Dublin's international school sector has grown rapidly as global firms relocate Europe-wide functions to the city. For an expat family arriving in 2026, the choice is broader than it looks at first glance — Irish national curriculum schools (often with strong international cohorts), specialist French, German and Japanese schools, and full IB World Schools. This guide walks through how to choose well for your family's situation.
Why Dublin Is an Attractive Destination for International Families
Ireland combines an English-speaking environment, a high-quality national curriculum, EU membership and a maturing private school market. Dublin's transient population — drawn by tech, pharma and financial-services hubs — means most established schools have well-developed international cohorts and integration support.
Curricula Available in Dublin
- International Baccalaureate — PYP and the IB Diploma at a small number of schools.
- National embassy / heritage curricula — French (Lycée Français d'Irlande), German (St Kilian's), Spanish (SEK Dublin), Japanese.
- Irish national curriculum (with strong international cohorts) — leading to the Junior Cert and Leaving Certificate.
- Bilingual programmes — French-English, German-English and Spanish-English options.
Note: the Irish Leaving Certificate is increasingly accepted by universities worldwide, but if you may relocate again, the IB Diploma offers the most universally portable credential.
Top International Schools in Dublin
SEK International School Dublin
The Dublin campus of the SEK group, offering an IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, Diploma) with optional bilingual Spanish-English provision. View SEK International School Dublin on ISA.
St Kilian's German School
A bilingual German-English school in Clonskeagh with a long history of welcoming international families and pathways to both the Leaving Certificate and the Deutsches Internationales Abitur. View St Kilian's German School on ISA.
Lycée Français d'Irlande
The French national curriculum delivered in Dublin, leading to the Brevet and the Baccalauréat with English language support throughout. View Lycée Français d'Irlande on ISA.
St Andrew's College
A long-established co-educational school in Booterstown offering the Leaving Certificate alongside the IB Diploma at Sixth Form. View St Andrew's College on ISA.
Sutton Park School
A small private school on the Howth peninsula with the IB Diploma in senior years and a strong reputation for pastoral care. View Sutton Park School on ISA.
International School Fees in Dublin (2026)
Indicative tuition for 2026:
- Pre-school: EUR 5,000 – EUR 9,000
- Primary (Year 1 – Year 6): EUR 6,000 – EUR 14,000
- Secondary (Junior Cycle): EUR 7,500 – EUR 16,000
- Senior Cycle / IB Diploma: EUR 9,000 – EUR 20,000
State-funded private schools (a particular Irish hybrid where the state pays salaries) often charge meaningfully less than fully private fee-paying schools. Plan also for one-off enrolment fees (EUR 500 – EUR 2,000), a refundable deposit, transport (EUR 1,800 – EUR 3,500) and uniform.
Areas to Live Around Dublin Schools
South Dublin (Dundrum, Ranelagh, Booterstown, Sandymount, Foxrock) concentrates many of the established international and private schools. North Dublin (Howth, Sutton, Malahide) has the coastal lifestyle alongside Sutton Park and the Aer Lingus / IT industry cluster. The DART and Luas networks make commuting from either side workable.
The Transition Year Question
Irish schools generally include a "Transition Year" (TY) between Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle — a project-based gap year inside school. International families should check whether the school treats TY as compulsory, optional or omitted entirely. For students on a tight IB Diploma pathway, the school may allow TY to be skipped.
How to Run a Strong Admissions Process
Apply 12 to 18 months out for the most established schools at 5th Class and 1st Year entry — these are the tightest year-group gates.
References matter. Heads of school in Ireland often request a frank reference from the current school. Brief your current school early.
Check the school's CAO / IB placement record. Where do their graduates go? Irish universities use the CAO points system; understand how the Leaving Certificate maps to it.
Plan for the Catholic ethos question. Many Irish schools have a Catholic foundation — confirm how this affects daily life if it matters to your family.
Start Your Shortlist
For an updated directory of international schools in Dublin and across Ireland with reviews, fees and contact details, visit ISA's international school directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are international schools in Dublin expensive compared with the rest of Europe?
Dublin sits in the mid-range. Fees are typically 30 to 50 percent lower than London, Paris or Zurich but slightly higher than Lisbon or Madrid.
Will my child still go through Transition Year?
It depends on the school. Most Irish private schools include Transition Year between Junior and Senior Cycle. Schools offering the IB Diploma alongside the Leaving Certificate may allow students to skip TY.
What credential will my child leave with?
The Irish Leaving Certificate, the IB Diploma or — at heritage schools such as the Lycée Français — the French Baccalauréat or the German Internationales Abitur.