Turkey · Istanbul
British International STEAM School Istanbul is the Etiler preschool and primary campus of The British School Istanbul. It combines Cambridge subjects with parts of England's National Curriculum. International secondary education continues at the separate Zekeriyaköy campus, with IGCSE and the IB Diploma.
British International STEAM School Istanbul, or BISS, is a co-educational international day school in Etiler. Its city campus covers preschool and primary education. The address is Tuğcular Sokak No. 27, Beşiktaş.
The wider British School Istanbul organisation also operates an international campus in Zekeriyaköy. That campus has secondary education, as well as forest preschool and primary sections. A Turkish national school operates separately at the same site.
This structure matters when planning a long-term commute. A child can attend Etiler through the end of primary school, but the associated international secondary route is in Zekeriyaköy.
The Etiler campus teaches Cambridge English, mathematics, science and digital literacy. It uses England’s National Curriculum for art, history, geography, physical education and music.
The school describes this as a British-style Cambridge route with an integrated STEAM approach. STEAM means science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. It is a teaching emphasis, not a separate qualification.
International secondary pupils at Zekeriyaköy continue towards Cambridge IGCSE and then the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The school does not describe the Etiler campus itself as an IGCSE or IB teaching site.
The published age wording is slightly inconsistent. The FAQ says Etiler accepts ages 2–11, while the admissions policy says the wider school accepts pupils from age 2½. Confirm the starting age and half-day requirement for the offered preschool class.
The admissions policy says Turkish pupils are not admitted to the international school under Turkish Ministry of Education rules. The FAQ phrases eligibility as holding a non-Turkish passport.
The FAQ adds that dual citizens may be eligible. It does not define which passport combinations qualify. A dual-national family should obtain a written eligibility decision before paying the non-refundable application fee.
The separate Turkish national branch has its own admissions route. Admission there should not be treated as admission to the English-medium international school.
The school accepts applications throughout the year when a suitable place is available. It does not publish a general closing date or a 2027/28 application calendar.
Applicants submit a separate form for each child. Required records include passport copies, photographs, a medical form, the family contract, financial information and recent sealed school reports.
Placement is normally close to the pupil’s age on 1 September. English must be strong enough for access to the offered curriculum. The director may place a pupil one year lower, but the school says it will not place a child above chronological age.
Secondary applicants take CAT3 to establish a baseline for target-setting and progress monitoring. The school says this is not an academic entrance examination.
The school does not admit new pupils to Year 11 or Year 13, regardless of the curriculum followed previously. These are the final years of the usual IGCSE and IB Diploma sequences. A mobile family should avoid planning a transfer into either year.
The first Early Years class is half-day for at least the first term. Ask whether a particular child may move to full-day attendance later and what evidence the school uses for that decision.
BISS says it welcomes pupils who use English as an additional language. Beginner primary pupils may receive small-group lessons outside the classroom. Intermediate pupils may receive in-class support.
The school does not publish a CEFR entry threshold, weekly support hours or a separate ESL charge. Since placement depends partly on access to the curriculum, ask how language needs affect the offer and year group.
The learning-support page lists individual education plans, in-class support, withdrawal lessons, monitoring and small-group booster work. It also describes liaison with families and external services.
The admissions policy asks families to disclose known disabilities or special educational needs. If a need becomes apparent later, the school says it will discuss reasonable adjustments that may allow the pupil to continue.
That wording is not a guarantee that every need can be met. Before accepting, obtain a written description of current staff capacity, support hours, outside-service responsibilities and any additional cost.
The Etiler day begins with arrival between 08:30 and 08:50. Registration starts at 08:50, lessons at 09:00 and buses depart at 15:30.
After-school activities for Reception to Year 6 run three days a week until 16:20. Reception participation depends on staff agreement that the child can manage the longer day.
The reviewed pages do not publish the street address of the international secondary campus. Obtain the exact Zekeriyaköy gate, transport route and travel time before treating primary-to-secondary progression as practical.
This is a day-school organisation. It does not advertise boarding or school-provided guardianship.
The live fee page still gives 2026/27 figures in US dollars. Its two full-payment discounts expired on 31 December 2025 and 1 March 2026. The remaining published totals are the instalment-plan amounts:
| Section | Instalment-plan total |
|---|---|
| Preschool, half day | US$21,600. |
| Preschool, full day | US$25,500. |
| Reception | US$29,550. |
| Primary | US$47,550. |
| Secondary, Years 7–10 | US$49,050. |
| Secondary, Years 11–12 | US$50,550. |
| Year 13 | US$52,500. |
The Year 13 total includes ordinary IB examination fees, but not remarks or retakes. That published price does not change the rule barring new entry to Year 13.
The plan split each total into three equal payments due on 1 May, 1 July and 1 September 2026. All three dates have now passed. A new or mid-year applicant should obtain a current written quotation and payment calendar.
Each new application has a US$1,250 non-refundable processing fee. A separate US$5,500 non-refundable registration fee applies on entry from Year 1 to Year 13.
Preschool and Reception pupils pay that registration charge only when they reach Year 1. The school says a place is not fully registered until the fee is paid.
The fee page and admissions policy conflict on one historic deadline. The fee page tied its earliest discount to registration payment by 31 December 2025. The admissions policy instead says 1 February. Both dates have passed, so ask which current rule applies.
Tuition excludes:
The school recommends comprehensive medical insurance and says families are responsible for hospital and ambulance costs. Transport, trips and sports may involve the school’s named bus contractor and separate prices.
The page offers a 10% educational discount for children of teachers at other schools or universities. It also offers 10% for the second and each later sibling after the family has been registered for more than one year.
Sibling discounts do not combine with another discount and may change with board approval. Confirm the qualifying child, start date and tuition base in writing.
There is no fee reduction for absence. Application and registration charges are non-refundable and non-transferable.
The school may refund unused tuition at its discretion when a pupil leaves. It requires at least 90 days’ written notice by registered post. The pupil must not attend the term for which a refund is sought.
Even when those conditions are met, the school deducts books, materials, examination fees and prepaid taxes. Request the signed financial policy before paying, because the web summary does not define every calculation.
The main cautions are equally clear. Secondary education moves to Zekeriyaköy, Years 11 and 13 are closed to new entrants, and the published payment dates have expired. Passport eligibility, support capacity and a current quotation should all be confirmed before paying.
The Istanbul school guide compares the city’s main international routes. The Turkey guide explains the wider legal and practical context.
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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Start with the child’s eligibility and the qualification you want to preserve. Then check the campus for the actual year group. Istanbul’s English-medium international schools, French lycée, German school and Italian liceo have different admissions rules; they are not interchangeable options for every passport.
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.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.