Galaxy International School Uganda vs Vienna College Namugongo
Galaxy International School Uganda and Vienna College Namugongo are both in Kampala, about 18 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels and Cambridge A Levels programmes, and Galaxy International School Uganda also offers Cambridge (Primary). Published annual fees are UGX 6,050 - 15,000 at Galaxy International School Uganda and UGX 4,746 - 8,850 at Vienna College Namugongo, which puts Galaxy International School Uganda roughly 55% higher. Galaxy International School Uganda takes pupils from 3 to 18, and Vienna College Namugongo from 11 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 400 and 400 pupils. Typical class sizes are 20 at Galaxy International School Uganda and 25 at Vienna College Namugongo.
Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Curriculum
Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils
Pupils
400
Pupils
400
Typical class size
Typical class size
20
Typical class size
25
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
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Opened
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Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
GISU is located in Lubowa, along the Kampala–Entebbe Road, about 9 km from Kampala. Turn off before Roofings Ltd. and continue along the housing estate, with the school about 500 m from Quality Supermarket on the main road. The address is Plot 1077, Lubowa Estate, Entebbe Road, P.O. Box 11119 Kampala Uganda.
Location
Namugongo Road, Kira, Wakiso District, Uganda. Vienna College Namugongo is a Cambridge International (CIE) Centre UG010. It is a private co-educational institution.
Stages
Stages
Early Years, Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE and Cambridge AS & A Level programmes.
Stages
Cambridge International Examinations Curriculum at Junior, IGCSE and GCE “A-levels”.
School type
School type
International, co-educational school offering Cambridge International Examinations (Checkpoint, IGCSE, AS & A Level) with boarding facilities.
School type
The school is a private co-educational institution.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
GISU takes in children with mild additional needs and supports them accordingly; learners with additional educational needs receive education through addressing their differences and including them in activities, with accommodations such as extra time for assignments or exams, use of technology, or adaptive equipment as appropriate.
Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
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Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
No explicit religious affiliation; the school welcomes students of different faiths.
Religious affiliation
Interdenominational
School day structure
School day structure
Regular school day runs from 08:00 to 15:30. Meals are served centrally in the dining hall.
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
Bus transport is available; transport costs depend on distance.
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application / Admission fee
- A one-time admission (registration) fee is payable for new students. The admission fee is USD 1,000 (non-refundable).
Tuition fees (per term and annual totals, by year group)
- Kindergarten (KG2 & KG3) - Term 1: USD 2,650 - Term 2: USD 1,750 - Term 3: USD 1,650 - Annual total: USD 6,050.
- Reception - Term 1: USD 2,850 - Term 2: USD 1,850 - Term 3: USD 1,750 - Annual total: USD 6,450.
- Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2) - Term 1: USD 3,450 - Term 2: USD 2,400 - Term 3: USD 2,250 - Annual total: USD 8,100.
- Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6) - Term 1: USD 4,400 - Term 2: USD 3,050 - Term 3: USD 2,750 - Annual total: USD 10,200.
- Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) - Term 1: USD 5,000 - Term 2: USD 3,450 - Term 3: USD 3,150 - Annual total: USD 11,600.
- IGCSE (Years 10 & 11) - Term 1: USD 5,450 - Term 2: USD 3,850 - Term 3: USD 3,500 - Annual total: USD 12,800.
- AS / A Level (Years 12 & 13) - Term 1: USD 6,450 - Term 2: USD 4,450 - Term 3: USD 4,100 - Annual total: USD 15,000.
Book, exam and other recurring academic charges
- Book fees (annual, paid at registration): - KG2 – Year 2: USD 250 - Years 3 – 9: USD 350 - Years 10 & 11: USD 450 - Years 12 & 13: USD 350.
- Cambridge examination fees are charged in the relevant exam year and are payable in addition to tuition and book fees. Lunch and other facility charges are included within tuition. Transport is provided by a third-party operator with separate charges that vary by route and distance. School uniform costs vary by grade.
Boarding fees (where applicable)
- Boarding is offered from Year 7 to Year 13. Boarding fees per boarding student are: - Term 1: USD 2,450 - Term 2: USD 1,750 - Term 3: USD 1,600 - Total (boarding for the full year): USD 5,800.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is billed by term (three terms). Book fees are charged annually and are payable at registration. Lunch and facility charges are included in the tuition amounts. Transport and other optional services are billed separately. An upfront payment discount of 5% is offered where parents pay the full year in advance. A sibling discount of 5% applies for families with two or more children enrolled. The admission fee is payable once on registration and is non-refundable.
Other costs and optional charges
- Uniform: prices vary depending on grade; uniform purchase is an additional cost. - Transport: charged separately by a third-party transport provider; cost depends on route and distance. - Extracurricular activities fees (termly): - Early Years: Term 1 USD 100; Terms 2 & 3 USD 100 each. - Years 1–6: Term 1 USD 150; Terms 2 & 3 USD 150 each. - Years 7–13: Term 1 USD 150; Terms 2 & 3 USD 150 each.
Refund information
- The admission (registration) fee is non-refundable. Other refund or cancellation rules are governed by the school's financial agreement; full details should be confirmed with the admissions office.
Fee payment options and practical note
- The publicly available fee schedule and registration materials specify amounts, term billing and discounts but do not list specific payment channels (for example, specific bank account details, credit-card acceptance, mobile-money or online payment provider names) in the published fee schedule documents reviewed. Confirmed channels commonly used by schools in the region include bank transfer and school-approved electronic payment platforms, but the school's admissions or finance office should be contacted to confirm accepted methods and any transaction details or payment references to use. Contact options: +256 781 468 000 or admissions@gisu.ac.ug.
Summary of the most important items for parents
- Plan for a one-time, non-refundable admission fee of USD 1,000 at registration. - Budget tuition by year group on a per-term basis (three terms); annual totals are shown above. - Include book fees, examination fees and optional transport or boarding charges where applicable. Boarding fees for Years 7–13 are billed per term and total USD 5,800 for the year.
Tuition and accommodation fees (per term) — listed by year group - Year 07: USD 1,582 per term. - Year 08: USD 1,836 per term. - Year 09: USD 2,109 per term. - Year 10: USD 2,505 per term. - Year 11: USD 2,611 per term. - Year 12 & 13 (Humanities/Arts): USD 2,837 per term. - Year 12 & 13 (Sciences): USD 2,950 per term. - Day students receive a reduction of USD 150 from the listed boarding/tuition amount per term.
Tuition — annual calculation (three terms) - Annual fee is calculated as three terms. Example calculations: - Year 07 annual (3 terms): USD 4,746 (3 × USD 1,582). - Year 12 & 13 Sciences annual (3 terms): USD 8,850 (3 × USD 2,950). - Payment of fees in advance for a full academic year attracts a 5% discount on the term's fees applied to the payment.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are due on or before the start of the first week of each term. - Payment in advance for the full year qualifies for a 5% discount on the term's fees. - A sibling discount of 3% per child applies where more than one child is enrolled at the same time. - All fee‑related queries must be submitted in writing to the Head of Finance; decisions on fee matters rest with the Credit Committee.
Boarding / accommodation - The listed tuition figures are published under “Tuition and Accommodation Fees,” indicating the amounts include boarding accommodation for resident students; day students pay USD 150 less per term. - The college operates multiple boarding houses for resident students.
Other recurring costs and mandatory extras - Medical insurance: UGX 100,000 per annum. - Sports fee (games kit): UGX 50,000 per annum. - School meals (boarding): three compulsory meals are provided for resident students; catering is managed by the college (additional optional canteen purchases may apply).
Refunds and penalties - Fees paid are non‑refundable. - Any exceptional refund or fee dispute must be raised in writing with the Head of Finance and may be considered by the Credit Committee; the Credit Committee's decision is final.
Fee payment options and bank details - Bank transfer payments are accepted in multiple currencies via the college accounts: - Absa Bank of Uganda Ltd – Dollar A/c, Account Number: 0344248397, Swift: BARCUGKX. - Absa Bank of Uganda Ltd – UGX A/c, Account Number: 0341399475. - Stanbic Bank – Pound A/c, Account Number: 9030008662583, Swift: SBICUGKX. - For account enquiries use accounts@vienna.ug or the college finance office phone numbers.
Administrative notes on discounts and conditions - A 5% discount applies when paying the full year in advance (applied to the term fees). - A 3% sibling discount applies per child when more than one child is enrolled concurrently. - The bursar's office may not vary fee decisions without Credit Committee consent.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
GISU delivers the Cambridge International Curriculum from Early Years to Upper Secondary. Early Years uses the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. In Primary and Secondary, GISU follows Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge Upper Secondary, Cambridge International IGCSE, and Cambridge AS & A Levels.
Curriculum details
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) curriculum for Junior, IGCSE and GCE A-levels.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
In October/November 2024, 139 students sat Cambridge GCE AS & A-level examinations; 19 attained four A's.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Students are prepared for university study and are sent to universities and colleges in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe and South Africa.
Higher education progression
Guidance and counselling supports personal, social, educational and career development.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
GISU admits students from all over the world and follows the Cambridge International Curriculum in both Primary and Secondary. Placement is dependent on the child's age, with other factors considered on a case-by-case basis. The Admission Package includes the following documents and forms: Application Form; Admission Form; Student Health Record Form; Report Cards from the past two years; Placement and Enrolment Policy and Procedure; Financial Agreement; Rules and Regulations; two passport-size photographs; School Calendar; Copy of Birth Certificate; Copy of Passport (for foreign students); and Payment of Admission Fee. Vacancies are available in Early Years, Years 1–6, Years 7–13. Plot 1077, Lubowa Estate, Entebbe Road (500 m after Quality Shopping Village).
Admissions
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Scholarships
Scholarships
GISU Merit & Needs Based Scholarship Programme provides partial or full scholarships to academically and socially gifted students commencing IGCSE or AS/A Level. Scholarships are awarded for an academic year and aim to identify students who would thrive in an international setting and would not be able to attend GISU without financial support. Scholarships may cover up to 100% of school fees for self-funding or partial self-payers; boarding fees are not waived; admission and caution fees may be waived for full scholarship recipients applying from outside GISU; tuition is covered for the grade studied, while uniforms and transport/extra-curricular fees are the student's responsibility. Selection is open to all nationalities and targets students entering Grades 10–13 who are candidates for full IGCSE or AS/A Level programmes; Sports Scholarships are one example of scholarship categories with criteria including demonstrated sporting talent, leadership, and English proficiency. The applicant review process includes a Scholarship Application Pack, site assessments, interviews, and the Financial Assistance form; University placements are assisted from Grade 10, but no university scholarship is guaranteed. GISU reserves the right to withdraw scholarships or to adjust criteria and the number of scholarships awarded.