The short version
Chiang Mai punches well above its size for international schooling — a flagship full-IB school, established British and American schools dating back to the 1950s, and a growing set of bilingual and green-campus options, almost all at tuition levels comfortably below Bangkok. For relocating families this is one of the city's quiet advantages, and it shapes everything: which curriculum you pick, where you live, and a meaningful slice of your budget. Below: the schools expats choose, typical tuition, where campuses cluster, the curricula explained, and admissions tips. For day-to-day budgeting pair this with the Chiang Mai cost-of-living guide, and use our Chiang Mai area guides to match a neighbourhood to your school.
The schools expat families choose
A representative selection of Chiang Mai's established international schools across the British, American, IB and bilingual systems. This is a starting point, not a ranking — many more good schools exist, and the right fit depends on curriculum, location and your child.
| School | Area | Curriculum | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prem Tinsulanonda International School | Mae Rim (north) | IB (PYP/MYP/DP) | Chiang Mai's flagship full-IB World School on a large green Mae Rim campus, with day and boarding options and strong outdoor-education and sports programmes. |
| Chiang Mai International School (CMIS) | Central (Kaew Nawarat) | American | Founded in 1954, the city's oldest international school — a centrally located US-curriculum Christian school popular with long-staying expat families. |
| Nakornpayap International School (NIS) | San Phi Sua (north-east, Second Ring Road) | American (AP) | Founded in 1993 and the city's oldest secular international school — a US standards-based curriculum with AP on a leafy 17-acre suburban campus, WASC-accredited since 2001. |
| Lanna International School Thailand (LIST) | Ban Waen, Hang Dong (south) | British (Cambridge) | Long-running British-curriculum school running Nursery to Year 13 — Cambridge IGCSE then AS/A-level, and a Cambridge examination centre since 2005. |
| Panyaden International School | Nam Phrae, Hang Dong (south) | British + IB Diploma, bilingual | British curriculum and IB Diploma blended with Thai language and Buddhist values, famed for its award-winning earthen and bamboo campus — and for publishing the city's most detailed smoke-season air filtration. |
| American Pacific International School (APIS) | Mae Hia & Hang Dong | IB + American/AP | Two-campus school (primary in Mae Hia, main boarding campus in Hang Dong) offering day and boarding places, with a genuinely international student body. |
| Grace International School | Hang Dong (south) | American (Christian) | US-curriculum Christian school on a 37-acre Hang Dong campus that primarily serves missionary and faith-based expat families. |
| Varee Chiangmai International School (VCIS) | Nong Hoi, Mahidol Road (south-east) | British (Cambridge) | The international programme of a large, well-known Thai school group — EYFS through Cambridge Checkpoint, IGCSE and A-level, close to the city on the airport side. |
| Unity Concord International School (UCIS) | Nong Pheung, Saraphi (south-east) | American (AP) | The newest campus of the group profiled here, opened in 2017 — a WASC-accredited American curriculum on California state standards with AP, out on the Chiang Mai–Lampang super highway. |
Full school profiles: Prem Tinsulanonda International School · Chiang Mai International School (CMIS) · Nakornpayap International School (NIS) · Lanna International School Thailand (LIST) · Panyaden International School · American Pacific International School (APIS) · Grace International School · Varee Chiangmai International School (VCIS) · Unity Concord International School (UCIS).
What tuition costs
Indicative annual tuition for 2026. The flagship IB school and the larger British and American schools sit at the upper end; bilingual and smaller schools can be markedly cheaper. These figures are tuition only, and across the board Chiang Mai runs well below Bangkok and Phuket.
| Stage | Annual tuition (guide) |
|---|---|
| Pre-school / Kindergarten | THB 100,000–250,000 |
| Primary / Junior (Years 1–6) | THB 180,000–420,000 |
| Lower secondary (Years 7–9) | THB 250,000–500,000 |
| Upper secondary / IGCSE (Years 10–11) | THB 320,000–600,000 |
| Sixth form / IB Diploma / Grade 12 | THB 380,000–720,000 |
Budget separately for one-off application and registration fees, a refundable deposit at some schools, and ongoing costs for uniforms, the school bus, lunches and trips. Boarding at Prem or APIS is charged on top of tuition. Always request each school's full current fee schedule before you commit.
Where schools cluster — and choosing an area
Chiang Mai has no rail or metro, so the school run is by car or school bus and most families pick their neighbourhood around the campus. The schools fall into a few clusters:
| Area cluster | Example schools | Why families live there |
|---|---|---|
| Mae Rim (north) | Prem Tinsulanonda, APIS (main boarding campus in Hang Dong) | Green, semi-rural belt with the largest campuses and boarding; families rent villas in Mae Rim, Rim Tai and Mae Sa for cool air and space. |
| Central city (Old City / Santitham / Chang Klan) | CMIS | Walkable, condo-friendly and close to cafes and hospitals — suits families who want to stay near the centre. |
| Hang Dong & San Pa Tong (south) | Panyaden, Lanna (Hang Dong Rd), Grace, APIS (main boarding campus) | The southern villa belt — gardens, mountain views and the moo-baan (housing-estate) lifestyle within reach of the airport. |
| San Sai & San Kamphaeng (north-east) | Nakornpayap, Unity Concord | Quieter suburbs with newer housing estates and easy road access to the ring road and the centre. |
Check the school bus routes, catchment zones and pick-up times before signing a lease — in a spread-out city like Chiang Mai they often matter more than straight-line distance.
British, American, IB & bilingual — which curriculum?
The British system runs through IGCSEs at 16 and A-levels at 18 — focused, exam-based and easy to transfer back to the UK and Commonwealth; Lanna, Panyaden and Unity Concord follow it. The American system awards a high-school diploma with Advanced Placement (AP) courses and a broader, continuous-assessment approach; CMIS, Nakornpayap and Grace are the anchors. The International Baccalaureate (PYP in primary, MYP in middle years, and the IB Diploma at 16–18) is a globally portable, inquiry-led programme offered as a full continuum at Prem and, since 2009, in a growing form at APIS. Several schools are also bilingual English-Thai, which suits families planning a longer stay. If you expect to move countries again, the IB and the larger British schools travel especially well. Choose around where you might go next and how your child learns best.
Admissions & relocation tips
The most popular schools — Prem and CMIS in particular — can carry waitlists, so start early; many open applications six to twelve months ahead, and entry into the senior years can be the hardest to secure. Expect to provide recent school reports and records, sit an assessment or entrance test (and often an interview), and show English-language readiness; some schools assess in the child's first language too. The academic year usually runs August to June, so aim to apply well before the summer. Gather transcripts, immunisation records and references before you leave home, and where you can, visit shortlisted campuses in person — fit, facilities and the commute are hard to judge from a website. Once a place is confirmed, choose your area and home around the school and its bus network, and line up your visa and healthcare alongside it.
Chiang Mai international school questions
How much do international schools in Chiang Mai cost?
Chiang Mai is noticeably cheaper than Bangkok or Phuket. Annual tuition typically runs from around THB 100,000 for kindergarten to roughly THB 380,000–720,000 for the senior or IB Diploma years, with the flagship IB and larger British and American schools at the higher end and bilingual programmes well below it. On top of tuition, budget for one-off application and registration fees, sometimes a refundable deposit, plus uniforms, the school bus and trips. Always ask each school for its full current fee schedule.
Which is the best international school in Chiang Mai?
There is no single best — it depends on curriculum, location and your child. Prem Tinsulanonda is the city's flagship full-IB school and the only one with substantial boarding, CMIS is the oldest and most central (American curriculum), Lanna and Panyaden are well-regarded British options in the south, and Nakornpayap and APIS round out the American and IB choices. The right fit is the school whose curriculum, campus location and community match your family, ideally one you can visit before deciding.
What curricula are available in Chiang Mai?
The main pathways are British (IGCSE leading to A-levels), American (a high-school diploma with AP courses) and the International Baccalaureate, offered as a full continuum at Prem and increasingly at APIS. Several schools are bilingual English-Thai — Panyaden and Varee, for example — which can be a good fit for families planning a longer stay in Thailand. Choose based on where you might move next and which system suits your child's learning style.
Where do most expat families with school-age children live in Chiang Mai?
Many families settle in the Mae Rim valley to the north, close to Prem, where villas, cooler air and space are easy to find. Others choose the southern Hang Dong belt near Panyaden, Lanna, Grace and APIS's main boarding campus for housing estates and gardens, while those who want central, walkable living near CMIS stay around the Old City, Santitham and Nimman. Because Chiang Mai has no rail network, families usually pick their area around the school run and its bus routes.
When does the Chiang Mai international school year start?
Most British, American and IB international schools run an August-to-June academic year with two or three terms, rather than the Thai national May start. Popular schools — particularly Prem and CMIS — can have waitlists, so applications often open six to twelve months ahead. Plan your move and apply early, especially for entry into the senior years.
This guide is general information for relocation planning, not admissions or financial advice. School fees, curricula, campus locations and admissions rules change — confirm current details directly with each school.
International schools near Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has no international schools of its own on record — these are the closest in the country, so you can see how far the nearest are. Ratings and review counts update automatically — tap any name for directions, hours and contact details.
Distances are straight-line from the city centre, for rough comparison only. Listings are provided by Google and are not endorsements. BAANLYY does not manage these businesses.
Sources & References
- Real Estate Information Center (REIC), Government Housing Bank, Thailand
- National Statistical Office, Thailand
- Tourism Authority of Thailand
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
Plan the rest of your move.
School shortlisted — now match a family-friendly area and home to your budget, and line up healthcare and your visa.
Hero photo by Thirdman on Pexels.
