Choosing an international school in Izmir

English or German continuity?

MEF International School Izmir is a day school in Gaziemir, at 699. Sokak No. 2. Its primary and lower-secondary provision uses Cambridge programmes, followed by IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Compare it first if a child needs continuity in English and can meet the requirements for the relevant grade.

MEF Izmir is not the Istanbul campus. The primary curriculum, fee schedule and address must all be checked on the Izmir pages. The presence of an IB Diploma does not mean that its primary school uses the IB Primary Years Programme.

Deutsche Schule Izmir, or DSI, is in Urla at Kuşcular Caddesi 82. It offers German-language education from kindergarten through secondary school. After the German middle-secondary qualification, pupils can follow a German-English bilingual IB Diploma in Classes 11–12. The final qualification is not the German Abitur.

DSI is the more relevant comparison for an eligible child already studying in German. In the final two years, ask about the actual teaching language and level of each IB subject. The word “bilingual” does not mean an English-speaking newcomer can enter every class without German.

Resolve eligibility and support before paying

DSI’s admissions page explicitly says it cannot currently admit Turkish citizens, including dual nationals with Turkish citizenship. It requests passport copies and the child’s Mavi Kart or foreigner identity number, alongside other records. A foreign passport alone does not override that exclusion.

MEF asks families to verify eligibility with admissions and submit the child’s and parents’ passport information, residence details and recent school records. Ask how any Turkish or dual citizenship is treated before submitting a paid application. Do not apply DSI’s rule to MEF by assumption.

The MEF admissions policy expects secondary applicants to have previous attainment equivalent to at least 60%. For the full IB Diploma, pupils need passing grades in the subjects they will continue and at least 60% overall in Grade 10. English and first-language placement also matter. Meeting a numerical threshold alone is not acceptance.

Entry to Grade 12 is not normally recommended unless prior studies align with the programme. MEF also says learning-support time can be limited. A child with support needs requires confirmation of what can actually be provided, not simply a reference to a support department.

Use the Izmir fee schedule

The 2026–27 MEF Izmir table gives annual tuition and food totals including 10% VAT:

Stage	Annual total
Reception 1–2	US$19,300
Kindergarten	US$26,855
Primary Grades 1–5	US$35,740
Middle school Grades 6–7	US$36,915
Middle school Grade 8	US$37,685
High school Grades 9–10	US$40,695
IB year 1	US$40,865
IB year 2	US$41,965

The annual placement payment is included in those totals. It is paid first, followed by five instalments; adding it to the annual total would double-count it. The separate application fee is US$1,250. New entrants from Grade 1 also pay US$3,500 registration; early-childhood entrants pay that registration charge when they reach Grade 1.

The payment policy includes specified Cambridge examinations and one IB examination session. Retakes and remarks are excluded. Budget separately for the bus, devices and overnight trips. Early withdrawal can involve a deduction based on the full annual fee, so request a dated calculation for a short stay.

DSI does not publish a current tuition table on the pages reviewed. Request the current school-year schedule, including transport and any examination charges. The absence of a public price is not evidence that it is free or that an Istanbul German-school tariff applies.

Test the actual school journey

Gaziemir and Urla are different destinations. Check the route from the proposed home to the relevant school, including the pickup time after activities. For siblings, confirm places and suitable language provision for both children before choosing accommodation.

Families considering a French-medium Turkish secondary route should also inspect Saint-Joseph Izmir’s own admissions information. It uses an LGS admissions route, based on Turkey’s secondary-entry examination. That is a different application from foreign-system continuity at MEF or DSI.

The Izmir school list and Turkey guide provide the wider context. If the posting itself is undecided, compare the separate Istanbul and Ankara guides.

Friendly orientation, not formal admissions advice. Always confirm dates with the school.