Updated on: June 7, 2022, 7:14 a.m.

Published on: May 9, 2019, 8:22 a.m.

Full list of Phnom Penh international schools and universities

Harrod's International Academy Phnom Penh

It is the first question parents ask when they buy a new house in the capital: What are the schools like here? For this reason, many parents (especially expatriates) seek out international schools in Phnom Penh.

Realestate.com.kh wants to help answer that question for all the districts of the capital. We’ve compiled this full list of Phnom Penh international schools and universities. Scroll down and you’ll find a full list of the schools, their location, speciality, tuition fees, and a short summary.

NOTE: During the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020-2021, Distance Learning and E-Learning programmes for students were implemented at most schools - the quality of the education, teaching salaries and the number of students have all been affected.

First, here’s a short intro on the different types of education on offer in Cambodia:

Phnom Penh international schools and private schools

These types of schools make up a huge part of education in Phnom Penh. Many offer mixed curriculums and some focus on English-language education. These schools can offer programs starting at nursery age all the way up through to high school.

Beware: The term “international school” is thrown around liberally and we advise parents to do their due diligence

If you want your child to get truly international education, look for the schools that have certified International Baccalaureate (IB) instructors.

According to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MOEYS), between the academic year 2018 to 2019, 218,357 students were enrolled in 1,222 private schools nationwide, ranging from preschool to grade 12.

You can find a range of available properties in Phnom Penh here.

Things to consider in choosing an International School

Location

There are plenty of international schools in Cambodia, but international schools in Cambodia are more focused on the Phnom Penh area because this is where a large concentration of expatriates is located.

But there are also a couple of international schools in other parts of the country that you can take a look at if you’re establishing your temporary home outside the capital, such as the International School of Siem Reap and the Ecole Française de Battambang.

It’s important to choose the right school with an accessible location so that children will find it convenient to come to and from your home, given that Phnom Penh can experience some serious congestion around peak travel times. It also helps in terms of attending school gatherings when parents are expected to attend.

Find all of the latest properties and homes for sale and rent in Siem Reap and Battambang.

Adherence to international education standards

It’s important to note that public schooling in Cambodia is not something that’s offered to expat students. This is why you’ll see most of the expat children attending international schools. Beware, however, that the term "international school" is used liberally by schools as a marketing tool. So, we advise parents to consider asking if the school's teachers have International Baccalaureate (IB) qualifications.

Before deciding, you may also have to first carefully consider the next few months, or years, of your family's stay in Cambodia. It would be helpful to know whether or not you’ll be staying for the long term and where you’ll be moving to in the near future as different schools will offer varying curriculums. Some of them might not be accepted in other countries when you decide to move and to your next 'home'.

If your family is thinking of moving to Canada, or a place with a similar educational system, the Canadian International School has adopted the Canadian K-9 Curriculum in English which is approved and regulated by the province of Alberta to make sure that the school maintains the quality that is consistent to the education given in Canada.

Northbridge International School, iCAN British International School, and the International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP) are some other institutions in Phnom Penh that import international standards of teaching and offer universally accredited qualifications.

By ensuring that your child undergoes a curriculum that is compatible with the next country you’ll be living in, your kids will make the transitions much easier and you’ll also avoid getting into complications such as repeating grade levels. This is also applicable to expatriate secondary students who are thinking of attending universities around the world.

Qualifications and credentials of teachers

Some institutions will claim international status but will not have the proper resources and facilities to justify this. So, taking your time to visit and ask officials from schools to clarify the status should be a vital part of your decision-making process. This way, you can see the facilities and safety standards of the schools, and also interview them about the experience and background of their teachers.

Because international schools in Cambodia are mostly home to children of different cultures, one thing you can look for is a school that has teachers with the necessary experience to lead a multicultural class.

In addition to checking the school’s physical infrastructure, do a bit of online research and see if the school’s been accredited by any international regulating bodies. An example would be the Northbridge International School which has the Western Association of Schools and Colleges international accreditation.

Skills training for students

The iCAN British International School is one of the more popular international schools in Cambodia because, beyond the academic aspect, they also focus on integrating skills development through their Early Years and Foundation Stage program where students are able to enhance their skills inside and outside their classrooms.

Expatriates will find this as an attractive quality because it offers their children something to do while they’re in another country. At this point, they not only develop skills but also friends that will have the same interests as them.

Tuition fees and other miscellaneous expenses

Tuition fees for Phnom Penh international schools and private schools range from as low as $300 per year to over $20,000.

A study released by the International Schools Database (ISB) in late 2019 suggested international school fees are the cheapest in Cambodia’s capital city (Phnom Penh) among major cities in Asia.

Check the full list below for price ranges.

Cambodia's public schools

State education is governed by the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MOEYS) at a national level and the Department of Education at a provincial level.

State-run schools are responsible for educating the majority of the country's children. However, these schools often suffer from extremely low funding as well as a lack of resources and infrastructure.

In 2010, Cambodia sat in the bottom part of the global list for public education funding. At that time it spent just 2.6% of GDP on education, as opposed to over 6% in nearby Vietnam. Because of this, Most families opted for private schools as soon as they can afford to do so.

There are public primary and high schools across the capital. Some of the most well-known Phnom Penh are:

Bak Tuk High School in 7 Makara
Chea Sim Beung Keng Kong in BKK1
Beung Trabek High School in Chamkarmon
Prek Leap High School in Chroy Changvar
Sisowat High School, Chatumok High School, Norodom School, and Wat Koh School in Daun Penh
Russey Keo School in Russey Keo
Hun Sen Phnom Penh Thmey in Sen Sok
Chea Sim Santhormuk in Toul Kork
Toul Tompong High School in Toul Tum Poung

Phnom Penh universities

There are both public and private Phnom Penh universities. When searching for universities, students and parents usually look at the specialities of the school. Many universities focus on economics, business, humanities, tech, and many other subjects. Refer to the table below for more information.

Some Phnom Penh universities offer student housing, but the majority of Cambodian students choose to live with family or friends. Tuition fees at public universities tend to be lower than in private universities.

Some universities offer a range of extra-curricular activities such as clubs and sports.

There has also been a drive from the Cambodian government to focus on technologies and Industry 4.0 skills as well as Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

In 2021, partnerships between international universities and private Engineering graduate schools from France and ASEAN with Cambodian education centres were also announced.

There has also been a desire for Cambodian and international students to study overseas in the UK and Europe, the US, Australia and across Asia with many programs established for scholarships.

Chinese schools

Despite not being as prevalent as English-based education, there are many Chinese schools in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. Mixed families or Cambodians of Chinese descent are the main demographic represented at these schools.

Often these schools prepare students for careers in business or other paths that favour Chinese language skills.