International Education in Malaga - Costa del Sol

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Situated in the heart of Spain’s Costa Del Sol, Malaga has drawn crowds of expats seeking a Mediterranean lifestyle for decades. However, expat life in Malaga isn’t just about sun, sea and sand. With a lower cost of living but equally high quality of life as the rest of Europe, Malaga is a seriously underrated destination for expat families.

If you’re thinking about making a family move to this beautiful, relaxed and friendly port city, the first thing you’ll need to sort out is a good school for your children. Thankfully, Malaga and the rest of the Costa Del Sol has a wide variety of international schools to choose from.

International schools are scattered throughout the Costa Del Sol coastline. If you prefer to stay away from the bustling city of Malaga, there are plenty of schooling options in Benalmadena, Marbella and San Pedro de Alcantara too.

Spain is one of the cheapest countries in Europe for international schools, but it offers equal standards of education and facilities to the rest of the continent. However, it’s worth remembering that the annual school fee will usually not include any extras like uniforms, books, bus transport, school meals or extra curricular activities.

Many international school campuses were purpose-built for the ever-growing expat population in Malaga and Costa Del Sol. They offer all of the usual features you’d expect from an international school, including native English-speaking teachers, good sports and extra-curricular programs, a diverse student body, and much more.

As well being among the cheapest, Spain also has more international schools than most other European countries. Don’t be fooled however - competition for school places can still be surprisingly high, especially in expat ‘hotspots’ like Malaga and Costa Del Sol. It’s always a good idea to apply early and organize all the documentation you’ll need as soon as you can.

State subsidies are available to international schools in Spain with a student body of at least 25% local Spanish students. As a result, bilingual international schools that teach through both English and Spanish are quite common. In many schools the local student population is much higher than the minimum of 25%, so your child will have plenty of opportunities to integrate with the locals and learn the native language.

International schools in Malaga cater for children from age 2 or 3. Most offer lessons up until age 18, but some will offer only primary or secondary level education. The school day usually starts around 8.30 - 9.00 am and finishes up at 3.30 - 4.00 pm. Younger students often finish earlier. The majority of schools have a cafeteria on-site and also offer a wide variety of extracurricular activities after school hours.

Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Malaga - Costa del Sol according to our users. However, there are another 30 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 Malaga - Costa del Sol based on your requirements.