International Education in Bucharest
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Bucharest may not immediately spring to mind when you think of expat hotspots in Europe. However with its cheap cost of living and emerging market status, there has never been a better time to set up a home away from home in Romania’s capital. The city is slowly but steadily upping its game for expats, including establishing new international schools. If you’re considering a move, here’s what you should know about schools in Bucharest.
Bucharest doesn’t have quite the same selection of international schools as other European capitals, but there are still plenty to choose from. Most of them follow the British curriculum or the International Baccalaureate, with some other European countries represented too. A small number of schools follow the American curriculum.
International schools in Bucharest are scattered throughout the city, mostly in the centre and in the northern and eastern suburbs. Although it’s not a large city, keep in mind that travel times in Bucharest will be longer than you expect due to congestion. If you live on one side of the city and your child’s school is on the opposite side, that could easily mean a commute of over 1 hour each way.
You’ll find a larger local student population in Bucharest’s international schools than you would in other countries. In most schools, 30 - 40% of the student body will have been born and raised in Romania. This is because the standard of education on offer in international schools is higher than in Romania’s public schools. For families who can afford it, sending a child to an international school is a much more desirable option.
Class sizes are small in Bucharest’s international schools - 20-25 students would be considered average. Most schools have a total of around 300-500 students enrolled in any one year, and native English speaking staff are par for the course.
The school day in an international school in Bucharest will begin at 8 or 9am and run until 3 or 4pm in the afternoon. For younger students, the last hour or so will be dedicated to extracurricular activities. For older students, these will take place after school hours. Activities can include everything from drama to sports to entrepreneurship, and everything in between!
No matter the country, international schooling does not come cheap. However in Romania it is cheaper than many other European countries, and significantly cheaper than major capitals like Paris, Zurich, or Brussels. Lunches and bus transport are usually included in the yearly fees, as well as access to sports facilities and extra curricular programs.
Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Bucharest according to our users. However, there are another 13 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Bucharest based on your requirements.
