How to Choose an International School in Bandar Seri Begawan: 2026 Family Guide

Quick answer: How do you choose an international school in Bandar Seri Begawan? Start by deciding between the two large British-style schools, Jerudong International School and International School Brunei, and the smaller faith-based, Chinese-medium or primary-focused options. Then weigh commute from your district, fees of roughly BND 8,000 to 26,000 a year, exam route and whether you want boarding. Visit at least two schools before deciding.

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

Working out how to choose an international school in Bandar Seri Begawan is simpler than in most Asian capitals, because the field is small and well defined. Brunei's capital has two large, long-established international schools, a handful of mission and community schools with strong English, and a respected Chinese-medium school, all within a 30 minute drive of one another. The challenge is not finding a school with places; it is matching the school's culture, exam route and price to a family that may be in the country for two years or twenty.

This guide is written for families arriving with the oil and gas sector, the diplomatic community, Brunei Shell and its contractors, and the growing number of teachers and health professionals on government contracts. The observations reflect 2026 conditions and parent feedback and should be confirmed with each school.

Living in Bandar Seri Begawan and what it means for school choice

Bandar Seri Begawan is a low-rise, car-dependent city on the Brunei River. Expat families tend to live in Jerudong and Sengkurong to the west, close to the beach and the Jerudong International School campus; in Gadong, Kiulap and Beribi around the shopping districts; or in Kuala Belait and Seria, about 90 minutes down the coast, if they work in the oil fields. Distance matters: a Kuala Belait family cannot realistically commute to a Bandar school daily, which is one reason weekly boarding at JIS exists.

Brunei is an unusually stable and affordable posting. The Brunei dollar has been interchangeable at par with the Singapore dollar since the Currency Interchangeability Agreement of 1967, so fees are effectively priced in Singapore dollars without Singapore's cost of living. Petrol is subsidised, rents are moderate and there is no personal income tax, which changes the calculation when comparing a higher-fee school here with alternatives elsewhere in the region.

Curricula available in Bandar Seri Begawan

The English-medium options are dominated by the British system, with a few distinctive alternatives.

British curriculum (IGCSE, A Levels) and IB Diploma: Jerudong International School offers both A Levels and the IB Diploma at sixth form, one of the few schools in the region to do so.
British curriculum with IGCSE and A Levels: International School Brunei follows the English National Curriculum through to A Levels and has offered the IB Diploma as an alternative sixth form route.
Church-affiliated English-medium schools: St Andrew's School Brunei follows a Brunei-adapted curriculum with Cambridge O Levels in English medium and strong community roots.
Chinese-medium with English: Chung Hwa Middle School teaches in Mandarin and English with the Brunei national curriculum and Cambridge exams, popular with families wanting Mandarin fluency.
Early years and primary: Stella's School and Bright Jigsaw School focus on the younger years with small classes and lower fees.

The schools to consider in Bandar Seri Begawan

Jerudong International School

JIS is the largest and best-resourced school in Brunei, set on a 120-acre campus in Jerudong with boarding houses, an arts centre and extensive sports facilities. It offers IGCSE followed by a choice of A Levels or the IB Diploma. Fees are the highest in the country, roughly BND 16,000 to 26,000 a year for day pupils, and it suits families who want a full British boarding-school experience without leaving Brunei.

International School Brunei

ISB, in Salambigar on the eastern side of the city, was founded in 1964 and has a strong reputation for academic results and a slightly more compact, community feel than JIS. It follows the English National Curriculum to A Levels. Fees are a step below JIS, roughly BND 13,000 to 22,000 a year, and the location suits families living in Kiulap, Gadong or towards Muara.

St. Andrew's School Brunei

An Anglican mission school in the city centre teaching in English to Cambridge O Levels and Brunei qualifications. It is far more affordable than the two international schools and gives children a genuinely local peer group. Best suited to long-stay families and those with a faith connection; class sizes are larger.

Chung Hwa Middle School

Brunei's leading Chinese-medium school, teaching in Mandarin and English from kindergarten to pre-university with Cambridge exams. Chosen by families who want strong Mandarin and a rigorous academic culture at modest fees. Children arriving without Mandarin will need support and are best placed in the early years.

Stella's School Brunei

A well-regarded early years and primary school with small classes and an English-medium, play-based approach. Families often use it for the nursery and infant years before moving to JIS or ISB, and the lower fees make that a sensible bridge for shorter contracts.

Fees in Brunei dollars and the extras to plan for

For 2026, budget roughly BND 8,000 to 12,000 a year for primary-focused or community schools, BND 13,000 to 22,000 for ISB and BND 16,000 to 26,000 for JIS day places, with sixth form at the top of each range. Weekly or full boarding at JIS adds roughly BND 15,000 to 25,000. Because the Brunei dollar trades at par with the Singapore dollar, these figures convert directly for families comparing with Singapore schools, which typically cost two to three times as much.

There is no VAT or sales tax in Brunei, so school fees carry no tax, but the following extras apply and should be added to any allowance calculation.

Application or registration fee: BND 200 to 1,000, non-refundable.
Capital or enrolment levy: BND 1,500 to 5,000, usually one-off.
School bus: BND 1,200 to 2,500 a year.
Uniform and PE kit: BND 300 to 600 in the first year.
Exam fees for IGCSE, A Level or IB: BND 800 to 2,000 in exam years.
Trips, clubs and residential programmes: BND 500 to 2,000 a year.
Boarding at JIS: BND 15,000 to 25,000 a year on top of tuition.

How to decide: practical advice

Decide on the sixth form route early if your child is 13 or older. JIS offers both A Levels and the IB Diploma, ISB is A Level focused, and the community schools lead to O Levels. If your child is likely to apply to universities in several countries, the flexibility of two routes under one roof has real value; if the plan is UK universities only, A Levels at either school are equally strong.

Visit both large schools and one alternative. JIS and ISB are both excellent but feel different: JIS is expansive and residential, ISB more compact and neighbourhood-based. Seeing a third, more local school such as St Andrew's or Chung Hwa helps calibrate what you are paying for and can be the right answer for long-stay families who want their children rooted in Brunei.

Match location to your working life. Brunei traffic is light but distances are real and the school run is done by car. Families in Kuala Belait should look seriously at JIS boarding or at the schools in the Belait district rather than commuting; families in Muara or Salambigar will find ISB far more practical than Jerudong.

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More guides to schools in Bandar Seri Begawan

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Jerudong International School or International School Brunei?

Neither is better in the abstract. JIS is larger, has boarding and offers both A Levels and the IB Diploma, with the highest fees in Brunei. ISB is more compact, slightly cheaper and has a long record of strong A Level results. Families usually decide on location, sixth form route and whether a boarding-school style campus suits their child.

Is boarding available at international schools in Bandar Seri Begawan?

Yes, at Jerudong International School, which offers weekly and full boarding from around age 11. It is used by families based in Kuala Belait and Seria, by regional families from Sabah, Sarawak and beyond, and by parents who travel frequently. Boarding adds roughly BND 15,000 to 25,000 a year to day fees.

Do children need to speak Malay to attend school in Brunei?

No. The international and English-medium schools teach in English, and Malay is offered as a language subject rather than a requirement. Chung Hwa Middle School teaches largely in Mandarin, so it suits children with Chinese language background. Government schools teach in Malay and English but are not generally open to expatriate children.