For Families Looking for a Private School in Istanbul
How should you weigh the side of the city, the commute and the programme when choosing a private school in Istanbul? A guide to the four Gökkuşağı campuses on the Anatolian and European sides.
For most families, the search for a private school in Istanbul begins with two questions: which side of the city, and which district? Given the size of the city, that is a fair starting point; but the questions to ask after choosing a side are what really make the difference: which school stages are offered, which international programme runs on which campus, and does exam preparation take place within the school? In this article we introduce our four Istanbul campuses one side of the city at a time, in a way that answers these questions.
The Anatolian side: Ataşehir
Our Ataşehir campus is at the heart of the Anatolian side, easy to reach from Kadıköy, Üsküdar and Ümraniye. All stages, from kindergarten to high school, are on one campus. A Cambridge International School, the campus is also authorised for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) at primary level.
The European side: three campuses
On the European side we have campuses in three different areas; all three offer every stage from kindergarten to high school and are Cambridge International Schools:
| Campus | Area | International programmes |
|---|---|---|
| Bahçelievler | Bahçelievler and surroundings; Bakırköy, Güngören, Bağcılar | Cambridge · IB PYP · IB Diploma (DP) |
| Bahçeşehir | Başakşehir, northern Esenyurt, Ispartakule | Cambridge · IB PYP |
| Beylikdüzü | Beylikdüzü, Büyükçekmece, southern Esenyurt | Cambridge |
The distinction shown in the table matters: international programme authorisations are granted not to the organisation as a whole but to a campus and a stage. For a high school student aiming for the IB Diploma Programme, the Istanbul address is the Bahçelievler campus; a family looking for the PYP at primary level can choose between Ataşehir, Bahçelievler and Bahçeşehir. For a detailed map, see our article on IB schools in Istanbul.
Look beyond the name when choosing a school
In Istanbul, many institutions have the word "kolej" in their name; but a kolej is not a separate type of school in law. Compare schools not by name but on these points: weekly foreign language hours and the teacher profile, documentation of international programme authorisation, whether exam preparation is run within the school, and school bus journey time. We cover the whole decision process step by step in our guide to choosing a private school in Istanbul.
In short
- Ataşehir on the Anatolian side; Bahçelievler, Bahçeşehir and Beylikdüzü campuses on the European side.
- All four campuses offer every stage from kindergarten to high school and are Cambridge International Schools.
- IB authorisations are campus-based: DP at Bahçelievler; PYP at Ataşehir, Bahçelievler and Bahçeşehir.
- Compare programme documentation and content, not the word "kolej" in a name.
Frequently Asked Questions
In which Istanbul districts do you have campuses?
On the Anatolian side in Ataşehir; on the European side, one campus each in Bahçelievler, Bahçeşehir and Beylikdüzü. All four offer kindergarten, primary, middle and high school on a single campus.
Is the IB programme available at all four campuses?
No; IB authorisation is granted campus by campus. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) runs at Ataşehir, Bahçelievler and Bahçeşehir, and the Diploma Programme (DP) at Bahçelievler. Our Beylikdüzü campus is a Cambridge International School.
What should I do to arrange an enrolment meeting?
Simply fill in the information request form; our admissions team will contact you to plan a campus tour and a meeting. You may wish to see the campus during lesson time; that is the best way to observe how the day really runs.
You can find stages, facilities and transport information in detail on the campus pages: Ataşehir · Bahçelievler · Bahçeşehir · Beylikdüzü. Our information request form is always open for your questions.
Gökkuşağı Schools · Four campuses on both sides of Istanbul.