Quick answer: How do you choose an international school in Ankara? Ankara has a small international school market built around the diplomatic community, so start by checking eligibility: foreign-curriculum schools can generally enrol only non-Turkish passport holders. Then match curriculum to your next destination, weigh the commute from Cankaya or Bilkent, and compare total cost of roughly USD 8,000 to 25,000 a year. Visit in person; the schools differ more than their websites suggest.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Ankara is a capital city with a compact international school scene. Unlike Istanbul, where dozens of schools compete, families here choose among a handful of long-established institutions built around the diplomatic community, plus a growing group of Turkish private schools with international programmes. Knowing how to choose an international school in Ankara starts with a legal question about eligibility, then moves to curriculum, location and cost. This 2026 guide covers each in turn. Every school named here has a verified profile on International School Advisor.
Why eligibility comes first in Ankara
Turkish regulations distinguish between foreign schools, which teach a foreign curriculum and may enrol only students who do not hold Turkish citizenship, and Turkish private schools, which follow the Ministry of National Education programme and may add international qualifications on top. For a family with a Turkish passport in the household, this rule decides the shortlist before anything else. Dual nationals should ask each school directly, because practice varies and documentation requirements are strict.
Geography is simpler. The embassies, the international schools and most expatriate housing sit in Cankaya, Gaziosmanpasa and Oran, with Bilkent and the university district to the west. Ankara traffic is lighter than Istanbul but the Eskisehir road corridor still slows sharply at school run times, so a school within 20 minutes of home is worth prioritising.
Curricula available in Ankara
- British primary: the English National Curriculum from age 3 to 11 at the embassy school; there is no British secondary school in the city.
- International Baccalaureate: the full IB continuum at a university-affiliated school, with a strong Diploma track record.
- American: a US-curriculum school with a Christian ethos serving diplomatic and mission families through to grade 12.
- Turkish private schools with international programmes: the national curriculum plus Cambridge IGCSE or the IB Diploma, open to Turkish citizens.
Five schools that define the Ankara choice
British Embassy School Ankara
Founded in 1966 and located within the embassy compound, BESA teaches the English National Curriculum to children aged 3 to 11 from the diplomatic and wider international community. Small classes and a strong pastoral culture are its hallmarks. Families must plan for a move to another school at 11, which is the key decision point for British parents in Ankara.
Bilkent Laboratory and International School
BLIS on the Bilkent University campus is the leading IB school in Ankara, offering the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes to an international student body. It has excellent facilities by virtue of its university setting and strong university placement results, and is the usual secondary destination for BESA leavers.
Oasis International School of Ankara
An American-curriculum school with a Christian ethos, Oasis serves diplomatic, NGO and mission families from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. It is smaller than BLIS, with a close-knit community and a US high school diploma route. Fees are lower than at the IB school.
Hamidiye International Schools
A Turkish private school group offering international programmes in English alongside the national curriculum, open to Turkish citizens. It is an option for local and dual-national families who want an English-medium education without leaving the Turkish system.
Gokkusagi School
Part of a national group of Turkish private schools with Cambridge programmes, Gokkusagi combines the Ministry curriculum with IGCSE preparation and intensive English. It suits Turkish families planning for university abroad who are not eligible for the foreign schools.
Fees and what sits outside tuition
At the international schools, tuition runs roughly USD 8,000 to 15,000 a year for early years and primary and USD 15,000 to 25,000 for the IB Diploma or grades 11 and 12, with BLIS at the top. Turkish private schools with international programmes charge roughly TRY 400,000 to 900,000 a year and adjust annually for inflation.
Extras to budget for: a registration or enrolment fee of roughly USD 500 to 3,000, usually non-refundable; school transport of USD 1,200 to 2,000 a year; uniforms where required; IB exam fees of roughly USD 800 to 1,000 in the Diploma year; and lunch and activities where not included. Ski trips and Model United Nations travel are common and billed separately.
A hard fact that shapes the whole decision: under Turkish law, foreign-curriculum international schools may enrol only students without Turkish citizenship. This is why Ankara's international schools remain small and why Turkish families with international ambitions choose Turkish private schools offering the IB Diploma or Cambridge qualifications instead. Check your family's eligibility before you compare anything else.
Practical advice for choosing in Ankara
Plan the transition at 11 if you choose the British primary. BESA finishes at Year 6, so British families should visit BLIS and Oasis early and understand how their child will move from the English curriculum to the IB Middle Years or an American programme.
Ask which currency fees are set in. With lira inflation, most international schools quote in dollars or euros and Turkish private schools in lira with mid-year adjustments. This changes real cost significantly for families paid in different currencies.
Weigh community size. Ankara's international schools are small, and a year group may have fewer than twenty students. For some children this is ideal; for others, a larger Turkish private school with an international track offers more social range.
Use the diplomatic calendar to your advantage. Many families arrive in Ankara in late summer with postings, so the schools are used to processing applications quickly in July and August. If you can visit in May or June, you will see classes in session rather than an empty campus, which tells you far more about teaching and atmosphere than a summer tour.
Compare Ankara schools side by side
Our ranking of the best schools in Ankara compares curricula, eligibility, facilities and parent reviews for every international and private school in the city, and lets you contact admissions from each profile.
More guides to schools in Ankara
Frequently asked questions
Can Turkish citizens attend international schools in Ankara?
In most cases no. Turkish law restricts foreign-curriculum international schools to students who do not hold Turkish citizenship, with limited exceptions for dual nationals in some circumstances. Turkish families who want an international programme usually choose a Turkish private school that offers the IB Diploma or Cambridge qualifications alongside the national curriculum, several of which exist in Ankara.
Which international curricula are available in Ankara?
British primary education is available at the embassy school, which finishes at age 11; American and IB programmes are available through to age 18 at two long-established schools; and several Turkish private schools offer Cambridge IGCSE or the IB Diploma in the senior years. There is no full British secondary school in Ankara, so British families often move to an IB or American school for secondary.
How much do international schools in Ankara cost?
Expect roughly USD 8,000 to 15,000 a year for primary and USD 15,000 to 25,000 for the final years of secondary at the international schools, often quoted in dollars or euros to protect against lira inflation. Turkish private schools with international programmes charge roughly TRY 400,000 to 900,000 a year. Add registration fees, transport, uniforms and external examination costs.