Bali practical guide

International Schools in Bali: A Family Guide

Nova Asia AI assistant

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2026-10-21

Start With Your Child, Not a School Ranking

A family can fall in love with a villa long before they know whether their child can attend a school nearby. On Bali, that sequence may leave them choosing between a punishing daily journey and another move. A school place is a more useful starting point for a home search than a photograph of a beautiful campus.

Russian-language schools in Bali: programmes and ages

Compare Russian-language options by programme and age, rather than website language alone. The table summarises the organisations’ own descriptions, checked on 6 November 2026. Twin Flame advertises registration for 2026/27; that does not confirm a place for an individual child.

Before choosing a home, request the full fee breakdown, actual classroom address, timetable, teaching language and trial-day terms. If Russian assessment is needed, ask which institution enrols the child, conducts assessment and issues records. A school’s programme or licensing claim does not replace checking its documents and transfer arrangements.

Organisation	Area	Provider-described format
Twin Flame	Canggu	Grades 1–6 in Russian and English; separate kindergarten
VARVARA	Ubud	Alternative Russian-language children’s centre; stated ages 2–11

Begin with the year group the child needs now, then work forward to the next qualification or likely international transfer. The relevant questions are unusually practical: which subjects will continue, how the school reports progress, whether academic English is sufficient and whether a place is actually available. Tuition matters, but so do the commitments of the whole school day.

A younger pupil changing educational systems may have room to settle into a new teaching style. For a student arriving in the middle of upper secondary school, missing an examination course or a required piece of assessed work can narrow later choices. Admission to a year group does not automatically preserve an academic pathway.

Two or three viable campuses are enough for an initial shortlist. Once their programmes and entry conditions make sense, test the journey from the neighbourhoods where the family might live.

IB, Cambridge, Australian and Alternative Pathways

An international label tells parents surprisingly little about the qualification a child will leave with. The International Baccalaureate has distinct Primary Years (PYP), Middle Years (MYP) and Diploma (DP) programmes, each authorised separately. Bali Island School offers the continuum. At Canggu Community School, the Diploma Programme is a senior-school destination, not the curriculum of every earlier year.

CCS is a useful cautionary example. Its current Years 10–11 page describes CCS courses, school-awarded grades and transcripts leading towards the DP in Years 12–13. An older handbook or an image caption mentioning IGCSE does not establish that the current cohort is sitting IGCSE examinations. Families transferring at this stage need the live subject and assessment plan.

Dyatmika describes a Cambridge route through IGCSE, AS and A Levels, alongside Indonesian curriculum requirements. Cambridge Primary, IGCSE and AS/A Levels refer to successive educational stages, not equivalent qualifications. AIS Bali instead teaches an Australian curriculum through Year 10, with the IB Diploma or a senior school certificate among its later options. These routes can serve different onward destinations even where the schools use similar international terminology.

Green School takes a different approach again, blending academic disciplines with its Green Literacies and experiential learning. It states that the school is WASC-accredited and awards a US high-school diploma. That is neither IB nor Cambridge, and WASC institutional accreditation should not be confused with subject-level examinations. For any senior pathway, universities and receiving schools decide which courses and credentials meet their entry rules.

Five Bali Schools to Put on a First Shortlist

Bali's school choices become clearer when viewed as separate geographical corridors rather than a league table. Bali Island School is in Sanur; Canggu Community School is in Tibubeneng, close to Berawa. The distinction between those areas affects everyday life, and the two schools do not offer identical routes through the secondary years.

Dyatmika's campus sits in Kesiman Kertalangu in east Denpasar, making it a relevant Cambridge option for families exploring that side of the city. Australian Independent School is on Jalan Imam Bonjol, also in Denpasar, but with a different Australian-led curriculum. AIS Indonesia should not be mistaken for Asian Intercultural School Bali, a separate institution with a similar abbreviation.

Green School Bali is in Sibang Kaja, Abiansemal. Descriptions that casually place it in “Ubud” blur an important distinction: this is not a central Ubud campus. The actual approach roads and school-day pickup arrangements deserve more attention than the general lifestyle associated with an area.

These five schools are comparison points, not winners and runners-up. They represent different combinations of campus setting, teaching approach and leaving qualification. A family should still ask each school about the particular year group, subject availability and admission capacity; a name on a shortlist is only the beginning of a viable option.

Bali School Options at a Glance

Option 1 of 3

Campus area

Bali Island School: Sanur
Canggu Community School: Berawa / Tibubeneng
Dyatmika School: Kesiman Kertalangu, Denpasar
Australian Independent School (AIS): Jalan Imam Bonjol, Denpasar
Green School Bali: Sibang Kaja, Abiansemal

Option 2 of 3

Pathway

Bali Island School: IB: PYP, MYP, DP
Canggu Community School: CCS courses (10–11); IB DP (12–13)
Dyatmika School: Cambridge IGCSE, AS, A Levels
Australian Independent School (AIS): Australian curriculum to Year 10; IB DP/certificate
Green School Bali: Green Literacies; US high-school diploma

Option 3 of 3

Key question

Bali Island School: Year-group seat and DP entry
Canggu Community School: Current subjects and CCS transcripts
Dyatmika School: Available subjects and teaching language
Australian Independent School (AIS): Calendar and senior course choice
Green School Bali: School accreditation and transcript

Match the Year Group to the Exit Qualification

Moving a child between school systems can look deceptively simple on paper. Year 8, Grade 8 and an eighth year in another national curriculum are labels, not universal equivalences. Schools may use different age cut-offs, calendars and prior-learning expectations, so grade placement has to be decided case by case.

The early years, primary and lower-secondary stages generally offer more time before external assessment becomes decisive. At ages 14–17, the subject sequence and examination calendar begin to shape the next move. Joining a class may still leave a student unable to complete the right coursework, laboratory requirements or subject combination for a planned qualification.

Consider a teenager arriving with IGCSE preparation who hopes to enter an IB Diploma pathway. The receiving school may have a suitable age group but a different pre-DP curriculum, leaving work to be bridged or subjects to be reconsidered. A student switching in the other direction faces a different set of constraints. IB authorisation, Cambridge registration and admission to a particular senior course are separate questions.

A sample school transcript is often more revealing than a glossy graduate-destinations page. Parents planning another international move should understand how attainment is recorded, which senior qualification can actually be earned, and what the next school or university requires from that exact student.

Pick a Home Based on the School-Day Journey

Choosing where to live becomes easier once the school gate is a fixed point. Sanur is a sensible starting area for Bali Island School; Berawa and neighbouring Tibubeneng for CCS. Dyatmika suggests looking at east Denpasar, AIS at the Imam Bonjol corridor, and Green School at routes towards Sibang Kaja. None of those labels promises an easy drive from every street.

The school run is actually several journeys. Morning drop-off may use a different traffic pattern from an afternoon collection, while clubs and sports can push pickup later. Heavy rain, narrow approaches and the rules for entering a campus may matter more than the straight-line distance between a villa and a school.

An attractive Uluwatu rental paired with a Berawa school is an obvious stress test. The hypothetical family might be perfectly happy with the home at weekends yet find the weekday journey unsustainable. That cannot be settled by a mileage figure or a route estimate taken outside school hours.

Some families will drive; others may use a driver or an organised school bus. Transport availability, collection points and after-activity departures are school-specific and can change with the academic year. Before a long lease, the family should experience both ends of a normal school day on the proposed route.

Build a Shortlist Around Your Situation

Suggested next stepStart with the school’s actual IB DP or Cambridge AS/A Level offering

A matching age group is not enough if the required courses or assessment sequence are unavailable.

Suggested next stepCompare language support, reporting style, pastoral care and commute

A sample school report and a transition discussion reveal more than a familiar curriculum logo.

Suggested next stepExplore Green School, then test how its records support the next educational step

Explore how assessment, transcripts and the high-school diploma support later admissions.

Suggested next stepTrial the school-day trip first; reconsider the home search area if necessary

Try drop-off and late pickup before judging the journey by an off-peak map estimate.

English Readiness, Wellbeing and Learning Support

Social fluency and classroom fluency are very different things. A child may make friends quickly in English yet struggle to read a science brief, write a reasoned explanation or follow assessment instructions. The gap grows in examination years, when language is part of how subject knowledge is demonstrated.

Admissions teams assess readiness differently. A younger pupil may have time to acquire classroom vocabulary while settling in; a senior student could be expected to handle demanding texts from the outset. English as an Additional Language or English Language Learning support—often abbreviated EAL or ELL—varies between schools and year groups. A general statement about being an international school is no guarantee of a specific service.

Pastoral care needs the same scrutiny. A designated teacher who notices isolation, a credible response to bullying and clear communication with parents can determine whether a new student settles well. Families should understand who helps with missed content and how concerns are raised, rather than assuming an orientation tour represents the whole support system.

Additional learning needs call for a concrete conversation about capacity. Availability of specialists, classroom adjustments and individual arrangements must be established for the particular child and stage of schooling. A written answer is far more useful than a broad promise that every student can be accommodated.

Before You Apply: Timing and Available Places

An application portal can remain open even when a particular year group has no suitable vacancy. BIS and CCS describe applications during the school year, but admission still depends on capacity and academic fit. For senior students, a seat in the building may be irrelevant if the intended examination sequence has already begun.

Calendars are an easy source of confusion for internationally mobile families. BIS and CCS operate broadly on an August-to-June cycle. AIS Bali follows a January-to-December academic year, so a move planned around a northern-hemisphere summer may put a child at a very different point in the syllabus.

Before applying, parents need clarity on the entry term, year-group placement, language or academic assessment, and what constitutes a formal offer. A paid application is not necessarily a reserved seat; CCS explicitly distinguishes its application fee from a place guarantee. Acceptance, deposits and withdrawal terms should be understood before money changes hands.

Document requirements and assessment procedures deserve their own admissions guide. At the shortlisting stage, the question is simpler: can the school plausibly admit this child into this course at the intended time?

What to Verify Before Paying or Signing a Lease

A campus tour is most useful when it reveals an ordinary Tuesday. Attractive facilities offer little insight into the exact timetable, the senior subjects that will run or how a transferred pupil's progress will be reported. Meeting the relevant year-group coordinator, and where possible a teacher, adds substance to the admissions presentation.

The less photogenic details matter just as much: arrival arrangements, who can collect younger children, supervision after activities and the channels parents use when something goes wrong. Families should also hear how the school responds to bullying and how a newly arrived child receives help. A general wellbeing statement is no substitute for understanding how it operates in that year group.

An offer becomes more meaningful beside a complete fee schedule. Tuition may be only part of the bill: joining charges, transport, meals, uniforms and examination costs can sit elsewhere. Refund, withdrawal and deposit rules are particularly consequential when a family may need to relocate again.

Programme authorisations and school accreditation are documentary questions, not impressions formed during a tour. Families should leave with answers they can compare in writing. The final housing decision can then be tested against a realistic school-day journey rather than against a campus brochure.

Questions to Ask the Admissions Team

Complete0 of 8

Curriculum and leaving qualificationChecklist0 of 2

Which subjects and external examinations are offered in my child’s intended year group?
May we see a sample transcript and discuss a possible transfer to another school system?

Language and student supportChecklist0 of 2

How is English assessed on entry, and what language support actually runs in this year group?
Who leads transition support, responds to bullying and coordinates additional learning needs?

Commute and daily scheduleChecklist0 of 2

What are the real start, finish and club times, and does the school bus serve our address?
How do drop-off, authorised collection and late activity pickups work?

Offers, seats and paymentsChecklist0 of 2

Is a place available for the planned start date, and what document actually secures it?
Which fees are compulsory or non-refundable, and how do withdrawal rules work?

FAQ: International Schools in Bali

Which schools in Bali offer an IB programme?

Bali Island School offers the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes. Canggu Community School and AIS Bali offer the Diploma Programme in the senior years, with different earlier-year curricula. The IB World Schools directory is the place to establish programme-specific authorisation. Admissions teams must separately confirm whether the relevant class is open to a new student.

Can students take Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels in Bali?

Dyatmika describes a Cambridge pathway that includes IGCSE, AS and A Level examinations. Available subjects and examination arrangements may differ by cohort, so the school's current senior timetable matters. Cambridge International provides a directory for confirming registered schools. Registration alone does not tell a parent whether the subject combination their child needs will be available.

Where should we live if our child’s school is in Sanur or Berawa?

Sanur is a logical starting point for a family considering BIS. For CCS, Berawa and nearby Tibubeneng are more useful first search areas. A workable address still depends on the actual entrance, school timetable and after-school pickup. Trial runs at both ends of a normal school day are more informative than a generic driving estimate.

Can a child transfer to a Bali school during the year?

Some schools consider mid-year applications, including BIS and CCS. A place still depends on the student's year group, prior learning and the school's capacity to support a transfer. Senior examination courses can be less flexible once assessed work is under way. Parents should seek a written answer for the proposed start date, not rely on a general rolling-admissions statement.

Does my child need fluent English to enrol?

Fluency is not a single island-wide admissions requirement. Schools assess academic and social language readiness for the student's age and intended course. Senior programmes may require stronger reading and writing skills than younger classes. Any EAL or ELL support should be confirmed at the actual year level, including its limits.

Should we choose IB or Cambridge in Bali?

The choice starts with the student's next academic destination and subject needs. IB Diploma and Cambridge AS/A Levels differ in course structure and assessment, and not every school offers every option. A family expecting another transfer should also consider how work and results will be documented. University entry rules are course-specific, so neither pathway creates a blanket admissions guarantee.

What does an international school in Bali cost?

Fees vary substantially by school, year group and what the published tuition figure includes. A useful quotation separates recurring tuition from registration or capital charges, meals, transport and examination fees where applicable. Parents should also read the refund and withdrawal rules and confirm the academic year the quote covers. A dated fee-by-fee comparison belongs in the separate school-cost guide.

Sources16

International Baccalaureate — Find an IB World SchoolIB World Schools directory: authorisations for individual PYP, MYP and DP programmes.
Cambridge International — Recognise a Cambridge SchoolCambridge International guidance on verifying registered schools.
Bali Island School — Accreditation, Authorizations and AffiliationsBali Island School statement on its IB continuum and Indonesian SPK status.
Bali Island School — Admissions GuidelineBali Island School admissions guidance and academic-year calendar.
Canggu Community School — Year 10 and 11 at CCSCurrent CCS courses and transcripts for Years 10–11.

Show allHide additional sourcesanother 11

Canggu Community School — IB Diploma ProgrammeCCS senior IB Diploma Programme and published subjects.
Canggu Community School — ContactCCS campus address in Tibubeneng, Bali.
Canggu Community School — Admissions ProcessCCS admissions criteria and the application fee without a seat guarantee.
Dyatmika School — Learning & LeadershipDyatmika curriculum covering Cambridge examinations and Indonesian studies.
Dyatmika School — About UsDyatmika school levels, curriculum context and campus information.
Australian Independent School Indonesia — Bali CurriculumAIS Bali Australian curriculum through Year 10 and senior options.
Australian Independent School Indonesia — Bali Admissions PolicyAIS Bali January–December calendar and general year-placement policy.
Green School Bali — Learning ProgramGreen School Bali curriculum, WASC accreditation and high-school diploma.
Green School Bali — Campus LocationGreen School Bali address in Sibang Kaja and campus access arrangements.
Indonesia Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education — Dyatmika SPK RegistryIndonesian ministry record for the Dyatmika lower-secondary SPK unit.
Official sources checked 2026-11-06: Twin Flame: 2026/27 registration and Russian/English programmes · VARVARA: Ubud centre, stated ages and programme