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

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

Moving to Tunisia usually means arranging a school place before you have settled on a flat, and the order of those two decisions matters more here than in many capitals. This guide walks through international school admissions in Tunis step by step: when to make contact, what each school typically asks for, how assessments work, and the money questions that are particular to Tunisia.

The English-medium sector in Tunis is small. A handful of schools serve diplomatic, development, business and Tunisian families, and several of them sit within a few kilometres of each other in the northern suburbs. That makes it realistic to visit three or four schools in a single week, but it also means popular year groups can fill early, especially in the younger classes.

Tunis for families: where the schools are and how the commute works

Families come to Tunis for embassy postings, international organisations, NGOs working across North Africa, and private sector roles in energy, manufacturing and services. Most expatriate households settle in the northern suburbs that run along the coast and around the Lake of Tunis: La Marsa, Gammarth, Sidi Bou Said, Carthage, La Goulette and Les Berges du Lac, with La Soukra and Ariana a little further inland to the north west.

The international schools follow the same pattern. The American school is in Laouina, between La Goulette and La Marsa, close to the airport road. The British school is in La Soukra, the English International School is on Gammarth Road in La Marsa, and two Cambridge schools sit in the Charguia business district and at Les Berges du Lac. The centre of Tunis itself has relatively few English-medium options.

Commutes look short on a map but the roads linking the suburbs to the lake and the centre clog at school run times. A family living in La Marsa can reach a La Marsa or Laouina school in ten to twenty minutes, while a cross-town drive to Charguia at 7.30 am can take far longer. Ask each school about bus routes before you sign a lease, because transport coverage often decides which school is practical.

Curricula you can apply for in Tunis

• American curriculum and IB Diploma: the American Cooperative School of Tunis teaches to American standards from preschool to Grade 10, then the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12.
• English National Curriculum: the British International School of Tunis follows the UK National Curriculum from the Early Years Foundation Stage through the Key Stages for ages 3 to 19.
• Cambridge (EYFS, Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary and IGCSE): offered by the English International School of Tunis up to Year 11, and the Cambridge Primary and Secondary curriculum at CIS International School of Tunis.
• French programme: AEFE-linked French schools exist across Greater Tunis for families who want the French system, though they sit outside the scope of this English-medium guide.

The schools to approach, and what admissions looks like at each

American Cooperative School of Tunis

ACST has served international and Tunisian students for 60 years and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges and authorised to offer the IB Diploma Programme. The Elementary School runs from a play-based preschool for 3 and 4 year olds (Pre-Kindergarten 1 and 2, with a half-day option for PK1) to Grade 5, followed by Middle School (Grades 6 to 8) and High School (Grades 9 to 12). English is the language of instruction, with EAL support for children whose home language is not English.

Admissions tip: elementary grade placement is based on the child's age on 1 September, so a child born in late autumn may land a year differently from their current school abroad. Check the placement before you book flights, and if your child will join in Grade 11, ask early about IB subject availability.

British International School of Tunis

BIST in La Soukra teaches children aged 3 to 19 using the UK National Curriculum, divided into the Early Years Foundation Stage and five Key Stages, with added attention to the heritage of its location. English is the language of instruction.

Admissions tip: British schools place by school year based on date of birth, usually using a 1 September cut-off. Bring your child's most recent reports and any standardised test scores, since these help the school decide on year group and support.

English International School of Tunis

EIST opened in September 2021 on Gammarth Road in La Marsa, in a refurbished building of around 10,000 m². It takes pupils from Nursery (age 3) and Reception to Year 11 (age 16), covering EYFS, Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary and Cambridge IGCSE, with English as the language of instruction. It belongs to the René Descartes Group.

Admissions tip: because the school currently stops at Year 11, families with teenagers should plan the post-16 step at the same time as the first application, rather than discovering the gap two years later.

CIS International School of Tunis

CIST is in Charguia 1 and aligns its programme with the Cambridge Primary and Secondary curriculum. Its profile lists English, Arabic and French as instructional languages, which suits families who want the Cambridge framework while keeping strong Arabic and French.

Admissions tip: ask how the three languages are split by year group and how a newcomer with no Arabic or French is supported, as this can affect the assessment and the timetable your child receives.

Oxford International School of Tunis

OIST is located at Les Berges du Lac 3 in the La Goulette area and teaches in English from nursery through to secondary. Its stated core values are Originality, Integrity, Success and Tolerance.

Admissions tip: the lake district is convenient for families working in the business offices around Les Berges du Lac, so it is worth comparing the morning drive from your planned neighbourhood against the schools in La Marsa.

Fees, deposits and paying in Tunisia

Few schools in Tunis publish full fee schedules online, so treat the figures below as rough guides. English-medium schools charging in dinars typically range from roughly 12,000 to 35,000 TND a year (around USD 4,000 to 12,000), rising through the stages. The American school, which serves many diplomatic and corporate families, sits well above that, at roughly USD 20,000 to 35,000 a year depending on grade and family status.

There is a currency point that surprises many newcomers. The Tunisian dinar is not freely convertible: it cannot legally be taken out of or brought into the country beyond small exceptions and is managed by the Central Bank of Tunisia, which is why schools invoice in dinars or in foreign currency depending on the family status. In practice, ask each school in writing which currency applies to you, and whether your employer can pay directly.

Extras to budget for at the application stage:

• Application or registration fee, usually non-refundable and due with the form.
• Enrolment deposit or one-off capital or development levy to secure the place.
• School transport, often priced by zone across the northern suburbs.
• Meals and canteen plans.
• Uniforms and sports kit.
• Exam entry fees for IGCSE and the IB Diploma.
• Devices for one-to-one technology programmes and after-school activities.

Step-by-step admissions timeline and practical advice

Start between January and April for September entry. Make an enquiry by email, request the fee schedule and transport map, and book visits. Submit the online application with passports, birth certificate, two years of school reports, immunisation records, and any learning support or EAL reports. Schools then arrange an assessment, which may be a short English and maths test, an interview or, for younger children, an observed play session. Offers usually follow within one to three weeks, and the place is confirmed only once the deposit is paid.

Mid-year entry is common here, so do not wait for September. Diplomatic and NGO postings rotate throughout the year, and schools in Tunis are used to January and spring arrivals. If a year group is full, ask to join the waiting list at two or three schools at once and keep the school informed of your arrival date, since places in Tunis often open up when families leave at short notice.

Get documents ready before you leave home. Translations into English or French help, and some families need reports stamped or certified. Keep originals and scans of passports, residence paperwork and previous transcripts together, as both the school and Tunisian authorities may ask for them during the first term. If your child has an individual learning plan, share it at enquiry stage rather than after the offer.

See how schools in Tunis compare

Once you have a shortlist, compare locations, curricula and stages side by side in our ranking of the Best international schools in Tunis, then contact the schools directly to confirm availability for your child's year group.

More guides to schools in Tunis

• How to choose an international school in Tunis
• Bilingual schools in Tunis
• International school fees in Tunis
• Best international schools in Tunis

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply to international schools in Tunis?

For September entry, apply between January and April, when schools confirm returning pupils and know how many places remain. Popular early years and primary classes in the northern suburbs can fill first. Many schools still accept mid-year applications because diplomatic and NGO families arrive throughout the year, so an application in October or January is often possible if a place is free.

What documents do international schools in Tunis ask for?

Expect passports for the child and parents, a birth certificate, the last two years of school reports, immunisation records and any learning support or EAL reports. Some schools also ask for a teacher reference and passport photos. Reports in languages other than English or French may need a translation, so prepare these before you move to Tunisia.

Do children sit an entrance test for international schools in Tunis?

Most English-medium schools in Tunis use an assessment to decide year group and support rather than to exclude children. Older pupils usually take short English and maths tests and may have an interview, while younger children join an observed play session. The American Cooperative School of Tunis offers EAL support, so limited English does not automatically rule a child out.