International School Fees in Stavanger: 2026 Cost Guide for Expat Families

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

Stavanger is one of the few places in Europe where the question "how much is school?" has two very different answers for the same city. Understanding international school fees in Stavanger means first understanding how Norway funds independent schools, because the same English-medium classroom can cost a family a modest annual contribution or a sum closer to a London day school, depending on who pays and under which legal framework the school operates.

This guide sets out what families moving to the Stavanger region in 2026 can expect to pay by stage, which extras to budget for, how currency movements affect the numbers, and what to ask before signing an enrolment contract. It covers the three verified international school campuses in the city, and it is written for families on local Norwegian contracts as well as those on expatriate packages from the energy sector.

Stavanger as a place to live and study

Stavanger and neighbouring Sandnes form Norway's energy capital. Equinor has its headquarters at Forus, and dozens of operators, drilling contractors, engineering firms and, increasingly, offshore wind and carbon capture companies run their Norwegian operations from the same corridor. That is why the city has a far larger international school population than its size of roughly 145,000 residents would suggest, and why so many school places have historically been funded by employers rather than by parents.

Geographically, the schools sit in three distinct areas. The International School of Stavanger is in Hafrsfjord, on the western side of the city towards Sola and the airport. BISS Gausel is in the south-east near Gausel station and the Forus business park, which suits families working in the energy offices. BISS Sentrum, as the name suggests, is closer to the city centre at Misjonsmarka. Distances are short by international standards, usually 10 to 25 minutes by car, but rush hour around Forus and the E39 can add time, and many families rely on Kolumbus buses and school buses rather than daily car runs.

Living costs matter when you budget for school. Stavanger is expensive by European standards: housing in Madla, Hinna, Hafrsfjord or Eiganes typically takes a large share of a local salary, and childcare, food and transport are priced accordingly. A fee that looks reasonable in isolation can look different once rent and a second car are added.

Curricula available in Stavanger

The international offer in Stavanger is small but covers the main routes an internationally mobile family will look for:

• International Baccalaureate (IB): the British International Schools of Stavanger group describes itself as providing IB education, and BISS Sentrum is listed as a candidate school for the IB Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes. The International School of Stavanger offers the IB Diploma in the final two years.
• IGCSE: the International School of Stavanger offers IGCSE courses before the IB Diploma, a familiar pathway for British and Commonwealth families.
• English-medium instruction with Norwegian: all three campuses teach in English, and the British International School of Stavanger profile also lists Norwegian as a partial language of instruction, useful for families planning to stay long term.

The three international schools in Stavanger

International School of Stavanger

ISS, at Treskeveien 3 in Hafrsfjord, is the largest of the three, with more than 600 students from around 50 nationalities. The largest groups are American, British and Norwegian, with sizeable communities from Australia, Canada, France, India, Italy, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands. It takes children from age 3 to 18, offers IGCSE and the IB Diploma, and holds a 4.6 rating from 5 reviews on our site. Its published monthly cost is "consult", so families need to request the current fee schedule directly. Tip: ISS has traditionally priced its places with corporate sponsorship in mind, so ask whether a separate rate applies to self-funding families and whether the school offers sibling discounts.

British International School of Stavanger

The British International Schools of Stavanger (BISS) group was founded in 1977 and today comprises BISS Pre-School, BISS Gausel and BISS Sentrum, with more than fifty nationalities on roll. The Gausel campus at Gauselbakken 107 covers nursery through to the upper years, lists English as the main language with Norwegian taught alongside it, and offers IB education to both expatriate and permanent resident families in south west Norway. It holds a 3.8 rating from 5 reviews. Tip: because the group serves both locally employed and expatriate families, ask early whether your child's place falls under a state-supported arrangement or a fully private fee, as the difference can be large.

BISS Sentrum

BISS Sentrum, at Misjonsmarka 1 near the city centre, is the newer campus of the BISS group and is listed as a candidate school for the IB Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes while it pursues authorisation as an IB World School. Its profile lists stages from nursery upwards, with English as the language of instruction, and it holds a 4.5 rating from 2 reviews, with one parent describing friendly, helpful staff and a very diverse school community. Tip: for families living in the centre, Storhaug or Eiganes, Sentrum can remove a daily drive to the south, which is a real saving in time and fuel over a school year.

International school fees in Stavanger by stage

None of the three schools publishes a monthly cost on its profile, so the ranges below are indicative and written as "roughly". They are based on the two funding models that operate in Norway, and families should treat them as a starting point for a conversation with each admissions office, not as a quote.

The key legal background: under Norway's Independent Schools Act (friskolelova, 2003), approved independent schools receive a state grant covering roughly 85 percent of a set per-pupil cost and may only charge parents limited fees for the rest; schools outside the scheme set their own fees, often paid by oil and energy employers. In practice, families should ask each school which model applies to their child's place, because it can differ by campus, by stage and even by the family's residence status.

Indicative annual fees, with a rough euro equivalent at around 11 to 12 kroner per euro:

• Nursery and preschool (ages 1 to 5): roughly NOK 40,000 to 120,000 a year (about EUR 3,500 to 10,500). Norwegian kindergarten fees are capped nationally for barnehager, but international preschool programmes may sit outside that cap.
• Primary (ages 6 to 11) in a state-grant model: roughly NOK 30,000 to 60,000 a year (about EUR 2,600 to 5,200).
• Primary in a fully private model: roughly NOK 150,000 to 220,000 a year (about EUR 13,000 to 19,000).
• Secondary and IB Diploma (ages 12 to 18) in a fully private model: roughly NOK 180,000 to 260,000 a year (about EUR 15,500 to 22,500).

Extras that are often billed separately:

• Application or registration fee: a one-off charge, roughly NOK 2,000 to 10,000.
• Enrolment deposit: sometimes refundable on leaving with proper notice; check the notice period carefully.
• Capital or development levy: some private schools charge a one-off or annual building contribution, which employers may or may not cover.
• School buses: routes to Hafrsfjord and Gausel are usually charged by term; public transport passes for older pupils are an alternative.
• Meals and fruit schemes: Norwegian children usually bring a packed lunch (matpakke), but some international campuses offer paid lunches.
• Uniforms and sports kit: plus outdoor clothing for Norwegian weather, which is a real cost for younger children.
• IB and IGCSE examination fees: often charged in the final years on top of tuition.
• Devices: many secondary programmes expect a personal laptop.
• Trips and residentials: outdoor education weeks and IB field trips can add a few thousand kroner a year.

Practical advice for budgeting school costs in Stavanger

Read your employment package before you read the fee sheet. In Stavanger, a large share of international families still have school fees paid in full or in part by the employer. Check whether your contract covers tuition only, or also registration, development levies, buses and exam fees. Ask HR whether payment goes directly to the school, because a direct invoice avoids cash-flow strain and can affect how the benefit is taxed in Norway. If you are on a local contract with no school allowance, the funding model of the school becomes the single biggest factor in your budget.

Ask each school three precise questions. First, is this place funded under the friskolelova scheme or set privately? Second, what exactly is included in the annual fee? Third, what are the payment terms: annual, termly or monthly, and is there a discount for paying the year up front? Get the answers in writing. Fees are usually invoiced in kroner, so families paid in euros, dollars or pounds should also ask whether the school can invoice in another currency.

Plan for currency movements and continuity. The krone has been volatile against the euro and the dollar in recent years, moving with oil prices and interest rates. A family earning in euros can see the real cost of a NOK fee change noticeably from one year to the next, so build a margin of around 10 percent into the budget. Think too about continuity: if your assignment might end mid-programme, check refund rules and notice periods, and if you might stay for many years, a campus with Norwegian language teaching may keep more options open later.

Compare the schools in Rogaland

Fees are only one part of the decision, and the three Stavanger campuses differ in curriculum, location and community. To compare them side by side with ratings and parent reviews, see our Best international schools in Rogaland ranking, then contact your shortlisted schools for their current 2026 fee schedules.

More guides to schools in Stavanger

• Best international schools in Rogaland ranking

Frequently asked questions

Are international schools in Stavanger free?

Not entirely. Approved independent schools under the friskolelova receive a state grant of roughly 85 percent of a set per-pupil cost, so parents pay a limited contribution, often roughly NOK 30,000 to 60,000 a year. Schools or places outside the scheme set their own fees, which can exceed NOK 150,000 a year. Ask each school which model applies.

Do oil companies pay international school fees in Stavanger?

Many energy employers in the Forus area still include school fees in expatriate packages, sometimes paying the school directly. Coverage varies: some pay tuition only, while others include registration, buses and exam fees. Check your contract and ask HR for written confirmation before you accept a place, especially if you are moving onto a local contract.

Which international school in Stavanger offers the IB Diploma?

The International School of Stavanger in Hafrsfjord offers IGCSE followed by the IB Diploma for students up to age 18. The British International Schools of Stavanger group also describes its programme as IB education, and BISS Sentrum is a candidate school for the IB Primary and Middle Years Programmes. Confirm exam fees, which are often billed separately.