parents are contacted in March, the formal application follows, and the signed acceptance folder is due by 1 October. Mid-year entry is considered only on an exceptional basis.

What do entrance assessments involve in Montevideo?

At The British Schools, young children join a roughly 40 minute group play observation, Year 1 has English and maths, and Years 2 to 11 sit entrance exams in English, maths and Spanish. Every candidate also meets the psychologist, and parents are interviewed by the Principal or Head of Junior or Senior.