Quick answer: how do international school admissions work in Seville? Apply between January and April for a September start, with an application form, passport or NIE, reports from the last two years and vaccination records. Expect an assessment or interview. Remember that Spain places children by calendar year of birth, which can differ from UK year groups.
Last reviewed: October 2026 by Catherine from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Seville has a smaller international school market than Madrid or Barcelona, which makes international school admissions in Seville both simpler and more time-sensitive. There are fewer schools to compare, but also fewer places, and the best-known schools in the Aljarafe and in the city centre can fill their early years and primary classes months before September.
This guide explains the admissions timeline, the documents you need, the year group rules that surprise many families, and how five schools with verified profiles on International School Advisor approach entry.
Seville's school map: city centre and the Aljarafe
Most international and bilingual schools in the Seville area are outside the historic centre. The Aljarafe, the plateau west of the city across the Guadalquivir, hosts several large campuses in towns such as Bollullos de la Mitaci贸n, Sanl煤car la Mayor and nearby municipalities, close to the residential areas where many expatriate families live. A few schools are in the city itself, including Internacional de Sevilla San Francisco de Paula in the old town and St. Mary's School on Avenida de Jerez in the south.
The choice of area affects admissions as well as daily life, because most schools run bus routes and some prioritise families along existing routes when classes are full.
Curricula and what they mean for entry
- British curriculum: CBS, The British School of Seville and International School Andaluc铆a teach a British programme, with CBS offering A Levels in the Sixth Form.
- IB: Internacional de Sevilla San Francisco de Paula offers the IB alongside the Spanish programme.
- Spanish bilingual: schools such as St. Mary's and Europa International School follow the Spanish curriculum with a large share of teaching in English and other languages.
- Waldorf: Waldorf Sevilla Girasol International School offers a Waldorf approach with English and German.
Five schools and how they admit students
CBS, The British School of Seville
CBS is a private British school in Bollullos de la Mitaci贸n, on the La Juliana estate about fifteen minutes from Seville, set in a century-old pine forest. It teaches students aged 2 to 18 entirely in English, from EYFS to Sixth Form, and describes itself as the only school in Seville offering A Levels. It is deliberately small, so ask early about places in your child's year group and about English support for children who are not yet fluent.
Internacional de Sevilla San Francisco de Paula
This school in the historic centre offers the IB and teaches English, Chinese, French and German. It has 56 reviews on ISA with an average of 4.9, the highest number of reviews among Seville's international schools, and lists a monthly cost band under USD 1,000. Demand is strong, so it is worth applying at the start of the main round.
St. Mary's School
St. Mary's is a Spanish-English bilingual school where about 70 percent of classes in Infant Education are taught in English, with Portuguese, French and German also on offer. It suits families who want their children to follow the Spanish curriculum while building strong English from age 3.
Europa International School
Colegio Internacional Europa sits on an 80,000 square metre campus in the Aljarafe with around 1,800 pupils and 200 staff, covering Infantil from age 3 to the second year of Bachillerato. Classrooms belong to subjects and teachers, and pupils move between them as in many American and British schools. Its size means it can often absorb mid-year arrivals more easily than smaller schools.
International School Andaluc铆a
International School Andaluc铆a, in Sanl煤car la Mayor, offers a British education with qualified native teachers and a focus on learning through play and experience in the early years, alongside debate, teamwork and public speaking. It is a smaller option worth comparing for families living in the western Aljarafe.
The admissions process step by step
- Step 1, research (autumn): shortlist three schools and attend open days, which many Seville schools hold between November and February.
- Step 2, application (January to April): submit the form and pay the application fee. Many schools ask for a reservation fee once a place is offered.
- Step 3, assessment: younger children usually have an informal play session; older children may sit English, Spanish and maths assessments and have an interview.
- Step 4, offer and enrolment: confirm the place with the enrolment fee and documents, usually by May or June.
- Step 5, recognition of studies: for students entering Bachillerato from a foreign system, start the homologaci贸n of previous studies with the Spanish Ministry of Education early, as it can take months.
The hard rule that catches many families: Spain groups children by calendar year of birth, from January to December. A child born in October 2019 will be placed with children born in early 2019, which in UK terms can mean a different year group. For comparison, public and state-funded schools in Andalusia accept applications during a fixed window in March each year, so private schools are often the only option for families arriving later.
Indicative tuition in Seville runs roughly from EUR 5,000 to EUR 12,000 a year, with enrolment, reservation, bus and lunch fees on top.
Practical advice
Book the assessment before you move. Several schools can assess children online or during a short visit, which allows you to secure a place before your lease is signed.
Ask about Spanish support. If your child will follow a bilingual Spanish programme without speaking Spanish, ask what support is available in the first year and whether it costs extra.
Keep copies of everything. Translated and, where needed, apostilled reports and certificates save weeks later, especially for homologaci贸n.
Have a plan B for September. If your first choice has no place in your child's year group, ask to join the waiting list and accept a place elsewhere in the meantime. Movement between schools in Seville is common during the first term, and a child already settled in a nearby school is often first in line when a place opens.
Compare schools on our Seville ranking
Our ranking of the best schools in Seville lets you compare reviews, curricula and profile details and contact several schools at once.
More guides to schools in Seville
- International school fees in Seville
- Best international schools in Seville
- Bilingual schools in Seville
- Ranking of the best schools in Seville
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply to an international school in Seville?
Private international schools in Seville accept applications all year, but the main round for September usually runs from January to April. Popular early years and primary classes can fill by spring, so apply as soon as you know your moving date. Public and state-funded schools in Andalusia use a fixed application window in March.
How are year groups decided in Spanish and international schools?
Spain groups children by calendar year of birth, from 1 January to 31 December, not by a cut-off in September as in the UK. A child born in November may therefore be placed a year ahead of what British families expect. British schools in Seville often follow UK year groups, so ask each school how it places your child.
Which documents do I need to apply to a school in Seville?
Most schools ask for the application form, passport or NIE, the child's birth certificate or family book, school reports from the last two years, vaccination records and any learning support reports. For Bachillerato, students coming from foreign systems may also need their previous studies recognised through homologaci贸n with the Spanish Ministry of Education.