Mont'Kiara International School vs The International School of Kuala Lumpur
Mont'Kiara International School and The International School of Kuala Lumpur are both in Kuala Lumpur, about 10 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes, and The International School of Kuala Lumpur also offers Advanced Placement (AP) and American. Published annual fees are MYR 35,110 - 125,520 at Mont'Kiara International School and MYR 69,500 - 142,000 at The International School of Kuala Lumpur, which puts The International School of Kuala Lumpur roughly 32% higher. Both take pupils from 3 to 18. The International School of Kuala Lumpur is the larger school, with around 1,750 pupils to Mont'Kiara International School's 680. Typical class sizes are 16 at Mont'Kiara International School and 22 at The International School of Kuala Lumpur.
IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
680
Pupils
1,750
Typical class size
Typical class size
16
Typical class size
22
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
1994
Opened
1965
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
M'KIS is situated in the Mont'Kiara neighborhood of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This area is known for its family-friendly environment, with a significant expatriate community. The school is well-connected by public transport and is close to various amenities, including shopping centers, restaurants, and parks.
Location
This area is approximately 3 kilometers from the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). The school provides a bus service that covers various neighborhoods, including Ampang Hilir, KLCC, Mont Kiara, Bangsar, and Damansara, facilitating transport for students from different parts of the city. Ampang Hilir is known for hosting various embassies and is generally well-connected.
Stages
Stages
M'KIS offers education from Pre-Kindergarten (age 3) through to Grade 12, with Elementary, Middle and High School levels
Stages
The school comprises an Early Childhood section, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School.
School type
School type
M'KIS is a co-educational school. It does not offer boarding facilities.
School type
ISKL is a co-educational day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
M'KIS provides support for students with mild learning differences through its Literacy Support Program (Kindergarten to Grade 5) and Learning Support Program (Grades 6 to 12). Support is offered via small group pull-out, push-in, or occasionally one-on-one sessions, tailored to individual needs. Students with an Individual Student Support Plan (ISSP) receive longer-term assistance.
Additional learning support
ISKL offers a "Supporting All Learners" approach, recognizing that every child learns differently. They use a Multi-Tiered System of Support to identify, assess, address, and monitor student needs. Support is tailored and can include academic, behavioral, and social-emotional assistance.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school follows an international curriculum and is not affiliated with any specific country.
Country affiliation
ISKL is recognized as an American school.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
M'KIS is a non-denominational school and does not have any religious affiliation.
Religious affiliation
The school does not have any specific religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
The standard school day at M'KIS begins at 8:00 AM. For Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 students, the day concludes at 1:20 PM, while students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 finish at 2:50 PM. On days with after-school activities, late buses depart at 4:10 PM and 5:10 PM.
School day structure
The school day at ISKL generally starts at 8:00 am across all divisions. For Early Childhood (Prep Reception and Prep Junior), the day concludes at 12:30 pm. Elementary School (Prep Senior - Grade 5) finishes at 2:45 pm, while Middle School (Grade 6-8) ends at 2:50 pm, and High School (Grade 9-12) concludes at 3:00 pm. Break times, including morning breaks and lunch, are scheduled throughout the day, varying slightly by division to accommodate student needs.
Bus service details
Bus service details
M'KIS provides daily bus transportation for students residing in various areas of Kuala Lumpur. The buses are 16-seaters equipped with seat belts, GPS, and cameras to ensure student safety. Morning pick-ups occur between 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM. Afternoon departures are scheduled at 1:20 PM for Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 students, and at 2:50 PM for Kindergarten through Grade 12. Additionally, late buses are available at 4:10 PM and 5:10 PM to accommodate students participating in after-school activities.
Bus service details
ISKL offers a dedicated school bus service to transport students to and from school. This service is provided by Pandu Jaya Sdn Bhd. The bus service covers various residential areas to accommodate families relocating from overseas. The company prioritizes safety and reliability, with provisions for bus monitors on Kindergarten buses to supervise younger children.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application Fee (Non-refundable): MYR 1,700 - Payable upon confirmation of assessment appointment
English Language Proficiency Assessment Fee (Non-refundable): MYR 1,200 - Applied if additional English proficiency assessment is required to determine EAL needs
Admission Fees for New Students (Non-refundable, One-time): - Pre-K3 (3 years old): No admission fee - Pre-K4 (4 years old): No admission fee - Kindergarten (KG): MYR 8,500 - Grades 1-12: MYR 28,000
*Admission fee is waived for direct transfer students from other internationally accredited schools in Malaysia under certain conditions*
- Pre-K3 (3 years old): MYR 35,110 per year - Pre-K4 (4 years old): MYR 41,690 per year - Kindergarten (KG): MYR 83,290 per year - Elementary School (Grades 1-5): MYR 102,120 per year - Middle School (Grades 6-8): MYR 114,110 per year - High School (Grades 9-12): MYR 125,520 per year
English as an Additional Language (EAL) Fees
Elementary School (Grades 1-5) - EAL Intensive Program: MYR 5,000 per semester - EAL Support Program: MYR 2,000 per semester
Middle & High School (Grades 6-10) - EAL Intensive Program: MYR 5,000 per semester - EAL Support (English B): MYR 3,000 per semester
*EAL program is not offered to students in Grades 11 & 12*
Tuition Fee Discounts
Multi-Child Tuition Rebates - 2nd child: 2% off tuition fees - 3rd+ child: 3% off tuition fees
Additional Fees
Visa Processing Service Fee - MYR 500 per student per year - MYR 1,000 per guardian per year - Not applicable for Employment, MM2H, or PVIP visa holders
Payment Information
Payment Timeline - Invoices sent before the start of the new semester - Full payment due within 7 days of the first day of school
Payment Options Cheque / Wire Transfer / Credit/Debit Cards.
Early Years Enrollment Deposit: RM 4,400 Prep Reception (3-year-olds): RM 69,500 per year Prep Junior (4-year-olds): RM 92,200 per year
Primary & Middle School Enrollment Deposit: RM 10,100 Prep Senior - Grade 5: RM 114,500 per year Grades 6-8: RM 129,300 per year
High School Enrollment Deposit: RM 10,100 Grades 9-12: RM 142,000 per year
Additional Fees *Life-Centered Education support: Additional RM 49,400 per year *Society Membership: RM 50 (one-time) + RM 20 (annual) - included in fees *External exam fees (IB, AP): charged separately *Global Action Program (GAP): mandatory for Grades 9-11, fee varies by destination
Payment Structure * Fees payable in advance by semester * RM 200 discount for paying full annual tuition in advance 50% refund available only if withdrawal notice received before first day of semester
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
—
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
Mont'Kiara International School offers a full continuum of International Baccalaureate (IB) programs:
Primary Years Programme (PYP): For students in Kindergarten through Grade 5, focusing on inquiry-based learning across various subjects.
Middle Years Programme (MYP): For Grades 6 to 10, encompassing eight subject groups, including language acquisition, sciences, mathematics, arts, and design. mkis.edu.my
Diploma Programme (DP): For Grades 11 and 12, offering a two-year pre-university course leading to the IB Diploma.
In addition to the IB Diploma, students also earn a U.S. High School Diploma upon graduation.
Curriculum details
In the Elementary and Middle School, the curriculum is inquiry-based and student-centered, focusing on developing foundational skills and key competencies. For High School students (Grades 11 and 12), ISKL offers flexible academic pathways. Students can pursue the rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), a globally recognized pre-university qualification. Alternatively, they can choose ISKL's innovative Pursuits Program, which allows students to combine individual IB, Advanced Placement (AP), and High School Diploma courses to create a personalized study program, including opportunities for internships and real-world experiences. All students who meet graduation requirements receive an ISKL Diploma.
1. Schedule a campus visit or attend an Open Day. M'KIS encourages prospective families to tour the campus during school hours to observe classes and meet faculty. Appointments are scheduled to ensure personalised attention.
2. Complete the online application. Submit the application form along with the required documents.
3. Provide teacher recommendations. Depending on the grade level, specific recommendation forms should be submitted by current educators directly to M'KIS: -For Pre-K3 to Grade 5: Teacher Recommendation Form -For Grades 6 to 12: Counsellor or School Administrator, English Teacher, and Math Teacher Recommendation Forms
4. Pay the application fee. A non-refundable application fee of RM1,700 is required for each application. Payment details are provided during the application process.
5. Admissions assessment. Assessments vary by grade level: -Pre-K3: No formal assessment -Pre-K4 & Kindergarten: Brief, developmentally appropriate assessment -Grade 1 and above: Assessments in reading, writing, and math; EAL assessment if applicable
6. Receive the admissions decision. Decisions are typically communicated within two business days.
Admissions
Submit your online application and required documents. This involves completing the application via ISKL's OpenApply portal and paying the application fee. You will need to upload various documents, including official academic records from the past three years, any previous learning support reports (e.g., psychological testing, IEPs), a student health form, copies of passports for the applicant and parents, and proof of Malaysian work/residence permits or an employer's letter.
Complete assessments. After submitting your application and documents, the Admissions Department will determine if an assessment is required. These assessments, such as MAP® tests for reading comprehension and math, are generally given to applicants from Prep Senior (K4) to Grade 12. For younger students (K4-Grade 1), a short pattern and sequencing assessment is given. These assessments help ensure the school can meet the student's needs.
Receive an admission decision. Once all required documents are submitted and assessments are completed and reviewed, the Admissions Department will make a determination. If a place is available and the applicant meets the criteria, an offer of admission will be extended. The school aims to provide a decision within five business days after the MAP assessment, unless further review is needed.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The school does not offer scholarships for tuition.
Scholarships
ISKL offers the ISKL Pathways Scholarship specifically for high-achieving Malaysian students. This scholarship is merit and need-based and is open to Malaysian students who have completed their Form 3 school assessment. It provides a fully funded four-year study in the High School program, covering Grades 9 to 12, including tuition and external exam fees. The school has also previously offered an ISKL IBDP Scholarship for Malaysian Form 5 students, a two-year scholarship for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Selection for scholarships is based on academic excellence, leadership in social responsibility, and commitment to the school community.
Waitlist
Waitlist
M'KIS operates a waitlist system for certain grade levels where capacity has been reached. Applicants placed on the waitlist will be offered admission as spaces become available.
Waitlist
ISKL operates a waiting pool system for year groups where places are not immediately available. If an applicant meets the admission criteria but there is no current vacancy in their grade level, they will be placed into this waiting pool. Places are offered from the waiting pool as vacancies arise, and the school will send an offer letter when a spot becomes available. The position in the waiting pool is determined by the school's admission criteria, not solely by the application date.
