IB schools in Madrid: programmes, fees and how to choose

Quick answer: Which IB schools in Madrid should families look at? Liceo Europeo, Colegio Internacional Aravaca and SEK El Castillo run the IB from primary to the Diploma, and SEK El Castillo lets students take the Diploma entirely in Spanish or in English. For 2026-27 the Diploma costs EUR 10,675 a year at Aravaca and EUR 16,740 in the first year at Liceo Europeo, where it is taught in Spanish.

Last reviewed: November 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Key takeaways

Article 6.1.c of Real Decreto 534/2024 lets holders of the IB Diploma enter a Spanish university without sitting the PAU and without homologating the diploma; the Career-related Programme is not named in that article.
Under Orden EFD/550/2025, UNED converts the six Diploma subject grades, marked from 2 to 7, into an access grade out of 10 that works out as the subject average plus 3.
Published 2026-27 tuition for the two Diploma years runs from EUR 10,675 a year at Colegio Internacional Aravaca to EUR 19,440 at St. George School Madrid.
Language is the first filter: Liceo Europeo teaches the Diploma in Spanish, SEK El Castillo offers it entirely in Spanish or entirely in English, and St. George teaches it in English.

SEK says it was authorised to teach the International Baccalaureate in 1977, the first in Spain. Since then the IB has spread across the Madrid region, from La Moraleja to Aravaca and Villafranca del Castillo, in very different forms.

For families comparing IB schools in Madrid, the useful questions are specific: which of the four IB programmes a school actually runs, which language the Diploma is taught in, what each stage costs in 2026-27 and how the final grade turns into a Spanish university place. For British schools that switch to the IB at 16, see our guide to British schools in Madrid, their curriculum and fees.

Where are the IB schools in and around Madrid?

Most IB schools sit outside the city centre, so the commute often decides the shortlist before the curriculum does.

North, along the A-1: La Moraleja, in the municipality of Alcobendas, has Liceo Europeo and Brains La Moraleja. SEK Ciudalcampo is further out, on the Ciudalcampo estate.
North-east of the centre: St. George School Madrid, on Calle Padres Dominicos in Hortaleza.
West, along the A-6: Colegio Internacional Aravaca in Aravaca, Liceo Sorolla in Pozuelo de Alarcón, and SEK El Castillo in the Villafranca del Castillo estate.
City centre: SEK Santa Isabel, on Calle San Ildefonso, teaches the Primary Years Programme up to age 12 only, so families plan a move at secondary.

Which IB programmes can you study in Madrid?

The IB has four programmes, and Spanish school websites use the Spanish acronyms:

PYP (PEP in Spanish): the Primary Years Programme, which SEK runs from age 3 to 12 and teaches in English.
MYP (PAI): the Middle Years Programme, designed for ages 11 to 16; in Madrid schools it usually runs across the four ESO years, from 12 to 16.
DP (Programa del Diploma): the two-year Diploma from 16 to 18, with six subjects plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS. SEK notes that the Diploma is awarded from 24 points out of 45.
CP (POP): the Career-related Programme, which combines Diploma subjects with a professional study. SEK runs it at SEK-Catalunya, not at its Madrid schools, so ask any Madrid school whether it is authorised for it.

Is the IB Diploma taught in English or in Spanish?

It depends on the school, and the difference is bigger than many parents expect. Liceo Europeo states that Spanish is its language of instruction and that the Diploma is delivered in Spanish. SEK teaches the PYP in English; its group page says the Diploma is taught in Spanish with some subjects in English, while the SEK El Castillo page says the Diploma can be taken entirely in Spanish or entirely in English. St. George School Madrid, a British school, moves every student to the Diploma after Year 11 and teaches it in English.

A Spanish-taught Diploma suits a child who will stay in Spain; an English-taught one suits families who may move again. If your child arrives with little Spanish, ask which Group 1 and Group 2 language courses the school offers first.

Three IB schools in Madrid to compare

Liceo Europeo

On Camino Sur in La Moraleja, Liceo Europeo is authorised for the PYP, MYP and Diploma, and teaches in Spanish. It runs the Spanish Bachillerato and the IB Diploma as separate routes with separate prices: EUR 14,560 for the first year of Bachillerato against EUR 16,740 for the first Diploma year in 2026-27. Lunch is included in tuition and the return bus is included for Bachillerato and Diploma students. A fit for Spanish-speaking families in the north.

Colegio Internacional Aravaca

Part of the International Schools Partnership group, the school in Aravaca follows the Spanish curriculum with the IB framework across stages: PYP in Infantil and Primaria, MYP in ESO, then a choice between the Spanish Bachillerato and the Diploma. Its 2026-27 fee sheet includes IB Diploma and EvAU exam fees in tuition, a cost to check elsewhere. The school reports that all its Bachillerato students passed the EvAU in 2024-25. A fit for families in the west who want both routes open until 16.

SEK International School El Castillo

In the Villafranca del Castillo estate, west of the city, SEK El Castillo lists three IB programmes: the PYP from early years, the MYP from 12 to 16, and at 16 a choice between the Diploma, which it says can be taken entirely in Spanish or in English, and the Spanish Bachillerato. SEK runs admissions all year, subject to places, through its MySEK portal, with an interview depending on age. It does not post fees online and sends them on request, so ask for the full annual cost in writing. A fit for families who want the Diploma in English without giving up a Spanish-language option.

How much do IB schools in Madrid cost in 2026-27?

At the schools that publish fees, expect EUR 7,945 to EUR 12,840 a year in primary and EUR 10,675 to EUR 19,440 for each Diploma year.

School	IB programmes	Diploma taught in	Primary, 2026-27	Diploma, 2026-27
Liceo Europeo	PYP, MYP, DP	Spanish	EUR 11,840 (Years 1 to 5)	EUR 16,740 (DP1)
Colegio Internacional Aravaca	PYP, MYP, DP	Ask per subject	EUR 7,945 (1.º to 3.º Primaria)	EUR 10,675 (DP1 and DP2)
SEK El Castillo	PYP, MYP, DP	Spanish or English	On request	On request
St. George School Madrid	DP	English	EUR 12,840 (Years 1 and 2)	EUR 19,440 (Years 12 and 13)

Annual tuition from each school's 2026-27 fee schedule. Aravaca's figure combines an advance payment of three instalments of EUR 275 with ten monthly payments of EUR 985 in the Diploma.

Extras change the comparison:

Joining fees: EUR 630 at Liceo Europeo, EUR 1,100 at Aravaca (non-refundable, new pupils only) and EUR 1,870 at St. George, which also charges a EUR 550 enrolment fee (cuota de matrícula).
Lunch: included at Liceo Europeo; EUR 1,860 a year at Aravaca.
Buses: EUR 164 a month for a full route at Liceo Europeo; EUR 1,600 to EUR 1,990 a year at Aravaca, depending on the postcode.
Exams and devices: Aravaca includes Diploma exam fees but not books, uniforms or the iPad.
Siblings: Aravaca takes 35% off tuition for a third child.

How does the IB Diploma get you into a Spanish university?

Through UNED, not through the PAU. Article 6 of Real Decreto 534/2024 exempts Diploma holders from the entrance exam and from homologation, and article 4 of Orden EFD/550/2025 makes UNED the body that certifies their access grade. UNED converts each subject grade on the 2 to 7 scale with the order's generic formula, so six grades of 6, 6, 6, 5, 5 and 5 average 5.5 and become an access grade of 8.5 out of 10.

Two details matter for Madrid families. Article 23.3 of the decree lets universities also take grades in specific subjects into account for admission, and the order lets students apply with provisional documents when IB results arrive after university deadlines; UNED has up to six months to resolve. The decree has been amended twice, by Real Decreto 482/2025 and Real Decreto 535/2026, but articles 6 and 23.3 are unchanged. Our guide to the UNED conversion of the IB Diploma covers the subject tests and fees in detail.

Admissions calendar and practical advice

Start in the spring before entry. The Spanish school year runs from September to June, and schools fix places early: Aravaca's 2026-27 advance payment, which reserves the place, was due in March, April and May 2026. Its 5% discount for paying the year upfront had to be requested by 30 June.

Aim to join by DP1. The Diploma is a two-year course, so a move at 17 is hard. At 15 or 16, ask whether the school takes MYP or IGCSE students straight into the Diploma and which Higher Level subjects are still open.

Ask four questions on the visit. Which language each Diploma subject is taught in; whether the Spanish Bachillerato runs in parallel; how many students sat the Diploma last year and how many passed; and whether exam fees, lunch and buses sit inside tuition.

Compare schools across Madrid

To see IB, British and American schools side by side with fees and locations, browse our ranking of the best international schools in Madrid.

Sources: Real Decreto 534/2024 and Orden EFD/550/2025 (Boletín Oficial del Estado); Liceo Europeo IB programme and 2026-27 fees; Colegio Internacional Aravaca 2026-27 fee sheet and IB programme; SEK International Schools IB programmes, El Castillo and admissions pages; St. George School Madrid 2026-27 fees and IB Diploma page; Brains International School IB Diploma page; Liceo Sorolla IB page.

More guides to schools in Madrid

Frequently asked questions

Can you study the IB Diploma in Spanish in Madrid?

Yes. Liceo Europeo in La Moraleja states that its Diploma is delivered in Spanish, and SEK El Castillo says its Diploma can be taken entirely in Spanish or entirely in English. Families who want an English-only school usually look at British or international schools such as St. George School Madrid, where every student takes the Diploma in English after Year 11.

How much does the IB Diploma cost in Madrid?

For 2026-27, published tuition for each Diploma year runs from EUR 10,675 at Colegio Internacional Aravaca, exam fees included, to EUR 16,740 in the first year at Liceo Europeo and EUR 19,440 at St. George School Madrid. Joining fees of EUR 630 to EUR 1,870 apply to new pupils, and lunch and buses vary by school.

Is the IB Career-related Programme valid for Spanish universities?

Not on its own terms. Article 6 of Real Decreto 534/2024 exempts holders of the IB Diploma from the PAU but does not mention the Career-related Programme. SEK, the group that offers the CP in Spain, runs it at SEK-Catalunya rather than at its Madrid schools, so ask any school offering it which qualification a CP student will hold at 18.