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Start herePart 8Family & Community

International Schools

Verified 13 September 202621 min read9 sections

Chiang Mai punches well above its weight for international education. For a mid-sized city it has a genuine spread of options — full IB continuum schools, British Cambridge schools, American-curriculum Christian schools, and holistic bilingual schools set among rice fields — and the list keeps growing, with several new British-brand schools opening in the last couple of years. Fees are a fraction of Bangkok or Singapore, which is a big part of why so many families choose to raise children here.

This section covers the main English-medium international schools, their curricula, rough annual fees, and locations. Use it to build a shortlist, then contact schools directly — fees change every year, and the numbers below were re-verified in July 2026 for the 2025/2026 academic year (with 2026/2027 figures noted where schools have published them).

A note on fees: figures are annual tuition in Thai baht, with USD equivalents generated at the wiki's single working rate — see Cost of Living for how that rate is maintained. Nearly every school adds sizeable one-time costs on top of tuition: an application fee (฿2,000–15,000 ($59–443)), a one-time enrolment/entrance/placement fee (฿30,000–150,000 ($885–4,427)), and often a refundable deposit or annual capitalisation levy (฿5,000–56,000 ($148–1,653)). Budget for uniforms, transport (school buses are typically ฿20,000–50,000 ($590–1,476)/year depending on distance), lunch, and activities separately (roughly ฿4,000–10,000 ($118–295)/year for uniforms and supplies alone). The "first-year" cost of enrolling a child is therefore usually well above the headline tuition — for a mid-tier school, budget an extra ฿70,000–120,000 ($2,066–3,542) in year one.

The main schools at a glance#

Curriculum by camp#

If you already know which system you want, that narrows the list fast.

International Baccalaureate (IB): Prem (PTIS) is the flagship — the first school in Southeast Asia to offer all four IB programmes (Primary Years, Middle Years, Diploma, and Career-related). Panyaden runs the IB Diploma at the top end, layered on a British-style primary and a Thai culture programme.

British (Cambridge IGCSE / A-level): the British camp has grown a lot. Lanna is the long-standing option (ages 2–18 toward IGCSE and A-levels). Panyaden leans British in its earlier years before the IB Diploma. Three newer entrants have widened the field: Mill Hill International School Thailand (a premium UK-brand school that opened in September 2025), British Concordance International School (BCIS) at the more affordable end, and Meritton British International School, which plans to introduce Cambridge AS & A-level from 2026.

American (US high-school diploma, often with AP): CMIS, Nakornpayap (NIS), Grace (GIS), and APIS all run American curricula. Grace and NIS have a Christian character; CMIS is the largest and most internationally mixed. Two more budget-friendly American options sit out in Saraphi on the Chiang Mai–Lampang Superhighway: Unity Concord International School (UCIS) and Americana Chinese International School (ACIS) — both Common Core-aligned, both meaningfully cheaper than the city's flagship American schools.

French: Windfield International School runs the official AEFE French pathway (Maternelle → Élémentaire → Collège → Lycée, toward the Brevet and the French Baccalauréat), and pairs it with a Cambridge/British track — a genuinely useful option for French-speaking families or anyone wanting a bilingual French/English education, which is otherwise scarce in the north.

Trilingual (English/Thai/Mandarin): SIBS Chiangmai (Satit International Bilingual School of Rangsit University) runs a Cambridge pathway — Primary, IGCSE, then AS/A-level — but distinguishes itself by teaching a genuine third language track: students take Thai or Mandarin as a specialist first-language subject alongside English from Early Years on. Worth a look if you want your child bilingual or trilingual by design rather than by immersion alone.

Bilingual / holistic: Panyaden blends British curriculum, IB, and the Thai national curriculum with Buddhist principles and sustainability, taught by bilingual Thai/English staff. Varee offers a more affordable international track within a bilingual Thai school. For the wider world of Montessori, Waldorf/Steiner, forest-school and worldschooling setups, see the Homeschooling, worldschooling & alternative education section below.

Fees and locations in detail#

Rough annual tuition ranges below, re-verified July 2026. Unless flagged as 2026/2027, figures are 2025/2026 — always confirm with the school, as fees rise most years and vary a lot by grade.

Chiang Mai International School (CMIS) — City-side (13 Chetupon Road, Wat Ket, near the Ping River and east of the Old City). Annual tuition roughly ฿325,000–553,000 ($9,593–16,322), with the 2026 average landing around ฿372,000 ($10,980). Reduced (missionary) rates exist for eligible families with documentation. WASC-accredited, American curriculum. Contact [email protected]. (Note: fees have risen since the 2024/25 band of ฿289,000–491,000 ($8,530–14,492) — budget for annual increases.)

Prem Tinsulanonda International School (PTIS) — Mae Rim, ~30–40 minutes north of the city on a ~100-acre campus, day and boarding for ages 3–19. Annual tuition roughly ฿380,000–736,000 ($11,216–21,724); first-year enrolment around ฿585,000 ($17,267) with one-time fees. Application fee ฿5,000 ($148). Generous sibling discounts (10% for the 2nd child, 15% for the 3rd, 20% for the 4th, 50% for the 5th). Boarding is extra — contact admissions. The full IB continuum makes it a strong pick for families who move internationally and want curriculum continuity.

Nakornpayap International School (NIS) — San Phi Sua, north/east of the city. American curriculum, WASC-accredited. Annual tuition roughly ฿290,000–497,000 ($8,560–14,669). One-time fees: application/evaluation ฿5,000 ($148), registration ฿66,000 ($1,948) (non-refundable), book deposit ฿10,000 ($295) (refundable). A sibling discount of ฿10,000 ($295)/semester applies from the second child; families with three or more children cap the registration fee.

Grace International School (GIS) — Hang Dong (88 Moo 3, T. Harn Kaew), south-west of the city. American curriculum with AP; Christian ethos, K–12. 2026/2027 tuition roughly ฿294,500–361,000 ($8,692–10,655): K–5 ฿294,500, Grades 6–8 ฿322,000, Grades 9–11 ฿348,000, Grade 12 ฿361,000. One-time fees for new students: entrance ฿70,000 ($2,066) (non-refundable) plus small testing/application fees; recurring annual capitalisation ฿30,000 ($885) and re-enrolment ฿10,000 ($295). Pay-in-full gets a small discount; quarterly instalments carry a fee. One of the more affordable established international options.

Lanna International School (LIST) — Hang Dong (Baan Waen). British curriculum, ages 2–18, toward IGCSE and A-level. Yearly fees span a wide range by grade, roughly ฿325,000–563,000 ($9,593–16,617); primary alone runs ฿530,000–616,000 ($15,643–18,182) at the upper grades. First-year enrolment around ฿532,000 ($15,702) with one-time fees. The long-standing choice for families wanting a British pathway.

Panyaden International School — Hang Dong (Namprae), ~15 minutes south of the centre, semi-rural among rice fields. Ages 2–19, bilingual, ~400 students from 30+ nationalities. 2025/2026 tuition by band: Nursery–K2 ฿303,000, Years 1–2 ฿331,000, Years 3–4 ฿370,000, Years 5–6 ฿380,000, Years 7–9 ฿443,000, Years 10–11 ฿466,000 (roughly ฿303,000–466,000 ($8,943–13,754)). One-time fees: application ฿3,000 ($89), admissions ฿65,000 ($1,919) (non-refundable), refundable security deposit ฿5,000 ($148) (to Year 6) / ฿15,000 ($443) (Year 7+). Distinctive earthen-and-bamboo campus with a sustainability/mindfulness focus that families either love or find niche.

American Pacific International School (APIS) — Primary/day campus at 288 Moo 2, Mae Hia, with a separate boarding campus on the Hang Dong–Samoeng Road ~25 km from the centre. American curriculum, K–12 with boarding. Day-student tuition roughly ฿229,000–500,000 ($6,759–14,758); first-year enrolment from around ฿273,000 ($8,058) with one-time fees. Boarding fees are not published — contact admissions ([email protected] / [email protected]).

Mill Hill International School Thailand (new) — Opened September 2025 in partnership with a local developer, carrying the 200-year-old UK Mill Hill brand. The campus is in Doi Saket, north-east of the city — not on the southern Hang Dong school corridor, so check the commute carefully. Currently Nursery–Year 6 and adding year groups as it grows. 2026/2027 annual tuition roughly ฿447,300–516,600 ($13,202–15,248): Nursery/Reception ฿447,300, Years 1–2 ฿481,950, Years 3–4 ฿516,600. One-time charges: registration ฿5,000 ($148), placement ฿150,000 ($4,427), security deposit ฿50,000 ($1,476). A 10% tuition discount for the full duration of enrolment is offered to early founding-year families (application deadlines apply). A premium option; worth watching as it builds out to secondary.

British Concordance International School (BCIS) (newer) — British curriculum, Hang Dong (Nong Kwai), ~200+ students and expanding to a new campus. Yearly fees roughly ฿187,000–330,000 ($5,519–9,740) — among the more affordable British options. Contact [email protected].

Meritton British International School (newer) — Hang Dong (Nong Kwai). British curriculum, yearly fees roughly ฿212,000–360,000 ($6,257–10,626). Plans to introduce Cambridge AS & A-level from 2026, so verify the senior-school pathway directly if you need it now.

Varee Chiangmai International School (VCIS) — International track within the larger Varee school on Mahidol Road, Nong Hoi. More affordable; first-year enrolment from around ฿330,000 ($9,740). A good middle option for families who don't need a big-name international brand.

Singapore International School Chiangmai (SISB) — Singaporean/English curriculum, on Hussadhisawee Road just north of the Old City. First-year enrolment around ฿514,000 ($15,171) for the youngest years including one-time fees.

Windfield International School — French AEFE curriculum plus a Cambridge/British track, ages ~2–11 on the current Chiang Mai campus (secondary/Lycée years are being built out — confirm the exact grades on offer for your child). Yearly fees are among the most affordable international options, roughly ฿220,000–235,000 ($6,494–6,936) for ages 2–11, with first-year enrolment around ฿260,000 ($7,674) once one-time fees are added. Sibling discounts of 5% (2nd child) and 10% (3rd). (2024/25 figures — verify, and check the current secondary offering.)

SBS International School Chiangmai — British curriculum, Hang Dong (Baan Waen), sharing a campus with its sister school SIBS. Best known locally for its dedicated SEN programme (see below). Contact the school directly for current fees, as they aren't consistently published; expect a mid-market British-school band.

Chiang Mai Montessori International School — Hang Dong (Nong Khwai), ~10 km south of the centre. Montessori early years and primary; roughly ฿150,000–164,000 ($4,427–4,841) per term for toddler through Children's House. A specialist choice for the early years.

Unity Concord International School (UCIS) — Saraphi, on the Chiang Mai–Lampang Superhighway at Nong Phueng. American Common Core curriculum, Pre-K to Grade 12, ~700 students. 2025/2026 annual tuition by band: Pre-K–K2 ฿192,000, K3–Grade 4 ฿280,000, Grades 5–8 ฿324,000, Grades 9–12 ฿368,000 (roughly ฿192,000–368,000 ($5,667–10,862)). One-time fees: entrance exam/interview/ESL test ฿3,300 ($97), entrance fee ฿80,000 ($2,361), lifetime book fee ฿10,000 ($295); plus annual lunch ฿20,000 ($590), capital improvement ฿20,000 ($590), and transport ฿30,000–50,000 ($885–1,476). Sibling discounts of 10% (2nd child) and 15% (3rd). One of the more affordable full-K–12 American options, at the cost of a further-out commute.

Americana Chinese International School (ACIS) — Also in Saraphi at Nong Phueng, on the same Superhighway corridor as UCIS. American curriculum (California Common Core) with daily Chinese and Thai lessons and a STREAM focus. Founded 2019; positions itself as one of the more affordable international options in the area. Fees aren't consistently published — contact the school directly, but expect a band similar to or below UCIS given its "affordable" positioning.

Satit International Bilingual School of Rangsit University Chiangmai (SIBS) — Hang Dong (225/900 Moo 11, Baan Waen), same school corridor as Lanna and Panyaden and the same campus as sister school SBS. Cambridge pathway (Primary, IGCSE, AS/A-level) taught trilingually — English plus a Thai or Mandarin specialist-language track from Early Years. Ages 2–18. Annual tuition roughly ฿226,400–362,600 ($6,682–10,702), with first-year enrolment around ฿396,500 ($11,703) once one-time fees are added. A genuinely distinctive pick for families wanting Mandarin alongside an English/Cambridge education.

Every school on this page#

  • Chiang Mai International School (CMIS)฿325,000–553,000/year
    Founded 1954 and WASC-accredited since 1987 — the oldest and most internationally mixed of the American-curriculum schools, and the main city-side option.
    13 Chetupon Road, Wat Ket, Mueang Chiang Mai 50000 · Map
  • Prem Tinsulanonda International School฿380,000–736,000/year
    IB world school on a large boarding-capable campus; anchors the northern school run.
    Huay Sai, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai (Mae Sa valley) · Map
  • Nakorn Payap International School (NIS)฿290,000–497,000/year
    US-curriculum school on the northern/eastern corridor near San Sai.
    Nong Chom, San Sai District, Chiang Mai · Map
  • Grace International School฿294,500–361,000/year (2026/27)
    US-curriculum Christian K–12 with AP; among the more affordable established international schools. Address corrected Sep 2026 — the entry previously read San Pa Tong / Route 108.
    88 Moo 3, Tambon Harn Kaew, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230 · Map
  • Lanna International School฿325,000–563,000/year
    Long-established British-curriculum (IGCSE/A-Level) school on the Hang Dong corridor.
    Ban Waen, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230 · Map
  • Panyaden International School฿303,000–466,000/year (2025/26)
    British/IB with a Buddhist, sustainability ethos; earthen/bamboo campus. A main draw for Hang Dong-corridor families.
    Nam Prae, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai · Map
  • The American Pacific International School (APIS)฿229,000–500,000/year (day)
    US-curriculum K–12 across two campuses — primary in Mae Hia, boarding out on the Hang Dong–Samoeng road. Boarding fees unpublished. Two-campus split recorded Sep 2026.
    Primary campus: 288 Moo 2, Mae Hia, Mueang Chiang Mai 50100. Boarding campus: Hang Dong–Samoeng Road, Ban Pong, Hang Dong (~25 km from the centre). · Map
  • Mill Hill International School Thailand฿447,300–516,600/year (2026/27)
    Opened Sept 2025 under the 200-year-old UK Mill Hill brand; Nursery–Year 6 and building out. Doi Saket, north-east — well away from the southern school corridor.
    117 Moo 8, San Pu Loei, Doi Saket, Chiang Mai 50220 · Map
  • British Concordance International School (BCIS)฿187,000–330,000/year
    Established 2022; Pre-Nursery to Year 13 British curriculum at the affordable end of the British camp. ~200 students and moving to a larger campus.
    216 Moo 1, Tambon Nong Kwai, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230 · Map
  • Meritton British International School฿212,000–360,000/year
    British curriculum from age 2; adding Cambridge AS/A-level from 2026, so confirm the senior pathway before committing. Runs a 30–50% scholarship for Years 7–12.
    168 Moo 7, Tambon Nong Kwai, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230 · Map
  • Varee Chiangmai International School (VCIS)from ฿330,000 first-year
    International track inside the larger Varee Thai/bilingual school — a middle option for families who don't need a big international brand.
    59 Moo 6, Mahidol Road, Nong Hoi, Mueang Chiang Mai 50000 · Map
  • Singapore International School Chiangmai (SISB)~฿514,000 first-year (early years)
    Opened 2017; Singaporean/English curriculum with the maths reputation that implies. City-side, just north of the Old City moat.
    10 Hussadhisawee Road, Tambon Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai 50200 · Map
  • Windfield International School (Chiang Mai)฿220,000–235,000/year (ages 2–11)
    The north's only official AEFE French pathway, paired with a Cambridge/British track. Secondary years still being built out — confirm grades on offer. Street number unconfirmed.
    Charoen Rat Road, Mueang Chiang Mai · Map
  • SBS International School Chiangmai
    British curriculum sharing a Ban Waen campus with sister school SIBS. The city's most structured SEN provision — multi-disciplinary team and IEP targets for ADHD, ASD and dyslexia. Fees not consistently published.
    225/900 Moo 11, Tambon Ban Waen, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230 · Map
  • Satit International Bilingual School of Rangsit University Chiangmai (SIBS)฿226,400–362,600/year
    Cambridge pathway taught trilingually — English plus Thai or Mandarin as a specialist first language from Early Years. Shares its campus with sister school SBS.
    225/900 Moo 11, Tambon Ban Waen, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230 · Map
  • Chiang Mai Montessori International School฿150,000–164,000 per term
    The established Montessori specialist for toddler through Children's House; early years and primary only, ~10 km south of the centre.
    229/3 Moo 6, Nong Khwai, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230 · Map
  • Unity Concord International School (UCIS)฿192,000–368,000/year (2025/26)
    Opened 2017; ~700 students, Pre-K to Grade 12 US Common Core with optional AP. One of the cheapest full K–12 American options, at the price of a Saraphi commute. Street number varies between listings — confirm before driving.
    Moo 2, Chiang Mai–Lampang Superhighway, Tambon Nong Phueng, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai 50140 · Map
  • Americana Chinese International School (ACIS)
    Founded 2019. California Common Core with daily Chinese and Thai and a STREAM focus; budget-positioned. Same Superhighway corridor as UCIS — listings give the two schools near-identical addresses, so confirm directly.
    Chiang Mai–Lampang Superhighway, Tambon Nong Phueng, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai 50140 · Map

Early years — nurseries, preschools & kindergartens#

If your child isn't school-age yet, you have two broad routes: enrol in the early-years programme of an international school (most run a Nursery/Pre-K from age 2–3), or use a standalone international preschool or nursery, which is often cheaper and more flexible on hours.

Rough early-years tuition at the bigger international schools runs about ฿280,000–410,000 ($8,264–12,102)/year for Nursery and K1, but standalone preschools and bilingual kindergartens can be far cheaper — some budget-friendly bilingual options start around ฿110,000–180,000 ($3,247–5,313)/year. Expect the same one-time costs as the big schools (registration ฿8,000–18,000 ($236–531), enrolment ฿50,000–120,000 ($1,476–3,542) for the first child), plus lunches, bus and uniform.

A few starting points (verify hours, ages and fees directly — early-years places change fast):

  • International-school early years: Panyaden, APIS (Primary Campus, IB PYP from age 3), CMIS, Meritton (from age 2), Windfield (from age 2), and Prem all take the youngest years — a good option if you want your child to continue into the same school.
  • Montessori: Chiang Mai Montessori International School (toddler through Children's House) is the established Montessori early-years specialist.
  • Standalone bilingual/Thai-international kindergartens cluster in Nimman, Santitham and the Hang Dong corridor; the Chiang Mai Kids (BKK Kids) directory is the most useful up-to-date local listing of preschools and kindergartens.

For childcare rather than schooling — nannies, daycare and going rates — see the domestic-help note in Setting Up Home and the Kids in Chiang Mai page.

Homeschooling, worldschooling & alternative education#

Chiang Mai has one of the most active alternative-education and homeschooling scenes in Asia — a legacy of its long history as a base for location-independent and "worldschooling" families. If the mainstream international schools don't fit (cost, philosophy, or you're only here a few months), this is a real and well-trodden alternative.

Is it legal? Yes. Thailand permits homeschooling and has become steadily more accommodating of alternative models. Thai families formally register a homeschool with their local education office; foreign families on the right visa typically homeschool more informally or through an overseas provider. If you need your child's schooling to satisfy a visa (an ED student visa), homeschooling generally won't — you'd want an enrolled school for that, so plan the visa route (DTV, guardian visa, etc.) accordingly and see Visas & Visa Agents.

Co-ops, hubs & micro-schools:

  • Pathfinders — a collaborative homeschool community that started in 2022 and has grown into one of the more established personalised-education setups in the city, mixing qualified-teacher-led academics with flexible, project-based learning.
  • TruePath at Beaver Club — a worldschooling/homeschooling hub built by homeschooling parents, with a low-commitment model (join for a week, a month or longer, no long contracts) aimed at travelling families wanting an affordable international-style learning environment and instant peer group. Beaver Club also runs outdoor kids' activities and is a general family hub (cross-ref Kids in Chiang Mai, linked above).

Forest, Waldorf & Montessori: beyond Panyaden's nature-and-mindfulness campus, the city has small Waldorf/Steiner-inspired, forest-school and Montessori setups. These come and go and are often run through Facebook groups rather than glossy websites — the local expat-parent and homeschooling Facebook groups are the fastest way to find what's currently operating (see Community, Meetups & Making Friends).

Online / distance curricula: many families pair local social/enrichment time with a structured online curriculum. Common choices include Wolsey Hall Oxford (British, primary through A-level, widely used by expats), Smartious (live online Cambridge IGCSE & A-level), and US options like accredited online American high schools. These give a recognised qualification pathway (IGCSE/A-level/US diploma) while you stay flexible on location — useful for families who move often or want to avoid the big enrolment fees.

A realistic note: the alternative scene is vibrant but fluid — hubs open, move and rebrand, and quality varies. Visit in person, meet the people running it, and talk to current parents before committing money, exactly as you would with a formal school.

Special educational needs (SEN) & learning support#

Provision for learning differences — ADHD, autism spectrum, dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties — varies enormously between Chiang Mai schools, and many mainstream international schools have only light-touch support. Raise it early and in specifics: ask what an Individual Education Plan (IEP) looks like in practice, whether there's a dedicated learning-support team, class sizes, and whether one-to-one aides are available (and who pays for them).

Two schools stand out for structured support:

  • SBS International School Chiangmai — runs a dedicated SEN programme for students with mild-to-moderate ADD/ADHD, autism spectrum disorders and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, using a multi-disciplinary team and IEP targets across one-to-one, small-group and whole-class settings.
  • Grace International School (GIS) — offers educational and "inclusion" support, including an additional support person in the classroom where a student needs help with academics, focus or behaviour.

Beyond the schools, Chiang Mai has private educational psychologists, ADHD/autism assessment services and therapists — see the Children/teens & neurodiversity note in Mental Health, Therapy & Recovery, which also flags the important caveat that stimulant ADHD medication is tightly controlled in Thailand. If your child has a formal diagnosis or SEN documentation, bring it — schools will want it, and it strengthens your case for support.

Accreditation — what WASC, CIS, IB and Cambridge actually mean#

School websites throw a lot of acronyms at you. They aren't marketing fluff — they're independent quality checks, and they matter for two practical reasons: they affect whether credits and diplomas transfer cleanly to universities and other schools, and a school that's maintained accreditation for years has been through repeat external review, not just a one-off inspection at opening.

  • WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) — a US regional accrediting body and the most common accreditation among Chiang Mai's American-curriculum schools. CMIS has held WASC accreditation since 1987 (one of the longest-running in the city); Lanna, SBS, and others also carry it. WASC accreditation is reviewed on a cycle (schools go through a self-study and external visit every few years), so ask a school when its accreditation was last renewed if it matters to you.
  • CIS (Council of International Schools) — a more selective, internationally-focused accreditor than WASC, often held alongside another regional body. Prem (PTIS) holds both CIS and NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation on top of Thai Ministry of Education approval — a genuinely strong combination.
  • IB authorisation — a school can only call itself an IB World School, and only teach the Primary Years, Middle Years, Diploma, or Career-related Programmes, if it's individually authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organisation for each programme it runs. Prem is the standout locally, authorised for all four; Panyaden runs the IB Diploma at the senior end.
  • Cambridge International authorisation — separately, a school must be a registered Cambridge International school to deliver Cambridge Primary, IGCSE or A-level, and Cambridge periodically reviews exam results and teaching standards. Most of the city's British-curriculum schools (Lanna, SBS, Meritton, SIBS) are Cambridge-authorised; ask specifically about IGCSE/A-level results if your child will sit those exams.
  • FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia) — a membership network rather than an accreditor, but worth knowing: Lanna is the only Northern Thailand school with FOBISIA membership, which gives students access to inter-school sports, arts and academic competitions across the region.
  • Thai Ministry of Education (MOE) approval — every legally operating international school in Thailand needs MOE registration regardless of its other accreditations; this is baseline, not a differentiator, but it's worth confirming for any very new or small school.

The practical takeaway: accreditation tells you a school has been externally checked and that its diploma/transcript will be recognised elsewhere — genuinely important if you expect to move country again or want a smooth path to university applications. It says much less about day-to-day teaching quality, class atmosphere or whether your specific child will thrive there, which is what the school visit is for.

Scholarships & financial aid#

Most Chiang Mai international schools run at least one of two schemes: merit-based academic/talent scholarships and, less commonly, need-based bursaries after a confidential financial assessment. None of this is guaranteed money — treat it as worth ten minutes of asking, not something to budget around before you're accepted.

  • Prem (PTIS) offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships for new students entering Grades 8–12, covering 10–50% of tuition and boarding fees, awarded for academic, athletic or musical excellence. Applications close 30 April for the following academic year, with results out in May — a genuinely early deadline if you're planning a mid-year move.
  • Meritton British International School runs an International School Scholarship covering 30% or 50% of tuition (full scholarships for exceptional candidates), open to students registering for Years 7–12 placement.
  • SBS International School Chiangmai and its sister school SIBS Chiangmai both offer scholarships from 20–75% of tuition, based on academic performance, English proficiency, and a broader "positive influence" criterion the school assesses at interview.
  • Several schools mention IB Diploma entry scholarships (commonly 25–70% off for outstanding incoming IB candidates) and general academic scholarships in the 10–50% range for strong IGCSE/entrance-test results — ask specifically about senior-year (Grade 11/12 or DP1) entry, since that's where schools most want to attract strong students.
  • Need-based bursaries exist at some schools but are rarely advertised publicly — they typically require a confidential income/asset disclosure and are awarded case by case. Ask admissions directly rather than assuming none is available.
  • Separately, Chiang Mai Children's Fund is a local charity offering scholarships aimed at underprivileged Thai and hill-tribe students rather than expat families — not a route for most people reading this guide, but worth knowing exists if you're looking to support local education as a donor.

Practical note: scholarship deadlines often run well ahead of the academic year (Prem's is nearly five months before the August start), so if cost is a real factor in your school choice, raise scholarships in your very first conversation with admissions rather than after you've been offered a place.

Practical notes on choosing and applying#

Where you live and the school run go together. The Hang Dong / Namprae corridor (Grace, Lanna, Panyaden, BCIS, Meritton, SBS/SIBS and Chiang Mai Montessori) and Mae Rim (Prem, plus the APIS boarding campus to the south-west) are the two big school clusters, and both are a real drive from the city centre — 20–40 minutes each way, longer in traffic or burning season. Many families deliberately rent in Hang Dong or Mae Rim to be near their chosen school. CMIS, NIS, SISB and the more city-side schools suit families who want to stay closer to Nimman and the Old City; UCIS and ACIS sit further out again on the Saraphi superhighway, and Mill Hill is off on its own in Doi Saket to the north-east. Factor the daily commute (and whether the school runs a bus, typically ฿20,000–50,000 ($590–1,476)/year) into your neighbourhood decision — see Where to Live, the Suburban & School-Corridor Neighborhood Guides, and Getting Around for the traffic reality.

Waitlists and timing. The most sought-after schools and year groups (especially early primary at Prem, CMIS, Panyaden, and Lanna) can fill up, so apply as early as you can and ask directly about availability for your child's specific year — waitlists are grade-specific, not school-wide. Enrolling mid-year is often possible but depends on space. The newer British schools (Mill Hill, BCIS, Meritton) currently have more availability in the lower years, which can be an option if your first choice is full.

Sibling discounts and payment terms. Several schools discount second and subsequent children (Prem's is the most generous; NIS and others offer per-semester reductions), and most give a small discount for paying annually rather than by term. Ask about these up front — they meaningfully change a two- or three-child budget.

Assessments and paperwork. Most schools ask for previous school reports, an interview or assessment (especially English level in older students), and sometimes an English-language test for non-native speakers. Have transcripts and any special-educational-needs documentation ready — SEN provision varies a lot between schools, so raise it early if it applies.

Visas. A child at an international school can usually get a student visa (ED visa) through the school, and parents can look at options like the DTV, a guardian visa, or other long-stay routes. Confirm exactly what visa support each school provides before committing.

Go and visit. Fees, accreditation, and curriculum only tell you so much. The campuses have very different characters — Prem and Panyaden are green and spacious, city schools are more compact, the Christian-ethos schools have a distinct community feel, and the new British-brand schools are still establishing themselves. Tour a shortlist in person and talk to current parents before deciding.

Sources (fees re-verified July 2026; addresses, links and structure re-verified September 2026): International Schools Database — Chiang Mai, CMIS Tuition & Fees, Prem (PTIS) fees, Prem scholarships, Nakornpayap (NIS) fees, Grace (GIS) fees, Grace contact & campus, Lanna (LIST) fees, Panyaden fees, APIS fees, APIS primary campus contact, Mill Hill Thailand, BCIS tuition & fees, Meritton fees, Meritton contact, Varee (VCIS) contact, SISB Chiangmai, Chiang Mai Montessori fees, Windfield Chiang Mai, Windfield fees, SBS International School SEN services, SBS scholarships, SIBS Chiangmai fees, SIBS contact, SIBS scholarships, Unity Concord (UCIS) fees, UCIS admissions, Americana Chinese (ACIS) — about, ACIS contact, Grace educational support, Pathfinders Chiang Mai, Beaver Club worldschooling hub, Wolsey Hall Oxford — Thailand, Chiang Mai Kids preschools & kindergartens directory, iSchoolAdvisor — Chiang Mai 2026. Fees change annually — verify with each school before deciding.

Chiang Mai Wiki · chiangmaiwiki.comContent refreshed 2026-11-15Independent guide. Not legal, tax or medical advice.