Best International Schools in Kathmandu: 2026 Guide for Families

Quick answer: What are the best international schools in Kathmandu? The main options are Lincoln School (American diploma with AP, since 1954), The British School Kathmandu (English National Curriculum, IGCSE and A Levels), the International French School of Kathmandu (AEFE partner, since 1987) and Sanskriti International School. Fees range from roughly NPR 300,000 to over NPR 3.5 million a year.

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

The best international schools in Kathmandu form a small, close-knit group. Unlike larger expatriate hubs, the Nepali capital has only a handful of schools teaching a full foreign curriculum, and most international families end up choosing between three or four of them. That makes the decision easier in one sense and harder in another: there is less choice, so the fit between your child and the school's system matters even more.

This guide looks at five schools with profiles on International School Advisor and explains who each one suits: American and AP, British, French, and locally run international options. It also covers fees, the calendar gap between the Nepali and international school years, and practical advice for families arriving with the diplomatic service, development agencies, NGOs or the private sector.

Why families choose Kathmandu, and where the schools are

Most international families in Kathmandu are linked to embassies, United Nations agencies, international NGOs, development banks or research and conservation projects. Postings tend to last two to four years, so continuity with a home or next-country system is usually the top priority. A smaller group are Nepali families returning from abroad, or local families who want an English-medium education with an international outlook.

The Kathmandu Valley is compact on the map but slow on the road. Traffic, narrow lanes, roadworks and seasonal dust or monsoon rain can turn a 6 km trip into a 40 minute journey. Many expatriate families live in the northern neighbourhoods around Lazimpat, Maharajgunj and Baluwatar, close to embassies and to Lincoln School in Rabi Bhawan and the French school in Lazimpat. Others prefer the quieter, greener streets of Sanepa and Jhamsikhel on the Lalitpur side of the Bagmati river. Sanskriti International School sits to the west near Swayambhu, while Prime International School is in Nayabazar, north-west of Thamel.

Before signing a lease, try the school run at peak hours. School buses are common, and Lincoln School's profile mentions a bus service, but routes do not cover every neighbourhood. Air quality in the dry winter months is also worth asking about, since it affects outdoor sport and playtime.

Curricula available in Kathmandu

American college preparatory with Advanced Placement: Lincoln School, leading to an American high school diploma and, for students who take enough AP subjects, the AP International Diploma.
English National Curriculum, IGCSE and A Level: The British School Kathmandu, with the International Primary Curriculum in the primary years and Cambridge International and Edexcel syllabi for exams.
French national curriculum: the International French School of Kathmandu, partnered with the AEFE network, from kindergarten to lycée level.
Nepali-run international and +2 programmes: Sanskriti International School with its own research-based curriculum, and Prime International School for +2 study in Science, Management and Humanities.

The best international schools in Kathmandu, and who each fits

Lincoln School

Lincoln School is a not-for-profit, independent day school in Rabi Bhawan, opened in 1954. It runs a US college-preparatory programme from preschool to grade 12, with pupils and teachers from more than thirty countries, and holds accreditation with the Middle States Association (MSA-CESS). High school students can choose from a wide range of Advanced Placement subjects, take a three-semester Theory of Knowledge sequence and complete a compulsory Senior Project. Facilities listed on the profile include a theatre, gym, a three-storey library completed in 2015 and a heated 25 metre pool.

It fits American families and anyone heading to North American universities. Tip: English is the medium of instruction, with ESOL support for students still learning it, so ask how long children usually stay in ESOL before joining mainstream classes.

The British School Kathmandu

Founded in 1966, originally as a primary school, The British School is a fee-paying, not-for-profit independent school delivering the English National Curriculum. Its profile reports around sixty full-time UK-recruited staff and an age range from Foundation 1 to A Levels. Primary pupils follow the International Primary Curriculum alongside National Curriculum maths and English, and older students take Cambridge International and Edexcel IGCSE and A Level exams.

It suits British and Commonwealth families, and anyone likely to move to a British-curriculum school in another country. Tip: A Level subject choices depend on group sizes, so check which subjects are actually running in your child's year.

International French School of Kathmandu

The EFIK, or Ecole Française Internationale de Katmandou, has offered a French-style education in Lazimpat since 1987 and is partnered with the AEFE, the agency for French education abroad. It welcomes children from kindergarten to secondary (lycée) level, with French and English listed as instructional languages.

It is the obvious choice for French-speaking families and for those moving within the French school network. Tip: as a small school, older year groups can be tiny, so ask how the upper secondary years are delivered and whether any courses are followed through distance learning.

Sanskriti International School

Sanskriti is located in Halchowk, near Swayambhu, and teaches in English. Its profile describes a research-based curriculum covering cognitive, social-emotional, physical and creative development, with a deliberate focus on character education, such as friendship, generosity and honesty.

It fits Nepali and long-term resident families who want an English-medium school with an international outlook at a lower cost than the foreign-system schools. Tip: ask which board or exam the school prepares students for in the secondary years, since this decides how easily a child can transfer abroad later.

Prime International School

Prime International School in Khusibun, Nayabazar, part of Prime Educational Inc. alongside Prime Global School, focuses on +2 education (Grades 11 and 12) in Science, Management and Humanities. Teaching is in English, in modern buildings with furnished classrooms.

It is relevant mainly to older students already in the Nepali system who want an English-medium +2 college. Tip: this is not a full K to 12 international school, so younger children will need another school.

International school fees in Kathmandu

None of these profiles publishes fees, and the foreign-curriculum schools often quote tuition in US dollars, so read the following as rough guidance. At around NPR 135 to the US dollar:

Lincoln School: roughly US$20,000 to US$30,000 a year (about NPR 2.7 to 4 million), rising with grade level.
The British School Kathmandu: roughly US$12,000 to US$25,000 a year (about NPR 1.6 to 3.4 million), with the top of the range in the IGCSE and A Level years.
International French School: roughly US$6,000 to US$12,000 a year (about NPR 0.8 to 1.6 million), with reduced rates often available to French nationals.
Sanskriti and Prime: roughly NPR 300,000 to 800,000 a year (about US$2,200 to US$6,000), depending on grade.

Common extras include:

Application and assessment fees, plus a one-off registration or capital fee at some schools.
A refundable or non-refundable deposit to hold a place.
School bus, which can add a significant monthly cost in a city where most families avoid driving.
Lunch, uniforms, trips and residential trips.
External exam entries for AP, IGCSE, A Level or French exams.
Laptops or tablets and after-school activities.

Calendars also matter. Nepal's national school year begins in the month of Baisakh (mid-April), and national students sit the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) at the end of Grade 10, whereas most international schools in Kathmandu run an August to June year. A child moving from a Nepali school to an international one, or the reverse, may face a gap or overlap of several months, and fees are usually charged by term or semester from the date of entry.

Practical advice for families choosing a school in Kathmandu

Choose the system before the school. With only one main school each for the American, British and French systems, the curriculum choice and the school choice are almost the same decision. Think about where your child will study next. If a move to the United States or an American international school is likely, Lincoln is the natural bridge; for the UK or a British school elsewhere, The British School; for France or an AEFE school, EFIK.

Ask about places early. Small schools fill quickly in popular year groups, and many diplomatic and agency families arrive in July and August. If you know your posting date, contact admissions as soon as it is confirmed and send previous reports, a passport copy and immunisation records. Ask whether mid-year entry is possible, since departures do free up places during the year.

Plan around daily life. Check bus routes before choosing a home, ask about the school's procedures for earthquakes, power cuts and poor air days, and find out how the school communicates with parents. These practical details shape your family's week far more than a brochure does.

Explore more schools in the region

To compare these schools with others around the valley and beyond, see our ranking of the best international schools in central Nepal, with profiles by curriculum, language and stage.

More guides to schools in Kathmandu

Frequently asked questions

Which international school in Kathmandu offers A Levels?

The British School Kathmandu teaches the English National Curriculum from Foundation 1 through to A Levels, using Cambridge International and Edexcel syllabi for IGCSE and A Level exams. Lincoln School follows an American route instead, with Advanced Placement courses and an American high school diploma, so families should choose according to the university system they are aiming for.

How much does Lincoln School Kathmandu cost?

Lincoln School does not publish fees on its profile, but tuition is roughly US$20,000 to US$30,000 a year, depending on grade, or about NPR 2.7 to 4 million. Families should also budget for application fees, a deposit, the school bus, lunches and AP exam entries. Many diplomatic and agency employers cover all or part of these costs.

Is there a French school in Kathmandu?

Yes. The International French School of Kathmandu (EFIK) in Lazimpat has taught the French curriculum since 1987 and is partnered with the AEFE, the French agency for education abroad. It takes children from kindergarten to lycée level, with French and English as instructional languages, which helps families moving within the French school network.