Looking for good international schools in Malaysia for your child, whether it’s a day school or boarding? Here are a few near Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, including boarding schools.
International schools in Malaysia – overview
Many expats from around the world are choosing to live and work in Malaysia for its affordability and lifestyle. The welcome news for families is that there are good international schools in Malaysia too. Most offer a multicultural environment where students come from a diverse range of countries. There’s also a mix of curriculums, from British to the International Baccalaureate, and some include boarding options too. Below we look at a handful of these schools in Kuala Lumpur and Johor.
3 good international schools in Kuala Lumpur and Johor
British International School of Kuala Lumpur (BSKL)
Founded: 2009
Number of students: Over 1400
Nationalities: Over 60
Grades: Pre-Nursery to Year 13 (2 to 18 years)
School year: August to June
Curriculum: British, IGCSE to A-Levels
Location: In a quiet residential suburb of Petaling Jaya, to the west of the city. The campus is surrounded by tall trees and tropical greenery.
A word from the team from this international school in Malaysia
“BSKL offers a world-class education for Early Years through to Sixth Form. Students follow a rigorous academic path that prepares them for top universities around the world. Students have the opportunity to study multiple languages at BSKL, which include Mandarin, French, Spanish and Bahasa Malaysia. This helps in nurturing global citizenship and cross-cultural understanding from an early age.
We ensure that every student has the opportunity to develop their talents and discover new interests through an extensive and vibrant CCA programme. There are activities such as ballet, taekwondo, cheerleading, football, open swimming, capoeira, ninjutsu, climbing, rugby, and gymnastics. The arts are also well represented with choir, orchestra, drama clubs and storytelling sessions. Unique offerings include robotics and coding, film analysis, embroidery, magic and much more.
Families relocating to Kuala Lumpur will find a welcoming and supportive school community at our international school in Malaysia. We provide guidance with the transition process. This helps families settle into life in Malaysia through pastoral care, orientation sessions and parent engagement opportunities.”
1 Changkat Bukit Utama, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan
britishschool.edu.my | admissions@britishschool.edu.my
Marlborough College Malaysia – day and boarding options in Johor
Founded: 2012
Number of students: 1,000
Nationalities: 46
Grades: Nursery to Upper Sixth Form (3 to 18 years)
School year: August to June
Curriculum: British, IGCSE from Year 10, IB from Year 12
Location: Along Malaysia’s southern coast in Johor. The campus sits on a lush 92-acre estate that includes a lake for water sports, an organic farm, rugby and football pitches and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Marlborough College Malaysia is the only sister school of Marlborough College UK. The two institutions are closely connected with regular exchanges and a shared history spanning over 175 years. Just like its UK counterpart, MCM’s not-for-profit status means that surplus funds are reinvested to enhance the educational experience for its pupils. Pupils boarding at this international school in Malaysia enjoy a British boarding school experience. Boarders also benefit from academic support outside of regular lessons – a significant number of teaching staff and their families live on campus, while visiting tutors offer subject specific help during evenings and weekends.
Jalan Marlborough, Iskandar Puteri, Johor
marlboroughcollegemalaysia.org
Epsom College Malaysia – day and boarding options near Kuala Lumpur
Founded: 2014
Number of students: Over 600
Nationalities: 28
Grades: Nursery to Year 13 (3 to 18 years)
School year: August to June
Curriculum: Enhanced British
Location: The 80-acre site is in Bandar Enstek, south of Kuala Lumpur. The campus comprises environmentally-friendly buildings that house high-tech facilities and extensive sporting facilities.
Epsom College in Malaysia is the sister school of Epsom College UK. They share the same educational philosophy, with an international pupil body. At this international school in Malaysia, a strong sense of belonging and community is fostered through the traditional British House system. There’s an emphasis on pastoral care that’s ingrained in all the school’s policies and practices, along with an assuring presence of student safety, with staff from teachers to Housemasters and Housemistresses, tutors and their families residing on campus. Pupils have options for full or weekly boarding and day school at this international school in Malaysia.
Persiaran Kolej, 71760 Bandar Baru Enstek, Negeri Sembilan
epsomcollege.edu.my
For more about living in Malaysia, read about the best places to live in Kuala Lumpur and places in Johor Bahru for expats to live.