Canadian International School of Phnom Penh vs Northbridge International School Cambodia

	C Canadian International School of Phnom Penh Phnom Penh, Cambodia	N Northbridge International School Cambodia Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KHR 31,780,452 - 101,576,760	Fees / year KHR 51,024,378 - 127,344,331
Age range	Age range 1½ - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Canadian Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 1,000	Pupils 800
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2012	Opened 1997
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location CIS's main campus is on Koh Pich (Diamond Island) at Elite Town Street in central Phnom Penh; two additional early-years campuses are Bassac Garden (Tonle Bassac) and Olympia City. The Koh Pich campus is linked to the city by the Rainbow, Swan and Naga bridges and is close to neighbourhoods such as Tonle Bassac and BKK1, with Aeon Mall and riverside areas within reasonable commuting distance.	Location —
Stages	Stages CIS runs programs from nursery through Grade 12: Early Years (nursery to junior kindergarten), Elementary (Senior Kindergarten to Grade 6), Middle School (Grades 7–9) and High School (Grades 10–12). The school offers Alberta curriculum pathways and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the senior years.	Stages —
School type	School type CIS is a privately operated, co-educational international day school that serves nursery through Grade 12 across its campuses. The website also lists a boarding programme (full and weekly) for students in Grades 4 and above on its services page, though the general admissions page states students must live with a parent or guardian — you should confirm current boarding availability with admissions.	School type —
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school publishes an Inclusive Education overview: universal classroom strategies plus targeted supports such as Learning Support teachers, an EAL (English as an Additional Language) programme, speech‑language services and social‑emotional counselling in Elementary, Middle and High School. The site also states it cannot provide some specialist on‑site therapies or psychological assessments and that EAL places and some specialist services may incur extra fees.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation CIS teaches the Alberta (Canada) provincial curriculum and is accredited by Alberta Education; students may graduate with an Alberta High School Diploma (with options to combine IB courses or the IB Diploma).	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school website does not indicate any religious affiliation; CIS is presented as a secular international school.	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Timings vary by campus and age group. For example, the Bassac Garden preschool lists drop‑off 8:00–8:30 a.m., a first session 8:30–11:30 a.m., and full‑day pick‑up at 3:30 p.m.; other year groups follow different schedules, so confirm exact start/finish and break times for your child's year level with the school.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details The school offers a school bus and local buggy service for students (buses and open‑air electric buggies) that operates throughout central Phnom Penh for children aged 4 and above; children under 4 may be registered if accompanied by a sibling aged 10 or older. Vehicle types listed include buggies (4 seats) and passenger vans (up to 10 seats). Routes, fees and registration are managed by the school, so contact Admissions or Transport for current route maps, pick‑up points and costs.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & one‑time enrolment fees - Application fee (one‑time): KHR 1,002,500. - Enrollment / admission fee (one‑time): KHR 2,005,000. - Annual capital/maintenance fee (charged annually): KHR 4,812,000 (where applicable, see first‑year totals). Tuition — annual and per‑term (published 2025–2026 amounts, per grade) Note: CIS offers annual, semesterly and quarterly payment plans. The figures below show the published annual total (yearly). Semester = annual ÷ 2; Quarterly = annual ÷ 4 (equal instalment splits shown for clarity). All amounts are in Cambodian Riels (KHR). - Nursery 2 (age 2): Annual KHR 31,679,001 — Semester KHR 15,839,501 — Quarterly KHR 7,919,750. - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual KHR 38,897,001 — Semester KHR 19,448,501 — Quarterly KHR 9,724,250. - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual KHR 48,120,001 — Semester KHR 24,060,001 — Quarterly KHR 12,030,000. - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 1: Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 2: Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 3: Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 4: Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 5: Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 6: Annual KHR 88,621,002 — Semester KHR 44,310,501 — Quarterly KHR 22,155,251. - Grade 7: Annual KHR 92,230,002 — Semester KHR 46,115,001 — Quarterly KHR 23,057,501. - Grade 8: Annual KHR 92,230,002 — Semester KHR 46,115,001 — Quarterly KHR 23,057,501. - Grade 9: Annual KHR 92,230,002 — Semester KHR 46,115,001 — Quarterly KHR 23,057,501. - Grade 10: Annual KHR 92,230,002 — Semester KHR 46,115,001 — Quarterly KHR 23,057,501. - Grade 11: Annual KHR 101,252,503 — Semester KHR 50,626,252 — Quarterly KHR 25,313,126. - Grade 12: Annual KHR 101,252,503 — Semester KHR 50,626,252 — Quarterly KHR 25,313,126. First‑year total example (includes one‑time fees) - Example shown in the published fee guide for a first year of enrolment: Nursery 2 first‑year total KHR 34,686,501 (this total includes the application fee, enrolment fee, capital fee and the tuition component noted above). Billing schedule and payment terms - CIS offers annual, semesterly and quarterly instalment plans; the school publishes Plan A (early annual payment) and related early‑enrolment discounts (3% discount for tuition paid under Plan A by the published early‑payment date). Family referral and sibling discounts are also offered. Exact invoice schedules and any instalment due dates are set in the school's Fee Guide and on invoices. Boarding - The School Services section of CIS lists a Boarding Program (full and weekly boarding for Grades 4 and above). Separately, the school's admissions/general‑requirements pages state residence expectations for enrolled students; confirm boarding availability and fees with admissions when enrolling. Other costs - Uniforms are available from the school store (school‑issued uniform is required; new students receive a complimentary CIS backpack). Lunch is provided via the school Lunch Program; bus/buggy transport, certain extracurriculars and some academy/program fees may incur additional charges. Refunds - The school's published Fee Guide contains the full refund and withdrawal terms (application and enrollment charges are typically handled as one‑time fees). Parents should review the Fee Guide or contact Admissions for the Fee Guide's refund and withdrawal clauses. Fee payment options - CIS publishes instalment plans and operates a parent portal (iSAMS) for family accounts; payment is normally made by bank transfer or by card/third‑party payment channels as specified on each invoice. Invoices and the Fee Guide set the accepted payment methods and any processing fees.	Fee details Application & registration fees - Application fee (new students): USD 290. - Registration fee (new students): USD 850 (Early Learning EL2–EL4); USD 2,990 (KG–Grade 12). - Refundable deposit (new students): USD 1,000 (refunded on completion of the Student Withdrawal Form within the agreed 60‑day notice period). - Transition fee from EL4 to KG: USD 1,500. Tuition fees (annual, semester and quarterly instalments) - Early Learning (EL2–EL4): Annual USD 11,340; Semester instalments USD 5,840 + 5,840; Quarterly instalments USD 2,977 each. - Kindergarten – Grade 1: Annual USD 21,460; Semester USD 11,050 + 11,050; Quarterly USD 5,633 each. - Grade 2 – 5: Annual USD 21,752; Semester USD 11,190 + 11,190; Quarterly USD 5,705 each. - Grade 6 – 10: Annual USD 26,694; Semester USD 13,750 + 13,750; Quarterly USD 7,007 each. - Grade 11 – 12: Annual USD 29,016; Semester USD 14,940 + 14,940; Quarterly USD 7,617 each. (All amounts listed in US dollars.) Capital fee - Annual capital fee: EL2–EL4 USD 1,380; KG–Grade 12 USD 2,730. - Students enrolling in the second semester are charged 50% of the annual capital fee. (Capital fee is non‑refundable if student leaves during the academic year.) Optional / additional costs - Bus transport (optional): Full year USD 2,080; Semester USD 1,040. - Student support services: EAL Tier 3 USD 2,195 per semester; EAL Tier 2 USD 1,250 per semester; SEN placement USD 5,500 per academic year. - Chargeable extras: LEAP activities, IB examination fees, optional trips and other specified services. - Sibling discounts: where three or more children attend, 5% for 3rd child and 10% for 4th and subsequent children (applies to younger siblings' tuition only). Billing schedule, payment terms and refunds - Payment options: Annual, Semester (two payments) or Quarterly (four payments) with published payment dates (example semester dates: 1 Jul 2025 and 12 Dec 2025; quarterly dates include 1 Jul 2025, 3 Oct 2025, 5 Dec 2025 and 13 Mar 2026). - All fees due on indicated dates; payments late by two weeks incur a 5% penalty and then 1% per week thereafter. - Full tuition payment required for the quarter in which enrollment occurs (no partial quarterly payments). - Withdrawal: parents must submit the standard Withdrawal Form at least 60 calendar days prior to the student's last day. - Refunds: paid tuition refunded at 90% value only for full quarters not attended upon written request; no partial quarterly refunds; capital fee not refundable if student leaves during the year; refundable deposit returned subject to the 60‑day notice rule. Payment methods - Preferred: bank transfer to the school's bank account. - Accepted: US dollar cheque (bank in Phnom Penh), credit card (payer pays any card fees). - Cash accepted for balances under USD 1,000. - Bank transfer charges are the responsibility of the transferring party. Boarding - Northbridge is a day school; boarding fees are not applicable.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details CISP's Early Years Program (Nursery–Junior Kindergarten) follows Flight: Alberta's Early Learning and Care Framework and is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, using play‑based, child‑centred learning. Elementary (Senior Kindergarten–Grade 6) follows the Alberta curriculum delivered through the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP); students receive weekly instruction in Khmer, Mandarin, or French and may join French or Mandarin bilingual streams. Middle School (Grades 7–9) follows Alberta Grade 7–9 curricula with specialist teachers in core subjects and complementary courses such as art, Career & Technology Foundations, drama, music, Khmer, Mandarin and French. High School offers two pathways: the Alberta High School Program (Grades 10–12), accredited by Alberta's Ministry of Education and leading to an Alberta High School Diploma (minimum 100 credits, with varied course sequences), and the two‑year IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12, which includes six subject groups plus Theory of Knowledge, the extended essay and CAS. Across all stages students can access specialist services and programs such as English as an Additional Language, inclusive education, fine arts, sports, design and academic counselling.	Curriculum details The school is an international IB World School in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, offering the IB continuum from Early Years through the IB Diploma. It is part of the Nord Anglia Education family. The campus spans more than eight hectares and provides world-class facilities, including an Aquatics Centre, a 400-seat auditorium, science laboratories, extensive sports facilities, an Early Learning zone, performing arts spaces, and Café Blend. The school day runs Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio The school focuses on a highly personalised approach to learning and employs specialist teachers from around the world, with ongoing professional development through Nord Anglia University.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results The school reports a 100% IB Diploma pass rate with strong results, and maintains top IB Diploma results in Cambodia.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression As an IB World School, students follow the full IB curriculum and pursue university destinations globally, with a pathway to top universities.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented The school emphasises personalised learning and offers opportunities across the arts, sciences, and languages, supported by global collaborations and specialist teachers.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Complete the online application: Start by creating and submitting an application through CIS's online platform (gibbon.cisp.edu.kh). Parents should save progress if they cannot upload everything at once; the school says you can return later and the Admissions Team will contact you after submission to confirm receipt and next steps. Be prepared to provide accurate birth and passport details because these determine grade placement and residency checks. 2. Pay the application fee: The application fee must be paid (in person or by bank transfer) before CIS will consider the application or schedule an assessment. The site states the fee is non-refundable — plan for that cost when you apply and keep payment confirmation to avoid delays. If the fee is not paid, the school will not proceed to the assessment or interview stage. 3. Submit required supporting documents: CIS lists documents required for all applicants (recent school reports, completed online recommendation forms, standardized test results if available, passport ID pages for student and parents, birth certificate or family book, vaccination records, signed CIS Parent Agreement, and a signed student health questionnaire). Additional, grade-specific recommendations or extra report cards are required for different year levels (for example, Grades 10–12 require three years of report cards plus multiple teacher recommendations). Parents should collect original or certified copies and be ready to upload them to the online platform; recommendations are submitted online by the referees. 4. Assessment, interview and English requirement: After documents are reviewed, CIS may request an interview and/or academic assessments (these can be online or in person). Students from Senior Kindergarten through Grade 12 may need an English-language proficiency assessment; Grade 10–12 applicants must show grade-level English proficiency (via prior records from an accredited English-instruction school or an assessment). If your child will require EAL (English as an Additional Language) support, note that CIS provides EAL for Grades 1–9 but enrolment in the EAL program carries additional fees. 5. Offer, deposit and fee arrangements to confirm enrolment: If CIS offers a place, parents must accept the offer and pay the required deposits to confirm enrolment — the school specifically states deposits and the ability to meet school fee requirements are conditions of enrolment. CIS publishes a 2025–2026 Fee Guide and offers multiple payment plans (annual, semesterly, quarterly); the school also runs specific discounts and referral/voucher programs (for example, an early-enrolment discount, sibling discounts, and referral vouchers). Before accepting an offer, review the fee guide and confirm which payment plan and any applicable discounts you will use. 6. Placement, first day and orientation: Grade placement is determined by year of birth for Nursery–Grade 6 and by a combination of birth year and prior education for Grades 7–12; parents are expected to accept the school's placement decision. CIS accepts applications on a rolling basis and the Admissions Team can schedule personalized campus visits; they also provide information to prepare families for the student's first day and run a New Family Orientation.	Admissions Northbridge International School Cambodia offers year‑round placements, and the admissions process is described as simple, personalised and fast. The school is academically non‑selective, though non‑native English‑speaking students may be required to take language tests as part of enrolment; an English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme is available to support language development. The admissions team provides support in English, Khmer and Chinese. The enrolment process begins with a school tour (on campus or virtual); Early Years applicants participate in an in‑class assessment; families meet with the school head for Primary and Secondary; and you will meet with the admissions team to discuss next steps. Applications are accepted year‑round and the admissions team will respond within 24 hours of submission. If a fit is identified, a place is offered and securing the placement requires a small deposit. Key school dates and the academic calendar are published, and tuition fees are listed with payment options. The FAQs cover the purpose of the application fee, a typical two‑week timeline to move from first contact to offer, whether a company pays the fees, the possibility of a waiting list, mid‑semester starts, and details about assessments and interviews.
Scholarships	Scholarships The CIS Phnom Penh admissions and fees pages do not describe a scholarship program for incoming students; the school's published fee information focuses on payment plans, an early-enrolment discount, sibling discounts, referral vouchers, and a forthcoming loyalty discount. CIS's community page also notes partner discounts (for example, a Canadia Bank junior account offers a tuition discount). Because other schools in the wider ‘CIS' network (for example, CIS branches in Vietnam) do run named scholarship or talent programs, be careful not to assume those apply to the Phnom Penh campus. If you want a definitive answer about scholarships, hardship assistance, or merit-based awards for the Phnom Penh campus, request that information directly from admissions@cisp.edu.kh — they can confirm whether any scholarships or internal assistance programs exist and explain eligibility, application windows, and documentation required.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist CIS does not publish a detailed public waitlist policy on its website; the General Requirements page instructs prospective families to contact the Admissions Team for information about waiting lists. That wording implies a waiting-list or vacancy-management process exists but that specific places and prioritization rules are handled case-by-case by Admissions. If you need to know whether your child will be placed on a waitlist, the likely next vacancy date, or how long wait times are, contact admissions@cisp.edu.kh — they are the official source for current waitlist status and any documentary steps required to remain on a list.	Waitlist There may be a waiting list for some grades; the admissions team will inform you at the time of application whether a waitlist exists and whether a place is likely to become available for your preferred start date.
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