Quick answer: How do international school admissions work in Yangon? International schools in Yangon admit on a rolling basis for an August start, with most places confirmed between February and June. Families submit two years of reports, passport and visa copies and immunisation records, then children sit an English and maths assessment. Decisions arrive within one to three weeks. Since 2021 waitlists have largely disappeared, so places are usually available at every age.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by Catherine from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Applying to a school in Yangon in 2026 is a different experience from five years ago. International school admissions in Yangon used to involve waitlists, sibling priority and early deadlines. Today most schools have places available across most year groups, cohorts are smaller, and admissions teams are more flexible about timing. What has not changed is the paperwork, the assessments and the fees payable up front. This guide sets out the 2026-27 process step by step. Every school named here has a verified profile on International School Advisor.
How the Yangon school market shapes admissions today
Yangon has a long history of international education: the oldest international school in the city was founded in 1955 to serve diplomatic families. Between 2011 and 2020 the market expanded rapidly, with British, American, Singaporean and Australian-curriculum schools opening across Bahan, Mayangone, Hlaing and the northern suburbs. Since 2021 many expatriate families have left, and the schools that remain serve a mix of diplomats, international organisation staff, regional business families and a growing share of Myanmar families who want an English-medium education and an international qualification.
For admissions, this means two things. Places are generally available, and schools compete for students rather than the other way around. It also means you should ask each school about current enrolment numbers by year group, because a class of eight has a very different social dynamic from a class of twenty, and the difference is not obvious from a website.
Curricula and entry requirements
- American (US diploma, AP or IB Diploma): placement by grade level using age and previous reports, with MAP or similar standardised assessments.
- British (Cambridge IGCSE and A Level): placement by year group with an English and maths assessment and a review of reports.
- Singaporean and Australian curricula: similar age-based placement, with an emphasis on English proficiency for older applicants.
- English as an additional language: most schools accept beginners up to about age 8 and require a working level of English from age 11.
Five schools and how their admissions differ
International School Yangon
ISY is the oldest international school in Myanmar, a non-profit American-curriculum school in Bahan offering the IB Diploma. Admissions are rolling, with a full review of reports and standardised assessment results. The school gives priority to diplomatic and international organisation families but has places in most grades.
The British School Yangon
Part of the Nord Anglia group, this school follows the English National Curriculum to IGCSE and offers the IB Diploma. Admissions include an online or in-person assessment in English and maths and a conversation with the year group leader. Decisions are typically quick, within two weeks.
International School of Myanmar
ISM offers an American curriculum with AP courses and is popular with Myanmar and regional business families. Admissions are open year-round with placement testing in English and maths. The school is more likely than others to accept students with limited English at secondary level, with mandatory EAL support.
Yangon International School
YIS runs an American programme with AP and has campuses in Yangon. Admissions are straightforward: application form, reports, assessment and interview. It is a common choice for families who want a mid-priced international option.
Network International School
A British-curriculum school offering Cambridge IGCSE and A Level, with a strong intake of Myanmar families. Admissions include Cambridge-aligned placement tests and, for older applicants, a review of prior examination results. Fees are lower than at the expatriate-founded schools.
The admissions timeline and documents step by step
Step 1, enquiry (6 to 12 months before start): request a tour and ask about current class sizes and the school's plans for the coming year. Step 2, application (ideally by April for August): submit the form with two years of reports, passport and visa copies for the child, parent passport copies, immunisation records, a photograph and a teacher reference. Step 3, assessment: an English and maths assessment from about age 5, online for overseas applicants, plus an interview for secondary students. Step 4, decision (1 to 3 weeks): an offer letter with the fee schedule attached. Step 5, acceptance: pay the enrolment fee and deposit; places are not held without payment. Step 6, arrival: provide the child's stay permit once issued, order uniforms and confirm transport.
Fees due through the process: an application fee of roughly USD 100 to 300; an enrolment or capital fee of roughly USD 1,500 to 6,000 at the leading schools; a deposit equal to part of a semester; then tuition of roughly USD 8,000 to 26,000 a year, quoted in dollars. Transport, uniforms and external exam fees are extra.
A hard fact to plan around: international schools in Myanmar operate under the Private School Registration Law of 2011 and must be registered with the Ministry of Education, and since 2024 the authorities have tightened oversight of private schools. Ask each school for its current registration status and accreditation, because that affects the recognition of its qualifications when your child moves on.
Practical advice for families applying in Yangon
Ask about cohort size before anything else. With smaller enrolments, some year groups at some schools have very few students. For a sociable child, a larger school may be the better choice even if a smaller one has more impressive facilities.
Confirm the payment mechanics. Schools quote in US dollars, but paying from abroad and paying locally in kyat involve different rates and different banking constraints. Ask the finance office which options exist for your situation.
Keep your child's previous school records complete. Families sometimes leave Yangon at short notice. Complete, up-to-date records make the next admissions process elsewhere far smoother.
Compare Yangon schools before you apply
Our ranking of the best schools in Yangon compares curricula, accreditation, facilities and parent reviews across every international school in the city, and lets you contact admissions directly.
More guides to schools in Yangon
Frequently asked questions
Are there still waitlists at international schools in Yangon?
Rarely. Before 2021 the two largest schools had waitlists in early primary, but the departure of many expatriate families has left space in most year groups. The exception is a few oversubscribed classes at popular schools serving Myanmar families. Apply early anyway, because smaller cohorts mean a single class can fill quickly.
What documents do Yangon international schools require?
Typically the last two years of school reports, a copy of the child's passport and current Myanmar visa or stay permit, passport copies for both parents, immunisation records, a recent photograph and a confidential reference from the current school. Some schools also ask for a copy of the parent's employment letter or company registration to confirm sponsorship.
Which fees are payable during the admissions process in Yangon?
A non-refundable application fee of roughly USD 100 to 300, then on acceptance a one-off enrolment or capital fee of roughly USD 1,500 to 6,000 at the leading schools plus a deposit. Tuition is billed by semester and quoted in US dollars; several schools accept payment in kyat at a stated rate, so ask which rate applies before you pay.