St. George International School & Preschool vs Zlatarski International School of Sofia

	S St. George International School & Preschool Sofia, Bulgaria	Z Zlatarski International School of Sofia Sofia, Bulgaria
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €11,467 - 19,313	Fees / year €200 - 12,680
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 11 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, Advanced Placement (AP)	Curriculum IB (DP), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils 750	Pupils 300
Typical class size	Typical class size 18	Typical class size 17
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Bulgarian	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1996	Opened 1995
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location 47 Nikola Y. Vaptsarov Blvd, 1407 Sofia, Bulgaria. The school is located in the city center of Sofia. The building moved to this site in 2016.	Location 49 Kliment Ohridski blvd, Sofia 1756, Bulgaria. The school is located in Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria.
Stages	Stages Preschool 2–5 years; Primary 0–4th grade; Lower secondary 5th–7th grade; Cambridge IGCSE (8th–10th grade); Cambridge A-level (11th–12th grade)	Stages Lower Secondary School (Grades 5-7): national programme enriched by the Cambridge Lower Secondary; Middle School (Grades 8-10): national programme enriched by the Cambridge Checkpoint and IGCSE; Upper Secondary School (Grades 11-12): IB Diploma Programme and/or the national programme; International students in Grades 5-12 can choose to follow only the international pathway.
School type	School type Private international school and preschool in Sofia, Bulgaria. Cambridge International Education programmes (Cambridge Primary, IGCSE, and A-levels) are used. The official languages are English and Bulgarian.	School type International secondary school offering the national programme alongside Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge Checkpoint, IGCSE and the IB Diploma Programme. IB World School since 2003; Cambridge International School since 2010; established in 1995 as an English-language secondary school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix Nationalities represented: 15 (Bulgaria, Netherlands, Hungary, India, Israel, Russia, United Kingdom, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, United States, Georgia, Korea, Syria, China); most common nationality: Bulgarian; local to international ratio: 90% to 10% (9:1).
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Bulgaria	Country affiliation Affiliation with Bulgaria's national education system; authorisation by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure The school day starts at 8:15 AM and ends between 3:30 PM and 4:00 PM, depending on age.	School day structure Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 4pm.
Bus service details	Bus service details Yes. The school works with a subcontractor that provides transport. It is available to children aged 3 and above and runs on school days from September 15 to May 31; transport is not offered during school holidays.	Bus service details School transport is available: 20-30% of students use school transport; buses to the school serve lines 69, 70, 88, 123, 280, 294; minibuses serve lines 5, 27, 29.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / admission fee - The admission fee is a one-off, non-refundable payment due when parents express a desire to apply. The admission fee covers document review, the candidate's trial day (including food), the entry exam and related administrative processing. The admission fee is not charged for applicants to Grade 5 and Grade 8. Guarantee deposit - A guarantee deposit of EUR 1,000 is payable when signing the tuition contract. This is a one-off payment that secures the student's place and may be used to cover damage or late payment; any remaining balance is refundable after completion of tuition. Tuition fees (annual / per-term information and instalment rules) - Annual tuition fees are quoted in euro and are shown as annual amounts when paid in a single (one‑off) instalment. When parents select staggered payment plans, additional charges apply: paying in 2 instalments adds 3%, in 3 instalments adds 8%, and in 10 instalments adds 10% to the tuition total. For the 10-instalment plan the first instalment amount is specified (EUR 4,000 for full‑day CIE students; EUR 2,500 for half‑day Bulgarian-diploma students) and the remainder is split into nine equal payments. New students pay their first instalment within 7 days of signing the contract; returning students' first instalment for the following year is due by 31 May. Deadlines for the 2026/27 payment-plan options include 31 May (single instalment) and a schedule of dates for 2, 3 or 10 instalments (for example: 31 May, 10 Nov, 10 Mar or monthly dates when 10 instalments are selected). Tuition fees by year group (per-grade amounts / per-term breakdown) - The school publishes a grade-by-grade table of annual tuition fees (amounts shown in euro for single-payment settlement). The protected fee table itself was not accessible for extraction while preparing this overview, so specific per-grade numeric tuition amounts (per term or per year group) cannot be reproduced here. The school's published fee structure confirms that the listed annual amounts are the reference figures and that instalment surcharges and the first-instalment rules above apply when parents choose staggered payments. Billing schedule and payment terms (how and when fees are billed and due)n- Payment plans available: one, two, three or ten instalments. Instalment surcharges apply as above (2/3/10 instalments = +3% / +8% / +10%). - Typical due dates shown for the 2026/27 plan: 1 instalment: 31 May; 2 instalments: 31 May and 10 Nov; 3 instalments: 31 May, 10 Nov and 10 Mar (dates shown in the published payment plan); 10 instalments: 31 May then successive 10th-of-month dates across the academic year. New-student first instalment due within 7 days of contract signature; returning-student first instalment due by 31 May for the next academic year. Additional charges and rules (penalties) are set out in the school's general terms. Boarding fees - No boarding fees are listed because the school's published materials do not show a boarding provision; transport, meals and day-school extras are described as separate, optional services. Boarding fees are therefore not applicable. Other compulsory or additional costs - Educational resources fee: set annually, payable with the first instalment according to the chosen payment plan; paid separately from tuition and not refundable. This covers subscriptions to online platforms, textbooks, basic stationery packs and devices where specified (a personal tablet is provided for students in certain grades). - Exam fees: determined annually, payable with the first instalment; paid separately from tuition and non-refundable. External and Cambridge examination fees (Checkpoint, IGCSE, AS/A‑Level) and additional exam-related practical component charges (where applicable) are charged in addition to tuition. - Food / catering: calculated and billed separately from tuition. For full‑day students (CIE): food with first‑morning breakfast is shown at EUR 13.90 per school day for Primary (Grades 1–4) and EUR 15.30 per school day for Lower/Upper Secondary (Grades 5–12). Food without the first morning breakfast is shown at EUR 12.80 per day for Primary and EUR 14.20 per day for Grades 5–12. Fresh juice (optional) is charged (EUR 2.30 per day). Food may be paid annually or in two instalments; a year‑end recalculation reimburses unused food fees for medically documented absences. A mandatory small morning snack for certain grades is charged as an annual fee (Grade 1: EUR 230; Grades 8–9: EUR 255). - Transport: provided by an independent licensed company; the transport fee is calculated and billed separately and parents contract directly with the carrier. - Extracurricular activities (sports, music, applied / performing / fine arts, technology, design etc.): charged separately and are non‑refundable once paid; enrolment and payment follow an additional schedule through the school's electronic platform. - School uniform: required for Grades 1–10; uniform items are charged separately and are not covered by tuition or discounts. Discounts and sibling policy - Sibling discounts on the tuition fee: second child from one family receives a 5% tuition discount; each subsequent child receives a 10% discount; for twins, a 15% discount is applied to one twin. Discounts do not apply to the guarantee deposit, admission fee, educational resources fee, exam fees, school trips, uniform, food, transport, or extracurricular blocks outside the compulsory programme. Refunds and termination / leave before end of year - If parents terminate a tuition contract with the required one-month notice before the end of the school year, the tuition fee is reimbursed according to the school's published schedule: leave dated from 15 September to 30 October – 25% (reimbursement basis shown); from 1 November to 31 January – 20%; from 1 February to 31 March – 15%. The educational resources fee, admission fee and exam fees are not refundable. The general terms also set a contractual penalty in specific withdrawal windows (an amount of EUR 2,500 is referenced in the school's general terms for certain unilateral contract terminations in the period between signing a payment plan and the start of lessons; this penalty may be partially deducted from the guarantee deposit up to the smaller amount). Fee payment options - Accepted payment methods include bank transfer and card payments at a POS terminal; payments may also be made by debit or credit card and by bank transfer to the account specified in the tuition contract. Fees are payable to the school account details shown on invoices and in the payment plan enclosed with the tuition contract. Brief note on unavailable per‑grade numeric tuition amounts - The school's published 2026/27 fees page indicates a grade-by-grade tuition table (annual amounts in euro) and the instalment and billing rules, but the numeric tuition table itself could not be extracted from the published page during this check (the page presents the fee table as protected content). Specific per-grade tuition figures and per‑term breakdowns therefore could not be reproduced in this overview. The school's published materials do, however, set out the guarantee deposit, instalment surcharges, payment deadlines, food charges, educational resources and exam fees, sibling discounts and the refund / termination schedule summarized above.	Fee details Scope and academic year The following fees apply to the 2025/2026 academic year. Application / registration fee - Registration fee (for all candidates): EUR 200. Annual tuition fees by year group (annual and per term) - Grades 5–7 - Annual: EUR 8,890 (students from Bulgarian schools). - Annual: EUR 10,890 (international students). - Per term (school year divided into two terms): EUR 4,445 and EUR 5,445 respectively. - Grade 8 - Annual: EUR 8,980 (students from Bulgarian schools). - Annual: EUR 10,980 (international students). - Per term: EUR 4,490 and EUR 5,490 respectively. - Grades 9–10 - Annual: EUR 9,200 (Zlatarski International School students — returning/current Zlatarski students). - Annual: EUR 10,200 (students from Bulgarian schools). - Annual: EUR 11,200 (international students). - Per term: EUR 4,600; EUR 5,100; EUR 5,600 respectively. - Grades 11–12 - Annual: EUR 9,680 or EUR 10,680 for Zlatarski School students (amount depends on the chosen education pathway). - Annual: EUR 11,680 (students from Bulgarian schools). - Annual: EUR 12,680 (international students). - Per term: EUR 4,840 or EUR 5,340; EUR 5,840; EUR 6,340 respectively. Additional / optional charges - School transport (optional): EUR 2,100 per year; payable in two installments (EUR 1,050 per installment). - Cafeteria meals (optional): EUR 345 per quarter. - Uniforms, notebooks and other school supplies are additional; uniforms are supplied through the listed vendor (Interstudies 2005 Ltd). - The tuition fee covers instruction, all textbooks, insurance, medical care, security, participation in organised cultural events, extracurricular activities (arts and sports) and use of school facilities. Outside the admissions schedule dates the annual tuition fee is equal to the fee for international students. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school year is divided into two terms; tuition is presented on an annual basis and per-term amounts are calculated on a two-term year. - The school's published schedule references first and second instalments; financial obligations for the first and second instalment (with a specified deadline for those instalments) must be settled by the start of the year as indicated in the admissions/start-of-year information. (Transport instalments are explicitly stated as two instalments.) Boarding - Zlatarski International School operates as a day school and does not charge boarding fees; there are no boarding facilities. Refunds and cancellation - No general published tuition refund or cancellation policy is provided among the school's publicly listed fees and admissions information; specific refund or cancellation terms are not set out on the published fees pages. Fee payment options and bank details - Accepted methods listed: bank transfer and cash payments at the school finance department. Credit-card payment is not listed among published payment options. - Bank transfer details provided for tuition payments (examples as published): - Tuition fees for students in Grades 8–12 (Private Secondary School “Prof. Dr. Vassil Zlatarski” Ltd): Payments in euro IBAN: BG55 BUIN 9561 1000 5837 16 — BIC: BUINBGSF. - Tuition fees for students in Grades 5–7 (Private Primary School “Prof. Dr. Vassil Zlatarski” Ltd): Payments in euro IBAN: BG39 BUIN 9561 1000 6096 12 — BIC: BUINBGSF. - Additional services (application fee, transport, notebooks, school lunch, uniforms): Payments in euro IBAN: BG68 BUIN 9561 1000 2159 49 — BIC: BUINBGSF. Notes on optional billing frequencies - Transport is explicitly payable in two instalments; cafeteria requests are made before each quarter and the cafeteria fee is quoted per quarter, indicating quarterly billing for meals. Tuition figures are published annually and the school structures the academic year as two terms.
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 Cambridge International Education programme for Primary and Lower Secondary education, preparing students for IGCSE, AS, and A-level certificates, in addition to the State Educational Standards of the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria.	Curriculum details Zlatarski International School of Sofia offers an international curriculum integrated with the English National Curriculum and their own contemporary teaching approach. The school is fully authorised by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education, the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) and Cambridge Assessment International Education. It integrates the Bulgarian educational system with the international IB framework and the British programmes – IGCSE and A Levels. The curriculum is structured across three stages: Cambridge Secondary (grades 5-8), IGCSE (grades 9-10) and International Baccalaureate / A Levels (grades 11-12). Graduates receive both the Bulgarian Diploma and an international IB or A Levels diploma. English is the main language of instruction.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Class sizes range from 15 to 18 in the primary stage and up to 22 in higher levels. The school has about 715 students and around 190 teachers and supporting staff.	Student teacher ratio Student/Teacher ratio: 5:1. Average class size: 16.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results Excellent results in IB exams, national state exams, International GCSEs and Cambridge Checkpoint. Graduates continue their education at leading universities worldwide, including Oxford University, Princeton University, LSE, Imperial College London, Caltech, McGill University, Warwick University, King's College London, UCL, City University, Durham University, Queen Mary University, University of Vienna, Erasmus University, Bocconi University, Sciences Po, and more.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates attend universities worldwide, including Edinburgh, Oxbridge, Kings College, UCL, St. Andrews, Hong Kong University, Stanford, Durham, EPFL, Sofia University Kliment Ohridski, Medical University Sofia, and others.	Higher education progression Graduates go on to study at leading universities worldwide, including Oxford University, Princeton University, LSE, Imperial College London, Caltech, McGill University, Warwick University, King's College London, UCL, City University, Durham University, Queen Mary University, University of Vienna, Erasmus University, Bocconi University, Sciences Po, and more.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented The school offers full or partial scholarships for upper-secondary students with demonstrated talents in sports, music, mathematics, or the arts.	Gifted and talented Oxbridge and Medical school preparation and Universities and College Counselling are available to support high-achieving students.
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 Admission and enrollment information is provided to help parents and students make an informed decision about St. George International School and Preschool; information meetings with the Admission and Communication department are organized. Admission begins with filling in the online application. For the 2024-2025 school year, admission exams are required for students entering preparatory, first, fifth, or eighth grade. Fees are published on the school's website and updated annually by March; tuition differs for returning and new students, and there are additional costs such as a guarantee deposit, educational resources, exams, meals, uniforms, transportation, and other charges. Scholarships may be available for upper secondary education, with opportunities for full or partial scholarships for students with demonstrated talents in sports, music, mathematics, and/or the arts who may not have the means to pay regular tuition. Admissions for the next academic year take place in January, February, and March according to a schedule set by the school; admissions during the current academic year are possible depending on availability, with an individual examination session. The admission procedure lasts about 20 days from the admission date. Informational tours are regularly organized, with contact numbers and email addresses provided for admissions. Preschool admissions for children aged 2 to 5 are year-round and subject to available places; the preschool operates in English, with Bulgarian used in Bulgarian contexts; group sizes in preschool and school settings are published, and uniforms are available for all age groups. The school is located at 47 Nikola Y. Vaptsarov Blvd, 1407 Sofia.	Admissions Admissions Zlatarski International School – Leading school in Sofia for students in grades 5 through 12. The admission procedure for students aged 11 through 18 is open for September 2026. Admissions are based on the results of the entrance exam, school reports, and an interview. The school is licensed by the Ministry of Education and Science, the International Baccalaureate Organization, and Cambridge International Education. It educates about 300 Bulgarian and international students in grades 5–12. Students graduate with two diplomas – Bulgarian and international. The school was founded in 1995 as an English-language high school, and in 2003 became the first IB World School in Bulgaria. In 2010 the high school became the first Bulgarian school authorized to offer Cambridge programs (IGCSE and A Levels), and in 2017 it received a license for the Cambridge Secondary program. In 2018 Zlatarski International School opened to 5–7 grades. The school uniquely integrates the Bulgarian educational system with IB and Cambridge programs – Cambridge Secondary, IGCSE and A Levels. Thanks to well-structured curricula and thorough teaching, students achieve strong results. This opens doors to prestigious universities in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United States, Switzerland and more. Zlatarski International School marks 30 years since its founding. International Education: The school has the most experience in Bulgaria with IB and Cambridge IGCSE, providing solid academic preparation. Our achievements in numbers: 25 cohorts and over 1,400 graduates with excellent and very good results on state matriculation; 20 IB cohorts with over 800 graduates: 450 with IB diplomas and 350 with IB certificates; 13 cohorts with Cambridge IGCSE and over 600 students with IGCSE certificates; 7 cohorts with Cambridge Checkpoint and over 340 students with Checkpoint certificates. Excellent results: Students achieve excellent results in IGCSE, IB and matriculation, opening doors to top universities worldwide. Graduates are admitted to universities such as Oxford, Princeton, Imperial College London, LSE, Caltech, Delft, Bocconi, St Andrews, Sciences Po, and more. School life: Students develop through sport, arts, music, drama and community activities — in the classroom and beyond. Extracurricular activities occupy a central place and play a key role in the school community — whether participating in school sports, performing on stage in dance or music, discovering an artifact on an educational excursion, developing an innovative project, taking part in charitable initiatives, the art of public speaking, representing the school as a school ambassador, or exchanging ideas with students from abroad. School community: With the help of qualified teachers and a supportive environment, students form lifelong friendships. The teaching staff consists of motivated professionals, many with doctoral degrees and education from prestigious international universities. They impart academic knowledge and shape values such as mutual respect, tolerance and cooperation. In a climate of trust and openness, students feel free to express themselves, share ideas and learn from each other. Admission: Application process Secure your child's future with international education and a supportive school environment. For students in grades 5–12. Admission procedures for 5–7 grades; Admission procedure for 8th grade; Admission procedure for 11th grade: IB Diploma Programme; Open days; Admission for the 2026/2027 academic year. Deadlines for 2026/2027: Registration for entrance exam – online registration Open days: December 4 (Thursday) 15:00–17:00; January 29 (Thursday) 15:00–17:00; February 26 (Thursday) 15:00–17:00; March 26 (Thursday) 15:00–17:00 Entrance exam date I: February 2 (Monday) 10:00–12:00 Results announced by February 12, 14:00 Meetings with the admissions committee: February 16–20 Enrollment: February 20–28 Entrance exam date II: March 7 (Saturday) 10:00–12:00 Results announced by March 14, 14:00 Meetings with the admissions committee: March 16–20 Enrollment: March 20–30 Entrance exam date III: April 4 (Saturday) 10:00–12:00 Results announced by April 10, 14:00 Meetings with the admissions committee: April 14–20 Enrollment: April 20–30 Admission of international students: On an individual schedule English placement test for admitted students: June 4 (Thursday) 15:00–16:30 How to choose a school? When you need to make an important decision about which school to choose, answer these questions: Is there enthusiasm among students and teachers? Does the school have high academic results? Are students attentive in class? Does the school have adequate facilities – library, laboratory, modern computers, multimedia? Does the school offer extracurricular activities that are interesting and well attended? Is the campus infrastructure independent? Where have graduates of the school been admitted? Are the school buildings, dining areas, and playing fields well maintained? What is the atmosphere at the school? How many students study at the school? Does the school share your values? How much freedom is given to students in each class? Does the school encourage parental involvement in the educational process and clearly define the parent's role? To participate in Zlatarski International School's admission process, fill in the online registration form. Registration: Zlatarski International School Student information First name Middle name Surname Date of birth Nationality School Class in school Student email Student phone Parent/Guardian First name Last name Parent email Parent phone Security measures Enter two digits Example: 12","waitlist":null,"scholarships":null}} }00000000? (Note: The trailing characters are removed for display)” } )> ?>
Scholarships	Scholarships Scholarships are available for upper secondary education; there are opportunities for full or partial scholarships for students with demonstrated talents in sports, music, mathematics, and/or the arts, who may not have the financial means to pay regular tuition.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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