Bilingual Schools in Nice: A 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Quick answer: Which bilingual schools in Nice suit expat families? Nice offers three models: genuinely bilingual private schools such as the Ecole Internationale Bilingue de Nice and ABC International School, where teaching is split between French and English; English-medium international schools such as the International School of Nice with French as a strong second language; and state schools with international sections. Fees run from roughly EUR 6,000 to 26,000 a year.

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

Nice is the fifth-largest city in France and the natural base for international families working along the Cote d'Azur, from the Sophia Antipolis technology park to Monaco. The region has a long tradition of international education, and bilingual schools in Nice now range from small French-English immersion schools to large English-medium international schools with French woven into the day. This guide explains the differences between the models, profiles the main schools, sets out 2026 fees in euros and helps you decide how much French your child should be learning in.

Why bilingual education works well in Nice

The Alpes-Maritimes department has one of the highest proportions of foreign residents in mainland France, with large British, Italian, Scandinavian, Russian-speaking and North American communities. Many families arrive intending to stay for years rather than a single posting, and for them full English-medium schooling can leave children unable to function in the French system or in French daily life. Bilingual schools solve that problem, and they also open the door to the French baccalaureat, including the option internationale, alongside international qualifications.

Geography helps. Nice is compact, the tram network is good, and the schools sit in the western districts around Fabron, Saint-Isidore and the airport, in the eastern hills towards Villefranche, and a short drive west in Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne and Biot. A 20 to 30 minute school run is normal, and school buses serve the coast from Cannes to Monaco.

One legal detail shapes the market: private schools in France are either sous contrat, with state-paid teachers and much lower fees but a mandatory French national curriculum, or hors contrat, fully private and free to design bilingual programmes but charging full fees. Most bilingual schools in Nice are hors contrat, which is why they cost several times more than a state school.

The bilingual models available in Nice

Fully bilingual French-English schools: roughly half the timetable in each language, with French-qualified and native English-speaking teachers, leading to the brevet and the French or international baccalaureat.
English-medium international schools with strong French: the IB or British curriculum in English, with daily French lessons and often a French literature or history strand; suited to shorter stays.
State schools with sections internationales: free public schools in Nice and the surrounding communes offering a British or American section with extra hours of English literature and history, leading to the baccalaureat francais international.
Bilingual early years: several maternelle-age programmes run 50:50 immersion from age two or three, the point where bilingualism comes most easily.

Bilingual and international schools in Nice compared

Ecole Internationale Bilingue de Nice

EIB Nice is the reference bilingual school in the city, part of a group with a long track record in Paris. Children follow the French national programme with roughly half of teaching time in English from maternelle onwards, and the school prepares students for the brevet and the baccalaureat with international options. It suits families who want their children to be fully at home in both systems. Fees are roughly EUR 8,000 to 14,000 a year.

ABC International School

ABC is a smaller bilingual school in Nice offering French-English immersion in the early and primary years with small class sizes and a strong emphasis on reading in both languages. It is a popular first school for international families with young children, many of whom later move to EIB or the International School of Nice. Fees are roughly EUR 6,000 to 11,000.

International School of Nice

ISN, founded in 1977, is the established English-medium international school on the Cote d'Azur and an IB World School offering the Diploma alongside an American-style programme. French is taught daily at all levels and native speakers follow a francophone strand, so leavers are typically confident bilinguals even though the medium of instruction is English. Fees are the highest in the city, roughly EUR 16,000 to 26,000.

Mouratoglou International School

Located within the Mouratoglou tennis academy in Biot, a short drive west of Nice, this school combines an English-medium international curriculum with intensive sport, and offers French as a core subject. It is a specialist option for families with serious athletes rather than a mainstream bilingual school, but the language balance is genuinely dual. Fees vary widely with the sport programme; expect roughly EUR 20,000 upwards before training costs.

Fees for bilingual schools in Nice in 2026

Indicative annual tuition by model:

State school with section internationale: free, apart from a small contribution to the parents' association and lunches of roughly EUR 3 to 6 a day.
Bilingual private school, maternelle and primary: roughly EUR 6,000 to 11,000.
Bilingual private school, college and lycee: roughly EUR 9,000 to 15,000.
English-medium international school: roughly EUR 16,000 to 26,000, rising for the IB Diploma years.

Extras include a registration fee of EUR 500 to 2,000, a one-off entry or capital fee at some schools, lunches of EUR 6 to 9 a day at private schools, school transport of EUR 1,500 to 3,000 a year along the coast, and exam fees for the IB or IGCSE where relevant. Since 2019 the age of compulsory schooling in France has been three, so maternelle places are guaranteed in the state system, which makes a free French maternelle plus English at home a realistic low-cost route to bilingualism for the youngest children.

Practical tips for choosing a bilingual school in Nice

Be honest about how long you are staying. If you will leave France within two or three years, an English-medium international school with strong French is usually the safer choice. If you are staying longer or may stay indefinitely, a genuinely bilingual school protects your child's access to the French system, including free lycee and university.

Ask how the two languages are actually split. Some schools describe themselves as bilingual but teach mainly in French with English as a subject, or the reverse. Ask for the weekly timetable by language and by teacher, and whether literacy is taught simultaneously or sequentially.

Look at the sections internationales. Several state colleges and lycees in Nice and nearby communes run British or American sections. They are selective, require a language test, and are free. For a child already fluent in English and at least conversational in French, they can be the best value in the region.

Compare bilingual and international schools in Nice and across France

Bilingual schools on the Cote d'Azur are small and places at the popular entry points fill quickly. Compare verified profiles, parent reviews and current fee bands in our ranking of the best international schools in France.

More guides to schools in Nice

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a bilingual school and an international school in Nice?

A bilingual school in Nice teaches roughly half the curriculum in French and half in English and follows the French national programme towards the brevet and baccalaureat. An international school teaches in English, follows the IB or an Anglo-American curriculum, and offers French as a strong second language. The first suits long stays, the second shorter postings.

How much do bilingual schools in Nice cost?

Private bilingual schools in Nice charge roughly EUR 6,000 to 15,000 a year depending on age, while English-medium international schools cost roughly EUR 16,000 to 26,000. State schools with international sections are free apart from lunches and a small parents' association contribution.

Can a child with no French join a bilingual school in Nice?

Yes, especially before the age of seven or eight, when immersion works fastest. Most bilingual schools in Nice accept non-francophone children into maternelle and early primary with additional French support. From about age ten, schools usually assess French level and may recommend an English-medium international school first.