International Schools in Antalya: 2026 Guide for Families Moving to Türkiye

Moving to Antalya with children raises one question before almost any other: where will they go to school? The good news is that the city has a real choice of state schools, private Turkish schools with strong English programmes and schools offering international curricula such as the IB and Cambridge. This guide to international schools in Antalya and the wider school system explains how it works in 2026, what foreign families need to enrol, and how school location should shape where you buy or rent.

How the Turkish school system works

Türkiye has 12 years of compulsory education, usually described as 4+4+4:

• Primary school (ilkokul): grades 1–4
• Middle school (ortaokul): grades 5–8
• High school (lise): grades 9–12

Pre-school (anaokulu or anasınıfı) comes before grade 1 and is not part of the 12 compulsory years.

Starting age. For 2026–2027 the Ministry of National Education (Millî Eğitim Bakanlığı, MEB) uses the child's age in months: children aged 73 months or more must start grade 1; at 69–72 months they are enrolled but parents may ask to defer by a year; at 66–68 months parents may choose grade 1 or another year of pre-school.

The school year. The 2026–2027 year began on 14 September 2026. The first term ends on 22 January 2027, followed by a two-week winter break, and the second term starts on 8 February 2027. There are one-week mid-term breaks on 16–20 November 2026 and 8–12 March 2027, and the year ends on 25 June 2027. Private schools generally follow the same calendar; schools running international programmes may add their own exam sessions.

Can foreign children attend state schools?

Yes. Foreign children who live legally in Türkiye can enrol in state schools, and there is no tuition fee. What matters in practice:

• Residence permit (ikamet izni) and foreign ID number. Schools register pupils through the MEB e-Okul system using the child's foreign identity number, which comes with the residence permit. Children under 18 are usually covered by a family residence permit (aile ikamet izni), which, according to the Presidency of Migration Management, gives the right to attend primary and secondary school up to age 18 without a separate student permit. If you are buying a home, see our guide to the residence permit through property.
• Registered address. State school places are allocated by address, especially for grades 1 and 5, so your registered address largely decides which school your child is offered.
• Equivalence (denklik). A child who has studied abroad normally needs the previous schooling recognised before being placed in the right grade. Applications are made online through the MEB e-Denklik system, with school reports and certified translations.
• Turkish language. Lessons are in Turkish. Some schools offer language support, and MEB runs full-time adaptation classes (uyum sınıfları) for foreign pupils in provinces with many foreign students, but availability varies. Younger children usually adapt within a year or two; for a child joining in middle or high school with no Turkish, the change is much harder.

Foreign pupils can register during the year, not only in the summer registration period. Contact the district education directorate (ilçe millî eğitim müdürlüğü) for Muratpaşa, Konyaaltı or Döşemealtı if you need help with placement.

Private Turkish schools with strong English

Most foreign and Turkish families who pay for school in Antalya choose a private Turkish school (özel okul or kolej). These follow the national MEB curriculum, so pupils receive a Turkish diploma, but they usually offer many more hours of English, a second foreign language, smaller classes and wider facilities. Many add international programmes on top of the national curriculum.

Teaching is still largely in Turkish, especially in core subjects, so ask each school how many hours per week are taught in English at your child's grade and what support is offered to non-Turkish speakers.

International schools in Antalya: IB and Cambridge programmes

In Antalya, the IB and Cambridge programmes are offered inside private schools licensed by MEB, usually alongside the Turkish curriculum. Schools we confirmed from their own websites and the IB and Cambridge listings:

| School | Area | International programmes |
|---|---|---|
| Özel Antalya Toplum Koleji | Altınkale, Döşemealtı | Cambridge IGCSE (grades 9–10), IB Diploma (grades 11–12), pre-school to high school |
| İSTEK Antalya Schools | Lara (Güzeloba, Muratpaşa) and Konyaaltı (Uncalı) | Lara school authorised for the IB Diploma and IB Primary Years Programme; ask the Konyaaltı campus about its programmes |
| Maya Schools Antalya | Demircikara, Muratpaşa | IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme and the IB Diploma |
| Gökkuşağı Koleji Antalya | Muratpaşa | Cambridge International school (Primary, Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary) |

A few points to understand before you choose:

• "International school" has a legal meaning in Türkiye. Under the Private Education Institutions Law (No. 5580), a true international school (milletlerarası okul) may enrol only foreign-national pupils. The Antalya schools above are private Turkish schools, open to Turkish and foreign children alike. This matters if your children become Turkish citizens, for example through citizenship by investment: they can no longer attend a foreigners-only international school, but they can continue at private Turkish schools with IB or Cambridge programmes.
• IB and Cambridge run alongside the national programme, not instead of it, in most grades. Ask how the two fit together in the final years, which diploma your child will leave with and which language each subject is taught in.
• Authorisations change. Check a school's current status on the IB or Cambridge International websites before you enrol.

School fees: what drives the cost

We have not found reliable, current published fee figures that can be compared across Antalya schools, and fees change every year, so we do not quote numbers here. Private schools publish their price lists before each enrolment season. What moves the cost:

• Grade level. High school, and especially IB Diploma years, usually cost more than primary.
• What is included. Meals, transport (servis), uniform, books and exam fees may be separate. IB and Cambridge exam registration fees are often charged on top.
• Timing and discounts. Early-registration, sibling and advance-payment discounts are common and can change the total noticeably.
• Annual increases. Fees are set in Turkish lira and rise each year, in recent years sharply because of inflation. Budget for a significant increase every September.

Ask each school for the full written fee list for your child's grade, including extras, before comparing.

Choosing a district by school location

School runs in Antalya can be long, so it helps to decide on the school, or at least the area, before you buy.

• Konyaaltı. Family-friendly western coast with parks and the beach promenade; İSTEK's Konyaaltı campus is in Uncalı. See our Konyaaltı neighbourhood guide.
• Lara and Muratpaşa. The central and eastern city, with the widest concentration of private schools, including İSTEK Lara, Maya and Gökkuşağı. See living in Lara and Muratpaşa.
• Döşemealtı. Greener, villa-oriented and home to the Toplum Koleji campus in Altınkale. Families wanting a garden and space often choose it. See villa life in Döşemealtı.

Many private schools run bus services across several districts. Ask for the actual routes and travel times from the address you are considering.

Kindergartens and pre-school

Pre-school options range from state kindergartens and pre-school classes attached to primary schools to private kindergartens, many of them run by the private schools above. State places are limited and often prioritised by age, so private kindergartens are common. For young children, a Turkish-speaking kindergarten is often the easiest way to learn the language before grade 1.

Universities in Antalya

Antalya province has two state universities, Akdeniz University in Antalya city and Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University in Alanya, and several foundation (private) universities, including Antalya Bilim University, Antalya Belek University and Alanya Hamdullah Emin Paşa University. Foreign students usually apply through each university's international student admissions, with rules that depend on nationality and on where they finished high school; check them directly with the university.

Practical checklist for families

1. Decide between state, private Turkish or IB/Cambridge schooling based on your child's age and Turkish level.
2. Visit schools, ideally before choosing a home, and ask about English hours, language support and fees in writing.
3. Get residence permits for the whole family and keep the children's foreign ID numbers ready.
4. Bring school reports, and translate and certify them for the equivalence application.
5. Register your address, since it decides your state school.
6. Check bus routes and travel times from the property you are considering.
7. Apply early for private and IB places; popular grades fill up.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a true foreigners-only international school in Antalya?
We could not confirm one. Families looking for IB or Cambridge in Antalya generally choose private Turkish schools that run these programmes.

Do state schools teach in English?
No. State schools teach in Turkish, with English as a foreign-language subject.

Can my child start school mid-year?
Yes. Foreign pupils can register during the year once they have a residence permit and foreign ID number, and private schools accept mid-year entry when they have places.

Does my child need a separate student residence permit?
Usually not. A child on a family residence permit can attend primary and secondary school up to age 18.

If my children get Turkish citizenship, can they stay at an IB school?
Yes, if the school is a private Turkish school running IB, as in Antalya. Only foreigners-only international schools are closed to Turkish citizens.

Rules and fees in Türkiye change from time to time. This article reflects the situation as of September 2026 and is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm the details for your own case with the provider or the relevant authority.

Planning a move with children? Get in touch to look at homes near the schools you are considering.