Hisar School vs Istanbul International Community School - Hisar Campus

	H Hisar School Istanbul, Turkey	I Istanbul International Community School - Hisar Campus Istanbul, Turkey
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year TRY 1,196,220 - 1,336,952	Fees / year TRY 1,015,796 - 2,159,670
Age range	Age range 4 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 1,667	Pupils 492
Typical class size	Typical class size 7	Typical class size 18
Instruction language	Instruction language Turkish, English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1996	Opened 1911
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location —	Location IICS operates two campuses in Istanbul: Hisar Campus in the Hisarüstü/Rumeli Hisarı area at Rumelihisari Mahallesi, Nafi Baba Sokak, No:6, Istanbul 34470; Marmara Campus at Karaagac Koyu Mahallesi, Kahraman Caddesi, 27/1, Hadimkoy, Istanbul 34500. Both campuses are in Istanbul, Turkey.
Stages	Stages —	Stages Early Years EY3-5; Primary School Grades 1-5; Middle School Grades 6-8; High School Grades 9-12.
School type	School type —	School type Private, non-profit, secular, coeducational day school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix The student body represents over 70 nationalities. The largest nationality groups are the United States, South Korea, Germany, and Canada.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Learning Support services are available for students needing additional help with academics, organization, or learning strategies. English language support is available up to Grade 10. The school is inclusive and accepts students with disabilities when appropriate support can be provided; individualized accommodations are offered based on assessment.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation Secular; no religious affiliation.
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure Marmara Campus hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 AM–3:00 PM; Wednesday 8:30 AM–2:15 PM. Hisar Campus hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:15 AM–3:15 PM; Wednesday 8:30 AM–1:45 PM.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details School buses are available to many areas in Istanbul; bus fees vary by location.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - No separate, line-item application or one‑off entrance fee was published in the school's publicly reported 2025/26 fee materials; public reporting and the school's fee notices treat the amounts shown as annual tuition. Tuition fees by year group (2025/26 academic year) - Preschool (kindergarten / ana sınıf): reported at approximately 1,290,705–1,419,775 Turkish Lira (annual). - Primary school (example reported figure for Grade 1): approximately 1,196,220 Turkish Lira (annual). - Middle school (example reported figure for Grade 5): approximately 1,196,220 Turkish Lira (annual). - High school (preparatory / Grade 9 example): approximately 1,336,952 Turkish Lira (annual). - Aggregate/commonly reported headline figure for the school's annual tuition (used by several national media lists): approximately 1,315,842 Turkish Lira (annual). Per‑term / per‑installment breakdown - The school's published figures for the 2025/26 academic year are reported and quoted as annual tuition amounts. Public reporting indicates there is an option for a discounted full (peşin) payment and a multi‑installment option (reports cite an example of a 4‑installment plan), but a public, line‑by‑line per‑term fee table (amount per term) was not found in the accessible fee notices. Expect annual amounts to be divided across the school's allowed instalments rather than a separate different “per‑term” published price. Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment options reported in 2025/26: discounted full (peşin) payment and an instalment plan (news reports reference up to four instalments in examples). When instalments are chosen the total payable figure reported in the press is higher than the full‑payment amount. - Published fee notices indicate that certain items are not included in the headline tuition amounts (see next section). VAT (KDV) treatment is also noted in reporting — some reported figures are given “KDV dahil” (including VAT) and some figures are reported before VAT; parents should expect VAT to apply where specified. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable for Hisar School's regular campus operations (the school functions as a day school); no boarding/yatılı fee line item was published for 2025/26. Other costs and typical additional fees - Items commonly charged in addition to headline tuition (explicitly noted as excluded from some reported tuition figures): meals and breakfast, textbooks and educational materials, student transportation (school bus), school uniform and sports uniform, exam fees and optional programme fees. These are reported as separate costs in the school's fee notices and media reporting. - Examples of other fee types that may apply: summer programmes or optional academy programmes, AP exam fees (with school notices about AP exam registration/penalties), school trips and extracurricular activity fees. Refunds and withdrawal / cancellation - A school‑specific, published refund schedule for tuition (detailed percentages or dollar/TL amounts tied to exact withdrawal dates) was not located in the publicly accessible fee notices for 2025/26. Parents should expect that standard practice for Turkish private schools and regulatory guidance may apply to withdrawals and that schools commonly apply contractual deductions for cancellations; Turkish reporting and guidance note that schools may retain a small percentage of the annual fee in the event of withdrawal, consistent with private‑education rules and practice. Fee payment methods - Reported and commonly accepted payment methods for private schools in Turkey (and referenced in media reports about Hisar fees) include bank transfer/EFT and credit card payments; instalments are commonly implemented via credit‑card‑linked instalment plans or formal instalment agreements. Specific card/IBAN details, third‑party payment processors, or POS terminals used by the school were not published in the publicly available fee summaries. Summary of what was not publicly available in the accessible materials - A school‑published, line‑by‑line fee schedule that shows every grade's per‑term amount, a discrete, named application/entrance fee line item for 2025/26, an explicit school refund table with exact percent deductions tied to specific withdrawal dates, and a named list of accepted payment instruments (merchant POS providers / IBANs) were not found in the publicly available fee notices gathered during research. The public reporting that is available shows annual tuition by broad grade bands or example grades and describes that extras (meals, books, transport, uniforms) are charged separately and that full‑payment discounts and multi‑installment options are offered. If you require an exact per‑term invoice amount or a definitive, itemised refund schedule for contract/withdrawal purposes, those specific line items were not available in the public fee summaries for 2025/26 and would need to be obtained directly from the school's published fee schedule or finance office for precision.	Fee details Application & one‑time fees (first year only) - Application Fee: TRY 13,250 (one‑time). - Registration/Enrolment Fee: TRY 52,998 (one‑time/initial enrolment component). - Capital Levy (one‑time): TRY 353,320. Annual tuition fees by year group (annual total, per academic year) - Early Years / Kindergarten (Kindg. 1 / Age 3): TRY 1,015,796 per year. - Early Years / Kindergarten (Kindg. 2 / Age 4): TRY 1,015,796 per year. - Early Years (Kindg. 3 / Age 5): TRY 1,642,939 per year. - Grade 1 (Age 6): TRY 1,819,600 per year. - Grade 2 (Age 7): TRY 1,819,600 per year. - Grade 3 (Age 8): TRY 1,819,600 per year. - Grade 4 (Age 9): TRY 1,890,264 per year. - Grade 5 (Age 10): TRY 1,890,264 per year. - Grade 6 (Age 11): TRY 2,027,175 per year. - Grade 7 (Age 12): TRY 2,027,175 per year. - Grade 8 (Age 13): TRY 2,027,175 per year. - Grade 9 (Age 14): TRY 2,093,423 per year. - Grade 10 (Age 15): TRY 2,093,423 per year. - Grade 11 (Age 16): TRY 2,159,670 per year. - Grade 12 (Age 17): TRY 2,159,670 per year. Per‑term / instalment breakdown and billing schedule - The school requires an initial Enrolment amount (30% of the tuition) followed by a set instalment schedule. The typical instalment schedule used by the school is: Enrolment (30%) due by end‑April, then five instalments with due dates at month‑end across the months that follow (example instalment due dates appear as end‑May, end‑June, end‑July, end‑August, end‑September in the tuition document). - Families receive monthly tuition invoices between September and June. Payments must include the student's name, grade, and school year on the transfer. Payments are processed to the school bank account. - Example instalment arithmetic (school's instalment document shows the structure and how the annual total is split into the 30% enrolment plus equal instalments; example USD figures are shown in the school's tuition document as a worked example for each grade band). The instalment amounts and number of instalments are applied according to the published instalment scheme. Payment terms and payment methods - Primary payment method: bank transfer to the school's bank account (Yapı Kredi Bank — account and IBAN details are provided by the school; transfers should include the student's initials, surname and grade). Payments should be made in the currency specified by the school at the time of invoicing. - The school issues invoices and accepts payments by bank transfer; instalment plans are available through the school's billing procedure. Families are responsible for any bank charges or currency shortfalls. Sibling discount - A sibling discount is available: 5% discount for the second child and 10% discount for the third and subsequent children. Boarding / accommodation - IICS is a day school and does not provide boarding or dormitory accommodation. Other costs and additional fees - The published fee structure states that the tuition covers many core items, including lunch, class trips, extra‑curricular activities, school supplies, books, VAT and the yearbook; however, some optional items and services may be charged separately (for example, bus/transportation fees vary by route and are billed separately, and some specialised support or external exam fees may be charged in addition). Contact the school's accounts office for specific optional charges and transportation pricing. - Uniforms, specialist course fees, external exam fees (where applicable), and some extracurricular or trip costs may be additional to tuition and billed separately. Bus fees depend on route and region. Refunds, early departure and mid‑year joining - Tuition refund policy for early departure: if a student leaves during the school year the payable percentage of the annual tuition is determined by the date of departure. Typical policy example: departure from start of school to December 30 — 50% of tuition payable; January 1 to March 14 — 75% payable; after March 15 — 100% payable. Notifications of withdrawal must be provided in writing to the Director of Admissions. - Mid‑year joining: the percentage of tuition payable for students joining mid‑year follows a stepped scale depending on the joining date (for example, joining before November 1 — 100% payable; joining Nov 2–Jan 1 — 70%; Jan 2–Mar 1 — 60%; Mar 2–Apr 1 — 50%; Apr 2–May 1 — 40%; after May 2 — 30%). Billing contacts & administration - All fee payments are billed through the school's Business/Finance Office. Bank transfer instructions, invoice layout and instalment terms are provided by the Admissions/Business Office; parents are instructed to include the student's name and grade on transfers. For billing enquiries contact the school's Business Office as listed by the school. Notes - The above lists the published annual tuition figures by grade band and the school's standard enrolment/instalment and refund mechanisms as published in the school's tuition documents and fee pages. The school applies VAT to fees where indicated and requires that bank transfers cover any intermediary bank charges so that the school receives the full invoiced amount.
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 follows the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) curriculum and enriches it with school-based curriculum development. The Bilingual Education Program integrates Turkish and English from Preschool through Grade 12 to develop bilingual proficiency. In Preschool, instruction is split 50% Turkish and 50% English; in Primary School, English is taught for about 10 class hours per week, with listening, speaking, reading and writing taught through holistic activities. The program includes High/Scope-inspired approaches such as Plan–Do–Review (PDR) and Movement Education as distinctive features. In Middle School and High School, the curriculum remains aligned with MoNE standards and emphasizes English-language content; Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered and the school is an AP exam center, enabling students to take AP exams on campus.	Curriculum details The school offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) program across the Primary Years Programme (Early Years–Grade 6), the Middle Years Programme (Grades 7–10), and the Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12), all taught in English. The High School Diploma pathway is CIS and NEASC-accredited and awards a US diploma after earning 26 credits (Grades 9–12), apostilled in the United States for worldwide validity. Students can graduate with the IICS High School Diploma alone, or with the IB Diploma, or with the Innovation Diploma. The IB Diploma is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization and requires six subjects over two years plus IB Core requirements (TOK, CAS, EE). AP Courses & Exams are available alongside IBDP Certificate Courses & Exams, and Dual Enrollment and Honors-Level Courses may be pursued as part of College Ready offerings.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression The Pathways to Graduation describes three options for Grade 12: the IICS High School Diploma; the IICS High School Diploma + IB Diploma; and the IICS High School Diploma + Innovation Diploma. The High School Diploma is CIS and NEASC-accredited and awards a US diploma after 26 credits; the US diploma is apostilled in the United States and valid worldwide with assistance from the US Office of Overseas Schools. The IB Diploma is authorized by the IBO and includes core requirements (TOK, CAS, EE) with a two-year, six-subject structure and final exams. AP Courses & Exams, IBDP Certificate Courses & Exams, and Dual Enrollment with universities are available as part of College Ready pathways.
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. Age groups and language. The school serves Pre-K for ages 4-5, Kindergarten for ages 5-6, and Primary School starting at Grade 1. The school offers a Bilingual Education Program in Turkish and English. 2. Admission timeline. An orientation activity and/or entrance examination is typically held in April–May each year, and admission decisions follow the results. 3. Waiting lists. A waiting list is formed from students admitted following the orientation activity/entrance exam conducted in April–May. 4. Foreign students and inquiries. Foreign students are welcome if they meet admission requirements. Admissions for mid-term classes are by examination and subject to available quota.	Admissions 1. Eligibility & timing: Applications are accepted year-round. Eligibility requires a non-Turkish passport. For an August start, submit by January or February; mid-year admissions are possible if space allows. Applications are processed in the order in which they are completed, and placement is confirmed if there is space, otherwise the child is placed on the waitlist. 2. Visit and interview: Families are encouraged to schedule a campus tour and an interview with the Director of Admissions. A visit provides insights into the community and helps answer questions, and a video call can be arranged if an on-site visit is not possible. 3. Application steps: Complete the Online Application Form via iics.openapply.com and access the required checklist after submission. Upload school records for the last three years, with English translations if needed, and share Teacher Reference/Recommendation Forms via OpenApply. Upload a passport copy and a recent headshot, and sign the Financial Contract and complete the Health Form (doctor's report not required). Transfer the application fee with the receipt. Entrance requirements for Early Years–Grade 5 do not include a formal exam; Grades 6+ require a short online English writing assessment. 4. Next steps: After all requirements are completed, the file is submitted to the Principal for approval and the Admissions Office will notify the family of the status. Applications are reviewed in order, and placement is confirmed when space exists; if not, the child is placed on the waitlist. If space is available, the child may begin once placement is confirmed.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships There are no scholarships or financial aid programs. An early-payment discount is offered. Sibling discounts apply: 5% off tuition for the second child, and 10% off for the third and subsequent children.
Waitlist	Waitlist A waiting list is formed from students admitted after the orientation activity/entrance exam conducted in April–May.	Waitlist If no place is available in the age-appropriate grade, the child is placed on the waitlist. Waitlist status depends on space availability and order of submission.
	View full profile →	View full profile →