International School of Samui vs PBISS International School
International School of Samui and PBISS International School are both in Koh Samui, about 5 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge A Levels programmes. International School of Samui also offers British and BTEC Qualification, and PBISS International School also offers Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary) and EYFS. Published annual fees are THB 434,526 - 618,585 at International School of Samui and THB 244,030 - 449,230 at PBISS International School, which puts International School of Samui roughly 52% higher. International School of Samui takes pupils from 3 to 18, and PBISS International School from 2 to 18. PBISS International School is the larger school, with around 500 pupils to International School of Samui's 300. Typical class sizes are 9 at International School of Samui and 19 at PBISS International School.
British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Curriculum
Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Pupils
Pupils
300
Pupils
500
Typical class size
Typical class size
9
Typical class size
19
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2007
Opened
2005
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
The school is on Koh Samui’s northeast coast, tucked between Chaweng and Bophut, alongside the main ring road and adjacent to Bandon Hospital and the Big C shopping centre. The island is accessible via domestic and international flights, with regular ferry services and road links to other parts of Thailand.
Location
PBISS is situated in Chaweng Noi, on the northeastern coast of Koh Samui, close to Bo Phut in Surat Thani province. The campus benefits from being accessible via local roads, and traffic—particularly during school drop‑off and pick‑up—can be congested at peak times, so planning travel accordingly is advised.
Stages
Stages
ISS is divided into stages: Early Years (ages 3–4), Primary School (Reception–Year 6; ages 4–11), Senior School (Years 7–11; ages 11–16), and Sixth Form (Years 12–13; ages 16–18), each following age-aligned curriculum progressions.
Stages
The school serves students from early years through pre‑university levels, structured as: Foundation Stage (Nursery–FS2) Primary School (Years 1–6) Secondary School and Sixth Form (Years 7–13)
This structure allows progression from early childhood learning through Cambridge IGCSE and A‑Level studies
School type
School type
ISS is co‑educational and does not offer boarding facilities.
School type
PBISS is a co‑educational day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
ISS provides tiered learning support. This includes Wave 2 (group or in-class support) and Wave 3 (one-on-one individual programmes) for students with additional needs. For complex needs, an assessment and external professional input may be required. They also offer EAL (English as an Additional Language) support across stages.
Additional learning support
The school does not reference a formal Special Educational Needs (SEN) programme, but offers English Language Support (ELS) for students identified as needing extra help with English.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
There is no formal national affiliation.
Country affiliation
While PBISS follows the Cambridge (British) curriculum, there is no formal affiliation with any specific country’s education authority beyond this curricular framework.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school is secular and has no religious affiliation.
Religious affiliation
PBISS is secular and has no religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
Early Years: 8:30 AM to 2:50 PM Primary School: 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM Senior School: 8:20 AM to 3:00 PM
After‐school activities run from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Thursday.
School day structure
Foundation Stage (Nursery–FS2): Students arrive by 8:30 for flag ceremony; classes end at 15:00; supervised in the playroom until 16:00 if not collected.
Years 1–6: Arrival before 8:30 for flag ceremony; lessons begin at 9:00 and end at 15:00; supervised in playground until 16:00.
Years 7–11: Same start time; lessons finish at around 16:00; students wait in the secondary canteen area for collection.
Years 12–13: Timetables are flexible, so finishing times vary depending on subjects and schedule.
Bus service details
Bus service details
ISS offers a door-to-door bus service divided into three zones based on distance from the school.
Bus service details
PBISS offers a school bus service for Primary and Secondary students. Availability is limited, operating on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Joining Fee: THB 75,000 per child (non-refundable). Capped at THB 150,000 per family. For Early Years, this is deferred until Reception. For one-term enrolments only, THB 37,500 is payable.
Security Bond: THB 75,000 per child (refundable with one full term’s notice).
Reservation Fee: Optional, to secure a higher place on waiting lists; refundable under set conditions.
Annual Tuition Fees Early Years: THB 434,526 Reception – Year 2: THB 480,558 Year 3 – Year 6: THB 534,992 Year 7 – Year 9: THB 573,922 Year 10 – Year 11: THB 618,585 Year 12 – Year 13: THB 494,868 annually (introductory 20% discount for Term 1 joiners; normally THB 618,585)
Bus Service (Door-to-Door) Zone 1: Term 1 – THB 24,334; Term 2 – THB 19,468; Term 3 – THB 14,600. Zone 2: Term 1 – THB 29,788; Term 2 – THB 23,830; Term 3 – THB 17,873. Zone 3: Term 1 – THB 43,743; Term 2 – THB 34,994; Term 3 – THB 26,246.
One-way trips are 75% of the round-trip. A 25% discount applies for siblings.
Other Costs Extra Learning Support: Level 2 – THB 8,085 per month Level 3 – THB 51,975 per month
Uniforms: Compulsory from Reception upwards; purchased at the school shop (Year 12–13 may buy externally).
Examination Fees: IGCSE, AS & A Level – THB 5,445 per subject.
School Trips: Costs billed separately; summer term residentials are optional.
Refunds Tuition: 50% refundable if one month’s notice before start of term; 25% if less than a month. Non-refundable once the term begins.
Security Bond: Refundable with one full term’s notice (except Sixth Form early withdrawal).
Payment Methods Payment accepted by bank transfer, cheque, cash, or credit card (Visa/MasterCard). Overseas payments accepted via SWIFT transfer.
Fee details
Application Fee Pre-Nursery to FS2: No fee Years 1–2: THB 1,000 Years 3–6: THB 1,500 Years 7–13: THB 2,000
This fee is non-refundable and covers assessments, interviews, and processing.
Admissions Fee (One-time, non-refundable) Pre-Nursery to FS2: No fee Years 1–3: THB 42,500 Years 4–8: THB 47,500 Years 9–13: THB 55,000
Refundable Security Deposit: THB 30,000 per student Refundable upon withdrawal with one full term’s written notice, provided there are no outstanding fees.
Annual Tuition Fees Pre-Nursery/Nursery: THB 244,030 FS1–FS2: THB 248,470 Years 1–2: THB 269,710 Years 3–6: THB 300,190 Years 7–8: THB 349,000 Years 9–11: THB 391,340 Years 12–13: THB 449,230
Note: Tuition includes school books (except Years 9–13), some school trips, lunch and snacks, learning resources, and accident coverage on campus (up to THB 30,000 per incident).
English Language Support (ELS) For students requiring additional English support: Level 1: THB 10,000 per term Level 2: THB 20,000 per term Level 3: THB 35,000 per term
Additional Costs School uniform (purchased at the school office) Primary Extra-Curricular Activities (paid separately) School bus service (limited places; fees vary by route)
Discounts Sibling discount: 10% off second child, 20% off third and beyond (applies to mid-term enrollments)
Annual prepayment discount: 5% off tuition when all three terms are paid in advance
Refund Policy Tuition fees are generally non-refundable except under specific conditions.
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
ISS follows the British National Curriculum and is licensed as both a Cambridge International Examinations Centre and a Pearson Edexcel Examinations Centre. In Primary (Reception–Year 6), students follow the Cambridge Primary programme, adjusted for its multicultural student body. In Senior School (Years 7–11), pupils study for the Cambridge IGCSE qualifications, choosing from 22 subject options. In Sixth Form (Years 12–13), students progress to Cambridge A Levels, selecting from 20 subject choices. Additionally, ISS offers Future Skills courses—such as Public Speaking, Entrepreneurship, and Critical Thinking—alongside core academic subjects.
Curriculum details
PBISS bases its curriculum on Cambridge International Standards, tailored with a STEM+ integration across all levels to support learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics alongside core disciplines. In the Primary School (ages 5–11), the Cambridge x STEM+ curriculum develops skills in English, Mathematics, Science, and beyond with specific learning objectives for each year. In the final four years, the Secondary stages, students follow Cambridge IGCSE and International A‑Level courses. Throughout all stages, lessons include core subjects such as English, mathematics, science, and humanities alongside creative subjects like music, design, art, and drama. This structure offers a coherent progression from early years through to pre-university qualifications, grounded in Cambridge frameworks and enriched by hands-on STEM components.
1. Enquiry and School Visit Begin by contacting the admissions team to arrange a campus tour or a virtual meeting via Google Meet at your convenience.
2. Meeting with Head of School Where possible, a meeting (in person or online) is arranged with the Head of School. This offers a chance to discuss your child’s specific needs and the school’s expectations.
3. Admissions Testing (Years 3–11) Applicants joining Years 3 through 11 must complete two online assessments: the NGRT (English) and the CAT (Cognitive Ability Test). These can be taken either at home or on-site.
4. Documentation & Payment Upon acceptance, parents submit required documents—including application and medical forms, previous school reports, passports (for child and parents), birth certificate, and photos—and pay the joining fee, security deposit, and first term’s tuition to confirm enrollment.
5. Visa Support (if applicable) ISS provides full support for visa issuance. Each student may receive an ED-Visa, and one parent may obtain a Non‑O guardian visa. The school keeps families informed of any updates.
Admissions
1. Submit Application & Documents Parents begin by submitting an online application via the Apply Now page, along with required documents like birth certificate, previous school reports, and identification.
2. Assessment & Offers While the site does not detail formal testing, the Admissions Procedure Policy implies that, once all documentation and fees are received, the school proceeds with enrollment and issues an offer for confirmed placement.
3. Confirm Placement & Pay Fees To secure the place, parents must make the required payments (application, admissions fee, and security deposit) and formally accept the offer as guided through the application process.
4. Enrollment Finalised Upon completion of the above, the student’s enrollment is finalised, and a start date is confirmed by the school.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The ISS website does not provide any information about scholarship programmes—whether need-based, merit-based, or otherwise.
Scholarships
PBISS offers scholarships to current students who demonstrate outstanding records, including academic performance and other achievements. Details on the application process, eligibility criteria, or the scope of scholarships are not publicly disclosed on the website.
Waitlist
Waitlist
The International School of Samui operates a waitlist system through the use of a Reservation Fee. Parents may choose to pay this fee to secure a higher position on the class waiting list. If the school is unable to offer a place within eight weeks of the child’s expected enrolment date, the Reservation Fee is refundable.
Waitlist
The school does not publicly disclose any waitlist or pool system for admissions. There is no information available on the website indicating that PBISS operates such a system.
