Bilingual Schools in Yangon: A 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Quick answer: Are there bilingual schools in Yangon? Not in the strict sense. The five international schools here teach in English, and Burmese is offered as a subject, for example at International School Yangon from Grade 1 to Grade 10, according to the school. An earlier British School Yangon table showed USD 20,097 to USD 36,186 a year, but that page is gone.

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

Families who search for bilingual schools in Yangon are often hoping for English plus Burmese in the classroom. What the city actually offers is English-medium international schooling, with the host language added as a subject or a support programme. That is a legitimate model, but it is different from a school that teaches half the day in each language, and it helps to know the difference before you visit.

This guide explains what language provision looks like at five schools, where the evidence is thin, and what to ask about fees and legal arrangements. The details for Crane, American International School Yangon and Thalun come from directory profiles that the schools have not verified, so treat them as claims to check. It is aimed at expat families, and at Myanmar families who want an international curriculum without losing Burmese.

Yangon in context: where the schools are

The international schools are spread across the northern and eastern parts of the city, so a school run can change your choice of home. International School Yangon is on Shwe Taungyar Street in Bahan Township, a residential area in central Yangon. The British School Yangon is on Taw Win Street in Mayangone, in the north near the international airport, according to its operator. Crane International School Myanmar is on Win Hlaing Road in the Taw Win Cherry Estate, also in Mayangone. American International School Yangon lists an address in South Okkalapa, and Thalun International School is on Hnin Si Street.

Because campuses are far apart, ask each school about its bus routes and the typical journey time at drop-off, rather than relying on the distance on a map.

How languages work in Yangon schools

English-medium with Burmese as a subject: International School Yangon teaches in English, with Burmese from Grade 1 to Grade 10, according to the school.
English-medium with a Myanmar language programme and EAL support: Thalun International School is described in one directory as teaching in English, with a Myanmar language programme and English as an Additional Language support.
English National Curriculum: The British School Yangon follows the National Curriculum for England from Early Years to A-levels, in English.
American curriculum: American International School Yangon and Thalun follow US standards (Common Core, and AERO standards at Thalun).

No school in this list describes itself as a dual-language school, so treat any "bilingual" label with caution and ask for the weekly Burmese hours.

Five schools compared

International School Yangon

ISY serves ages 3 to 18 and reports almost 500 students from more than 27 countries. The school describes a US-based curriculum through Grade 10 and the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12. According to the school, English is the medium of instruction, and Burmese is taught from Grade 1 to Grade 10 with Mandarin and French from Grade 2. In Grades 11 and 12 students can continue Burmese, begin Spanish ab initio or study their mother tongue within the IB Diploma. The school adds that outside tutoring should only be needed for a mother tongue it does not teach.

Two points from its tuition page matter for planning. ISY says fees typically rise 3 to 5% a year on average, and that payments go to two separate legal entities: a US-based association and a Myanmar entity. The page lists no amounts, so request the schedule and ask which entity invoices which charge. Tip: ISY says it applies a nationality cap, about 30% per grade, which affects how many students share your child's home language.

The British School Yangon

BSY follows the National Curriculum for England with IGCSEs and A-levels, and the operator says it is a day school for up to 1,100 students. Its pages describe English as the language of instruction and do not mention Burmese teaching or any bilingual programme, so a family that wants Burmese needs to ask directly. The school lists a Taw Win Street campus with a 500-seat theatre and other facilities listed by the operator.

It is the only school here for which we saw a tuition table, but the page that carried it is no longer online, so ask for the current schedule. Its admissions page now lists a non-refundable enrolment fee of USD 3,500 and a refundable early notice withdrawal deposit of USD 1,500.

American International School Yangon

AIS Yangon is a K-12 school that says it has adopted the Common Core State Standards for English and maths and the Next Generation Science Standards for science. A directory description adds the IB Primary Years Programme and AP exams for secondary students, which the school's own pages we reached did not confirm. Language provision beyond English is not stated in the sources we could read, so ask whether Burmese is taught and for how many hours.

Thalun International School

Thalun describes an American-style curriculum guided by AERO standards. A directory entry says classes are in English with a Myanmar language programme and EAL support. That combination suits children who will move between a Burmese-speaking home and an English-medium class, but check how much of the day the support takes up.

Crane International School Myanmar

Crane's directory profile, which the school has not verified, describes an independent co-educational school with over 300 students aged 3 to 17. We could not confirm its language of instruction, curriculum or current operations from the school itself, so request them in writing before you shortlist it.

Fees

Fees are quoted in US dollars. An earlier tuition table on the Nord Anglia site for The British School Yangon listed annual tuition of USD 20,097 for Pre-Nursery and Nursery, USD 24,833 for Reception, USD 28,529 for Years 1 to 6, USD 29,938 for Years 7 to 9, USD 34,419 for Years 10 and 11 and USD 36,186 for Years 12 and 13. Fees were split across three terms, with Term 1 at USD 12,211 for Years 1 to 6. That page stated no academic year and the URL now returns a not-found error, so treat these figures as dated and confirm the current schedule and academic year. The admissions page mentions an application fee without giving an amount.

ISY, AIS, Thalun and Crane do not show tuition amounts in the pages we could read. Use the ranges above only as a dated benchmark for a British-curriculum school.

Annual increases: ISY says 3 to 5% a year on average, so a 2026 quote will not hold for a four-year stay.
Two payees: at ISY, payments go to a US-based association and a Myanmar entity.
Application and registration charges: not published for most schools, so ask.
Language support: ask whether EAL or Burmese support is charged separately.
Transport: ask for bus prices by area.

Practical advice

Ask for hours of Burmese, not a label. Request the weekly timetable by grade, who teaches it, and whether it is mother-tongue or foreign-language level. ISY's published grade range is a useful benchmark for the others.

Decide how much Burmese you need. A diplomatic family on a three-year posting may want only conversational Burmese, while a Myanmar family may want literacy. Those goals need different answers from the school.

Confirm the money trail. Ask which legal entity invoices you, which currency applies, and how increases are notified. Get the answers in writing, along with the notice period for leaving.

See the wider shortlist

To compare more options, see our ranking of the best international schools in Yangon.

More guides to schools in Yangon

Frequently asked questions

Is there a truly bilingual English and Burmese school in Yangon?

None of the five schools reviewed describes itself as dual-language. They teach in English and add Burmese as a subject or support programme. International School Yangon says on its FAQ page that it teaches Burmese from Grade 1 to Grade 10, and one directory lists Thalun with a Myanmar language programme. Ask any school for weekly Burmese hours by grade.

How much does The British School Yangon cost?

An earlier tuition table listed annual fees from USD 20,097 for Pre-Nursery and Nursery to USD 36,186 for Years 12 and 13, with Years 1 to 6 at USD 28,529. That page is no longer online, so confirm current fees. The admissions page lists a USD 3,500 enrolment fee.

Do fees rise every year at International School Yangon?

ISY says on its tuition page that fees typically increase annually, 3 to 5% on average. It also states that payments go to two separate legal entities, a US-based association and a Myanmar entity. The page lists no amounts, so request the current schedule and ask which entity issues each invoice.