What are the best international schools in Bandar Seri Begawan? The strongest options for expatriate families are Jerudong International School (British, Reception to Year 13, boarding, A Level, IB or BTEC), International School Brunei (British, ages 2 to 18, four campuses, founded 1964), St Andrew's School (Anglican, founded 1957) and Seri Mulia Sarjana for early years and primary.
Last reviewed: October 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Families posted to Brunei, many of them with the oil and gas sector, usually start by asking which are the best international schools in Bandar Seri Begawan and then discover that the real question is about fee rates, campuses and boarding. This is a small, quiet capital with a short list of established schools, and each has a distinct character.
This guide explains how the country's geography shapes the choice, what each school teaches, how fee categories work, and what to ask before you commit. It does not name a single winner, because a family arriving on a company education allowance faces different options from one paying out of pocket.
Where the schools are and how families choose
Brunei is small, but the schools are spread across it. International School Brunei (ISB) says it runs four purpose-built campuses between Seria and Brunei Muara, the district containing the capital, with its main address on Jalan Utama Salambigar. Jerudong International School (JIS) sits in Jerudong, west of the city, and offers boarding. St Andrew's School is on Jalan Haji Basir in the capital itself, and Seri Mulia Sarjana is on Jalan Gadong. Where you live and work decides which campus or boarding option is realistic.
If an employer is involved, start by asking which schools it already works with. Some contracts pay tuition directly, which changes which fee category you fall under.
Curricula available in Brunei
British national curriculum, IGCSE and A Level: JIS runs Junior School (Reception to Year 6), Years 7 to 13, and a Sixth Form where students choose A Level, the IB Diploma or BTEC, with IGCSE and Sixth Form examinations invoiced separately.
British primary and secondary with an IB pre-university option: ISB describes itself as a British international day and boarding school, with a globally recognised pre-university programme in the senior years.
Anglican, Brunei-integrated schooling: St Andrew's School teaches in a Christian setting where, by its own description, Bruneians form well over 60 per cent of students.
Early years and primary foundation: Seri Mulia Sarjana, founded in 1998, focuses on early years and primary education.
The schools in detail
Jerudong International School
JIS offers day and boarding places and a full British pathway. Its website explains that Chromebooks are required in Years 5 to 9 and a digital device in Years 10 to 13, that textbooks are needed from Year 7, and that the campus is cashless, with students using preloaded cards or wristbands in Brunei dollars. Boarding students have meals included in boarding fees.
The Sixth Form is the distinguishing feature: three routes, A Level, IB Diploma and BTEC, under one roof, which suits families uncertain about the final pathway. The school says it is not currently offering scholarships, so do not plan around them.
International School Brunei
ISB was established in 1964 and describes itself as the first international school in Brunei Darussalam. It is a not-for-profit, inclusive, co-educational day and boarding school for ages 2 to 18, according to its description, and says its students come from 40 countries. It also runs inclusive learning centres on some campuses.
The multi-campus structure is the practical point: campuses differ by location and stage, so ask exactly which campus your child's year group uses and how transport works. The school offers boarding through ISB Residence for older students.
St Andrew's School Brunei
St Andrew's is an Anglican school founded in January 1957 with 70 students. It describes enrolment of more than 1,694 pupils in 50 classes, from Kindergarten to Year 9 and Secondary 4 and 5, with Bruneian students making up well over 60 per cent of the roll. That mix means expatriate children learn alongside local families, which many parents value for language and cultural exposure.
Enrolment is described as always in great demand, so apply early and ask about wait lists for your child's year group. Check how the school treats religious education for children from other faiths.
Seri Mulia Sarjana International School
Seri Mulia Sarjana was founded in 1998 and says it focuses on quality early years and primary education, preparing pupils for secondary school wherever they go next. It is the one to look at if your child is under about 11 and you want a smaller setting before moving to a secondary option. Confirm the highest year group offered when you visit.
Fees and the Brunei rates system
Brunei fees are charged in Brunei dollars, which the Brunei Darussalam Central Bank describes as pegged to the Singapore dollar at par under a currency interchangeability agreement. If your income or savings are in Singapore dollars, the exchange risk is effectively removed. Banks in both countries exchange the notes at equal value, although shops are not obliged to accept the other currency.
The most important thing to understand is the rate structure. JIS publishes 2026-27 fees (last updated March 2026) under three headings: a Standard Rate for parents whose employers cover 100 per cent of tuition and boarding, a Bruneian Rate for citizens paying in full, and a Resident Rate for permanent residents and expatriates not fully subsidised by an employer. Boarding applicants with ASEAN nationality may also be eligible for the discounted rate.
Admission fee: payable on submission of the application at JIS.
Deposit: refundable, invoiced to Bruneian and Resident Rate parents on accepting an offer.
Payment terms: JIS allows annual payment (with a 2 per cent discount if paid in advance), every six months, or monthly.
Devices and books: Chromebooks and textbooks are bought separately.
Exams: external exam fees for IGCSE, A Level and the IB Diploma are charged by the boards and passed on, usually in Year 11 and Year 13.
Trips and uniform: uniforms come from the school shop and trips are optional extras.
Specific tuition figures for each school are published as rate tables or provided on request, so ask admissions for the table that matches your employer's allowance. Do not budget from a guessed average.
Practical advice
Check your category before comparing prices. A school that looks cheaper for one family can be dearer for another because of the rate structure, so compare quotes for your own circumstances.
Ask employers about direct billing. JIS says that where an employer pays tuition directly, parents provide a letter to the accounts team, and where parents pay first they can claim reimbursement. Check the same procedure with every school.
Visit more than once. The schools are in different districts, so a day visiting two of them tells you more about the commute than any brochure.
See the full ranking
For a wider comparison, see the best international schools in Brunei ranking on International School Advisor.
More guides to schools in Bandar Seri Begawan
Frequently asked questions
What is the best international school in Bandar Seri Begawan for A Levels or the IB?
Jerudong International School offers three Sixth Form routes: A Level, the IB Diploma and BTEC. International School Brunei describes a globally recognised pre-university programme in its senior years. Ask each school for recent results, subject lists and how many students take each pathway before shortlisting.
How do international school fees work in Brunei?
Fees are in Brunei dollars, pegged at par to the Singapore dollar. Jerudong International School publishes Standard, Bruneian and Resident rates for 2026-27 depending on who pays and residency status, offers a 2 per cent discount for annual payment in advance, and invoices exam fees separately in Years 11 and 13.
Are there boarding options at international schools in Brunei?
Yes. Jerudong International School takes boarders, with meals included in boarding fees, and International School Brunei describes a residence for older students. Boarding applicants with ASEAN nationality may qualify for JIS's discounted rate. Ask each school about weekend arrangements, guardianship and which campus houses the residence.