Discover Montessori School vs Uwekind International School

	D Discover Montessori School Sofia, Bulgaria	U Uwekind International School Sofia, Bulgaria
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €7,400 - 7,800	Fees / year €6,820 - 8,100
Age range	Age range 1 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Montessori Curriculum	Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP), IPC (International Primary Curriculum)
Pupils	Pupils 120	Pupils 500
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language Bulgarian, English, German
Opened	Opened 2012	Opened 1997
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The Discover International School is located in Sofia, Bulgaria, with two campuses: 6 Bolgrad Str., Sofia 1421, and 43 Episkop Protogen Str., Sofia 1408. The school serves students from toddlers through high school across Preschool, Primary Years, Middle Years, and High School. Instruction is in English and the school combines Montessori principles with IB programmes; an Extended Day Program is available.	Location The school operates two campuses in Sofia, Bulgaria. As of September 2025, Uwekind's Lozen Park campus serves children from kindergarten through Grade 6 at 1186 Sofia, ж.к. Лозен парк, ул. Манастирска воденица 71. The High School campus is in central Sofia at 1606 Sofia, Center, ул. Владайска 48. The kindergarten yard is at the foot of Vitosha with outdoor space for activities.
Stages	Stages Toddlers; Early Years; Pre-school; Primary Years; Middle Years; High School	Stages Kindergarten – Preschool; Grades 1-4; Grades 5-10; Grades 11-12; Diplomas.
School type	School type IB World School offering Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP); Montessori approach	School type Private IB World School offering Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Bulgaria	Country affiliation Sofia, Bulgaria
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Early Years: core day by 4:00 pm; Primary and Middle Years: core day by 4:30 pm; High School: core day by 1:30 pm; Extended day until 5:30 pm	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details School bus service is available for children aged 5 and above; operated by a subcontractor; additional transport fee (2,500 EUR for the 2025/2026 academic year, payable in up to two installments); discounts apply for one-way use (35%) or for a second child from the same address (60%).	Bus service details A bus service is offered between home and the school with reserved seats and insurance. The transport fee is for one school year and is charged per address: one-way 1700 € or two-way 2450 €.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and Enrollment Fees - Student Admission Fee (one-time, payable upon enrolment): EUR 650 for Preschool; EUR 750 for PYP, MYP and DP. - Registration Fee (annual, payable upon enrolment): EUR 550 for all programmes. - Deposit: A deposit equal to 15% of the annual tuition is payable on signing the educational contract. The deposit secures the child's place and is refunded from the first paid instalment of the tuition for the academic year. Tuition fees — school year 2026/27 (annual and payment-plan breakdowns) All figures below are quoted in euros (EUR). - Early Years — Pre-school 1 (age/grade shown on admissions materials): - One payment (annual): EUR 7,400. - Two payments (termly): 2 × EUR 3,900 = EUR 7,800. - Monthly / instalment plan (10 payments structure shown): initial instalment EUR 2,600 and 9 monthly instalments of EUR 656 (total shown EUR 8,500 under the school's published plan). - Primary / Elementary (Pre-school 2 – Grades 1–7): - One payment (annual): EUR 7,650. - Two payments (termly): 2 × EUR 4,025 = EUR 8,050. - Monthly / instalment plan (10 payments structure shown): initial instalment EUR 2,600 and 9 monthly instalments of EUR 689 (total shown EUR 8,800 under the school's published plan). - Middle Years and High School (Grades 8–10): - One payment (annual): EUR 7,400. - Two payments (termly): 2 × EUR 3,900 = EUR 7,800. - Monthly / instalment plan (10 payments structure shown): initial instalment EUR 2,000 and 9 monthly instalments of EUR 723 (total shown EUR 8,500 under the school's published plan). - Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12): - One payment (annual): EUR 7,800. - Two payments (termly): 2 × EUR 4,100 = EUR 8,200. - Monthly / instalment plan (10 payments structure shown): initial instalment EUR 2,000 and 9 monthly instalments of EUR 772 (total shown EUR 8,950 under the school's published plan). Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment schedule options offered: one payment, two equal payments, or a monthly/instalment plan (presented as a 10-payment arrangement). - Deadlines given for the payment options: - One-payment option due by 1 June. - Two-payment option due by 1 June and 1 September. - The instalment / 10-payment option is scheduled across the school year (payments commence from 1 September and include instalments through the academic year). - A deposit of 15% of the tuition is payable on signing the contract and is applied against the first instalment. Boarding - No boarding provision or boarding fees are listed for the school; all published fee items and services refer to day-school provision, transport, meals, clubs and extra activities. Transport (school bus) - Transport service is offered for children aged 5 and over and is provided by a subcontractor; the transport fee is charged in addition to tuition. - Transport fee published for academic year 2025/2026: EUR 2,500 (payable once or in two instalments before the beginning of each term — September and January). - Discounts: one-direction travel receives a 35% discount; if there is a second child from the same address, a 60% discount on the transport price is applied. Meals, learning resources and other recurring costs - Meals (annual charges by age/grade group): - Early Years (Pre-school 1): EUR 1,350 (morning and afternoon breakfast, fruits/vegetables, lunch). - Primary Years (Pre-school 2, Grades 1–4): EUR 1,450 (fruits/vegetables, lunch). - Middle Years and High School (Grades 5–12): EUR 1,550 (fruits/vegetables, lunch). - Learning Resources Fee: a Learning Resources Fee is due annually to cover art/craft materials, extra learning resources, supplies and books (amount not itemised in published fee schedule). - Tuition expressly excludes the following items which incur additional charges: clubs (robotics, photography, dancing, digital skills, theatre, music lessons, etc.), sports (swimming, tennis, football, yoga), ski and green camps, school trips outside Sofia, classes with a speech therapist, uniforms, bus service (transport), digital resources, and for MYP & DP: IB exam fees, legalisation of the Diploma, MYP eAssessment, ISA and some curriculum resources. Extracurriculars and summer provision - Clubs and extracurricular activities are charged separately and vary each year; they form part of the Extended School Day programme. - Summer School runs from mid-June to late August and is charged per week. Discounts and contract discounting - Sibling discounts: second child receives a 5% discount on annual tuition; third child and twins receive a 7% discount. - Signing a 3‑year contract provides a 5% discount on tuition. Refunds and cancellation-related information - The deposit (15% of tuition) is refunded by being credited against the first paid instalment of the tuition for the academic year. No other specific refund or cancellation terms are itemised in the published fee material. Fee payment methods and practical notes - The published fee information specifies payment schedules (one, two or instalment plans) but does not itemise accepted payment methods (for example credit card or bank transfer) in the published fee schedule. Payment method options should be confirmed directly with admissions or the finance office.	Fee details Academic fees — 2026/2027 (summary by year group and payment option) Kindergarten (ages 3– ) - Standard annual academic fee: €6,820 per year. - Alternative payment totals shown by the school: - €7,000 when paid using the 2-payment plan. - €7,400 when paid using the 10-payment plan. - Note: the academic fee does not include food. Preschool class (preparatory / pre-K) - Standard annual academic fee: €7,880 per year. - Alternative payment totals shown by the school: - €8,100 when paid using the 2-payment plan. - €8,250 when paid using the 3-payment plan. - Note: the academic fee does not include food. Primary and High School (Grades 1–12) - Standard annual academic fee: €7,880 per year. - Alternative payment totals shown by the school: - €8,100 when paid using the 2-payment plan. - €8,250 when paid using the 3-payment plan. - Note: the academic fee does not include food. Local-currency (BGN) equivalents (per school listing) - Kindergarten academic fee (BGN): 13,338.76 per year; 13,690.81 BGN for 2-payment plan; 14,473.14 BGN for 10-payment plan. - Preschool academic fee (BGN): 15,411.94 per year; 15,842.22 BGN for 2-payment plan; 16,135.60 BGN for 3-payment plan. - School (Grades 1–12) academic fee (BGN): 15,411.94 per year; 15,842.22 BGN for 2-payment plan; 16,135.60 BGN for 3-payment plan. Payment plans and per‑installment timing (billing schedule and terms) - First payment: due up to 10 working days from signing the contract (this applies also for families paying the full amount in one payment). - Second payment: due 20 June 2026. - Third payment (when using a 3-payment plan): due 20 November 2026. - The school publishes specific deadlines for food and transport payment schemes (see the additional-fees section). Transport and food fees are charged per school year. Application, admission and academic resources fees (one-off / yearly additional fees) - Application (administrative) fee for new applicants: €150 (preschool, primary and high school). This fee is paid once and is required for new students. - Application fee for kindergarten applicants: €100 (paid once). - Admission / registration fee (one-off): €500 (as listed by the school). - Academic resources fee (mandatory annual charge): - Preschool and school (Grades 1–12): €600 per year. - Kindergarten: €450 per year. - The academic resources fee covers additional textbooks, academic software and platforms, library fee, stationery and selected educational materials; registration and exam fees for IB MYP/DP exam periods and some IB materials may be charged additionally. Additional (optional or campus-specific) costs - Transport (calculated per school year, for a single address and a reserved seat on the school bus): - One-way transport: €1,700 per school year. - Two-way transport: €2,450 per school year. - Transport payment terms: first instalment 50% at the time of request; second instalment due no later than 20 November 2026. Requests for transport are time-limited; joining after the request window is possible only if seats are available. Cancellation penalties apply: 30% of the due transport fee if cancelled before the start of the school year; 50% if cancelled after the school year starts. - Food / catering (charged per school year; campus-dependent): - Kindergarten and preschool (mandatory for those groups where the school specifies so): €1,260 per year (lunch plus morning and afternoon snacks where indicated). - Lozen campus: lunch €1,450; breakfast and afternoon snack €550. - Vladayska (main school campus): lunch €1,480; breakfast €370. - Food payment terms: paid for one school year; payable in one or two instalments (first instalment on request to use service; second instalment no later than 20 November 2026). Food and transport fees may change. - Extracurricular activities / clubs: the school runs weekly extracurricular activities and clubs. Club options and fees are announced at the start of the school year and are charged in addition to academic fees. A compulsory choice of one weekly interest club is listed with a price (example listed by the school: €450 for the compulsory single weekly club option); additional clubs incur separate charges. Refunds, cancellations and penalties - The application (administrative) fee for admission is paid once before the admission session and is non‑refundable. - The school lists that the mandatory educational-resources/club fee is payable for the full year with the first instalment of the academic fee; if a child leaves within the first school term, 50% of that fee is refunded. - Transport cancellations: a cancellation before the start of the school year incurs a penalty of 30% of the due transport amount; cancellation after the school year begins incurs a penalty of 50% of the due transport amount. - The school notes that some charges (notably food and transport) may change; specific IB exam or registration charges for MYP/DP exam sessions are charged in addition to the listed fees. Boarding / residential provision - The school operates as a day school; no boarding fees apply because boarding facilities are listed as DAY (no residential boarding provided). Fee payment options and bank details (how to pay) - The school publishes bank account details for bank transfers (IBAN and BIC) for the kindergarten and for the private school entities; payments by bank transfer are accepted using the following accounts as listed by the school: Private German Kindergarten Uwekind OOD – IBAN: BG46UBBS81551008452821, BIC: UBBSBGSF (UBB); Private School Uwekind OOD – IBAN: BG76UBBS81551008452863, BIC: UBBSBGSF (UBB). Food payments are directed to a separate account (Rehester OOD) with IBAN: BG36UBBS81551066047818. - The school text lists bank transfer details and payment deadlines; no other payment methods (for example, credit card or online card payment) are explicitly listed in the published fee pages. Discounts - Family discounts on the standard annual academic fee: - Second child admitted to the school: 5% discount on the yearly fee. - Third child admitted to the school: 10% discount on the yearly fee. - Discounts for additional children are negotiable. Notes on billing cadence - The school offers one-, two‑ and three‑installment payment options with the deadlines listed above; the school publishes the total amounts that apply under each instalment plan (the two‑ and three‑payment totals differ from the standard annual fee as listed). Installment-specific amounts per deadline are determined by the school's invoicing and the totals shown for each plan.
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 Discover International School is an IB World School offering a continuum of programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). The IB continuum emphasizes academic and personal growth, challenging students to excel in their studies and development. Since 2012, the school has focused on aiding the natural development of every learner. Curriculum levels include Preschool, Primary Years (Grades 1–4), Middle Years (Grades 5–10), and High School (Grades 11–12), with the Diploma Programme available in Grade 11. Graduates earn an internationally recognized IB Diploma alongside the Bulgarian secondary school diploma, opening pathways to top universities worldwide.	Curriculum details IB full continuum school offering Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme from early childhood through Grade 12. Curriculum spans Kindergarten–Preschool, Grades 1–4, Grades 5–10 and Grades 11–12, with Diplomas available. Graduates may earn both the IB Diploma and a Bulgarian national diploma. The Career-related Programme is in candidate status and the school is pursuing IB World School authorization. The school is licensed by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates earn an internationally recognized IB Diploma alongside the Bulgarian secondary school diploma, opening pathways to top universities worldwide.	Higher education progression The school supports university applications, offers individual consultations and collaborates with universities in Europe and Bulgaria. Graduates are admitted to prestigious universities worldwide.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
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 The school offers admissions for the 2026-2027 school year in Early Years (Preschool 1, born 2021, up to 5 years old); Primary Years (Preschool 2, born 2020 up to 6 years old; born 2019 up to 7 years old; Grade 1; Grades 2–4 with limited spots); Middle Years Programme (Grades 5–7 and 8–10); and the Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12). Admissions procedure: 1. 2. Visit the School or Open Days: book an onsite meeting; Open Days were conducted on 28 November 2025 and 28 January 2026. 3. Submit an Application: complete the Application Form. 4. Reception Day and Family Meeting: the child participates in holistic assessment and a family meeting with the pedagogical leadership. 5. Decision and Enrollment: decisions are shared within one week; if accepted, an Enrollment Proposal with tuition and policies is provided, followed by signing the contract and paying a deposit. 6. Orientation and Welcome: an Orientation Program introduces the classroom, family sessions, and preparation guidelines. English language requirements by grade: Grades 1–4 accept all English levels; Grades 5–7 require CEFR A2 English proficiency for Grade 6 via an online admissions test and interview (test taken at the Middle & High School Campus); Grades 8–10 require minimum A2 English and a holistic assessment (at the Middle & High School Campus); Grades 11–12 IB Diploma Programme require B2 English proficiency (admissions test at the Middle and High School Campus). Required documents include transcripts for the past three years, academic awards, advisor/counsellor recommendations, birth certificate, and immunisation records. Tuition is annual and includes English as the main language of instruction, a second foreign language (Spanish or German) in Middle Years and High School, meals, learning resources, and activities; extra fees apply for clubs, bus service, and trips; 2026-27 tuition is published; discounts include 5% for a 3-year contract, 5% for a second child, and 7% for a third child or twins.	Admissions 1. Get to know us. Research information about Uwekind and contact the application team for guidance in the application process. Sign up for a meeting; meetings and visits take place after you sign up in advance by calling: +359 879 888 920 (Kindergarten), +359 885 888 940 (Grades Preparatory class, 1 – 6), +359 885 888 930 (Grades 7 – 12). This helps you learn about the curriculum and philosophy. 2. Apply. Fill out the online application form for the appropriate grade. The application team will contact you to schedule an interview date for your child. The form includes sections for the child's personal information, current school, references, language proficiency, and parent details; the interview will include a placement test. The application team will communicate whether the child has been admitted. 3. Registration. Fill out the documents provided by the school office, or online when available. The school contract form requires selecting a payment method (one, two, or three payments per year). The school completes administrative procedures to register the student.
Scholarships	Scholarships The school offers a limited number of scholarships and financial aid packages available to qualified candidates.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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