International Education in Taipei

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Unlike some other cities in Asia, Taipei is notable for being very accessible for English-speaking expats. Locals are friendly and welcoming, getting around is easy thanks to excellent public transport, and there are plenty of familiar chain restaurants and book stores if you need a slice of home.

The majority of international schools in the city follow the American curriculum and teach through English. A selection of others teach the International Baccalaureate or European curricula, and religious ethos schools are also becoming common.

This is largely because Mandarin Chinese is the official language of Taiwan and is spoken in Taipei’s public schools. These schools also follow the Chinese curriculum. While they may offer the excellent education standards China is known for, unless your child speaks Mandarin, the language barrier may be difficult to overcome.

International schools in Taiwan are forbidden from enrolling children of Taiwan nationals, unless they have a foreign passport. So expat children make up almost the entire student body in all of Taipei’s international schools. Recently that has been changing however, with many eligible Taiwanese families opting for international schools to protect their children from the strict and high pressure environment that often comes with Taiwanese schools.

Taipei doesn’t have a large number of international schools to choose from, which means demand outstrips supply. Waiting lists for student places can be long, especially in the long-established American schools. It’s best to start your application as early as you can. Unfortunately, Taiwan isn’t known for its budget-friendly international school fees either.

Most international schools in Taipei are located in the residential districts north of the city centre. You’ll also find some schools in neighbouring towns such as Linkou, Taoyuan or Daqutian. School bus services are common but not standard, so you may need to factor in the location and commute times of schools you’re interested in.

The older international schools in Taipei tend to be the largest, and also tend to have the best campuses and facilities. Be warned, however; they also have the longest waiting lists of all. The standards of education in all international schools however is generally high.

Below, we have compiled the top 5 international schools in Taipei 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 Taipei based on your requirements.