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. All-in annual costs run $8,000–$28,000 USD depending on school and grade, once you add registration ($500–$2,500), uniforms ($150–$400), transport ($1,200–$3,600/year), and lunch ($600–$1,200/year) to the headline tuition figure.

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 a Cambridge-aligned curriculum from Early Years through Year 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 fee reality check:

Tuition: approximately $9,500–$14,000/year depending on year group
Registration: $1,500 (non-refundable)
Uniforms: ~$200–$300 (school shop only)
Transport: $150–$250/month depending on your villa location
Lunch: optional, ~$80–$100/month

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, IB-influenced curriculum. For creative, kinesthetic learners who thrive without rigid structure, it can be transformative.

For highly academic kids chasing traditional university pathways — be clear-eyed. Green School's Kul Kul Bridge program bridges to more formal qualifications, but it requires additional planning.

2026 fee reality check:

Tuition: approximately $17,000–$22,000/year
One-time "Green Initiatives Contribution": $2,000–$5,000 (essentially a building levy)
Transport: $200–$300/month (campus location near Sibang makes this non-optional for most families)
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.

BIS tends to have more mid-year flexibility than the Canggu/Ubud corridor schools because Sanur families move with more corporate structure — in and out on assignment cycles — so gaps appear more predictably.

2026 fee reality check:

Tuition: approximately $12,000–$19,000/year by programme level
Registration: $1,000–$2,000
Uniforms: ~$150–$250
Transport: $120–$200/month from most Sanur/Kuta areas
Lunch: $70–$90/month

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.

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 fully accredited international schools: no. The $8,000 floor is real once you include all fees. 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.

International Schools Bali 2026: Real Fees & Open Spots | Knowmads Bali