EFI (French International School of Phnom Penh) - Koh Pich Campus vs Lycée Français René Descartes

	E EFI (French International School of Phnom Penh) - Koh Pich Campus Phnom Penh, Cambodia	L Lycée Français René Descartes Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KHR 22,856,290 - 55,274,999	Fees / year KHR 24,225,554 - 31,611,492
Age range	Age range 6 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 17 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, French Curriculum	Curriculum French Curriculum, American Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 1,150
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language French, English	Instruction language French, English
Opened	Opened 2015	Opened 1951
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location EFI operates two campuses in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Koh Pich (Diamond Island) and Bassac Garden City. The Koh Pich campus sits on Elite Town Street and shares its facilities with the Canadian International School of Phnom Penh. The Bassac Garden City campus houses the TPS (nursery) and PS (pre-kindergarten) classes and is located in a quiet Bassac Garden City neighborhood on premises shared with CIS. The two campuses together support EFI's bilingual education model.	Location The Lycée Français René Descartes is located at Rue Christopher Howes (Rue 96), Wat Phnom, BP 1132, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The campus sits in the Daun Penh district in central Phnom Penh, near the Wat Phnom area, with access to local transport such as taxis and tuk-tuks. The address is publicly listed as part of its Phnom Penh footprint.
Stages	Stages EFI operates two streams: an International stream (English-based) and a 100% French stream starting August 2024. The Koh Pich campus serves students from Moyenne Section and Junior Kindergarten onward, while Bassac Garden Campus houses the younger TPS and PS groups. The school provides education from early years through Grade 12, with Grade 11 opening in 2023 and Grade 12 in 2024.	Stages The school serves preschool through terminale (the final year of lycée). Classes range from petite section (maternelle) to terminale, and the curriculum includes the Brevet des Collèges and the Baccalauréat.
School type	School type EFI is a private bilingual school. It operates across two campuses serving a range of year groups from early years through secondary; the school does not list a boarding provision.	School type The school is a co-educational day school; there are no public indications of boarding facilities.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix EFI serves around 200 students with representation from about 30 nationalities. The most common nationality is French (about 51%). The school states it has 30 nationalities represented; a precise local-to-international ratio is not publicly disclosed.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support EFI offers differentiated learning with access to therapists and specialists (including speech therapists, child psychiatrists, and psychologists). After a diagnosis, the school can implement a differentiated pathway and ongoing support as needed; staff are trained to address Special Educational Needs (SEN) within the school's framework.	Additional learning support The school follows an inclusive education approach. For students with special educational needs, LFRD provides three specialized teachers, an orthophoniste (speech-language pathologist), and a school psychologist who work with families to create an action plan and an individualized support arrangement.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation EFI is affiliated with France through the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE).	Country affiliation The school is affiliated with France through the AEFE network (Agency for French Education Abroad) under agreement with the French government.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation EFI is a secular school; no religious instruction is part of the standard curriculum.	Religious affiliation Religious affiliation is not listed; the school operates as a secular French international school.
School day structure	School day structure Morning drop-off begins around 7:40 am; lessons start at 8:00 am. On Koh Pich, older students finish at 3:00 pm (MS–CM2) or 3:15 pm (Collège/Lycée), while younger students finish at 3:00 pm on the Bassac Garden campus for TPS-PS. Lunch at Koh Pich is typically at 12:00 pm (MS–CM2) or 12:15 pm (college/lycée). The school does not offer on-site daycare; students must be picked up on time.	School day structure Exact start and end times are not published publicly. The school provides on-site meals: Kindergarten meals around $3.60 per meal; Primary/Middle/High school meals around $4 per meal.
Bus service details	Bus service details EFI offers a school bus service. Details and routes are arranged to accommodate families, with bus options noted in school communications and listings.	Bus service details A publicly listed school bus service is not indicated on the site.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and enrollment fees - Enrollment fee for any new student: USD 1,200. - Re‑enrollment/place deposit: USD 1,000 (deducted from the first invoice for the school year). - Refundable book/library deposit (requested from MS/Junior-K and above): USD 150 for MS/JK–CM2 (G5); USD 300 for Collège/MS–Lycée/HS. This deposit is refunded at the end of the student's schooling, subject to return condition of books. Tuition and capital fees by year group (total annual fees) - Nursery (TPS, 18 months–2 years) — Half day: USD 5,700 (Tuition + capital fee). - Nursery (TPS, 18 months–2 years) — Full day: USD 6,500 (Tuition + capital fee). - Kindergarten PS (Pre‑K) — Half day: USD 8,130 (Tuition + capital fee). - Kindergarten PS (Pre‑K) — Full day: USD 9,050 (Tuition + capital fee). - Kindergarten MS/JK / GS (Junior‑K / Senior‑K): USD 9,550 (Tuition + capital fee). - Primary CP–CE2 (Grade 1–3): USD 11,350 (Tuition + capital fee). - Upper Primary CM1–CM2 (Grade 4–5): USD 11,950 (Tuition + capital fee). - Middle School 6ème–3ème (Grade 6–9): USD 12,850 (Tuition + capital fee). - High School 2nde (Grade 10): USD 13,650 (Tuition + capital fee). - High School 1ère–Terminale (Grade 11–12): USD 14,550 (Tuition + capital fee). Discounts and concessions - Early‑payment discount: 3% discount on tuition when the full year is paid in one payment before the published early‑payment deadline. - Sibling discount: 5% discount on tuition for the second child; 10% discount for the third and subsequent children. A legacy 10% rule applies for families with children enrolled before the 2023–2024 school year (as noted in the school's fee documentation). What is included and what is charged separately Included in the school fees: - Textbooks, learning materials and basic stationery. - Initial uniform set for first registration (MS and above: class uniform, PE uniform, hat, backpack, library bag; TPS/PS: hat, backpack, library bag). - Some language support (FLE/ESL) may be included subject to availability; intensive external language courses required for newcomers are charged to the family. Not included and charged separately: - School canteen and meals (paid directly to the campus partner – CIS). - Extra‑curricular activities (paid through CIS per session). - Certain school trips, tournament or event costs, specialist external interventions (e.g., private therapists), and computer equipment required from Grade 9 onward. Refunds and withdrawal rules - Any term that has commenced is due in full; no refund is made for a term once it has started. - For annual payments, refunds are calculated only on unstarted term(s), except in exceptional cases assessed by school management. - Re‑enrollment deposit is refundable up to the published deadline; after that deadline it is retained by the school. Enrollment fees are non‑refundable. - All refunds are subject to a 10% administrative handling charge unless otherwise approved by the school. - In cases of force majeure, the school may review refund requests upon written application. Payment methods and bank details - Currencies and payment: fees are payable in US dollars (USD). - Accepted payment methods: bank transfer, cash deposit to the school account (by appointment at the administration), or cheque issued by a Cambodian bank. The published materials also provide a QR code payment option. Parents must indicate the student's name on the payment reference and supply proof of payment to the administration. - Published bank information for bank transfers (account name and account number) is provided on the school's fee documentation and should be used exactly as shown on invoices.	Fee details Application and registration fees - First (initial) enrolment fee: USD 2,300 for students of Cambodian and/or French nationality; USD 3,042 for students of other nationalities. - Re-enrolment (registration) fee: USD 496 for Cambodian and/or French nationality; USD 571 for other nationalities. Annual tuition fees by school level - Primary (per year): USD 5,526 for Cambodian and/or French nationality; USD 7,415 for other nationalities. - Collège / Middle school (per year): USD 6,512 for Cambodian and/or French nationality; USD 8,720 for other nationalities. - Lycée / High school (per year): USD 7,362 for Cambodian and/or French nationality; USD 9,855 for other nationalities. Billing schedule and per-term amounts (annual fees split over three terms) - The school bills fees in three periods (trimesters) and applies the standard split of 40% of the annual tuition for the first term, 30% for the second term and 30% for the third term. Invoices are issued at the start of each period and are payable within 15 days of the invoice date. - Per-term amounts calculated on that 40% / 30% / 30% basis (amounts shown in USD): - Primary (Cambodian/French): 1st term USD 2,210.40; 2nd term USD 1,657.80; 3rd term USD 1,657.80. - Primary (other nationalities): 1st term USD 2,966.00; 2nd term USD 2,224.50; 3rd term USD 2,224.50. - Collège (Cambodian/French): 1st term USD 2,604.80; 2nd term USD 1,953.60; 3rd term USD 1,953.60. - Collège (other nationalities): 1st term USD 3,488.00; 2nd term USD 2,616.00; 3rd term USD 2,616.00. - Lycée (Cambodian/French): 1st term USD 2,944.80; 2nd term USD 2,208.60; 3rd term USD 2,208.60. - Lycée (other nationalities): 1st term USD 3,942.00; 2nd term USD 2,956.50; 3rd term USD 2,956.50. - Standard trimester calendar: 1st term = September–December; 2nd term = January–March; 3rd term = April–June. Billing and payment terms (key points) - Families may choose to pay annually or by trimester; invoices for each period are issued in advance and are payable within 15 days of the invoice date. - A family may request exceptional monthly instalment arrangements; such requests must be submitted in writing and require approval by the school's management/board. - Arrivals or departures during a trimester are handled on a prorata temporis basis with the rule that any month begun is due in full. - Consequences of non-payment include suspension of participation in activities, temporary exclusion from classes, and possible cancellation of registration if invoices remain unpaid beyond the stated deadlines. Boarding (internat) fees - Boarding is available for students in third (3ème) to terminale. The annual boarding fee (including accommodation and meals) is USD 5,200 per academic year. Pupils receiving school bursaries receive support on the same scale as their awarded bursary; transport for bursary students to family homes is included at the bursary rate. Other costs and typical ancillary fees - School meals: USD 3.60 per meal for kindergarten (maternelle); USD 4.00 per meal for primary, collège and lycée. - Extracurricular activities: charged per semester; indicative price ranges by activity are published (examples: homework help USD 55–70 per semester; various sports and arts activities typically USD 20–120 per semester depending on level and frequency). - Exam/registration-related fees and some other charges (exam entries, specific activity fees, certain material fees) are billed separately when applicable; exam fees are billed when registrations are made and are not refundable once the school has completed the registration with the examining authority. - The standard tuition fee covers several items: membership to the parents' association, loan of textbooks, civil-liability insurance, school supplies for primary and art materials for collège, as specified in the school's financial regulations. - No uniform charge is listed as a compulsory school fee on the published fee schedule; costs for optional items or specific equipment (sports kit, special materials) may apply and are billed separately when required. Refunds and non‑refundables - Initial enrolment (first-inscription) fees are non‑refundable. Exam registration fees are not refundable once the school has processed the entries with the examining authority. - For families leaving the school during a trimester, a prorated adjustment is applied with the policy that any month started is payable in full; the school requires account settlement and return of loaned materials before final departure formalities are completed. Accepted payment methods and practical notes - Accepted payment methods include bank transfer (bank details are provided on invoices), payment by cheque where applicable, and cash deposits following the instructions printed on the invoice; bank transfer fees are borne by the payer. Credit-card payment is not listed as a standard method in the published financial regulations. - Bank transfers must include the pupil's name, class and the period being paid so the school can allocate the payment correctly. Families whose fees are paid by an employer remain contractually responsible for timely payment and should ensure the school receives the funds by the invoice due date. Sibling discounts and reductions - Sibling reductions are published: discounts on first-inscription fees (e.g., a USD 50 reduction for the third child and USD 100 per child from the fourth child onward) and reductions on annual tuition (for example, 2nd and 3rd child: 8% annual reduction; 4th child and beyond: 10% annual reduction) as set out in the fee schedule. Contact for finance matters - The school's finance department can be contacted by phone at +855 77 414 965 or by email at finance@lfrd.net for invoice queries, payment instructions and confirmation of bank details. (Amounts and procedural rules are given in USD as published in the school's official fees and financial regulations.)
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 The school provides a dual educational framework combining the French Ministry of Education programs with the Cambridge Assessment International Education system across all grade levels. Instruction is delivered via a bilingual immersion model in French and English, with primary cycles utilizing a split timeline involving both French-speaking and English-speaking educators. From the primary school stage onward, core subjects include mathematics, sciences, history, geography, physical education, arts, and an optional third language choice between Khmer and Mandarin Chinese. As students progress into middle school, spanning grades six through nine, the academic track prepares them to take the French National Diploma examination at the conclusion of grade nine. Finally, the high school stage covering grades ten to twelve structures learning around international certifications, where students complete Cambridge IGCSEs before advancing to A-Levels and the French Baccalauréat qualifications.	Curriculum details Lycée Français René Descartes (LFRD) in Phnom Penh provides the French national curriculum from preschool through terminale, aligned with AEFE standards and supported by the French Embassy. Instruction is delivered primarily in French, with English and Khmer offered as language options and language learning placed at the heart of the program. Cycle 2 (grades 1–3) covers French and mathematics, adds English and the host-country language, plus arts, physical education and civic education. Cycle 3 (grades 4–6) continues consolidation and prepares for secondary education; in the lycée, the 10th grade introduces Economics and Social Sciences (SES) and Digital Sciences and Technology (SNT) with electives and a weekly hours framework around 26–30 hours. From Seconde (10th) to Terminale (12th), core subjects include French, history-geography, sciences and modern languages, with a range of electives in 11th grade and Philosophy becoming compulsory in Terminale; final results count toward the Baccalauréat, with pathways to the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) and a Section Internationale Américaine (SIA) available.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
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 1. Online Application and Document Submission Parents initiate the process by completing a digital enrollment application via the school's online EDUKA platform. This step requires compiling and uploading a designated collection of records, including signed procedural rules, a health history form with proof of immunization, past academic report cards, and identification passports for students, parents, and any authorized pickup guardians. Once all digital materials are fully compiled, an automated acknowledgment of receipt is issued to the family via email. Reviewing families must ensure all data is accurate, as incomplete application files will pause the evaluation process until all missing documents are provided. 2. Principal Interview and Review Meeting For families located in Phnom Penh during the enrollment period, the school schedules an in-person meeting with the school Principal. This session serves as a factual review of the applicant's academic profile and provides an opportunity to discuss their linguistic background in relation to the school's dual educational paths. It ensures that the academic frameworks of the school match the student's learning profile before an official decision is issued. For overseas families who cannot attend a meeting in person, alternative communication arrangements are coordinated directly through the school administration. 3. Placement Review and Language Assessment Following the initial profile review, the administration evaluates the student's linguistic capabilities and age eligibility to determine the correct grade level placement. Students are strictly assigned to classes based on their exact chronological age as of December 31st of the current academic year, with the nursery stream accepting children starting at eighteen months old. If an applicant does not exhibit a sufficient level of English proficiency for immediate independent tracking, the school issues specific pedagogical recommendations to support their integration. This step guarantees that incoming students are structurally prepared for the linguistic demands of their assigned stream. 4. Admission Decision and Registration Finalization The final step concludes with a formal admission decision communicated directly to the parents by the school Principal. The decision will explicitly categorize the student as admitted, conditionally admitted, placed on the official waiting list, or not admitted. To secure the offered placement, families must finalize the financial registration requirements, which include paying the non-refundable first-time enrollment fee and the capital fees. Access to classrooms, extracurricular activities, and school transport services is conditional upon completing these upfront financial allocations before the designated payment deadlines.	Admissions Step 1. Pre-registration for new admissions is conducted online via the EDUKA platform. The pre-registration campaign for the 202502026 school year for children not currently enrolled at LFRD is closed. A strict list of criteria governs first-time enrollment due to high demand. Step 2. Enrollment decisions for new registrations are processed online via EDUKA, with selection based on the established criteria. The school is accredited by AEFE and follows official curricula. Step 3. Required documents for new admissions include a valid passport, an ID photo, and a vaccination record; expired documents are not accepted. Step 4. Re-enrollment is completed in EDUKA using the Re-enrollment tab; the 202502026 re-enrollment campaign is closed. Payments must be made by May 8, balances must be zero, and scholarship applicants may have post-results payment arrangements. Step 5. For assistance, contact the Admission office via email and phone.
Scholarships	Scholarships To accommodate households with varying financial situations, the school manages an official scholarship program authorized by the Board of Directors. This program operates as a confidential, needs-based financial assistance system rather than an automatic merit-based track.	Scholarships Two scholarship campaigns are organized each year by the French Embassy in Cambodia, in January and September. Scholarships are awarded under conditions of resources and are available to French residents in the consular district enrolled in AEFE-homologated schools. For more information, refer to the school's scholarship details and contact the secretariat for guidance.
Waitlist	Waitlist Waiting lists operate as follows: Priority 1 is for students already enrolled at EFI; Priority 2 is for siblings of EFI students; Priority 3 is for students who have previously been enrolled at EFI; Priority 4 is for new students, in the order that complete dossiers are submitted to the school administration.	Waitlist —
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