MEF International School Izmir: Cambridge, IB and 2026/27 fees

MEF International School Izmir is a co-educational English-medium day school at Dokuz Eylül Mahallesi, 699. Sokak No. 2 in Gaziemir. It serves early years through Grade 12.

The curriculum follows Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary and IGCSE programmes, followed by the IB Diploma Programme. The Izmir and Istanbul MEF schools publish different fee schedules and have different programme histories. Use the documents for the correct campus.

Eligibility and application

The 2026/27 application form asks for valid foreign passports for the pupil, parents and/or guardian. It also requests Turkish residence permits or diplomatic identification when available. New arrivals may provide residence-permit copies after obtaining them.

Nationality documentation does not itself prove eligibility. Disclose all citizenships, including Turkish dual nationality, and ask the Gaziemir admissions office for a written decision before paying tuition or placement amounts.

The file requires two years of reports, in English or with notarised translations. Current-year reports are also needed for a mid-year start. The application includes identity, residence, health, learning-support and custody documents as relevant. A recommendation must be sent directly by the previous school.

The Izmir process page still contains a copied instruction referring to arrival in Istanbul. Send physical documents to the Gaziemir admissions team only after confirming the correct delivery details.

Academic fit and grade placement

Secondary applicants need a previous-school result equivalent to at least 60%. The school may use interviews and subject tests. It admits pupils with health or learning needs only where it believes it has suitable resources, and it requires full supporting reports in English.

Older entry is increasingly constrained. Grades 9–11 are considered case by case when English support is needed. The 2026/27 form expressly requires proficient English for Grades 11–12. Grade 12 entry is normally discouraged unless the applicant’s background matches the course closely. Initial placement can be changed after classroom observation or further testing.

Pupils must complete the preceding grade before progressing. Children arriving during the second half of the year from a different academic calendar normally wait until September to move up. Ask the school to map completed study to the intended grade before accepting.

For full IBDP entry, a Grade 10 pupil needs passing grades in the subjects to be continued and an overall result of at least 60%. The pupil must also have an appropriate first-language course. English and mathematics placement can affect which Diploma subjects are available. Pupils who do not meet the full-Diploma requirements may be directed to the school’s IB Course route.

The published early-years class limits are 16 in Reception 1, 18 in Reception 2 and 20 in Kindergarten. Limits are 22 in Grades 1–5 and 24 in Grades 6–12. These are maximums, not evidence of vacancies. The site’s birth-year table is still dated 2023/24; ask for the current one.

Early-years pupils must be toilet trained. Full-time applicants receive priority, and the policy limits a class to six children sharing the same non-English mother tongue. Confirm how that rule affects the child’s application.

2026/27 annual fees

The fee table is in US dollars and includes 10% VAT:

Stage	Annual total including food
Reception 1–2	$19,300
Kindergarten	$26,855
Grades 1–5	$35,740
Grades 6–7	$36,915
Grade 8	$37,685
Grades 9–10	$40,695
IB Year 1	$40,865
IB Year 2	$41,965

Reception 1 half-day pupils receive 20% off the full-day programme fee.

The placement payment is included in the annual total. It is the first payment, not a separate fee to add again. It ranges from $4,000 in Reception to $7,000 in high school and IB. Five instalments make up the balance.

Additional one-off charges for new pupils are:

• Application: $1,250, non-refundable and not a guarantee of admission.
• Registration: $3,500, non-refundable for a pupil entering Grade 1 or above. A new early-years pupil pays it only on reaching Grade 1.

Inclusions and extras

The annual total includes cooked lunch, snacks, use of textbooks, a yearbook and one physical-education uniform. Teacher-led clubs and a local curricular excursion are included. It covers Cambridge Checkpoint exams, up to eight IGCSE papers and one sitting of the final IB exams.

The family pays separately for transport, personal stationery and devices, external-provider clubs, IELTS or similar tests, exam changes and re-marks, and extended or overnight trips. Middle-school pupils must bring a suitable iPad or laptop; high-school pupils must bring a laptop.

Discounts and leaving

The five instalment dates are 15 May, 15 July, 15 September and 15 November 2026, then 15 January 2027. A new pupil pays the placement portion after admission and should request a current written plan for the balance. The plan must be signed in person to complete enrolment.

The full-payment discount closed on 6 March 2026. The tuition remainder receives 10% off for two siblings and 15% for three or more. A company or consulate paying for five or more pupils can qualify for 5%. After completing five years, a pupil can receive an additional 5% loyalty discount. Combined discounts are stepped and capped at 25%; they do not reduce application, registration or placement amounts.

Diplomatic VAT exemption requires payment by an embassy, consulate or foreign government and the specified official evidence. It does not apply where diplomatic parents pay personally.

For withdrawal, the school deducts 10% of the full annual school fee. Before the year starts, it refunds the remainder. After a child starts, the 10% deduction still applies and the remaining refund is prorated by days attended. Late charges are not refunded.

See the Izmir guide and Turkey guide for context.

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