Oeiras International School vs St. Dominic's International School

	O Oeiras International School Lisbon, Portugal	S St. Dominic's International School Lisbon, Portugal
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €14,962 - 24,844	Fees / year €11,500 - 22,000
Age range	Age range 6 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 463	Pupils 668
Typical class size	Typical class size 16	Typical class size 22
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2010	Opened 1975
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Oeiras International School is located in Oeiras, Portugal, on land leased from the municipality. Oeiras is about 15 minutes by car from Lisbon and the Lisbon airport.	Location Rua Maria Brown, Outeiro de Polima, 2785-816 São Domingos de Rana, Portugal. Alvará No. 2178 of 10/09/1975 was issued by the Ministério da Educação e Cultura. St. Dominic's International School is part of the International Schools Partnership (ISP), a global network of schools.
Stages	Stages Primary Years Programme (Age 5-11), Middle Years Programme (Age 11-16), Diploma Programme (Age 16-19).	Stages The Junior School comprises eight grade levels including the Early Years (Nursery, Kindergarten and Reception). The school offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (IBDP).
School type	School type Oeiras International School is a non-profit Association (OIS, ASFL) founded by parents and is an International Baccalaureate World School.	School type St. Dominic's International School is an IB World School offering the full IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) for students aged 3 to 18.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix Nationalities represented: 48+.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support A learning support programme exists as part of OIS's inclusive IB World School approach. Applicants with severe emotional needs cannot be catered for.	Additional learning support Personalised programmes to support students with learning difficulties and for students who are new to the English language.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation Portugal
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation Catholic (Dominican Sisters)
School day structure	School day structure School buses arrive with students between 8:00am and 8:15am. Afternoon buses depart at 4:00pm and 5:30pm.	School day structure Junior School Day runs from 8:20 to 15:30 with eight 40‑minute periods and a 60‑minute lunch; Senior School Day runs from 8:40 to 15:50 with eight 40‑minute periods and a 60‑minute lunch.
Bus service details	Bus service details The School runs its own bus routes from Cascais, Estoril, Sintra, Parede and the Lisbon area.	Bus service details School bus service is available for registered students; bus routes cover Lisboa Este–Bobadela, Expo, Miraflores, Linda-a-Velha and Oeiras; Lisboa/Algés–Areeiro, Restelo and Algés; Lisboa–Praça de Espanha, Alto dos Moinhos, Alfornelos, Queluz and Massamá; Cascais–Cascais, Qta. da Marinha, Qta. da Bicuda, Aldeia de Juzo; Estoril–Alcabideche, Estoril, Parede and Carcavelos; Odivelas–Odivelas. Barraqueiro Transportes operates the service; enrolment is for the full year and requests after September 15 are subject to availability.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and Registration Fees - Application fee (one-time, paid at application): €250. - Registration fee (one‑time, payable on enrolment according to the schedule below): amounts vary by year group (see Tuition by year group). The registration charge is non‑refundable. Tuition fees (per term and per year, by year group) - Years 1–4 (Pre‑PYP and PYP 1, 2 & 3): Registration €1,355; Term €4,064; Annual €13,547. - Year 5 (PYP 4): Registration €1,413; Term €4,238; Annual €14,127. - Year 6 (PYP 5): Registration €1,683; Term €5,049; Annual €16,830. - Years 7–9 (MYP 1, 2 & 3): Registration €1,799; Term €5,396; Annual €17,987. - Years 10–11 (MYP 4 & 5): Registration €2,127; Term €6,382; Annual €21,273. - Year 12 (DP 1): Registration €2,171; Term €6,514; Annual €21,713. - Year 13 (DP 2 — two terms only): Registration €2,171; Term €9,771; Annual €21,713. Additional one‑off and recurring fees - Capital levy (one‑time, non‑refundable for new entrants): one new student €5,000; two siblings starting in the same year €7,500; three or more siblings starting in the same year €8,500. Current families enrolling a new student receive a 10% discount on the capital levy. - Annual insurance per student: €20. - Yearbook (per family): €40. - Examination charges: Year 11 IB‑MYP assessment €900 (billed with Term II); Year 13 IB‑DP assessment €900 (billed with Term II). Transport and Meals (charged separately, invoiced per term) - School transportation (invoiced per term): one way €525; two ways €840. - School meals (invoiced per term; price per meal): €6.30 per day (includes soup, salad, a main course, dessert/fruit and a low‑sugar drink). Discounts and fines - Sibling discounts on tuition term fees: second child 5%; third child 15%; fourth child and subsequent children 25%. Annual tuition paid in advance before the posted deadline receives a 2.5% discount (deadline is communicated by the school). Discounts apply only to term fees and are annulled if fees are not paid on schedule. - Fines and charges: damaged or unreturned library books charged at replacement cost plus a 15% surcharge; lost team equipment €100; lost student card €5. Late payments incur legal taxes of 4% and may lead to suspension of services. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are invoiced by term. Payment deadlines: Registration by February 1; Term I by July 1; Term II by December 1; Term III by April 1. Termly fees are payable within 30 days of invoice. Further delay may result in suspension of services and legal late charges. Refunds and withdrawal notice - The registration charge is non‑refundable. Once registration is completed the student is deemed enrolled; if a registered student does not attend, Term I fees remain payable. The school requires one term's written notice to the Principal for withdrawal; without this notice the corresponding term fees remain due. Boarding - Boarding is not offered; the school operates as a day school. Accepted payment methods and payment details - Bank transfer (details provided by the school; ensure transfers are made net of bank charges and the student's name is given to allocate funds). IBAN and BIC/SWIFT details are used for euro payments. - Payment by check is accepted (payable to Oeiras International School ASFL). Other notes on fees - Application fee is a one‑time mandatory administrative charge for applicants. Capital levy and registration charges are one‑time entry costs and are non‑refundable. Certain exam and event charges are billed with specific term invoices as noted above.	Fee details Application and Registration Fees - A Registration fee (annual) and a one‑time Capital Levy are payable when a place is confirmed. The Capital Levy is €5,000 (one‑off). The school requires payment of the Registration Fees, comprising the Annual Registration and the applicable Capital Levy, to confirm admission. Tuition fees by year group (annual and per term) - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual €11,500 — Per term €3,833 (annual ÷ 3). - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual €11,800 — Per term €3,933 (annual ÷ 3). - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual €13,000 — Per term €4,333 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 1 (age 6): Annual €14,200 — Per term €4,733 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 2 (age 7): Annual €14,400 — Per term €4,800 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 3 (age 8): Annual €14,600 — Per term €4,867 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 4 (age 9): Annual €14,900 — Per term €4,967 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 5 (age 10): Annual €15,000 — Per term €5,000 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 6 (age 11): Annual €17,100 — Per term €5,700 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 7 (age 12): Annual €17,200 — Per term €5,733 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 8 (age 13): Annual €17,400 — Per term €5,800 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 9 (age 14): Annual €20,500 — Per term €6,833 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 10 (age 15): Annual €20,500 — Per term €6,833 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 11 (age 16): Annual €22,000 — Per term €7,333 (annual ÷ 3). - Grade 12 (age 17): Annual €22,000 — Per term €7,333 (annual ÷ 3). (Note: the school invoices three times per year; the per‑term figures above are the annual fee divided by three and are shown to give per‑term amounts consistent with the school's termly billing structure.) First‑year total for new families - For a new enrolment the first year total includes the one‑time Capital Levy plus the annual tuition. Example: Kindergarten 1 first‑year total €11,500 (annual tuition) + €5,000 (Capital Levy) = €16,500. Billing schedule and payment terms - Termly payment schedule: Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3 payments are required; the school publishes specific due dates for each term (Term 1 due 1 July 2026; Term 2 due 1 December 2026; Term 3 due 1 March 2027). An annual payment option is available with an advanced‑payment discount of 5% if paid prior to the school's published deadline. Late payments incur staged interest/penalties (for example 5% for 30–60 days late; 10% for 60–90 days late; more than 90 days may incur 10% plus possible legal proceedings). The school invoices and requires payment by the stated due dates. Boarding fees (if applicable) - St. Dominic's operates as a day school; it does not publish boarding provision or boarding fees for this campus. Other costs and fees - IB examination fees (for IBDP and certain external examinations) are not included in the tuition and are charged separately for candidates in the relevant grades. - International sports, cultural and academic trip costs are not included in tuition and are invoiced separately when arranged. - After‑school (extra‑curricular) activities led by external providers carry additional charges. Co‑curricular activities led by school staff are stated as free of charge. - Annual bus service: bus registration is for the full year, withdrawal from the annual bus service is not allowed, and bus fees are treated as non‑refundable once paid. Routes are managed through the school's contracted transport partner. - Uniforms: all uniform items are purchased at the designated supplier (El Corte Inglés, Avenida António Augusto Aguiar 31, Lisbon). Uniform purchase is an additional parental expense; the school does not publish fixed uniform pricing on its public pages. - Summer school, supervision and incidental charges: summer‑programme fees and certain supervision charges (for example late pick‑up penalties) are charged separately as shown in the school's summer‑school materials. Refunds and withdrawal policy - One full term's notice (90 days) is required to withdraw a student during the academic year. If the required notice is not given, tuition for the following term will be charged in lieu of notice. Capital Levy, Tuition Fees, Registration Fees, and Annual Bus Fees are non‑refundable once paid. The school's published policy also states that any payments made for examinations or trips will first be used to settle outstanding tuition fees; refunds and pro‑rations are governed by the school's formal fee and withdrawal rules. Fee payment options (published information) - The school issues invoices and sets due dates and penalties; specific accepted payment methods (for example bank transfer, credit/debit card, SEPA direct debit) are not published in detail on the publicly available fee pages. Parents receive billing information and invoice terms through the admissions and administration process. Notes for families (practical points) - Tuition fees are stated to include school materials, some local field trips and school accident insurance; they do not include major international trips or IB examination fees. Annual fees are reviewed and may change from year to year. Bus service must be registered for the full year and is billed separately. Sibling discounts are published in fee summaries (the school database summary shows typical sibling discounts of 5% for a second child, 15% for a third child and 25% for fourth and subsequent children).
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 OIS offers the International Baccalaureate Continuum: Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 6 to 10 (PYP1 to PYP5), Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11 to 16 (MYP1 to MYP5), and Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 17 to 18 (DP1, DP2). The school is an IB World School authorised to offer PYP, MYP and DP. PYP is an inquiry-based learning programme for children aged 6 to 10. MYP builds on prior learning and leads to the MYP certificate. The DP is internationally recognised for university admissions.	Curriculum details The school offers the IB Continuum of education: PYP, MYP and DP. The Primary Years Programme is delivered Nursery to Grade 5 as a transdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach with six transdisciplinary themes. The Middle Years Programme covers Grade 6 to 10 and bridges PYP and DP, using Global Contexts and including Service as Action and the Personal Project, across eight subject groups. The Diploma Programme is for Grade 11 and 12, with core elements Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Action and Service and the Extended Essay, across six subject groups; DP Courses are offered as well. The school is authorized to offer the full IB Continuum.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio 1:6 teacher to student; average class size 16.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results IB Diploma Results show high achievement. In 2021, 45 DP candidates with a 100% pass rate and an average DP grade of 5.6; OIS average points were 35, compared with a world average of 32.98. In 2020, 29 DP candidates with a 93% pass rate and an average grade of 5.12; OIS average points 32 versus world average 31.3.	Exam results The highest DP score awarded to a candidate has been 45. The number of Diploma candidates has more than doubled in the last four years, and the average DP grade has risen. Graduates have gained places at top universities including Monash University (Australia), Universidade Católica Portuguesa, KU Leuven (Belgium), the University of Kent, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, Imperial College London and the University of Coimbra.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates go to universities around the world, including notable destinations in the UK, the USA and other countries such as King's College London, University College London, Imperial College London, Stanford University, University of Chicago, McGill University, University of Toronto and the University of Auckland.	Higher education progression Graduates have pursued higher education primarily at UK universities, with expanding options across Europe. Examples include Aberdeen University (Psychology); Brunel University London (Global Challenges with Innovation); City, University of London (Mathematics and Finance). Additional destinations include Durham University (Criminology), University of Edinburgh (Vet Medicine), University of Glasgow (Neuroscience), Imperial College London (Electrical and Electronic Engineering), and Universidade de Coimbra (Pharmacy Biomedical).
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 Students aged 5 to 18 may be admitted, with OIS beginning in Year 2 (PYP1) for typically 6-year-olds. The school is over-subscribed in most year groups, so applying early is advised. A placement test assesses cognitive ability and learning style; there is no pass or fail mark, and staff determine whether they can support the student, with the Student Support Department assisting if extra help is needed. Priorities for admission are: first current students, staff and founding/associate members; second siblings of current students; other applicants are considered as space allows; under equal conditions, offers go to the student with the best previous academic record. There is a learning support program, but applications with severe emotional needs cannot be catered for. Documentation and an interview are required. OIS accepts applications throughout the year (Rolling Admissions) if space becomes available. English language requirements vary by grade; a minimum level is advised, fluency is not compulsory for admission to certain year groups, and full proficiency is required for Years 10–13 and will be assessed during admissions. The admissions steps are: register your interest; complete the application form and pay the €250 application fee; schedule placement tests; attend an interview with the programme coordinator; Admissions Committee reviews the application; upon successful completion, upload the required documentation and pay the registration fee to secure the place; if there is no space, the applicant will be placed on the waiting list.	Admissions The school has an open admission policy and accepts students with a broad range of academic ability and learning needs. All applications are reviewed prior to confirming availability to ensure the resources to support the student, with focus on student wellbeing within the International Baccalaureate Programmes. Expression of Interest: submit the requested information to be contacted by a member of the admissions team. Visit to the Campus and Meeting with Admissions Team: during the school tour you meet a member of the teaching staff and, where possible, a student of a similar age; if applying to Grade 6 or above, a placement test may be requested during your visit or at your child's current school. Students not fluent in English or with special educational needs may be referred to Learning Support professionals. Offer Email: after the visit the application is reviewed to confirm availability; placement is offered according to space and the date of your application. Registration Forms, Documents and Fees: to complete registration and secure a place, you will receive and complete forms including Registration details, Health Questionnaire, School Consents, Rules and Regulations, Tuition Fees; it is important to disclose any health or learning concerns to avoid difficulties, and a Registration fee payment is required. Registration Confirmation: on receipt of the completed forms and payment of the Annual Registration and the applicable Capital Levy, the School will confirm admission.
Scholarships	Scholarships The school offers scholarships for outstanding students. Scholarships may be awarded to students who live or study within the Oeiras area who otherwise may not have the opportunity to benefit from an OIS education. Scholarships are awarded on merit by the Scholarship Selection Council and are weighted by need, with partial or full scholarships possible. They cover all yearly registration and fees and required educational activities, with no other discounts applied. Open to students ranked in the top 10% of their year (Year 7 through Year 12) who live or study in the municipality of Oeiras. Ten full scholarships exist, and automatic yearly renewal is based on continued high academic achievement and significant involvement in wider school activities. The online application must be submitted by 14 March at 17:00 and includes: a letter from the applicant's parents in English or Portuguese, a short video in English outlining why they wish to join OIS, the applicant's Curriculum Vitae, reports from the previous three years including grades, three recommendation letters (one from Head Teacher/Principal and two from current teachers), and a declaration from the Head Teacher/Principal that the applicant is ranked in the top 10%. The Scholarship Selection Council is composed of one representative from Câmara Municipal de Oeiras (CMO) and at least three OIS representatives. Submissions deadline for Academic Year 2026/27 is Closed.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist If there is no available place, the applicant will be placed on the waiting list.	Waitlist —
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