Edited by Aziza Francienne · B2C Marketing Manager
Malaysia is easy to live in, with a lower cost of living, good food everywhere, and a mix of cultures that you experience in daily life. Families can access world-class international education at fees that are typically 40 to 60 percent lower than equivalent schools in Singapore, Hong Kong, or Dubai. English is widely spoken, making day-to-day settling in far easier than many other Asian postings.
Compare 5 international schools in Malaysia. Filter by curriculum, fees (average MYR 29,318), location, and more to find the right international school now.
Cempaka International School Cheras follows the Malaysian National Curriculum, offering education from Early Childhood through Secondary level. It is part of the Cempaka Schools group which also has a campus in Damansara Heights offering British and Finnish curriculum tracks. The institution holds recognition from Cambridge University, Oxford AQA, Pearson Edexcel, and the International Schools Association (ISA).
R.E.A.L International School - Shah Alam is located at Lot No. 5, Jalan Merah Saga U9/5, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. It offers Cambridge IGCSE, Malaysian, and British curricula for students aged 3 to 17, operating a dual-pathway model with a dynamic Early Years program focused on social, emotional and personal development, and a Private National School pathway with a tailored curriculum. Special Programmes include Chinese Studies and Arabic and Islamic Studies; Mandarin, Arabic, French and Tamil are offered as additional language classes. The Shah Alam campus provides a safe, supportive environment with facilities including a library, hall, science laboratories, a music room, makerspace, art room, culinary laboratory, sewing room, and a halal cafeteria. Cambridge IGCSE examinations are offered, with notable results such as a “Top in the World” grade in Mathematics and 11As (9A+, 2A). Extracurriculars feature Design for Change, public speaking achievements, NASA Space Essay Competition recognition, and an ambassador team that represented Malaysia at Be the Change in Taiwan. The campus includes indoor and outdoor sports facilities, the REAL Schools Arena and a swimming pool.
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.
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.
Asia Pacific Schools (APIS) is a private school offering international and national curricula for learners aged 2 to 17. The school provides two curricula: APIS follows the international British framework, including Cambridge IGCSE and IPC, while APSS blends the enriched Malaysian national curriculum (KSSR/KSSM). The campus offers facilities and learning spaces, including a library, ICT labs, science labs and makers labs, immersive language rooms, a multi‑purpose hall for assemblies, drama and indoor sport. Facilities also include music studios, art studios, a cookery lab and sewing room, a speech and drama room, a Preschool centre, dining hall and outdoor spaces. Language learning is supported in rooms for English, Malay, Chinese and French. The school provides extracurriculars through International School Partnership programs such as ISP Artists, ISP Changemakers, ISP Chess Masters, ISP Cultural Exchange, ISP Scientists and ISP Filmmakers, plus ISP MUN and virtual exchanges. Skills are developed through clubs and service.
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