Spain · Barcelona
Benjamin Franklin International School is a coeducational, non-profit day school in Sarrià. It teaches an American curriculum through Grade 5, the IB Middle Years Programme in Grades 6–10 and an IB-based high-school route in Grades 11–12.
Benjamin Franklin International School (BFIS) is a private, coeducational, non-profit day school in Sarrià. The school reports about 700 pupils from more than 60 nationalities. Its main address is Martorell i Peña 9, with the visitor entrance on Passatge Torras i Bages.
English is the main teaching language. Spanish is compulsory, and the Spanish and Catalan requirements differ according to the pupil’s background and intended qualification. This makes the language plan especially important for older entrants.
BFIS has no boarding. A pupil must live full-time with at least one parent or legal guardian while enrolled.
The school’s US High School Diploma is awarded for meeting its graduation requirements. The current High School page specifies at least 24 credits and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), a programme of creative, physical and community-service activities. However, the 2025–26 school profile says 22 credits. Ask for the current graduation worksheet before choosing Grade 11 subjects.
BFIS’s pages use “IB Diploma Programme” in two different ways. The admissions FAQ calls it the only curriculum in Grades 11 and 12. The High School page says full Diploma candidature is optional, with more than 95% participation in recent years.
The February 2026 inclusion policy explains the practical distinction. If the full Diploma is inaccessible, the school may discuss individual IB courses and/or the US diploma route. Individual IB course results are not the full IB Diploma, a pre-university qualification. Families should obtain the pupil’s exact qualification pathway in writing.
Eligible pupils may also obtain recognition for Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO), Spain’s compulsory secondary stage, and the Spanish Título de Bachillerato, the upper-secondary qualification. This requires the prescribed Spanish programme, including earlier Spanish courses. It is not an automatic additional diploma for every BFIS pupil.
The school provides guidance for Spanish and international university applications. A late entrant should confirm whether previous schooling leaves enough time to complete Spanish validation requirements.
Spanish is compulsory for every pupil. Non-native speakers are assessed and placed in Spanish Language Acquisition classes. International pupils also study Hispanic Individuals and Societies in Spanish.
Native Spanish-speaking pupils study Spanish and Catalan as native languages. They also take Spanish Geography and History. Catalan is currently optional for pupils without Spanish nationality, but it may be necessary for the ESO route.
BFIS is secular. Pupils learn about religions within Individuals and Societies rather than through confessional religious education.
Applications are accepted throughout the year for Nursery to Grade 11. Mid-year entry is possible when a pupil meets the requirements and a place is available. BFIS recommends completing the process before February for a September start.
There is no Grade 12 entry. BFIS says differences in subject sequencing and the timing of the IB core requirements make a final-year transfer impractical. These include Theory of Knowledge, a course about knowledge and evidence; the Extended Essay, an independent research paper; and CAS.
The online application requires school records, questionnaires, health and vaccination information, identity documents and a €250 non-refundable application fee. The fee remains valid for two consecutive school years. Documents must be PDF copies with an English translation; image files are not accepted.
Assessment depends on the entry point:
For Grade 11, applicants must already have the Grade 9 and 10 credits needed for the US diploma. They should be within one year of the usual age and cannot be over 19 at graduation.
Once the application and assessments are complete, BFIS normally communicates a decision within two weeks. Applications involving learning support may take longer. Assessment does not reserve a place.
The admissions policy remains the one approved in 2019 and still linked by BFIS. It ranks qualified applicants in this order:
Within each category, native or near-native English has priority. Application-completion date follows. BFIS also considers the demographic balance and support needs in each grade.
A qualified applicant can therefore remain on a changing waiting list. A place is secure only after the offer, required contracts, documents and enrolment fees have all been completed.
Nursery–Grade 2 applicants may enter without English. From Grade 3, applicants must be assessed and meet the school’s language requirement. BFIS does not publish a minimum score.
Bilingual and Multilingual Learner specialists provide targeted English teaching and work with classroom teachers. The current inclusion policy describes support from Kindergarten through Grade 12, using assessment and individual goals.
Learning support is designed for mild to moderate learning differences. It may be delivered in class, in a small group or individually. The school also offers short-term counselling and refers longer-term therapy to outside providers.
Admission depends on BFIS having the staff and resources to meet the pupil’s needs. Conditional enrolment may be used when progress is uncertain. Failure to disclose an academic or developmental concern can trigger a review of continued enrolment.
Outside diagnostic assessments may be requested at the parents’ expense. The policy does not publish a separate internal support fee or guarantee a particular level of provision. Send all reports before assessment and request a written support plan.
The inclusion policy says ramps and lifts provide access to every level. It does not describe each specialist room, toilet or evacuation route, so an individual access visit is still sensible.
These are BFIS’s published annual individual-family charges:
| Charge | Published amount |
|---|---|
| Application, all grades | €250 |
| Annual matriculation, first child | €1,100 |
| Annual matriculation, each additional child | €1,000 |
| One-time entrance fee | €6,000 |
| Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten tuition | €12,950 |
| Kindergarten–Grade 5 tuition | €17,000 |
| Grades 6–8 tuition | €18,240 |
| Grades 9–12 tuition | €21,720 |
The application, matriculation and entrance fees are non-refundable. For a first child, the published first-year total is therefore €20,300–€29,070, depending on the division. This is our calculation before lunch, transport and other extras.
BFIS also publishes a separate corporate schedule:
| Charge | Published amount |
|---|---|
| Application, all grades | €250 |
| Annual matriculation, first child | €1,300 |
| Annual matriculation, each additional child | €1,200 |
| One-time entrance fee | €6,700 |
| Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten tuition | €16,400 |
| Kindergarten–Grade 5 tuition | €20,000 |
| Grades 6–8 tuition | €21,350 |
| Grades 9–12 tuition | €25,430 |
For a first child, we calculate a first-year total of €24,650–€33,680 from the published charges, before optional and additional costs. The public page does not define who must use the corporate schedule. Obtain the classification in writing before budgeting.
Families leaving before the next September must notify BFIS in writing before 1 June and give the departure date. Notice after 31 May triggers a charge equal to three monthly tuition instalments. Matriculation and entrance fees remain non-refundable.
Lunch costs €1,820 for the full year, €192 monthly or €12.30 for a ticket. The school says the nurse and kitchen team monitor dietary restrictions.
Barcelona bus routes 1 and 2 cost €2,240 return or €1,380 one way for the year. The Sant Cugat route costs €2,710 return or €1,640 one way and runs only with sufficient demand. Single trips cost €9 in Barcelona and €15.90 from Sant Cugat.
IB Diploma, course and subject charges are billed separately. Field trips, optional parties, extracurricular activities, tutoring and special programmes may also be charged. BFIS says Kindergarten–Grade 12 pupils take an annual overnight class trip, so ask for that cost.
Optional AXA tuition insurance is available, but BFIS does not publish its premium.
BFIS currently offers no scholarships or financial aid. It also gives no tuition reduction for attending only part of the school day.
Pupils must be at school by 08:35. Some IB classes start at 08:00. The day ends at 16:00, or 15:00 on Wednesday.
The Sarrià campus includes an elementary building opened in 2016 and a secondary building opened in 2021. A campus page still describes a new creative-arts, science, design, engineering and sports centre as opening in 2026. Confirm which facilities are operational when visiting.
BFIS neither sponsors student visas nor advises on visa applications. It can issue an enrolment certificate after formal enrolment. Families must arrange their own Spanish residence position and satisfy the parent-or-legal-guardian residence rule.
Our Barcelona guide explains the local school landscape. The Spain guide covers the national system and qualification routes.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
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5 minAn American-style school may offer a familiar curriculum, but its diploma, courses, language support, and admissions rules need individual checks. Start with the child’s next educational step.
7 minStart with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.