Quick answer: How do you choose an international school in Tashkent? Start with the curriculum your child will need next (IB, Cambridge, French or Canadian), then shortlist schools within a 25-minute drive of your district. Tashkent has around ten accredited international schools with tuition from roughly USD 6,000 to 25,000 a year. Visit at least two, ask about teacher turnover, and check accreditation status before paying any deposit.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Tashkent has quietly become one of the more interesting international school markets in Central Asia. A decade ago expatriate families had one or two realistic choices; today there are around ten accredited English-medium schools, several of them opened since 2018 as Uzbekistan reopened to foreign investment. Knowing how to choose an international school in Tashkent therefore means understanding a young, fast-changing market where reputations are still being built, fees vary by a factor of four, and the right answer depends heavily on where you will live and where your child will study next.
Why Tashkent is different from other expat school markets
Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia with about 37 million people, and Tashkent is its economic and diplomatic centre. The reforms that started in 2017 brought in embassies, development banks, mining and energy companies, and a wave of international education providers. Because most schools are less than ten years old, you cannot rely on decades of alumni results as you might in Dubai or Singapore. Instead you have to look closely at accreditation, leadership stability and the profile of the current cohort.
Geography is manageable. Tashkent is a flat, planned city with wide avenues and a metro system, and most international schools cluster in the Mirzo Ulugbek and Yunusabad districts to the north-east and in the Yakkasaray and Mirabad districts near the centre. Traffic is lighter than in most capitals of this size, so a 25-minute school run is realistic from most expatriate housing. Summers are hot, regularly above 38 degrees Celsius in July, which is why the school year runs from September to June and why air-conditioned classrooms and shaded playgrounds are worth checking on a visit.
Curricula available in Tashkent
- International Baccalaureate: Tashkent International School offers the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP and Diploma) and is the only school in the country authorised for all three programmes.
- British and Cambridge: the most common pathway, with IGCSE and A Level provision at Cambridge International School and Oxbridge International School among others.
- French national curriculum: the Ecole Francaise de Tachkent follows the French programme under the AEFE network and is the natural choice for francophone families.
- Canadian (Ontario) curriculum: the Canadian School of Tashkent delivers an Ontario-based programme leading to a Canadian high school diploma.
- Uzbek presidential and specialised schools: highly selective state schools with strong STEM results, taught mainly in Uzbek or Russian, and rarely suitable for a short expatriate posting.
International schools in Tashkent worth shortlisting
Tashkent International School
TIS is the longest-established international school in the city, founded in 1994, and the only IB World School in Uzbekistan offering PYP, MYP and Diploma. It is accredited by CIS and NEASC, has a genuinely mixed international student body drawn heavily from the diplomatic and development community, and is the default choice for families who need an IB Diploma recognised by universities worldwide. It is also the most expensive option, with fees roughly USD 15,000 to 25,000 a year.
Cambridge International School, Tashkent
Part of a group with campuses in several Uzbek cities, this school follows the Cambridge pathway from primary through IGCSE and A Level. Fees are markedly lower than at TIS, roughly USD 7,000 to 14,000, and the cohort is predominantly Uzbek with a growing international minority. It suits families who want a British-style education, a strong emphasis on English, and a route into UK or European universities without the IB price tag.
Oxbridge International School
Oxbridge offers the Cambridge curriculum with an emphasis on exam preparation and university placement. It has grown quickly and now has multiple campuses across Tashkent, so ask which campus your child would attend and how long its leadership team has been in place. Tuition sits in the mid band, roughly USD 8,000 to 15,000.
Ecole Francaise de Tachkent
The French school of Tashkent follows the French national programme and is part of the AEFE network, which means teaching staff are largely French-qualified and children can transfer seamlessly to any French lycee abroad. Fees are among the most reasonable in the city, roughly USD 6,000 to 10,000, and the school welcomes non-French families willing to commit to immersion.
Canadian School of Tashkent
A newer entrant following the Ontario curriculum, the Canadian School of Tashkent is a practical option for families headed to North America or who prefer a credit-based high school system. Fees are roughly USD 8,000 to 16,000. As with any young school, ask specifically about the inspection or accreditation status of the Ontario programme and the qualifications of the teaching staff.
Fees and what they include
Schools in Tashkent quote in US dollars and most accept payment in Uzbek som at the Central Bank rate, which has hovered around 12,500 to 13,000 UZS per dollar through 2025 and 2026. A USD 12,000 place is therefore roughly 150 to 156 million UZS a year. Indicative ranges by stage:
- Early years: roughly USD 5,000 to 14,000
- Primary: roughly USD 6,000 to 18,000
- Secondary and IGCSE or MYP: roughly USD 8,000 to 22,000
- A Level, IB Diploma or Grade 12: roughly USD 10,000 to 25,000
Extras to add: an application fee of USD 100 to 300, a one-off enrolment or development fee of USD 500 to 3,000, a refundable deposit equal to one term at some schools, uniforms of USD 200 to 400, a bus service of USD 800 to 1,800 a year, and external exam fees for IGCSE, A Level or IB in the final years. Several schools apply sibling discounts of 10 to 20 percent from the second child.
Practical tips for choosing well in Tashkent
Check accreditation, not just brand names. Several schools use the words Cambridge, Oxford or British in their names. Ask for the Cambridge International centre number, the CIS or NEASC accreditation certificate, or the IB authorisation letter, and confirm on the awarding body website. A school preparing for accreditation is not the same as one that holds it.
Ask about teacher turnover and recruitment. Uzbekistan is still a hardship posting for many expatriate teachers, and staff turnover is the single biggest quality risk in young schools. A head who can tell you the retention rate for the last two years without looking it up is a good sign.
Match the school to your next move, not this one. If your family is likely to leave within three years, choose the curriculum that will make the next transition painless: IB or Cambridge for a global move, French for the AEFE network, Ontario for North America. Language is secondary to continuity at this stage.
Compare international schools in Tashkent and across Uzbekistan
New schools open in Tashkent almost every year and fees move with them. Compare verified profiles, parent reviews and current fee bands in our ranking of the best international schools in Uzbekistan.
More guides to schools in Tashkent
Frequently asked questions
How many international schools are there in Tashkent?
Tashkent has roughly ten accredited English-medium international schools plus a French school and a Canadian school, most of them opened since 2010. Only Tashkent International School offers the full IB continuum; the majority follow the Cambridge pathway to IGCSE and A Level.
How much does an international school in Tashkent cost?
Tuition ranges from roughly USD 5,000 a year in early years at the more affordable schools to about USD 25,000 for the IB Diploma at Tashkent International School. Add an enrolment fee of USD 500 to 3,000, transport, uniforms and external exam fees when budgeting.
Which districts of Tashkent are best for families using international schools?
Mirzo Ulugbek, Yunusabad, Yakkasaray and Mirabad host most of the international schools and the bulk of expatriate housing. Choosing accommodation in or next to the district of your chosen school keeps the daily commute under 25 minutes and makes after-school activities far easier to manage.