Keystone International Schools vs The British International School Istanbul

	K Keystone International Schools Istanbul, Turkey	T The British International School Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year TRY 22,750 - 26,750	Fees / year TRY 21,600 - 52,500
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Canadian Curriculum, IB (DP)	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 250	Pupils 520
Typical class size	Typical class size 18	Typical class size 15
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2011	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Keystone International Schools operates in Istanbul, Turkey, with two campuses: Küçük Çamlıca Campus (Gülhan Sok. 1-2, Üsküdar, 34660) and Çekmeköy Campus (Süleymaniye Cd. No:20B, Çekmeköy, 34782). It also features a Toronto Campus as part of its Canadian program. The Istanbul addresses are the primary Turkish locations for Keystone.	Location Zekeriyaköy Forest Campus, Kilyos Caddesi No: 227, Sarıyer, Istanbul
Stages	Stages Kindergarten (Ages 3-6); Primary (Grade 1-6); Middle (Grade 7-9); High (Grade 10-12)	Stages Pre-School (ages 2.5–4); Primary (ages 5–11); Secondary (ages 12–18)
School type	School type The school is a Canadian offshore school.	School type Private school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix Students from over 60 nations; a multinational school.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support The Learning Support Department works with classroom teachers and parents to support children with special needs, beginning at enrollment with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and meetings. Services include formal monitoring and IEPs, with staff collaborating with teachers, parents, administrators, external Educational Psychologists, Speech Therapists and other professionals. The program offers pull-out and push-in support as well as Booster Classes and Learning Support across all areas of the curriculum.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Canada	Country affiliation British (division of The British School Istanbul)
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details Bus service is offered through AZ-AL. Buses are GPS-tracked, equipped with security cameras, and operated by qualified drivers and hostesses; a representative is based at both the City and Zekeriyaköy Campuses. Bus service registration forms are available for Etiler STEAM Campus and Zekeriyaköy Forest Campus.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & registration fees - Canadian registration (mandatory, non-refundable): USD 1,750 per student per year. This fee is separate from tuition and is required for registration with the Prince Edward Island (PEI) Ministry of Education. Tuition fees (annual, by year group) - Kindergarten (ages 3–5): USD 21,000 per year. - Primary (Grades 1–6): USD 24,000 per year. - Middle School (Grades 7–9): USD 25,000 per year. - High School (Grades 10–12): USD 25,000 per year. Per-term (per-semester) amounts - The school operates on a two-semester academic calendar; present per-term figures below are the annual tuition divided by two (per semester). - Kindergarten: USD 10,500 per semester. - Primary (Grades 1–6): USD 12,000 per semester. - Middle School (Grades 7–9): USD 12,500 per semester. - High School (Grades 10–12): USD 12,500 per semester. Billing schedule and payment terms - Deposit at registration: 40% of the chosen tuition is due at registration. - Remaining balance: The remaining tuition balance may be paid in installments; the installment cycle begins at registration and must be completed by December of the academic year in question. The annual Canadian registration fee (USD 1,750) must be paid in full at registration. - Sibling discount: 10% for the second sibling; 5% for each additional sibling. - Early-payment discounts and specific installment deadlines are published with the fee schedule and may include reduced rates for full payment by designated dates. Boarding / residence - Keystone International Schools is a day school; no boarding fees apply. The school operates as a coeducational day school. Other mandatory or likely additional costs - Canadian registration (listed above) is charged separately and is non-refundable. - Books and learning materials: - Grades 1–6: students must purchase books sourced from Canada. - Grades 7 and above: a book-rental program is offered; rental textbooks are provided rather than individual book purchases. - Lunch and catering: - Lunch is included in the tuition for all students except high school; high school students may bring lunch, purchase from the school, or buy cafeteria food. The school operates an in-house fresh meals program. - Uniforms: Uniforms are required (regular days Monday–Thursday; Fridays are casual within the dress code) and PE uniform is required on PE days. Families must purchase required uniform items. (Uniform policy and expectations are set in school documentation.) - Transportation: Licensed school bus service is provided; a separate transport fee typically applies for bus users (transport procedures and safety are described by the school). - Assessments/exams: Standardized testing and examination fees such as MAP testing are included in quoted tuition. - Field trips and extracurricular activities: participation-related charges (trip fees, materials, external examination fees where relevant) may be billed in addition to tuition as needed; such items are handled on a per-event basis and according to school policy. Refund and withdrawal rules - Withdrawal prior to the start of the academic year: annual tuition is refunded less a 10% deduction from the annual tuition fee. - Withdrawal after the academic year begins: tuition and meal fees are prorated based on days attended; an additional 10% deduction from the annual tuition fee is applied when withdrawing after the academic year has started. Refunds follow the school's financial policy and the formal withdrawal procedure. Fee payment options and invoicing notes - The school's published materials reference installment billing (40% at registration with the balance on an installment schedule through December) and indicate that early-payment discounts have applied in prior schedules; common payment channels for schools of this type typically include bank transfer/wire and direct payment methods. Specific accepted payment methods (credit card, bank-transfer details, local payment rules and any merchant fees) and exact installment dates are provided by the school with the invoice and fee schedule. Summary of immediate charges at registration (typical) - First tuition installment (40% of the chosen annual tuition). - Canadian registration fee: USD 1,750 (non-refundable). - Any selected optional services billed upfront (for example, bus service or uniforms if the school invoices them at registration). All figures quoted above are stated in USD. For any specific student-level invoice items (transport route cost, uniform package price, book purchase total, or confirmed installment dates) the school provides itemised billing at registration and with the official fee schedule.	Fee details Application and Registration Fees - Application fee: USD 1,250 (one‑time, payable before an application may be processed; non‑refundable). - Registration fee: USD 5,500 (one‑time, non‑refundable; applies to Year 1–Year 13; Pre‑School and Reception pay the registration fee once they progress into Year 1). The registration fee is designated for capital investments and must be paid in full at registration; different payment deadlines apply depending on whether you choose the discounted full‑payment plan or the instalment plan. Tuition fees (2026–2027 academic year) — annual and per‑term amounts by year group - Pre‑School (Half Day) - Discounted full payment (if paid before 31 December 2025): USD 17,000 per year. - Full payment (if paid before 1 March 2026): USD 20,200 per year. - Instalment plan total: USD 21,600 per year. - Instalment amounts (three equal instalments): USD 7,200 due 1 May 2026; USD 7,200 due 1 July 2026; USD 7,200 due 1 September 2026. - Pre‑School (Full Day) - Discounted full payment (before 31 December 2025): USD 19,100 per year. - Full payment (before 1 March 2026): USD 22,500 per year. - Instalment plan total: USD 25,500 per year. - Instalment amounts: USD 8,500 + USD 8,500 + USD 8,500 (due 1 May, 1 July, 1 Sept 2026). - Reception - Discounted full payment (before 31 December 2025): USD 23,400 per year. - Full payment (before 1 March 2026): USD 25,000 per year. - Instalment plan total: USD 29,550 per year. - Instalment amounts: USD 9,850 + USD 9,850 + USD 9,850 (due 1 May, 1 July, 1 Sept 2026). - Primary - Discounted full payment (before 31 December 2025): USD 37,200 per year. - Full payment (before 1 March 2026): USD 39,800 per year. - Instalment plan total: USD 47,550 per year. - Instalment amounts: USD 15,850 + USD 15,850 + USD 15,850 (due 1 May, 1 July, 1 Sept 2026). - Secondary (Years 7–10) - Discounted full payment (before 31 December 2025): USD 38,800 per year. - Full payment (before 1 March 2026): USD 41,500 per year. - Instalment plan total: USD 49,050 per year. - Instalment amounts: USD 16,350 + USD 16,350 + USD 16,350 (due 1 May, 1 July, 1 Sept 2026). - Secondary (Years 11–12) - Discounted full payment (before 31 December 2025): USD 40,400 per year. - Full payment (before 1 March 2026): USD 43,200 per year. - Instalment plan total: USD 50,550 per year. - Instalment amounts: USD 16,850 + USD 16,850 + USD 16,850 (due 1 May, 1 July, 1 Sept 2026). - Secondary (Year 13) - Discounted full payment (before 31 December 2025): USD 41,850 per year. - Full payment (before 1 March 2026): USD 44,800 per year. - Instalment plan total: USD 52,500 per year (this figure includes IB fees; it does not include IB remark or retake charges). - Instalment amounts: USD 17,500 + USD 17,500 + USD 17,500 (due 1 May, 1 July, 1 Sept 2026). Billing schedule and payment terms - Discounted full‑payment deadline: payment before 31 December 2025 qualifies for the discounted rate. - Full‑payment deadline: payment before 1 March 2026 applies for the standard full‑payment rate. - Instalment plan: three equal instalments due on 1 May 2026, 1 July 2026 and 1 September 2026. Students may not start school until instalment plan payments are fully paid where required by the school. Late instalment payments incur a surcharge. - Late payment penalty: a surcharge of 5% is applied to late 1st, 2nd and 3rd instalment payments. If payments remain outstanding 14 days after the due date, students may not be admitted until payments are up to date. - Registration deadlines linked to payment option: registration fee must be paid by the deadline appropriate to the chosen payment plan (discounted full payment vs instalment plan) in order to benefit from the related payment terms. Boarding fees - Boarding is not listed in the published fee schedule; no boarding fees are shown. The school's fee schedule and related admissions information do not set out a boarding option or boarding charges. Other costs and extras - The following items are not included in tuition and are charged separately: bus service (contact AZ‑AL for bus pricing), health/medical insurance, uniform, educational day trips and sports activities. - IB exam coverage: Year 13 tuition includes IB fees, but does not include IB remark or retake fees. Exam fees and costs for books/materials may be charged separately and are specifically referenced in refund and deduction rules. - Uniform: the school lists an official uniform provider and uniform costs are not included in tuition. Refund and withdrawal terms - Application and registration fees are non‑transferable and non‑refundable. There is no remission of tuition for periods of absence. A refund for unused tuition may be made at the school's discretion if a student is withdrawn during the academic year provided specified conditions are met. Refund conditions include providing a minimum 90‑day written notice (registered post) to the Director of Admissions and the student being absent from school for the remainder of the term; the school will deduct costs for books, materials, exam fees, prepaid taxes and the registration fee when calculating any refund. Fee payment options and bank details - Payment method listed: payment by bank transfer in USD to the school's Akbank USD account. Full account details (account number, branch, SWIFT and IBAN) are provided for making payments; parents must indicate student name(s) on the transfer and ensure payments are made on time. The school states it is not responsible for payments sent to incorrect accounts or for bank charges incurred. No credit‑card payment option is listed in the published fee information.
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 PEI Canadian Diploma program at Keystone International Schools follows the Prince Edward Island system. It offers a Canadian high school diploma, with instruction in English and learning in French as an additional language. Grade 1 to 12 students are registered with the PEI Ministry of Education and have access to a PEI online library. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and real-world application, combining academic and applied courses, project-based learning, and standardized assessments such as the MAP Growth tests and DELF for French. English is the primary language of instruction, accompanied by an Intensive English Program for students needing extra support, and French is taught through a CEFR-aligned streaming program with additional intensive options. The program integrates language, music, arts, science, and physical education, with opportunities for exhibitions and field experiences.	Curriculum details The British International School Istanbul uses the Cambridge International Curriculum in Primary and Secondary up to IGCSE. In Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) students follow an adapted English National Curriculum; in Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11) they study the Cambridge IGCSE; in Key Stage 5 (Years 12–13) they pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The Pre-School follows the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Across the Primary School, the Cambridge Curriculum is used for English, Mathematics and Science.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio The staff to student ratio is better than 1 to 6; class sizes are small, with a maximum of 15 in iGCSE and IB Diploma classes.
Exam results	Exam results MAP Growth assessments are used to monitor progress in Science, Mathematics, and Language. DELF is used to assess French language proficiency. The PEI system supports the pathway to earning a Canadian high school diploma.	Exam results IB Diploma Programme: 100% pass rate in 2025 with an average of 33 points and a top score of 40; 23 of the 30 subjects and levels scored above the global average. IGCSE results in 2025 show an 88% pass rate (A–C), the best pass rate in 10 years, with notable achievements such as a student earning 11 A grades.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates have acceptances to universities around the world, including the University of Toronto, University of Amsterdam, Koç University, IE University, and King's College London, among others.	Higher education progression Graduates go on to universities around the world, including University of Cambridge, University of Toronto, UC Berkeley, University of British Columbia, Seoul National University, New York University, London School of Economics and Political Science, Imperial College London, Brown University, University of Glasgow, Durham University, University of Edinburgh, Goldsmiths, University of London, King's College London, Lucerne University, The University of Nottingham, Royal Holloway University of London, University of Southampton, Suffolk University Boston, and The George Washington University.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented The school notes that when a student is naturally gifted in a subject such as Mathematics, BIS aims to stretch and challenge them.
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. Learn About Our School. Visit us in person during regular school hours to experience our classrooms and student life firsthand. If you are abroad, a Zoom meeting can be arranged to answer your questions. Before your visit, think about what matters most to you in a school environment and prepare questions about our programs. A school tour can be requested using the form below. 2. Apply. Complete our Registration Form if you decide to proceed. Applications may be submitted in person or online. If you wish to expedite, you may skip the tour and directly register online. Our admissions team will review your application and confirm the next steps. 3. Exams and Interviews. After we receive your application, we will schedule exams and interviews based on your child's grade level. These assessments help us evaluate your child's academic readiness and fit with our school culture. The results guide the admissions decision and inform the next steps in the process. 4. Admissions Decision. You will be informed of the admission decision within 5 days of completing the assessment process. The decision is communicated to families, and next steps for enrollment will be provided. This timeline helps families plan for the next steps in the admissions process.	Admissions 1. Aims and Eligibility. The British International School Istanbul has an inclusive admissions policy and welcomes students of all nationalities and those for whom English is an additional language. Turkish students are not admitted in accordance with Turkish Ministry of Education regulations. Students are accepted between ages 2½ and 18 and are placed in a class by age, subject to English access; in the first EYFS class, students stay half-day for at least the first term. 2. Initial Enquiry. The parent contacts the School and requests an appointment to visit. This can be done via the online contact form or by telephone. A member of the admissions team provides information about the school and the admissions process. An appointment for a visit is arranged. 3. Preliminary Visit. The prospective parent confirms the appointment and is given a contact name. During the visit the parent is given a tour of the school and meets the Director/Deputy Director. 4. Completion of the Application. The parent completes an application for each student when BIS is the chosen school. 5. Application Fee. Each new applicant pays 1,250 USD before the application is processed; this is a one-time, non-refundable fee. The fee must be paid for the application to be processed. The application will not proceed until the fee is received. 6. Registration Fee and Payment. The Registration Fee is 5,500 USD, a one-time payment for students from Year 1 to Year 13; Preschool and Reception pay the Registration Fee when they reach Year 1. The fee is non-refundable and funds campus development, sports facilities, technology and library improvements. Registration is not complete until the fee is paid in full. New Parents paying the Discounted Tuition Plan must pay the Registration Fee by February 1; if not, the discount does not apply and the student is placed on the instalment plan. New Parents on the Instalment Plan must pay the Registration Fee by May 1, with the first instalment not subjected to late charges; students may not start until all instalments are paid. 7. Documentation. The Director of Admissions must receive the following documents: four passport photographs of the child; two photographs of each parent; photocopy of the child's passport; parents' passport copies; BIS Medical Form; BIS Family Contract; Financial Policy + Invoice Information form. Parents should complete all sections of the application form with as much detail as possible and provide recent sealed original reports from the previous school where applicable. 8. Withdrawal. Ninety days' written notice is required to withdraw a student and obtain a refund of fees. The notice should be provided in writing to the admissions/finance team. 9. Registration Forms. Prospective parents download and complete BIS Medical Report Form, BIS Family Contract, Financial Policy, Head Teacher Recommendation Form, Invoice Information, Registration Form, and Swimming Lessons – Parent Disclaimer. 10. Policy Update – July 2025. For the Turkish Ministry of Education equivalence process: two years of school reports (including midterm reports) are required; reports not in English, Russian or Arabic must be translated and notarised; email scanned copies of reports in advance and submit originals on arrival. Residence Permit (Ikamet) is required to begin the process, after which access to e-Devlet is arranged via PTT. Copies of student and parent passports are required. The Edenklik portal provides further guidance; the equivalence process is mandatory for all families. For more information, contact via the Enquiry Form.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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