Quick answer: How do you choose an international school in Stavanger? Start with curriculum and length of stay. Stavanger has three main English-medium options: the International School of Stavanger (IGCSE and IB Diploma, ages 3 to 18, over 600 students), British International School of Stavanger at Gausel and BISS Sentrum. Fees run roughly NOK 100,000 to 250,000 a year.
Last reviewed: October 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Stavanger draws families from all over the world, most of them linked to oil, gas and the newer offshore wind and energy transition businesses. If you are relocating here, knowing how to choose an international school in Stavanger comes down to a few practical questions: which curriculum suits your child's next move, which side of the city you will live on, and whether a Norwegian school could be the better fit.
The good news is that the choice is manageable. There are only a few English-medium schools, all with long experience of mobile families. The harder part is matching one of them to your plans, because a family on a two-year rotation needs something quite different from a family that expects to settle in Rogaland.
Stavanger for families: geography, neighbourhoods and the daily commute
Greater Stavanger stretches across Stavanger itself, Sandnes and Sola, with the airport at Sola and the big energy employers clustered around Forus, between Stavanger and Sandnes. Most international families settle in one of three belts: the city centre and nearby districts such as Eiganes, Storhaug and VÃ¥land; the western districts around Madla and Hafrsfjord towards Sola; or the southern side around Gausel, Hinna and Sandnes, close to Forus.
The three schools in this guide map neatly onto those areas. BISS Sentrum sits at Misjonsmarka 1, close to the city centre. The International School of Stavanger is at Treskeveien 3 in Hafrsfjord, on the western side near Madla and within easy reach of Sola. British International School of Stavanger is at Gauselbakken 107 in Gausel, in the south east, a short drive from Forus.
Distances look small on a map, but the morning run across the city, from Madla to Gausel for example, can take thirty minutes or more in winter traffic, and road tolls apply on many routes. Choosing a home near the school usually beats choosing a home near the office, because children make the trip twice a day and often stay late for activities.
Curricula available in Stavanger
- IGCSE and IB Diploma: the International School of Stavanger offers both, giving older students a British style qualification at 16 followed by the IB Diploma at 18.
- International Baccalaureate: British International School of Stavanger describes its provision as IB education for both expatriate and permanent resident families in south west Norway.
- IB Primary Years and Middle Years: BISS Sentrum lists the Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes and states it is a candidate school pursuing authorisation as an IB World School.
- Norwegian with English: BISS lists Norwegian as a partial language alongside English as the language of instruction.
- Norwegian state schools: free, taught in Norwegian, with introductory language support for newcomers in many municipalities.
A decision framework for Stavanger families
Curriculum fit. If your next posting is likely to be Aberdeen, Houston, Perth or the Middle East, ask which curriculum your child will meet there. The IB transfers easily between international schools worldwide. The IGCSE route suits children heading to British style schools. For teenagers, the timing of the IB Diploma (the final two years) matters more than anything else: moving in the middle of it is hard.
Location and commute. Pick the side of the city first. West and Sola leans towards ISS, the south and Forus towards BISS Gausel, and the centre towards BISS Sentrum.
Language. Decide how much Norwegian you want your child to learn. Short stays usually favour full English instruction; longer stays make Norwegian a real asset.
Length of stay and fees. If your employer pays, the choice is mostly about fit. If you pay yourself, compare the total cost over the years you expect to stay.
The Stavanger shortlist and who each school fits
International School of Stavanger
ISS teaches students aged 3 to 18 in English at its Hafrsfjord campus. Its profile reports more than 600 students from approximately 50 nationalities, with American, British and Norwegian families the largest groups. It offers the IGCSE and the IB Diploma and is accredited by the Council of International Schools, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the Kingdom of Norway.
Who it fits: families who want a large, very international community and a clear route to the IB Diploma, especially those living in Madla, Hafrsfjord or Sola. Ask about waiting lists in popular year groups, as energy sector hiring cycles can fill classes quickly.
British International School of Stavanger
BISS was founded in 1977 and is made up of three schools: BISS Pre-School, BISS Gausel and BISS Sentrum. The Gausel school at Gauselbakken 107 teaches in English with some Norwegian, offers IB education and lists more than fifty nationalities on roll. Its stated priority is preparing students for success whatever their background and however long they stay in Norway.
Who it fits: families living on the southern side of the city or working at Forus, and families who want some Norwegian alongside English. Parent opinions over the years have been mixed on administration, so speak to current families and ask how communication with parents works today.
BISS Sentrum
BISS Sentrum is the central campus of the BISS group, at Misjonsmarka 1. It teaches in English, follows the IB Primary Years and Middle Years framework and describes itself as a candidate school pursuing IB World School authorisation, with a focus on personal, emotional and social development alongside academic work.
Who it fits: families who want to live in or near the city centre and walk or cycle to school. As a newer campus it may have smaller classes; ask which age groups it currently covers and where older students continue.
Fees and costs in Stavanger
None of these profiles publishes a full fee list, so treat the following as rough guidance and ask each school for its current schedule:
- Preschool and early years: roughly NOK 80,000 to 150,000 a year (about USD 7,500 to 14,000).
- Primary: roughly NOK 100,000 to 200,000 a year.
- Secondary and IB Diploma: roughly NOK 150,000 to 250,000 a year (about USD 14,000 to 23,000), with the final years at the top end.
Extras to check: application or registration fee, enrolment deposit, any capital or development charge, uniforms, school bus or public transport passes, lunches and after-school care (SFO in Norwegian schools), IB and IGCSE exam fees, laptops and residential trips. Many energy sector employers pay fees directly, so confirm what your package covers before you commit.
Practical advice: timing, age and the Norwegian alternative
Know the Norwegian age rule. In Norway children start first grade (1. trinn) in the autumn of the calendar year in which they turn six, a rule in place since the 1997 school reform. International schools may place children by a different cut-off, so a child born late in the year can end up a year ahead or behind when moving between systems. Ask each school how it places your child and how that maps onto the next country you expect to live in.
Consider a Norwegian school seriously if you are staying. Public schools are free, local and a fast route to Norwegian friends and language. They work best for younger children and families planning to stay several years. For a teenager arriving without Norwegian, or for a short posting, an English-medium school is usually the safer choice.
Apply early and visit in person. Places in popular year groups can be limited around August starts, when many relocations happen. Book visits to two schools on the same day if you can, ask about class sizes, language support and leaving destinations, and bring previous school reports and any learning support records with you.
See the full ranking
When you are ready to compare profiles side by side, see our ranking of the best international schools in Rogaland and contact the schools that match your shortlist.
More guides to schools in Stavanger
Frequently asked questions
Which international school in Stavanger is best for IB Diploma students?
The International School of Stavanger offers the IB Diploma for the final two years and the IGCSE before it, with students from around 50 nationalities. The BISS group also describes its provision as IB education. Ask each school how many students take the Diploma, which subjects run each year and where graduates go on to study.
Can expat children go to a Norwegian state school in Stavanger?
Yes. Children living in Norway have the right to a free place at their local public school, and many municipalities offer introductory Norwegian classes for newcomers. It works best for younger children and families staying several years. Teenagers without Norwegian usually find an English-medium school an easier transition, especially before exams.
Where should we live in Stavanger for international schools?
Live close to the school you choose. Madla, Hafrsfjord and Sola suit the International School of Stavanger, Gausel, Hinna and Sandnes suit BISS Gausel near Forus, and the central districts suit BISS Sentrum. Cross-city journeys can take thirty minutes or more in winter traffic, and many routes have road tolls.