Quick answer: How do international school admissions work in Tirana? Tirana has four main English-medium options: three IB schools and one Montessori preschool. Families apply online, send passports and two years of reports, and complete an assessment or English test. World Academy of Tirana uses its secondary English test to plan support, not to decide admission. Annual fees run roughly EUR 6,000 to 18,000.
Last reviewed: October 2026 by Catherine from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Albania's capital has changed quickly over the past decade, and the international school sector has grown with it. This guide sets out how international school admissions in Tirana work in practice: which schools to contact, what each one asks for, how to time an application for the September to June school year, and what to budget beyond tuition.
The choice is narrower than in larger European capitals. Three English-medium schools teach the International Baccalaureate, one of them alongside American programmes, and a Montessori school covers the early years. Because the schools differ a lot in location, size and age range, the admissions route you follow depends as much on where you will live as on the curriculum you prefer.
Why families move to Tirana, and where the schools sit
Families arrive for embassy and international organisation postings, EU-funded programmes, construction and energy projects, tourism businesses and a growing number of remote workers. Albania formally opened EU accession negotiations at its first intergovernmental conference with the EU on 19 July 2022, and the reform work linked to that process has brought more advisers, consultants and diplomatic staff to the city.
Geography shapes the school decision. Albanian College Tirana is in central Tirana, convenient for families renting in Blloku or the streets around the main boulevards. The International Montessori School of Albania is in the quieter Mjull-Bathore area just outside the centre. Two of the international campuses are on the outskirts: World Academy of Tirana in Lundër to the south east, and Tirana International School in Mullet, on the southern edge of the city.
Traffic in Tirana is heavy at peak times and central streets are slow. Many expatriate families with children at the outskirts schools choose villas or apartments on the south and south east side of the city, around Lundër, Sauk and the road towards Petrelë, so that the school run stays short. Ask each school about transport before committing to a lease in the centre.
Curricula available in Tirana
- International Baccalaureate continuum: PYP, MYP and the IB Diploma at World Academy of Tirana and at Albanian College Tirana.
- IB Diploma with Advanced Placement: Tirana International School offers both the IB Diploma Programme and the AP Capstone Program in its secondary years.
- American Programme: Albanian College Tirana runs an alternative American Programme from Grade 6 to Grade 12.
- Montessori early years: the International Montessori School of Albania teaches children from infancy to age six in English.
The schools and their admissions points
World Academy of Tirana
WAT is part of the Ariston Education group and is authorised for all three IB programmes, teaching students aged roughly 4 to 18 in English. It reports almost 500 students and 38 nationalities on a purpose-built campus in Lundër, and it runs a Pre-Diploma year for students who arrive from another curriculum before starting the Diploma in grades 11 and 12.
Admissions tip: secondary applicants take an English test in listening, writing, speaking and reading. The result does not affect admission; the school uses it to plan EAL support. If your teenager is moving from a national system, ask whether the Pre-Diploma year is the better entry point.
Tirana International School
TIS was founded in 1991 by Quality Schools International and has been accredited by the Middle States Association since 1999 and authorised for the IB Diploma since 2021. It is an English-medium school for students from age 2 through Secondary IV, with a community of more than 40 nationalities on a 5.5-hectare campus in Mullet.
Admissions tip: TIS emphasises mastery learning and small classes, and its secondary students choose between the IB Diploma and the AP route. Ask how a mid-year arrival is placed within that structure, and check which IB subjects run, as the list includes options such as Psychology, Business Management and Theatre.
Albanian College Tirana
ACT1 is an all-through IB Continuum school in central Tirana with around 1,100 students and more than 100 teachers and teaching assistants. It offers the PYP from ages 3 to 10, then the MYP and DP, plus an American Programme from Grade 6 to Grade 12. It has held IB authorisation since February 2017.
Admissions tip: because the school has two secondary pathways, decide early whether your child is heading for the IB Diploma or the American Programme, and ask the admissions team which route suits the university systems you are considering.
International Montessori School of Albania
IMSA was founded in 2007 and describes itself as the first Montessori school in Albania. It is part of the Ariston Education group and cares for around 100 children in Infant, Toddler and Casa classes, with ratios of 1:4, 1:6 and 1:8, all in English. Many of its children continue to its sister school, World Academy of Tirana.
Admissions tip: early years places are limited by those ratios, so infant and toddler groups can fill well ahead of September. Register interest as soon as your move is confirmed.
Fees and extra costs in Tirana
Schools in Tirana commonly quote fees in euros rather than in Albanian lek, though some charge in lek or US dollars. Published figures are limited, so treat these as rough guides. Montessori early years programmes run roughly EUR 5,000 to 9,000 a year depending on hours. Primary places at the IB schools are roughly EUR 7,000 to 12,000, and secondary and IB Diploma years roughly EUR 10,000 to 18,000. At around 100 lek to the euro, EUR 10,000 is roughly one million lek.
Plan for these extras when you accept an offer:
- Application fee, usually non-refundable.
- Registration or enrolment deposit to hold the place, often due within two weeks of the offer.
- A one-off capital or development fee at some schools.
- School bus transport, important for the Lundër and Mullet campuses.
- Lunches and snacks.
- Uniforms and sports kit.
- IB Diploma and AP exam fees in the final years.
- Laptops or tablets and paid after-school activities.
Step-by-step admissions timeline and practical advice
Work back from September. Enquire between January and April, request the fee schedule and transport information, and visit campuses if you can; most schools also offer video calls. Submit the online application with passports, birth certificate, two years of reports, a teacher reference where requested, vaccination records and any learning support plans. The school then arranges an assessment or interview, makes an offer, and confirms the place once the deposit is paid. Allow four to eight weeks from application to confirmed place.
Check the age cut-off before choosing a year group. International schools in Tirana generally place children by age on a fixed date near the start of the school year, often 1 September or 31 August. A child who has just finished a year abroad may be placed in a different grade here, so ask each school to confirm in writing before you book travel.
Mid-year entry and waiting lists are part of life in Tirana. Diplomatic and project contracts start at all times of year, and schools are used to arrivals in January and after Easter. If a class is full, join waiting lists at two schools and stay in contact, because places often open when families rotate out. Keep originals of transcripts and identity documents, as residence permit applications in Albania may require proof of enrolment.
Find more schools in Tirana and beyond
Once you have a shortlist, compare profiles, curricula and locations and contact schools directly through International School Advisor. Search the International School Advisor school directory to check details and send an enquiry for your child's year group.
More guides to schools in Tirana
- How to choose an international school in Tirana
- International school fees in Tirana
- Search the International School Advisor school directory
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply to international schools in Tirana?
Apply between January and April for a September start, as schools then confirm returning students and know their vacancies. Early years groups fill fastest because of strict adult-to-child ratios. Mid-year applications are also common in Tirana, since diplomatic and project families arrive throughout the year, so contact schools as soon as your posting is confirmed, even in autumn.
Is there an entrance exam for international schools in Tirana?
Most international schools in Tirana assess students to plan placement and support rather than to screen them out. At World Academy of Tirana, secondary applicants sit an English test covering listening, writing, speaking and reading, and the result is used only to set the level of EAL support. Younger children usually have an informal meeting or play-based observation.
Can my child join an international school in Tirana after age 16?
Yes. Tirana International School, World Academy of Tirana and Albanian College Tirana all run the IB Diploma in the final two years. World Academy also offers a Pre-Diploma year for students coming from another curriculum, and Tirana International School offers an Advanced Placement route. Ask early about subject availability, as Diploma choices depend on numbers each year.