International Schools in Bali: A Honest Guide for Expat Families (2026)

Bali is one of the world's most sought-after destinations for globally mobile families: a tropical island lifestyle, a creative and entrepreneurial expat community, and property costs that remain well below those of Singapore or Dubai. Schooling, however, requires careful planning. Bali's international school ecosystem is smaller and less developed than other major expat hubs in South-East Asia, and honesty on this point matters when families are making major relocation and property decisions.

This guide sets out what exists, where it is located, and what the realistic limitations are as of 2026.

The Honest Picture: Bali vs Major Asian School Hubs

Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur all host large, well-resourced international school communities with multiple curriculum options, high capacity, and a full secondary ladder from Year 7 to Year 13. Bali is different.

The island has a genuine and growing international school sector, but it remains at an earlier stage of development. The choice of school narrows significantly as children move into secondary education, and families with teenagers approaching IGCSE or A-level age need to think hard about whether Bali can provide a complete pathway — or whether boarding school will become part of the plan.

That said, for families with younger children (early years to lower secondary), Bali offers some genuinely excellent and distinctive schools, particularly in the nature-based and project-led education space.

Key International Schools in Bali

Green School Bali

Located at Sibang Kaja near the Ayung River — roughly 15 minutes south of Ubud — Green School is Bali's most internationally recognised educational institution. Founded in 2008 by John and Cynthia Hardy, it operates on a 20-acre bamboo campus surrounded by jungle and river.

The school serves around 500 students aged 3–18 from across the globe, and its curriculum is project-based, sustainability-focused, and internationally accredited. Green School offers the Green School Diploma at senior level — a two-year programme (Years 11–12) grounded in IB principles. Note: the school does not accept new enrolments directly into Year 12.

Green School is the most sought-after school in Bali and consistently operates with a significant waiting list. Families should apply well in advance of their target start date. Annual fees for the 2025–26 year run from approximately IDR 177,800,000 (early years) to around IDR 319,000,000 (senior years), roughly USD 11,000–20,000 depending on exchange rates. See our dedicated guide: Green School Bali — Full Guide.

Canggu Community School (CCS)

Situated in the heart of Canggu, CCS is a non-profit coeducational school enrolling students from early years through Year 13. It follows a British curriculum foundation, offering Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10–11 and the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in Years 12–13. This makes CCS one of the very few schools in Bali offering a full IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma secondary pathway.

Annual tuition for 2025–26 ranges from approximately IDR 139,000,000 to IDR 295,500,000 (roughly USD 8,500–18,000). Students come from over 36 nationalities.

Bali Island School (BIS)

Located in Sanur, on Bali's quieter east coast, BIS is the island's longest-established international school, founded in 1986 (originally as Bali International School, renamed Bali Island School in 2014). It is the only school in Bali offering the complete IB continuum — PYP, MYP, and IB Diploma Programme — from preschool through Year 12.

BIS is smaller and less well-known internationally than Green School, but its IB credentials are solid and its Sanur location suits families who prefer a less congested base. Annual fees start from approximately IDR 75,000,000 for early years and rise through the senior years.

Gandhi Memorial Intercontinental School (GMIS)

GMIS is an IB World School offering PYP, MYP, and DP alongside Cambridge IGCSE, serving ages 3–18. A well-regarded option for families who want the full IB continuum.

Australian Independent School (AIS) Bali

Follows the Australian Curriculum through Year 10, with the IB Diploma in Years 11–12. An IB World School with a campus in Denpasar; an option for Australian and New Zealand families.

SPARK School Bali

SPARK is a small Cambridge International micro-school for secondary-age students offering IGCSE and A-Level pathways. As a very small school, cohorts and subject availability are limited — families should confirm which specific subjects are running directly with the school.

Montessori School Bali

Based in Canggu, this school focuses on early years and primary education using the Montessori method. Not appropriate as a sole provider through secondary but well-regarded for its age group.

IPEKA International School

A Christian-ethos school with campuses in the Kuta/Denpasar area, following an international curriculum. More commonly chosen by Christian families or those seeking a faith-based environment.

Indonesian National Plus Schools

Some expat families — particularly those planning a longer stay and wanting children to develop Bahasa Indonesia language skills — opt for National Plus schools, which follow the Indonesian national curriculum but include additional English-medium instruction. These are significantly less expensive but do not lead to internationally recognised qualifications.

Geographic Distribution of Schools

Area	Schools	Notes
Canggu / Kerobokan	CCS, Montessori Bali, SPARK	Largest concentration; suited to Canggu/Seminyak residents
Sibang Kaja / Ubud	Green School	~15 min south of Ubud; families often live in Ubud or Canggu
Sanur	Bali Island School	Quieter east coast; full IB continuum
Kuta / Denpasar	IPEKA, some National Plus	Less popular with international expats
Jimbaran / Uluwatu	Very limited	Most families commute; a significant drawback

The Secondary Education Gap

This deserves direct attention. If your child is approaching Years 9–10 or above, Bali's options narrow quickly. Only CCS and BIS offer a complete secondary pathway to recognised qualifications (IGCSE + IB Diploma). Green School's diploma is distinctive but not a standard IGCSE/A-level route.

Families with children in or approaching secondary often plan one of the following:

• Stay in Bali through Year 11, then board at a school in Singapore, Perth, Melbourne, or the UK for the final two years of IB Diploma or A-levels.
• Complete full secondary at CCS or BIS in Bali, then university in the UK, Australia, or the US — all three destinations accept IB Diploma.
• Relocate before secondary to a larger international school hub.

Read more in our dedicated guide: Secondary Schools in Bali for Expats.

Visa and Residency Context

Most expat families in Bali hold a KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas — limited stay permit), either linked to employment, a business, or a sponsored social/cultural arrangement. The Second Home Visa (E33), introduced in 2022, offers 5- or 10-year stays for those who can demonstrate approximately USD 130,000 in a local bank account or equivalent property ownership; this has become popular with property investors. See Residency and Citizenship for detail on Indonesian visa pathways.

Healthcare Considerations for Families

Bali has two principal international-standard hospital groups: BIMC Hospital (Kuta and Nusa Dua) and Siloam Hospitals Bali. Both have English-speaking staff and handle most routine and emergency care. Siloam holds Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation.

For serious illness, complex surgery, or specialist paediatric care, evacuation to Singapore or Jakarta remains standard practice. Medical evacuation insurance is not optional for families living in Bali — it should be treated as a fixed cost of the lifestyle.

Property and Proximity Planning

School location should be a primary factor in deciding where to live in Bali. Traffic in the Canggu corridor, particularly on the Jalan Raya Canggu and roads towards Denpasar, can be severe during morning drop-off hours. A 5 km school run can easily take 40 minutes in peak traffic.

Families targeting Green School commonly choose Ubud (closest), Canggu (30–45 minutes in traffic), or the Sibang/Mengwi area. CCS families are best placed in Canggu, Seminyak, or Kerobokan. BIS families typically live in Sanur or eastern Denpasar.

See Best Areas to Live in Bali Near International Schools for full neighbourhood analysis.

Fees at a Glance (2025–26)

School	Annual Fees (approx.)	Curriculum
Green School	USD 11,000–20,000	Green School Diploma (IB-influenced)
Canggu Community School	USD 8,500–18,000	British / Cambridge IGCSE / IB DP
Bali Island School	USD 5,000–20,000	Full IB continuum
GMIS	USD 6,000–16,000	IB PYP / MYP / DP + Cambridge IGCSE
Montessori Bali	USD 4,000–8,000	Montessori (early years/primary only)

Additional one-time fees (registration, capital levy, deposits) typically add 15–30% to the first-year cost. See International School Fees in Bali for a full breakdown.

Making the Move Work

Bali's education landscape rewards families who plan early — particularly for Green School, where waiting lists can stretch 12–24 months. Start the admissions process 18 months before your target start date where possible, hold backup options, and budget for the full first-year cost including one-time levies.

The island's lifestyle, climate, and community make it a compelling family base, but eyes should be open about educational constraints, particularly at secondary level. Many expat families successfully combine Bali living with boarding school for older children, treating it as a deliberate life choice rather than a compromise.

For property guidance specific to the Bali market — including leasehold structures, Hak Pakai ownership, and the most sought-after locations — see Bali Property Hub.

How Global Investments Can Help

Global Investments has over 32 years of experience advising internationally mobile clients on property, wealth structuring, and relocation planning. We work with families considering Bali as a long-term base and can help you identify properties in the right school catchment areas, understand Indonesian leasehold and Hak Pakai structures, and connect schooling timelines with property purchase or lease decisions. View Bali property listings or contact our team to begin a conversation.

Property values, school fees, and visa regulations can change; the above reflects publicly available information as of 2026. Seek independent legal, tax, and financial advice before making investment or relocation decisions.