Best International Schools in Astana: 2026 Guide for Families

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

Choosing among the best international schools in Astana means weighing a mix of British, American-style and IB schools, several of which also enrol large numbers of Kazakh families. The city is Kazakhstan's capital, and its schools differ in how they quote fees: some publish them in pounds, some in dollars, and Kazakh citizens must pay in tenge.

This guide explains how the main schools differ, what published fees look like for 2026-27, and which questions matter most before you apply. It avoids declaring one winner, since the best school for a three-year posting is rarely the best for a family settling in Kazakhstan.

Astana in practice: who the schools serve and how fees work

Astana's schools are spread across a new city that has grown quickly, so the commute is a real consideration. International School of Astana is on Turkestan Street, Miras International School is on Kuyshi Dina Street. Ask each school about bus routes before you choose a neighbourhood.

One legal rule shapes fee quotes. Haileybury Astana explains on its fees page that, under Kazakhstan's law on foreign currency regulation, Kazakh citizens can pay fees only in tenge, converted at the National Bank of Kazakhstan's exchange rate on the day of payment. Foreign families may be able to pay in other currencies where the contract allows, so ask what your agreement will say before you compare prices.

Curricula on offer

• British curriculum with IB Diploma: Haileybury Astana, founded in 2011, offers a British education from kindergarten and prepares senior students for the IB Diploma.
• US-style mastery learning: QSI International School of Astana follows the QSI mastery learning model, with students from over 26 different nationalities, according to the school.
• IB: Miras International School says it holds IBO authorisation for its primary, secondary and higher levels. International School of Astana describes itself as a candidate school for the IB Primary Years Programme.

For reference, the IBO gives the PYP as ages 3 to 12, the MYP as 11 to 16 and the Diploma as 16 to 19.

The schools worth shortlisting

Haileybury Astana

Haileybury Astana runs from kindergarten through junior school (ages 5 to 11) and senior school (ages 11 to 18). It was founded in 2011, says it prepares students for the IB Diploma, and marked 15 years in 2026. The school also announced a partnership with Wellington College International beginning in summer 2027, so ask how the transition affects uniform, curriculum, fees and staffing.

Its 2026-27 fees are published in pounds, with a base rate of 680 tenge to the pound: roughly 12,750 for Nursery to Reception, 18,190 for Years 1 and 2, 21,590 for Years 3 to 6, 24,650 for Years 7 to 9 and 27,200 for Years 10 to 13. Fees include meals and snacks, co-curricular activities, stationery and English as an additional language provision. Families wanting a structured British route into the IB Diploma will find the clearest fee information here.

QSI International School of Astana

QSI Astana accepts applications year-round, depending on space, which suits families whose relocation date is uncertain. The process has a one-time, non-refundable registration fee of 600 US dollars, a copy of the passport or birth certificate, photographs, and a placement test and interview with the Director of Instruction. Students aged 5 and over take the NWEA MAP test in reading, mathematics and language usage in English, and those aged 8 and over also write an essay.

The school describes a mastery learning approach in which students are placed according to need. It is a sensible fit for children who have moved between school systems and may arrive with gaps, though you should ask about class sizes and how the school handles higher-level subjects in senior years.

Miras International School Astana

Miras opened in 1999 as a branch of the Nursultan Nazarbayev Educational Foundation and integrates national programmes with IB programmes. By its own description it holds IBO authorisation for primary, secondary and higher levels and accreditation from NEASC, CIS and ECIS. It was an experimental site of the Ministry of Education and Science from 1999 to 2014.

The integrated model is valuable for families who want Kazakh and international credentials together, so ask how national-programme subjects fit into the day and what proportion of lessons are in English at your child's grade.

International School of Astana

The school opened with four grades and ten teachers, grew to 400 students by 2014-15 and moved into a new building in September 2016, designed for 900 students in 45 classes, according to its history. It has candidate status for the IB Primary Years Programme. Candidate status means the school is working towards authorisation, which is not a guarantee, so confirm the current status with the IBO or the school.

What international schooling costs in Astana

Haileybury Astana's published fees give a useful benchmark: the tuition range above is roughly 12,750 to 27,200 pounds, which at the school's base rate is around 8.7 million to 18.5 million tenge a year. Other schools publish less. Ask each for a full 2026-27 schedule, including bus, lunch, uniform and exam costs.

• Registration or application fee: Haileybury charges 50,000 tenge, QSI Astana 600 US dollars.
• Guarantee payment: Haileybury asks for 750,000 tenge as a guarantee of contractual obligations.
• Payment schedule: Haileybury's 2026-27 fees are paid in three terms, by 5 June 2026, 20 November 2026 and 5 March 2027, and places for September were secured by paying the first term.
• Exchange-rate indexation: Haileybury applies a coefficient based on the payment-date exchange rate to the base rate of 680.
• Extras: external activity providers and individual music lessons are not covered at Haileybury.

The hard fact to plan around is the currency rule: Kazakh citizens pay in tenge only, so the effective price they pay moves with the exchange rate on payment day, which is why Haileybury publishes an indexation formula.

Practical advice

Ask about currency early. A fee set in pounds or dollars will move in tenge terms, so ask whether a quote is fixed for the year and how any indexation is calculated.

Secure the place on time. At Haileybury, first-term payment is due by early June to hold a September place, so apply in the winter or spring if you are moving for the new school year.

Check eligibility for each pathway. If a parent or child holds Kazakh citizenship, ask whether fees, language requirements or the curriculum differ from those for foreign families.

See the full ranking

For a wider comparison, see the best international schools in Astana ranking on International School Advisor.

More guides to schools in Astana

• Bilingual schools in Astana
• International school admissions in Astana
• How to choose an international school in Astana
• International school fees in Astana
• best international schools in Astana

Frequently asked questions

How much does Haileybury Astana cost in 2026-27?

Haileybury Astana publishes 2026-27 fees in pounds, from roughly 12,750 a year for Nursery to Reception to 27,200 for Years 10 to 13, at a base rate of 680 tenge to the pound. Families also pay a 50,000 tenge registration fee and a 750,000 tenge guarantee payment, and fees are paid in three terms.

Can Kazakh citizens pay international school fees in dollars?

No. Haileybury Astana says that under Kazakhstan's law on foreign currency regulation, citizens can pay fees only in tenge, using the National Bank of Kazakhstan's exchange rate on the day of payment. Foreign families may have other currency options where the contract allows, so check your parental agreement.

How do you apply to QSI International School of Astana?

QSI Astana accepts applications year-round, subject to space. Parents submit forms with a passport or birth certificate and photographs, pay a one-time, non-refundable registration fee of 600 US dollars, then book a placement test and interview. Students aged 5 and over sit the NWEA MAP test in English, and those aged 8 and over write an essay.