Primary International School Fees in Bangalore 2026

For families relocating to Bangalore with young children, the primary school years — from pre-school through Grade 5 or 6 — set the foundation for everything that follows. This guide covers primary school fees at Bangalore’s leading international schools, what those fees include, and what families should know about admissions and transition support.

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Indian School System: Age Groups and Year Levels

International schools in Bangalore use either Indian numbering (Class 1–12) or international numbering (Grade 1–12, or Year 1–13 for British-curriculum schools). The following table shows correspondence:

Indian System	International Equivalent	Age Range
Pre-Primary / Nursery	Pre-K / Nursery	Ages 2.5–3.5
LKG (Lower Kindergarten)	KG1 / Reception	Ages 3.5–4.5
UKG (Upper Kindergarten)	KG2 / Year 1	Ages 4.5–5.5
Class 1–5	Grade 1–5 / Year 1–6	Ages 6–11
Class 6–8	Grade 6–8 / Year 7–9	Ages 11–14

Most Bangalore international schools align to the Indian academic year running June through April, with a March–June application window for the following September intake.

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Primary Fees at Top Bangalore International Schools

All figures below are estimated annual tuition for the primary years (Pre-K through Grade 5). Actual fees vary by year level within primary.

School	Primary Tuition (INR/year)	Curriculum
Stonehill International Academy	6,00,000–10,00,000	IB PYP
Indus International School	5,00,000–9,00,000	IB PYP
Canadian International School (CIS)	4,00,000–7,00,000	IB PYP
Greenwood High International	3,00,000–5,50,000	IB PYP
The International School Bangalore (TISB)	3,00,000–5,50,000	IB PYP
Inventure Academy	2,50,000–5,00,000	IB PYP
Bangalore International School (BIS)	3,00,000–5,00,000	Cambridge
Ekya Schools	2,00,000–3,50,000	Cambridge
GEAR Innovative International School	1,20,000–2,00,000	Cambridge

Key observation: Primary fees in Bangalore are typically 10–25% lower than secondary fees at the same school. The IB PYP (Primary Years Programme) at upper-mid and premium schools adds a cost premium over Cambridge IGCSE primary programmes.

Early Years / Pre-K Fees

Pre-K and Kindergarten (ages 2.5–5) is often priced lower than formal school years. Estimates:

• Budget/mid-range schools: INR 1,50,000–3,00,000/year
• Premium schools (Indus, Stonehill): INR 3,00,000–6,00,000/year

Some schools separate Early Childhood (Nursery/LKG/UKG) as a distinct department with slightly different pricing from the primary school proper.

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What Primary Fees Include

Typically Included in Tuition

• All core classroom subjects (English, Maths, Science, Social Studies, Languages)
• Library access and basic textbooks/workbooks
• Basic PE and games
• Curriculum-integrated co-curricular activities (music, art, drama as part of PYP/Cambridge programme)
• Internal assessments and reporting

Typically NOT Included

• School bus: INR 60,000–1,50,000/year (essential for most families)
• Lunch/cafeteria: INR 40,000–80,000/year
• After-School Activities (ASA): Optional; INR 5,000–25,000 per activity per term
• Uniform (initial set): INR 15,000–40,000
• Day excursions and field trips: INR 2,000–15,000 per trip
• Overnight trips (Grade 5+): INR 5,000–30,000

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Language of Instruction

English-Medium Schools

All major international schools in Bangalore use English as the primary language of instruction throughout the primary years. This applies to all IB PYP and Cambridge primary schools.

Additional Languages

Most Bangalore international schools offer additional language instruction as part of the primary curriculum:

• Hindi: Required or offered at most schools as a second language
• Kannada: Increasingly offered as recognition of the local language grows
• French / Spanish / Mandarin: Available as optional or compulsory second languages at schools like Stonehill, CIS, and Greenwood High

Bilingual Programmes

Genuine bilingual primary programmes in Bangalore are rare compared to Singapore or Tokyo. Most schools are English-medium with structured additional language study, rather than true dual-medium instruction.

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EAL (English as an Additional Language) Support

For international families whose children are not native English speakers, EAL support is an important consideration.

How EAL is typically handled at Bangalore primary schools:

• Dedicated EAL teachers provide pull-out or push-in support
• Support is most intensive in Year 1–2 of enrolment, tapering as proficiency develops
• Most schools include EAL support within the tuition fee at primary level
• Families should enquire specifically about EAL capacity before enrolment — some smaller schools have limited EAL staffing

Bangalore context: Because the majority of students are from English-speaking or English-educated Indian families, most Bangalore international schools have less EAL infrastructure than equivalent schools in Tokyo or Seoul. Families with children who have no English background should specifically discuss support provision with the admissions team.

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Admissions Requirements for Primary

Application Timeline

• Applications for June/September entry should ideally be submitted October–February of the preceding academic year
• Mid-year entry (January intake) is possible depending on vacancies

What the Application Involves

• Completed application form + application fee (INR 25,000–2,00,000)
• Passport, Aadhar, or relevant documentation
• Previous school reports (last 1–2 years; for KG entry, kindergarten reports if available)
• Immunisation records
• Sometimes: informal readiness assessment for KG/Grade 1 entry

Most primary admissions at Bangalore international schools do not involve formal academic entrance examinations for children under Grade 4. Readiness assessments are observational, not competitive.

Waiting Lists

• Stonehill and Indus: Active waiting lists for KG and Grade 1. Apply well in advance.
• Greenwood High, Inventure, TISB: Moderate demand; apply 6–9 months in advance.
• Ekya, GEAR: More accessible; rolling admissions often possible.

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Transition Support for New Arrivals

Bangalore’s international schools vary in the depth of transition support they offer:

Buddy Programmes

Most schools pair new arrivals with an established student to ease social transition. This is common at primary level and particularly valuable for young children.

Cultural Transition

Families moving to Bangalore for the first time often find the cultural adjustment significant — not just for children but for the whole family. Schools with strong expat communities (Stonehill, CIS) tend to have more established parent networks and social support systems.

Academic Continuity

Children joining mid-year from different curriculum systems (e.g., from a Korean, Japanese, or European curriculum school) may face gaps in specific subject knowledge. Early assessment by teachers on arrival helps identify any support needed.

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Early Years Options Beyond International Schools

Not all families need a full international school from age 2.5. Alternatives for very young children in Bangalore include:

• Playschools / Montessori nurseries: INR 60,000–2,00,000/year. Widely available across all Bangalore neighbourhoods.
• International preschool chains: EuroKids, Kangaroo Kids, Podar Jumbo Kids offer international-style early childhood at INR 1,00,000–2,50,000/year.
• Joining international school from Grade 1: Many families use a local playschool or Montessori for 2–5 year olds and transition to the international school from Grade 1. This can save INR 2–4L in early years fees.

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Primary Tutoring and Learning Support

Primary-age children adapting to a new curriculum or needing targeted support in literacy or numeracy benefit from specialist online tutoring.

Tutopiya offers one-to-one online tutoring with qualified primary specialists who understand international curricula taught in Bangalore.

• Find a primary tutor: Browse Tutors
• Explore our learning options: Learning Portal

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Summary

Bangalore international school primary fees range from INR 1,20,000/year (budget IGCSE schools) to INR 10,00,000/year (Stonehill IB PYP). Budget an additional INR 1,50,000–3,00,000 in Year 1 for one-time admission and development fees, plus ongoing bus, lunch, and activity costs.

Apply at least 12 months in advance for sought-after schools. Check EAL support provision carefully if your child is not yet proficient in English. For very young children, consider delaying international school entry until Grade 1 and using local early years settings to save fees.

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