Living Abroad Life in Malaysia

Best International School in Malaysia comparison

Nicholas Chia

27.01.25

Read time 6 minutes

International schools offer diverse communities, impressive facilities and an excellent range of extra curricular and sporting options for students of all ages. If you’re looking for the top international school in Malaysia for your family, you’ll need to invest a bit of time in research to decide which is the best fit for your unique needs.

This guide gives you a starting point, with a look at a roundup of our picks for the best international school in Kuala Lumpur, the best international school in Johor Bahru, and the best international school in Penang. And while you’re planning, why not also look at Wise for powerful tools to manage your money across borders - an ideal option for anyone living an international lifestyle.

Table of contents
Best international school in Malaysia What to look out for when choosing an international school in Malaysia? Best international school in Kuala Lumpur (KL) Best international school in Johor Bahru (JB) Best international school in Penang Make international money transfers with low, transparent fees when using Wise

Best international school in Malaysia

The good news is that there isn’t one single best international school in Malaysia. Instead, different schools will suit different family needs, based on the curriculum and exam qualifications you’re interested in, as well as the school’s ethos and extra curricular offerings.

This guide looks at some of the best international schools in Malaysia from the perspective of facilities, costs and extra curricular options and support. Where we’ve quoted fees, these include tuition fees only - bear in mind other costs also apply, including one off fees when you apply and additional charges for books, uniform and so on. Also do note that the authors of this article are not education experts and our picks are based on research rather than formal qualifications in the field.

What to look out for when choosing an international school in Malaysia?

Each international school is slightly different - they may offer different curricula, different language and subject options, and different extra curricular clubs and teams for example. The right fit for your family will depend on a range of factors, including:

The curriculum and exam qualifications you’re focusing on
Specific subjects and languages you’d like to be offered
The school’s ethos, feel, and approach to teaching and learning
Class sizes and age ranges available
School facilities and extra curricular options including sports, arts, STEM and exchange programs
Boarding facilities if this is something you need
School selection processes and availability of places
Extra support if your child needs it, with learning or language acquisition for example

This guide gives you some ideas to start your research - but taking a tour of a few prospective schools is the best way to really decide which might fit your needs.

Best international school in Kuala Lumpur (KL)

Let’s start with some top picks for the best international school in KL. There are many different international schools available in Kuala Lumpur, so you’ll be able to choose based on your specific preferences. Here are a couple of places to start your search.

Alice Smith School

The oldest not for profit international school in Malaysia, offering a British curriculum for 3 to 18 year olds, across 2 distinct campuses

Primary school address: 2 Jalan Bellamy, 50460 Kuala Lumpur
Secondary school address: 3 Jalan Equine, Taman Equine, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor
Primary school contact: 603 2148 3674
Secondary school contact: 603 9543 3688
Alice Smith School international school fee: From 17,230 MYR to 37,530 MYR per term depending on age - there are 3 terms a year¹

The Alice Smith School² is the oldest of its kind in Malaysia, and offers a British curriculum, with up to 25 A Level subjects for the oldest students. Levels of attainment are extremely high - 86% of students get A* to B grades at A level, well over global averages. The Alice Smith School has 2 campuses which are purpose designed and offer lots of outdoor space for all learners, facilitating sports and outdoor activities. The school offers an excellent range of supplementary and extra curricular options, with a view to enabling children to grow into well rounded individuals.

International School of Kuala Lumpur

Offering classes for students from elementary through to high school and IB, which take an interdisciplinary approach to learning, with excellent facilities and outcomes.

Address: No. 2, Lorong Kelab Polo Di Raja, Ampang Hilir, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 603 4813-5000
International School of Kuala Lumpur school fee: Annual tuition fees from 65,900 MYR to 134,600 MYR depending on year group³

The International School of Kuala Lumpur⁴ is very well established, and offers a curriculum based on North American education, culminating in the IB program for high school students. The school takes a holistic approach to student learning, with different pathways to suit students with differing interests and aspirations. In addition to classroom learning, the school hosts a broad range of extra curricular sports, cultural enrichment and learning experiences through clubs, trips and service activities.

👀 Looking for affordable international school options? Check out our guide on the cheapest international schools in Malaysia

Best international school in Johor Bahru (JB)

Johor Bahru has plenty of international schools, including some which offer boarding facilities that appeal to families in Malaysia, Singapore and the broader region. Here we’ve covered only a couple of your options including one UK curriculum and one US curriculum school - but you’re sure to find one which suits your own family’s unique needs if you shop around a little.

Marlborough College Malaysia

Prestigious school with day options and full boarding available, offering a British curriculum delivered in exceptional facilities.

Address: Marlborough College Malaysia, Jalan Marlborough, 79200 Iskandar Puteri
Contact: 607 5602222
Marlborough College Malaysia international school fee: Day student fees from 49,800 MYR to 148,200 MYR annually, depending on age⁵. Day and full boarding options available from Year 5

Marlborough College Malaysia⁶ is a co-educational school offering education for children from 2 to 18, following a British curriculum. There are options to attend as a day student, but you can also do day boarding or full boarding from prep school age, which starts at UK Year 5 (around 10 years old). The school is built on a purpose-built 90-acre site which houses teaching facilities, boarding facilities, sports grounds and even an organic farm, golf driving range and lake for watersport.

Raffles American School

Premium day and boarding school offering US curriculum teaching culminating in the US High School Diploma

Address: Jalan Raffles, 79050, Iskandar Puteri, Johor
Contact: 7 213 2638
Raffles American School international school fee: From 40,500 MYR to 106,500 MYR annually depending on age⁷

Raffles American School⁸ offers US style learning in fantastic facilities, with day school or boarding options - boarding is available from Grade 5, which is about 10 years old. Younger students focus on literacy and maths, while older students broaden their experiences with subject experts before progressing to the US High School Diploma. Raffles also offers intensive English acquisition camps to support students who need it.

Best international school in Penang

Penang is a popular expat destination in Malaysia, which means there are some great schools there too. We’ve picked out a couple of the best international schools in Penang here, but you’ll be able to reach out to schools you’re interested in directly to get the full picture of options.

International School of Penang (Uplands)

IB accredited school offering a holistic education for students from reception age to IB Diploma, including IB MYP accredited middle year courses

Address: Jalan Sungai Satu, 11100 Batu Feringgi, Penang
Contact: 4 881 9777
Uplands international school fee: From 11,500 MYR to 32,750 MYR paid twice per year, fee level depends on age group⁹

The International School of Penang (Uplands)¹⁰ has around 700 students and is one of the longest established international schools in Malaysia. The curriculum has an international flavour, with younger students learning a range of subjects before progressing the the International Baccalaureate MYP and Diploma programs.

BXCL

Serving students from 3 to 18, with a curriculum based on a blend of the Malaysia and British curricula to reflect the unique environment

Address: No. 2, Persiaran Mutiara 5, Pusat Komersial, Bandar Tasek Mutiara, 14120 Simpang Ampat, Pulau Pinang
Contact: +604 509 7000
BXCL international school fee: From 18,000 MYR to 50,000 MYR annually, paid in 3 installments, depending on the age group¹¹

BXCL¹² has classes from age 3 to 18, following a unique curriculum which reflects the mix of students in the school. As well as regular classes, students can access engaging and enriching co-curricular activities covering performing arts, sports, and subject extension clubs and activities. The school is accredited by bodies including COBIS, FOBISIA, CAIE and seeks a holistic teaching approach, to ensure learners are well rounded and happy in their school.

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