International Schools Bali 2026: Real Fees & Open Spots

Mid-year 2026 enrollment spots exist at Canggu Community School, Bali Island School, and — with luck — Green School Bali. At the two schools below with official 2026/27 fee schedules, tuition plus recurring levies runs about $8,200–$19,400 USD a year (Canggu Community School Early Years with levies, up to Green School Grades 11–12 with family fees and service trips, at roughly Rp 17,900 per US$), before registration, deposits, uniforms, lunch and transport. The sections below quote official figures where the school publishes them and say so where we could not check.

The Reality of Education in Bali

Here is what I wish someone had told me before I landed at Ngurah Rai with two kids and a Google Doc full of "research."

Most international school websites list tuition as if that's the number. It is not the number. The real number is tuition plus a registration fee that doesn't roll over if you leave, plus a building levy that some schools call a "capital contribution" and is sometimes non-refundable, plus uniforms you can only buy from the school shop, plus transport that is mandatory at certain campuses because the roads genuinely aren't walkable.

The second thing newcomers get wrong: availability. Bali's expat population has grown fast. The good schools — the ones with consistent teachers, real curriculum continuity, and pastoral care that actually functions — fill their waiting lists in November for the following August intake. If you're arriving in February or March for a mid-year start, you are competing for whatever gaps were left by families who departed unexpectedly.

The third thing: curriculum fit matters more than Instagrammability. Green School photographs beautifully. But if your child is mid-IGCSE track and heading to a UK university, that bamboo campus is not the right fit for the next two years. Know what your child needs before you fall in love with an aesthetic.

Vetted School Recommendations

Canggu Community School (CCS)

CCS is the most pragmatic choice for families who want a solid international education without ideology or spectacle. Located in Canggu, it runs from Early Years through Year 13 and lists an IB Diploma for Years 12–13. Class sizes are small (typically 12–18 students), teachers stay — which matters more than any brochure claim — and the community is tight-knit in the way that actually helps when your kid is homesick.

2026/27 fees (official schedule, ccsbali.com/admissions/fees):

Tuition: Rp 117 million (Early Years) to Rp 272 million (IB Diploma), about $6,500–$15,200 a year
Annual levies: capital levy Rp 21.5 million (up to Year 5) or Rp 26 million (Year 6 and up), plus a materials and resources levy of Rp 8.5–13.5 million
One-time: Rp 2.5 million application fee, Rp 17 million registration for entry to Year 1 to Year 13 (non-refundable), and a refundable notice deposit of Rp 25 million (Early Years) or Rp 50 million (Year 1 and up)
Discounts: 5% for paying the year in full; sibling discounts of 3%, 7% and 10%
Uniforms, transport and lunch: not priced on the fee page, so ask for a written quote

Mid-year spots do open at CCS — families leave Bali mid-contract more often than they plan. Email the admissions team directly and ask for the current waitlist position by year group. They are refreshingly honest about it.

Green School Bali

Green School is a real school with a real philosophy, and the learning outcomes for certain learner types are genuinely excellent. Project-based, nature-immersed learning, with a Green School Diploma for Grades 11 and 12 according to the school's 2026/27 enrolment policy. For creative, kinesthetic learners who thrive without rigid structure, it can be transformative.

For highly academic kids chasing traditional university pathways — be clear-eyed. Check how the Green School Diploma (Grades 11 and 12) is recognised by the universities you are aiming for, because that requires additional planning.

2026/27 fees (official schedule; see our Green School fees page):

Tuition: Rp 185,445,400 (Pre-K) to Rp 328,600,900 (Grades 11–12), about $10,400–$18,400 a year
Recurring family fees: Rp 8.5 million Local Scholar levy plus Rp 2.3 million parent programmes a year; Rp 7.25 million service trips in High School
One-time: Rp 40 million non-refundable application and registration fees, plus a Rp 30 million refundable deposit
Transport and lunch: the school's fee documents give no price (it runs the Bio Bus and serves vegetarian lunches), so ask admissions for a written quote
Mid-year availability: limited. Their waitlist is long. Apply anyway and be honest about your timeline — they sometimes move quickly for strong-fit families.

Bali Island School (BIS)

BIS sits in Sanur, which immediately tells you something about the family it suits: less surf-town chaos, more established community, closer to the airport, quieter pace. It is an IB World School running the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme — which means your child's transcript will be recognised globally without asterisks.

New in 2026: Micro-Schools and Hybrid Collectives

The real story for budget-conscious families. Clusters of credentialed educators — often former international school teachers — have formed small learning pods and micro-schools across Canggu, Pererenan, and Ubud. Several run structured Cambridge-aligned or Montessori curricula, keep class sizes under 12, and charge $3,000–$6,000 USD/year.

The catch: due diligence matters enormously here. Anyone in Bali can call themselves a "school," and accreditation claims are not always verified. Vet the founding teacher's credentials, ask explicitly about continuity plans if the lead teacher leaves, confirm the operation has a legal Indonesian entity (unregistered schools can face sudden closure), and clarify what happens to your child's transcript when you move on.

Pro-Tips: What the Locals Know

Call, don't email. Admissions coordinators receive hundreds of inquiry emails. A WhatsApp message or phone call gets a real response three times faster. Ask specifically: "Do you have any year group openings for mid-2026?"
The registration fee is a commitment signal, not a deposit. At most Bali international schools it is non-refundable regardless of circumstances. Confirm this in writing before you pay.
Teacher turnover is the real quality metric. Ask: "What is your average teacher tenure?" Schools with 2+ year average retention are stable. Schools that can't answer are not.
Transport is not optional at remote campuses. Green School in particular — the road access makes self-driving with children genuinely hazardous during school run hours.
Sibling priority is real. If you have two kids, confirm whether enrolling the first guarantees sibling placement. At some schools it does not.
Bali visa status affects enrollment paperwork. Schools need your children's KITAS or visit visa details. If you're arriving on a tourist visa with plans to "sort it out," sort it out before you apply — it slows everything down.
Ask about the expat exit pattern. Some schools have very high family turnover in January–February as end-of-year contracts close. Mid-year spots often appear in March.
Lunch quality varies wildly. Visit at lunchtime before you commit. Some school canteens are excellent; some are overpriced and nutritionally thin.
Confirm academic calendar alignment. Bali schools mostly run August–June, but some run January–December. If you're arriving mid-year from the northern hemisphere, clarify exactly where your child enters.
Check visa support before you sign. Some schools assist with dependent visa documentation; others won't. Schools need your children's KITAS or visit visa details either way.
Ask what percentage of teachers hold professional teaching qualifications from their home country, and where alumni go next. A school proud of its outcomes will answer both immediately.
Talk to a parent who has left the school, not just ones still there. Exit perspectives are the most honest ones.

A Conscious Note

Choosing a school in Bali comes with responsibility that goes beyond your child's education. The island's infrastructure — roads, water, electricity — is under real pressure from expat and nomad growth. Schools that invest in local staff development, that source food from nearby farms, that teach Indonesian language and culture as a genuine priority rather than a checkbox — these schools are part of something larger. Enroll your children in schools that give back: that hire locally, that partner with Balinese community programs, that don't treat the island as a backdrop. And if your school runs community service programs, show up. Not for the Instagram story — because your family is a guest here and reciprocity matters.

Quick-Reference FAQ

Which Bali international school is best for IB Diploma students in 2026? Bali Island School runs the full IB continuum through Diploma Programme and has the longest track record for university placement outcomes. It is the most reliable choice for students targeting European, UK, or Australian universities.

Can I enroll mid-year at Green School Bali? Technically yes, but practically difficult. Their waitlist is long and cohort sizes are small. Contact admissions directly, explain your timeline honestly, and ask to be placed on the waitlist immediately — spots do occasionally open on short notice when families depart unexpectedly.

Are there any truly affordable international school options in Bali under $8,000/year all-in? At Canggu Community School and Green School, the two schools covered here: no. CCS's cheapest year group is about $8,200 a year once its annual levies are added (Rp 147 million at roughly Rp 17,900 per US$), before registration, uniforms, lunch and transport. Dyatmika in Denpasar is cheaper on tuition alone (about US$2,400 to US$8,700 in tuition on its official 2026/27 schedule), with a resources fee and other extras on top. Semara International School and some newer campuses advertise lower headline tuition but check accreditation status carefully before enrolling — your child's transcript needs to transfer cleanly if you move on. Micro-schools and hybrid collectives (see above) come in lower, with the trade-off that you carry the accreditation due diligence yourself.

Can my child switch from a Bali international school back into the Australian or UK state system without falling behind? Generally yes, if the school is accredited and your child has been following a recognised curriculum (IB, Cambridge, or equivalent). Schools back home will typically assess on entry. Keep copies of all transcripts and term reports in a cloud folder from day one.

Is homeschooling legal for foreign families in Bali? Homeschooling is a legal grey area in Indonesia for foreign nationals. Most families operating in this space register with an accredited distance-education provider in their home country to maintain a legal educational record. Get proper advice before committing.

International Schools Bali 2026: Real Fees & Open Spots