International School of Brussels: admissions, programmes and fees

The International School of Brussels is an independent, not-for-profit day school at Kattenberg 19, 1170 Brussels. Its single campus is in Watermael-Boitsfort, beside the Sonian Forest.

ISB suits families seeking one English-medium school from early childhood to age 18. Its senior programme offers several qualification combinations. It is less suitable when boarding, guaranteed learning-support capacity or a publicly priced all-inclusive package is essential.

Age range and school day

Preschool admits children aged about 2.5 to 3. Pre-Kindergarten is normally age 4 and Kindergarten age 5. Grades 1–12 broadly cover ages 6–18.

Preschool and Pre-K run from 08:40 to 15:30 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday ends at 12:30. Kindergarten to Grade 6 runs from 08:40 to 15:35.

Middle School, Grades 7–9, and High School, Grades 10–12, run from 08:35 to 15:40. Check the school calendar and activity timetable before arranging childcare or transport.

ISB provides no boarding. Its scholarship page confirms that pupils return home after the school day. The school does not publish a homestay or guardianship service.

Curriculum and qualifications

Lower School covers Preschool to Grade 6. Middle School covers Grades 7–9. These divisions use ISB’s own inquiry-led curriculum; the school is not authorised for the IB Primary Years or Middle Years Programmes.

The Middle School offers a three-year French bilingual option. Science and Social Studies are taught in French. Applicants need at least two years of previous French study, and places depend on suitability and capacity.

High School covers Grades 10–12. Regular graduates earn the ISB US High School Diploma. The 2025–26 pathways handbook requires at least 19 credits across English, mathematics, science, social science, arts, physical education and electives.

The 2026–27 programme groups senior courses into five categories: ISB, IB, Advanced Placement, Pearson BTEC and the full IB Diploma Programme. These are not five separate school-leaving diplomas.

The IB’s official directory lists ISB as a Diploma Programme school, code 000050, authorised since 1 January 1977. It does not list the IB Career-related Programme, PYP or MYP.

Full IB Diploma pupils take six subjects plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service. Other pupils may take individual IB courses without attempting the full diploma.

Advanced Placement courses and Pearson BTEC International Level 3 awards can supplement the ISB diploma. Available subjects depend on the timetable and demand. External registration and examination charges are billed separately.

Pupils receiving full-time Intensive Learning Support follow an individual plan and may receive an Individualised ISB Diploma. Families should not assume that this has the same requirements or recognition as the regular ISB diploma.

Programme selection follows Grade 10. The school considers achievement, language development, motivation and support needs. Ask for a written course plan before accepting a senior place, especially when transferring after Grade 10.

English and other languages

English is the principal teaching language. English Language Development is available across divisions, but admission still depends on whether the school can support the pupil in the requested grade.

The 2026–27 High School programme describes four English-development stages. Beginners receive intensive English and adapted social sciences. Pupils progress through intermediate and bridging levels before leaving the programme.

Current ISB pupils must reach the bridging level, or leave English support, by Grade 11. New Grade 11 applicants are generally expected to reach WIDA level 5 across language domains before entering most IB courses.

French, Dutch, Spanish and other languages appear in the curriculum. Home-language study and self-taught IB options may be possible. Availability, staffing and any external tutor cost should be confirmed for the relevant year.

Admissions and capacity

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Families usually apply before 1 May, but this is guidance rather than a universal closing date. A place depends on grade capacity, programme fit and support availability.

The online process has six stages. A complete file includes the application, supporting records and the application fee. The relevant division head or educational team reviews it, and the decision is sent by email.

The school aims to decide a complete application within 7–10 working days. Learning-support, financial-aid and other exceptional reviews can take longer. An accepted family normally has five working days to confirm.

For early childhood, the school uses a 1 November age cut-off. Older pupils are placed using age and previous schooling. The school may request testing and decides both the grade and start date.

IB Diploma pupils cannot normally begin after the start of October. An exception may apply when the pupil already follows transferable IB courses. Late senior transfers need written confirmation of credit and subject continuity.

Waiting pools operate when a grade or programme is full. The policy gives priority to internationally mobile families with English-medium experience, overseas ISB hires, certain siblings, locally hired staff and former ISB families.

Host-country families follow after those groups. Application completion date also matters. The school may prioritise expatriate pupils when another applicant has a viable local-school alternative.

ISB does not promise admission or provide a right to reasons. If no place exists 60 days after the requested start date, a family may cancel and receive the application fee back in full.

Learning, wellbeing and admission limits

The Inclusion and Challenge department includes learning support, counselling, psychology, health, high-ability provision and Intensive Learning Support. Multidisciplinary teams review individual needs.

The admissions policy describes mainstream support for mild-to-moderate needs. It also permits individual tutoring and full-time specialist education for some pupils with cognitive or developmental disabilities.

Capacity is restricted. Pupils receiving learning support may not exceed 15% of total enrolment or 17% of any grade. Admission can be refused when the required service, individual tutor or suitable place is unavailable.

The policy also identifies needs the school may be unable to support. These include severe or profound disabilities, unsafe physical-care requirements, serious psychiatric or behavioural disorders, and persistent disruption.

Applicants must disclose evaluations, diagnoses and previous support. Nondisclosure can lead to refusal or later termination. Enrolment may also end if the school can no longer meet the pupil’s documented needs.

Individual tutoring, external assessments, speech therapy, occupational therapy and some internal services can cost extra. Obtain the proposed support plan, diploma outcome and complete annual charge in writing before accepting.

Published tuition

The live tuition page showed these rates on 4 September 2026, but it did not name the school year. Do not describe them as 2026–27 without confirmation on the invoice.

Division	Annual tuition shown
Preschool	€22,995
Pre-Kindergarten	€25,480
Kindergarten	€38,440
Grades 1–2	€41,400
Grades 3–6	€42,145
Grades 7–9	€48,135
Grades 10–12	€51,105
Intensive Learning Support	€25,860 extra

The €2,000 application fee is charged once per family. The fee page says it covers administration and contributes to capital improvements. ISB does not publish a separate acceptance or enrolment deposit.

The application fee is normally 50% refundable after withdrawal. The refund is 75% when financial aid is denied, or when an offer is declined and the family withdraws. The 60-day waiting-pool rule gives a 100% refund.

The terms reserve the right to charge a separate, non-refundable capital levy. The current fee page publishes no amount. Ask whether any capital charge beyond the €2,000 application fee appears on the offer.

Late-start fees and transport

A start between September and December attracts the full annual tuition. For a start from January, the school charges from the first day of the joining month using this published table.

Division or service	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Preschool	€19,550	€17,250	€13,800	€10,350	€6,900	€3,450
Pre-Kindergarten	€21,700	€19,150	€15,300	€11,500	€7,650	€3,850
Kindergarten	€32,700	€28,850	€23,100	€17,300	€11,550	€5,800
Grades 1–2	€35,200	€31,050	€24,850	€18,650	€12,450	€6,250
Grades 3–6	€35,850	€31,650	€25,300	€19,000	€12,650	€6,350
Grades 7–9	€40,950	€36,150	€28,900	€21,700	€14,450	€7,250
Grades 10–12	€43,450	€38,350	€30,700	€23,000	€15,350	€7,700
Intensive Learning Support	€22,000	€19,400	€15,550	€11,650	€7,800	€3,900
Return bus	€2,800	€2,450	€1,950	€1,500	€1,000	€500
One-way bus	€2,100	€1,850	€1,500	€1,150	€750	€400

The full annual bus rate is €3,240 return or €2,460 one way for 2026–27. More than 30 buses serve Brussels and surrounding areas. Route availability should be checked against the family’s actual address.

No daily or weekly bus price is published. The school mentions a bus payment plan, but its public page does not give the instalment terms.

The bus serves Kindergarten to Grade 12. Pre-K pupils may use it only with an older sibling. The free late bus serves Middle and High School hubs; Grades 3–6 need authorisation.

Routine inability to use the bus does not create a refund. However, the withdrawal terms grant a 25% annual bus refund for a qualifying departure on or before 31 January.

Other costs and payment

Cafeteria prices are visible only in the Community Portal. A replacement lunch card costs €10. Lunch, trips, private music, after-school care, summer programmes and some co-curricular activities are not included in tuition.

IB, AP and BTEC charges are extra. The school also bills Pamoja online courses, therapy, external testing and damaged equipment where applicable. Current examination and programme charges are not publicly listed.

Withdrawal and debt liability

Enrolment renews annually unless the family submits the portal leaving form by 15 May. Leaving on or before 31 January gives a 25% tuition refund. Leaving after that date gives no tuition refund.

Unpaid fees can prevent attendance or re-enrolment. ISB may retain school records, transcripts and diplomas until the account is settled. Suspension or exclusion does not automatically remove the family’s payment obligations.

The terms provide no refund for closure or interruption caused by weather, force majeure, government action or a management decision. Families should obtain employer reimbursement terms and insurance advice independently.

Access, financial aid and scholarships

The Access Programme is a separate, lower-fee admissions route. Its live page publishes annual tuition of €3,700 for Preschool–Grade 6, €4,500 for Grades 7–9 and €5,400 for Grades 10–12.

For an Access pupil in Intensive Learning Support, the supplement equals 50% of the relevant Access tuition. The Access page does not name a school year or publish its underlying eligibility and priority categories.

Access applications require the standard application and supporting Access form by 31 March. Places depend on eligibility, programme balance, capacity and learning-support availability. The school need not offer a place or explain a refusal.

Means-tested financial aid mainly supports existing families facing temporary hardship. It lasts for at most two consecutive years and does not reduce other costs. Apply by 31 March; assistance can end once the budget is exhausted.

Limited merit scholarships are available to new pupils entering Grades 7–12, regardless of nationality. They cover two consecutive years. Selection considers academic English, achievement, talents, mission fit and contribution to the community.

Scholarship applications also close on 31 March and require both the admissions application and scholarship form. The public page does not state the award amount, number of awards or whether every additional cost is covered.

Residence, immigration and practical checks

Admission does not create a Belgian right of residence. EU and EEA families have different rules from third-country nationals, and the correct route depends on nationality, stay length and the parent’s status.

Belgium’s official portal says foreign residents staying longer than three months must report to their municipality within eight days of arrival. Registration requires an actual residence in that municipality.

Most dependent children relocate under a parent’s residence or family-reunification route. Families should obtain advice from the Belgian consulate and local municipality before relying on a school offer.

ISB is a day school and meetings with Admissions require a parent or guardian. It does not publish a boarding, visa-sponsorship or substitute-guardian service. A minor moving without a parent needs independent legal and care arrangements.

Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.