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

Quick answer: how do international school admissions work in Tashkent? Apply between January and May for September, submit translated reports, a reference and passports, and expect an English and maths assessment rather than a competitive exam. Application fees run roughly 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 UZS and offers usually arrive within two to four weeks.

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

Uzbekistan's opening to foreign investment since 2017 has pulled a new wave of families into its capital, and the schools have followed. International school admissions in Tashkent are less competitive than in Dubai or Singapore, but the process has its own rhythm: a handful of established schools with genuine waiting lists in some year groups, several newer schools keen to fill places, and paperwork that must be translated and, in some cases, legalised. This guide walks through the timeline, the documents, the assessments and the costs so that you arrive with an offer in hand rather than a place on a list.

Why Tashkent admissions feel different

Tashkent is a city of roughly three million people and the international school sector has roughly doubled in size in the past decade. The expat community is dominated by diplomats, development banks, energy and mining companies, and an increasing number of Korean, Turkish, Russian and Chinese business families. Many schools therefore have a majority of Uzbek and regional students who want an English-medium education, with expats a minority. That affects admissions in two ways: the fully international schools guard their intake more carefully, and the newer schools may accept a child quickly but with less evidence of the standard you are buying.

Geography also shapes the choice. Most international schools cluster in the Mirzo-Ulugbek and Yunusabad districts in the north and east of the city, near the diplomatic quarter and the newer residential compounds. Traffic is lighter than in most capitals of this size, so a 30 minute commute reaches almost any school.

Curricula available in Tashkent

International Baccalaureate: the full IB continuum is available at the longest-established international school in the city.
British curriculum: English national curriculum with Cambridge checkpoints, IGCSE and A levels at more than one school.
French curriculum: the French school follows the programmes of the French Ministry of Education with AEFE affiliation.
Uzbek and Russian bilingual pathways: several private schools combine Cambridge pathways with Uzbek and Russian national elements.

The main international schools in Tashkent and how they admit

Tashkent International School

The oldest fully international school in Uzbekistan and an IB World School offering the PYP, MYP and Diploma. Admissions are rolling but places in the upper primary years and the IB Diploma are the first to go. Expect a written application, previous school records, a confidential reference and an assessment of English and maths. Diplomatic and corporate families make up most of the intake.

Westminster International School

A British curriculum school offering the English national curriculum through to IGCSE and A level. Admissions include an English placement assessment and a maths task; children whose English is below the expected level for their age may be offered a place with additional language support at extra cost. The student body is largely Uzbek with an international minority.

Ecole Francaise de Tachkent

The French school of Tashkent follows the French national programme and is the natural choice for francophone families and for those planning a later move to France or another AEFE city. Priority is given to French nationals and to children coming from other French system schools; non-francophone children are generally admitted only in the early years when they can still acquire the language.

Tashkent Ulugbek International School

A private school offering Cambridge pathways alongside Uzbek national elements, popular with local families seeking an English-medium education and with regional expats. Admissions are faster than at the fully international schools, usually a single assessment day and an offer within a week. Ask for the proportion of teaching in English at each key stage.

Al-Beruniy International School

A Cambridge-based bilingual school with a growing reputation among Uzbek professional families. Places are generally available at short notice in the primary years. Because it is a younger school, ask for the Cambridge registration status and teacher qualifications in writing before accepting an offer.

Step-by-step admissions timeline

September to December (the year before): research, book visits and register interest. Virtual tours are standard for families still abroad.
January to March: submit applications with translated reports, references and passports. Pay the application fee, typically roughly 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 UZS, non-refundable.
February to May: assessments in English and maths, either in person or online, and a family interview for older children.
Two to four weeks after assessment: offer letter. Accept by paying the enrolment deposit, roughly one term of tuition at the fully international schools.
June to August: uniform orders, bus registration and medical forms. Most schools start in the last week of August or the first week of September.

Fees in Tashkent for 2026

Indicative annual tuition, in Uzbek sum, for 2026:

Fully international IB and British schools: roughly 200,000,000 to 380,000,000 UZS per year (roughly 16,000 to 30,000 USD), highest in the Diploma and A level years.
Uzbek-founded Cambridge bilingual schools: roughly 60,000,000 to 150,000,000 UZS per year.
French school: roughly 90,000,000 to 150,000,000 UZS per year, with reductions for French nationals via scholarships.
Application fee: roughly 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 UZS.
Deposit, uniforms, bus and exams: budget roughly 10 to 15 percent above tuition.

Several schools quote in US dollars and invoice in sum at the Central Bank rate on the day, so the figure in your contract will move with the exchange rate. A verifiable point that surprises new arrivals: Uzbekistan abolished the requirement for a separate exit visa for its own citizens in 2019 and has since introduced visa-free entry for citizens of more than 90 countries, which is why so many families now arrive on short notice and why mid-year admissions are common.

Practical advice for families applying in Tashkent

Translate and, where asked, notarise early. Schools accept reports in English, but Uzbek authorities and some schools ask for notarised translations for residence registration. Getting this done in your home country before departure saves weeks.

Ask precisely about English support fees. Children admitted with additional language support may pay roughly 10 to 20 percent above standard tuition until they exit the programme. Ask how exit is decided and how often it is reviewed.

Confirm the year group placement in writing. Tashkent schools place children by age at 1 September, but families arriving from southern hemisphere systems or from Russian-medium schools sometimes find their child placed a year lower or higher than expected. Settle this before paying the deposit.

Compare the best international schools in Uzbekistan

Use the independent ranking of the best schools in Uzbekistan to compare curricula, fees and parent reviews before you apply.

More guides to schools in Tashkent

Frequently asked questions

When do international schools in Tashkent open admissions for 2026?

Most Tashkent international schools accept applications year-round but the main intake window for a September start runs from January to May. Tashkent International School and the Westminster school fill popular year groups first, so submit documents by March if you can. Mid-year entry is common in Tashkent because corporate arrivals happen throughout the year.

What documents do we need to apply to a school in Tashkent?

Typically a completed application form, the child's passport and birth certificate, two years of school reports translated into English, a confidential reference from the current school, immunisation records and passport photos. Some schools also request a copy of the parents' residence registration in Uzbekistan and proof of the employer sponsoring the fees.

Do Tashkent international schools have entrance exams?

Most run an assessment rather than a competitive exam. Expect an English language evaluation, a maths task set at the child's age level and, for older students, a short interview. Schools use the results to confirm the right year group and to decide whether English support is needed, which may carry an additional fee.