How to Choose an International School in Sofia: 2026 Guide for Families

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 Sofia is easier than in most European capitals because the field is small, but that also means the differences between schools matter more. Bulgaria's capital has one historic American college, a cluster of British curriculum schools, and a growing group of bilingual and international nurseries, serving a community that has expanded quickly with the technology sector and with Bulgaria's full entry into Schengen in 2025 and the eurozone in January 2026. This guide gives you a framework: which questions to settle first, where the schools are, what they cost, and what to look for on a visit.

Start with three decisions before you look at schools

How long will you stay? Families on a two or three year posting usually want a curriculum that travels, which in Sofia means British or IB. Families settling for the long term may prefer a school that integrates Bulgarian seriously and offers a route to Bulgarian university entry as well as foreign qualifications.

Where will you live? Most international schools are on the southern side of the city, in Lozenets, Dragalevtsi, Boyana and towards the foothills of Vitosha, or in the newer suburbs of Mladost and Malinova Dolina. Sofia's traffic has worsened noticeably since 2022 and a school on the wrong side of the ring road can add 40 minutes to each journey. Choosing school and neighbourhood together is the single most useful thing you can do.

What does your child need at this age? For children under 7, a warm, bilingual environment matters more than examination results. For teenagers, the questions are about the qualifications offered in the final two years, university guidance, and whether the cohort is large enough for the subject choices your child wants.

Curricula available in Sofia

• American with IB Diploma: the American College of Sofia combines a US style high school programme with the IB Diploma and Bulgarian state accreditation.
• British (Cambridge): the British School of Sofia and St. George International School follow the English National Curriculum to IGCSE and A Level.
• Anglo-American: the Anglo-American School of Sofia offers an international programme with IB elements, serving mainly diplomatic and corporate families.
• Bulgarian bilingual private schools: teach the national curriculum with intensive English; substantially cheaper and a reasonable option for younger children of families settling permanently.

International schools in Sofia worth shortlisting

American College of Sofia

Founded in 1860 and re-established in 1992, ACS is a selective secondary school on a large campus in Mladost. It enrols from Grade 8, teaches in English with a strong Bulgarian language component, and offers both a US diploma and the IB Diploma. Admission is by competitive examination and the intake is mostly Bulgarian, so it suits academically strong teenagers who will integrate rather than families looking for an expatriate bubble. Fees are roughly 10,000 to 13,000 euros a year.

Anglo-American School of Sofia

AAS in Pancharevo, on the south eastern edge of the city, is the school most diplomatic and corporate families default to. It offers an international programme from early years to Grade 12 with the IB Diploma, a purpose built campus and the most international student body in Bulgaria. Fees run roughly 15,000 to 24,000 euros a year plus a capital fee, the highest in the city.

British School of Sofia

A Cambridge curriculum school with campuses in the southern districts, running from nursery to A Level. It attracts a mix of British, other European and Bulgarian families and charges roughly 9,000 to 15,000 euros a year. Class sizes are small, which is a strength for younger children and something to probe for sixth form subject breadth.

St. George International School and Pre-School

Another Cambridge pathway school, with a strong early years and primary section and a growing secondary. Fees are broadly 7,000 to 13,000 euros. Its location in the Boyana and Dragalevtsi area makes it convenient for families renting in the Vitosha foothills, and it is one of the schools most willing to take children with limited English.

What international schools in Sofia cost in 2026

• Tuition: roughly 7,000 euros for early years at the smaller schools to 24,000 euros in the IB Diploma years at AAS.
• Application fee: 100 to 300 euros.
• Registration or capital fee: 1,000 to 5,000 euros, one off, highest at AAS.
• Deposit: some schools ask for one term, refundable with notice.
• Books, technology and uniform: 500 to 1,200 euros in the first year.
• Transport and lunch: 1,500 to 3,000 euros a year combined.
• Examinations: IGCSE and A Level entries add roughly 700 to 1,500 euros in the relevant years; IB Diploma fees about 1,000 to 1,500 euros.

A change that simplifies budgeting from this year: Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 at the fixed rate of 1.95583 leva to the euro. Schools that previously quoted in leva now invoice in euros, and families paid in euros no longer carry exchange rate risk on fees. During the dual pricing period schools were required to display both currencies, so if you see a leva figure on an older fee sheet, divide by 1.95583 to get the euro equivalent.

Practical advice for visiting and deciding

Visit on a normal school day. Open days show a school at its best. A midweek visit lets you see class sizes, hear which languages children actually speak in corridors, and judge whether the atmosphere matches the prospectus. Ask to sit in on a lesson in your child's year group.

Ask for the last three years of results and destinations. For secondary schools, IB averages, A Level grades and the list of universities students went to are the only objective evidence of academic quality. Schools that hesitate to share them are telling you something.

Check the Bulgarian language offer. If there is any chance your child will stay through secondary or apply to a Bulgarian university, they will need Bulgarian to a good level. Ask how many hours a week are taught and whether there are separate tracks for native and non native speakers.

See how Sofia schools rank

To compare the schools above on results, facilities and parent reviews, browse our independent ranking of the best schools in Sofia.

More guides to schools in Sofia

• International School Fees in Sofia: 2026 Cost Guide
• best schools in Sofia

Frequently asked questions

Which international school in Sofia do most expatriate families choose?

The Anglo-American School of Sofia in Pancharevo has the most international intake and is the default for diplomatic and corporate families, with an IB Diploma programme and fees of roughly 15,000 to 24,000 euros a year. British curriculum families often choose the British School of Sofia or St. George instead, at lower cost.

Is the American College of Sofia an international school?

Partly. It is an American founded secondary school teaching in English with the IB Diploma, but it admits from Grade 8 by competitive examination and most students are Bulgarian. It suits academically strong teenagers who want to integrate into Bulgarian life rather than families seeking a typical expatriate school environment.

Where should we live to be close to international schools in Sofia?

Most international schools are in the south and south east of the city: Lozenets, Dragalevtsi, Boyana, Mladost and Pancharevo. Renting in these districts keeps the school run to 10 to 25 minutes. Living north of the centre or near the airport can add 40 minutes each way in traffic.