7 International Schools in Phuket for Expat Families (2026)

Phuket has grown from a beach holiday destination into a genuine long-term base for expat families, and its international school sector has grown with it. The island now has around 15 international schools covering British, IB, American, and Cambridge curricula, with fees running well below Bangkok for a comparable standard of teaching. This guide covers Phuket's best international schools, what they cost, and where families choose to live once they have picked a school.

Quick Summary

• British International School Phuket (BISP) and UWC Thailand are Phuket's two top-tier schools, offering IB Diploma results consistently above the world average.

• HeadStart and Kajonkiet anchor the mid-market with British curricula at roughly half the fees of the top tier.

• QSI International School of Phuket and International School of Phuket (ISP) offer American and Cambridge options at more accessible price points.

• Annual fees across the island range from about 240,000 THB to 935,900 THB, depending on curriculum, campus, and year group.

• Cherngtalay and Laguna in the north suit families targeting BISP, UWC, or HeadStart's Cherngtalay campus, while Kathu and Chalong sit closer to the mid-market schools.

How We Chose Phuket's Best International Schools

We weighed curriculum strength and exam results, accreditation from recognised bodies (CIS, IB, Cambridge, EARCOS), facilities and campus size, student to teacher ratios, and how well each school is positioned for the areas expat families actually live in. Fee transparency and value against fee level also mattered, since Phuket's schools span a wider price range than Bangkok's.

Overview of the 7 International Schools in Phuket 2026

Fee figures are drawn from each school's 2025/26 published schedules or aggregated 2026 fee guides. They vary by year group and exclude application, capital, and boarding fees. Always confirm current rates directly with the school before budgeting.

1. British International School Phuket (BISP)

Established in 1996, BISP is one of Thailand's oldest and largest international schools, with around 1,150 day and boarding students from over 60 nationalities on a 44-acre campus in Koh Kaew. Students follow the National Curriculum of England through Key Stage 3, then sit IGCSEs before moving into the IB Diploma Programme, with a BTEC Sports pathway also available. BISP's IBDP results are consistently above the world average, and the school runs high-performance academies in football, golf, swimming, tennis, and aerial arts alongside eight boarding houses.

Annual day fees for 2025/26 run from THB 470,200 to THB 935,900 depending on year group, with boarding available from Year 4 at an additional THB 377,500 to 485,000 a year. A refundable THB 150,000 bond applies at enrolment.

Address: 59 Moo 2, Thepkrasattri Road T. Koh Kaew, A. Muang Phuket, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000

2. UWC Thailand

UWC Thailand, based in Thalang and formerly known as Phuket International Academy, is Phuket's only member of the United World Colleges network. It runs the full IB continuum, the Primary Years Programme through the Diploma Programme, for around 500 students from more than 60 countries. The school is accredited by CIS, ISAT, and EARCOS, and as a not-for-profit foundation, it reinvests all income into the school rather than distributing it to shareholders.

Fees for 2024/25 ranged from THB 497,000 for Pre-Kindergarten to THB 876,000 for Grades 11 to 12, with boarding (available from Grade 9) at THB 613,000. UWC Thailand also runs a needs-based Davis UWC Scholars programme for the IB Diploma years, which is unusual among Phuket's schools.

Address: 115 15, Thep Krasatti, Thalang District, Phuket 83110

3. HeadStart International School

Founded in 2005, HeadStart teaches the English National Curriculum to around 800 students from 45 nationalities across two campuses: the original Chaofah City site between Phuket Town and Patong, and a newer campus in Cherngtalay, in the Laguna district in the island's north. Students work toward Cambridge IGCSE exams, then choose between A-Levels or a BTEC pathway in the Sixth Form. Facilities include two football pitches, a 25-metre pool, and an Eco School sustainability programme.

Fee guides for 2026 place HeadStart's tuition in the region of THB 300,000 to 425,000 for most year groups, rising further at Sixth Form level. The Cherngtalay campus puts HeadStart within easy reach of the Laguna and Bang Tao Beach area, which is popular with the same families who consider BISP and UWC.

Address:

• City Campus: 39, 99 Moo 4, Vichitsongkram Rd, Wichit, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
• Cherngtalay Campus: 9 2 Srisoonthorn Rd, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110

4. Kajonkiet International School Phuket (KIS)

Kajonkiet International School, set on 15 rai in Phuket's Kathu valley, delivers the British Curriculum from Early Years Foundation Stage through IGCSE and A-Levels, entirely in English, to students aged 2 to 18. It is one of the more affordable full British-curriculum options on the island, with EAL and SEN support built in and Thai, Chinese, and Japanese offered as additional languages.

Published fee ranges put KIS at roughly THB 275,000 to 440,000 a year, with a further 20 percent surcharge on transport for long-distance zones such as Cherngtalay, Surin, and Rawai. Its Kathu location gives central access to most of the island, which matters for families who have not yet settled on a specific coastal area.

Address: 125 1 Soi The Valley Kathu, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83120

5. QSI International School of Phuket

QSI Phuket, founded in 2000 and also based in Kathu, is a non-profit school of around 130 to 150 students representing more than 25 nationalities. It follows an American curriculum built on QSI's own Mastery Learning approach, where students progress once they demonstrate competency rather than by fixed term timelines, supplemented by Advanced Placement courses for older students. Small class sizes and a STEM-focused campus are the main draws.

Fees are typically quoted at around THB 330,000 to 620,000 a year depending on grade level, sitting in the mid tier of the island's fee range, with QSI's global network of over 35 schools easing transfers for families who relocate again.

Address: 81/4 Moo 1 Tambon Kathu, Kathu District, Phuket 83120

6. Berda Claude International School (BCIS)

Berda Claude International School, established in 2017 in Chalong on the south-central side of the island, is the only school in Phuket offering a genuine choice between two curricula on one campus. Its British stream follows the Cambridge International curriculum through IGCSE and A-Levels, while a parallel French stream follows the full French National Curriculum toward the Diplome National du Brevet and the Baccalaureat. Both streams share purpose-built junior and senior campuses about 200 metres apart, and the school runs specialised academies in football, skiing, gymnastics, swimming, and dance.

Annual fees fall in a range of roughly THB 350,000 to 600,000, varying by curriculum stream and year group, with a one-time entrance fee of THB 75,000 that includes a refundable deposit. BCIS is a natural shortlist option for French national families and for anyone who wants to keep both an English and a French pathway open.

Address: 28, A, 89, Chalong, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83130

7. International School of Phuket (ISP)

ISP, established in 2008 in Rawai on the island's southern tip, is one of the more accessible options on this list, following the Cambridge International curriculum for children aged roughly 6 to 14 on a small, capped-enrolment campus. Class sizes average around 15 students, and the school leans into its natural surroundings with outdoor classrooms and an eco-club, plus a bus service covering Kata, Karon, Chalong, Rawai, and Nai Harn.

Annual fees run approximately THB 240,000 to 500,000, making ISP a practical choice for families based in Phuket's southern beach communities who want an internationally recognised curriculum without top-tier fees.

Address: 79, 6 Soi Sermsuk, Rawai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83130

Where International School Families Live in Phuket

School choice and neighbourhood choice go together on Phuket more than in most cities, since traffic between the north and south of the island can add 45 minutes or more each way at peak times. Three clusters come up repeatedly among relocating families.

Cherngtalay, Laguna, and Bang Tao (north-west)

HeadStart's Cherngtalay campus sits directly in this zone, and both BISP in Koh Kaew and UWC Thailand in Thalang are within a 15 to 25 minute drive. This is Phuket's most established expat family cluster, built around Laguna Phuket's resort infrastructure and Bang Tao Beach. Bangtao Beach Phuket: The Ultimate Travel & Living Guide 2026 covers the area's villas, condos, and lifestyle in more depth.

Kathu and central Phuket

Kajonkiet and QSI both sit in Kathu, and HeadStart's original Chaofah City campus is a short drive away, making this a practical base for families who want central access rather than a single beach identity. Housing here runs from condos near Phuket Town to villa estates further into the valley, generally at a lower price point per square metre than the northern beach zones.

Rawai and Chalong (south)

ISP's Rawai campus anchors the island's southern school cluster, and BCIS sits just up the road in Chalong with its dual British and French streams. Chalong itself is a popular family base with easier access to Rawai, Kata, and Nai Harn. Chalong Area Guide: Best Phuket Location for Expats breaks down housing options and daily life in this part of the island.

Visas for School-Age Children in Phuket

Most expat families enrolling children in a Phuket international school use either a dependant visa tied to a parent's Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, which the Board of Investment administers for qualifying professionals, retirees, and investors and which covers a spouse and up to four dependent children, or an Education (ED) visa arranged through the school itself. The Thailand Privilege Card is a third route some families use, since it carries no income or asset threshold and can run from five to twenty years.

None of these replace legal advice for a specific family's situation. Visa rules and income thresholds do change, and Immigration Bureau offices do not always apply them identically, so confirming current requirements with a visa agent or immigration lawyer before relocating is worth the cost.

Buying or Renting Near Phuket's International Schools

Foreigners can own a condominium unit outright, provided foreign ownership within that building does not exceed the 49 percent foreign quota. Land itself cannot be owned outright by a foreign national. Villa and house purchases on land typically use a registered leasehold of up to 30 years, sometimes renewable, or a Thai company structure, and either route should be reviewed by a licensed Thai lawyer before signing anything. Can Foreigners Buy a Property in Phuket? covers the mechanics of both routes in full.

Many relocating families rent for the first year while they confirm which school and area suit them, then buy once the daily commute and lifestyle fit is clear. Browse current listings for Villas for Sale in Phuket or Properties for Rent in Phuket to compare what is available near each school cluster before committing to a lease or purchase.

For sale: Villas For Sale in Phuket   |   For rent: Properties for Rent in Phuket

For families weighing whether to buy at all, Where to Buy Property in Phuket 2026: Investment Guide breaks down which areas of the island currently offer the strongest combination of livability and resale value.