Edited by Aziza Francienne · B2C Marketing Manager
Sarawak offers a distinctly different Malaysia, with Kuching as its laid-back capital surrounded by rainforest and the South China Sea. The expat community is small but tight-knit, and international school fees are well below peninsula equivalents. Families here tend to value outdoor lifestyles, cultural diversity, and a quieter pace that still has modern amenities and good healthcare.
Compare 6 international schools in Sarawak, Malaysia. Filter by curriculum, fees (average MYR 18,561), location, and more to find the right international school now.
Lodge International School (LIS) in Kuching, Sarawak, is part of the larger Lodge Group of Schools, originally founded in 1953. It offers the British National Curriculum from Year 2 onwards and prepares students for the Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level examinations. The curriculum spans across English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, ICT, Music, and Art. Bahasa Malaysia is taught, and students may choose either Mandarin or Korean as an additional language. The school also places importance on co-curricular engagement through sports, clubs, and service-based activities. Lodge International School is equipped with science laboratories, computer labs, and a dedicated ICT suite. Students benefit from air-conditioned classrooms and a well-stocked library. The campus also includes a multi-purpose sports hall and outdoor courts that support basketball, futsal, and other team sports.
Knewton Global Schools, located in Miri, caters to students from early years to secondary levels. The school offers two main academic pathways: the British international curriculum and the Malaysian national curriculum. This dual-track system enables students to follow either an internationally recognized route or a curriculum aligned with national education standards. The school’s campus includes a science lab, computer facilities, outdoor sports courts, and multipurpose halls. It also has areas designated for early childhood education, including classrooms suited for younger learners and play-based environments. A key feature of Knewton Global Schools is its history. Originally known as Piasau Primary School, it has been part of the local educational landscape for several decades. Today, students engage in a mix of academic learning, extracurricular clubs, and cultural events. Community involvement is also encouraged, with events that bring together students, staff, and families, such as fun runs and themed celebration days.
St. Joseph’s International School (SJIS) in Kuching is a Catholic co-educational institution established in January 2017, under the guidance of the Marist Brothers. It offers the Cambridge curriculum through IGCSE and A-Level programmes, with English as the primary medium of instruction. Malaysian students also take Bahasa Malaysia and Civic/Moral or Religious Studies. SJIS is undergoing a major campus expansion, with a new RM 16.5 million four-storey building currently under construction. This facility will house a multi-purpose hall (large enough for three badminton courts), new science laboratories, music and dance studios, an expanded library, dining facilities, and smart-learning courtyards. The school also supports student well-being with its own transport fleet of over nine school buses, each supervised by a female bus attendant. SJIS has invested in a growing library collection, currently holding over 1,500 book titles, supporting literacy across subject areas.
Tunku Putra-HELP School (TPHS), located in Kuching, Sarawak, was originally established in 1996 and moved to a purpose-built campus at The NorthBank in 2020. It offers both international and national streams, catering to a diverse student body. The international stream follows the British curriculum, including the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), Cambridge IGCSE, and A-Levels. The national stream aligns with the Malaysian curriculum. Facilities at TPHS features air-conditioned classrooms with Apple TVs, science labs, ICT suites, art and music rooms, a performing arts theatre, dance studio, swimming pool, library, and dedicated spaces for sports and student well-being.
Borneo International School in Kuching serves students aged roughly 6 to 18, providing education from primary level through to A-Level qualifications. The school follows the Cambridge International curriculum, including IGCSE and A-Level examinations, with instruction delivered in English. The school moved into a purpose-built campus in Saradise in 2022. The new site includes subject-specific classrooms, science labs, a library, and open-air recreational spaces. Class sizes are kept small to support close teacher-student interaction, and the school emphasizes structured learning in core subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Science. A notable feature of Borneo International School is its integration of community-based learning. Students regularly participate in volunteer work, fundraising activities, and school performances, providing them opportunities to engage beyond the classroom. Family participation is also common at open days and school-hosted events, where student work and performances are showcased.
Riam Hill International Secondary School, located in Miri, Sarawak, was established in 2022. It offers the Cambridge Lower Secondary and IGCSE pathway for students in Years 7 through 11. The curriculum includes core subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Science, and is broadened by courses like Social Studies, Coding, Life Skills, Physical Education, Bahasa Malaysia, and Chinese. Pastoral support and university counselling are integral parts of its student development approach. In terms of facilities, Riam Hill is an official Cambridge examination centre, which allows both enrolled and private candidates to sit for IGCSE exams on campus. The school promotes a dynamic co-curricular environment through a range of programmes including e-sports, public speaking, STEM clubs, baking, and gardening. Physical activities are supported by access to basketball, volleyball, tennis, and badminton courts, as well as swimming and athletics sessions.
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