IB Schools in Brussels: International Baccalaureate Options for Expat Families

The International Baccalaureate has become the pre-eminent international school qualification globally, and Brussels reflects this — three of the city's most prominent independent international schools offer IB programmes, and two of them offer the full continuum from early childhood through to the Diploma at age 18.

For globally-mobile families who may move between countries during the school years, or who anticipate universities in multiple possible destination countries, the IB's global recognition is a powerful advantage. This guide compares all three Brussels IB schools in detail.

Understanding the IB Framework

The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), headquartered in Geneva, offers four programmes:

• IB Primary Years Programme (PYP): Ages 3–12, inquiry-based transdisciplinary learning
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP): Ages 11–16, conceptual and skills-based curriculum across eight subject groups
• IB Diploma Programme (DP): Ages 16–18, two-year pre-university course leading to internationally recognised Diploma
• IB Career-related Programme (CP): Ages 16–19, combining DP subjects with vocational training (not currently offered at Brussels schools)

The IB Diploma is assessed on a scale of 0–45 points. A minimum of 24 points is required to earn the Diploma; the worldwide average is typically around 29–30 points; elite universities worldwide generally look for scores of 38 or higher for competitive entry.

The Three Brussels IB Schools: Overview

The International School of Brussels (ISB)

Location: Drève Richelle 2, Watermael-Boitsfort, Brussels

ISB is the flagship IB school in Brussels and one of the largest IB schools in Europe. It offers the full IB continuum from preschool (age 2.5) through to the Diploma Programme (age 18), with approximately 1,400 students from over 70 nationalities.

Programmes offered:

• IB PYP (Preschool through Grade 5, ages 2.5–11)
• IB MYP (Grades 6–10, ages 11–16)
• IB DP (Grades 11–12, ages 16–18) plus US Advanced Placement (AP) courses

The addition of US AP courses alongside the IB DP is notable: ISB is one of the few European schools to maintain this parallel offering, which specifically supports applications to US universities, where AP courses are a familiar currency for admissions officers.

Fees (2025/2026):

Year Group	Annual Tuition
Preschool	€22,590
Pre-Kindergarten	€25,030
Kindergarten	€37,760
Grades 1–2	€40,670
Grades 3–6	€41,400
Grades 7–9	€46,825
Grades 10–12	€49,715

Application fee (non-refundable): €2,000. School bus (return): approximately €3,140 per year.

Best for: Families committed to the IB from early years through Diploma; families targeting US universities; families valuing the largest and most internationally diverse school community in Brussels.

The British School of Brussels (BSB)

Location: Pater Dupierreuxlaan 1, Tervuren, east of Brussels

BSB offers the IB Diploma in its sixth form alongside A Levels and BTEC — making it the only school in Belgium where families can choose between British-curriculum qualifications and the IB at the same institution. BSB's IB Diploma includes French-Dutch bilingual tracks, which is a distinctive offering.

IB at BSB:

• IB Diploma Programme only (Years 12–13, ages 16–18)
• BSB does not offer PYP or MYP — its primary and lower secondary sections follow a British-style curriculum

Students joining BSB for sixth form from other schools (including from ISB's MYP) should note the different lower secondary preparation. BSB prepares its own students for sixth-form IB via its Years 7–11 curriculum, which provides strong academic foundations even if not formally an IB MYP.

Fees (2025/2026): Sixth-form fees at BSB run approximately €43,000–€44,015 per year. This covers the IB Diploma years regardless of which track (IB, A Level, or BTEC) the student chooses.

Best for: Families uncertain between A Levels and IB Diploma at sixth form; families whose children are already in BSB's secondary and want the IB option at sixth form; families valuing the bilingual IB track.

St. John's International School, Waterloo

Location: Drève Richelle 146, Waterloo (20km south of Brussels)

St. John's offers the full IB continuum from nursery (12 months) through to the Diploma Programme, with IB accreditation dating back to 1978 — one of the longest-established IB schools in the world. With approximately 525 students from over 60 nationalities, it is considerably smaller than ISB or BSB, which is part of its appeal for families who value a close-knit community.

Programmes offered:

• IB PYP (Nursery through Year 6, ages 1–11)
• IB MYP (Years 7–11, ages 11–16)
• IB DP (Years 12–13, ages 16–18)

Fees (2025/2026):

Year Group	Approximate Annual Fee
Early Years	€11,900–€20,000
Primary (PYP)	€20,000–€28,000
Secondary (MYP)	€28,000–€37,000
Diploma (DP)	~€53,000

One-time enrolment fee: €1,000. Campus development fee (new students): €700.

Best for: Families who want the full IB continuum in a smaller, community-focused school; families living in or near Waterloo, Rhode-Saint-Genèse, or Lasne; families who prefer a more rural campus setting.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Factor	ISB	BSB	St. John's
Full IB Continuum	Yes (PYP–DP)	Diploma only	Yes (PYP–DP)
US AP Courses	Yes	No	No
A Levels	No	Yes	No
School Size	~1,400	~1,350	~525
Location	Watermael-Boitsfort	Tervuren	Waterloo
Annual Fee Range	€22,590–€49,715	€34,400–€44,015	€11,900–€53,000
Application Fee	€2,000	Varies	€1,000 + €700

The IB Diploma: What It Takes

The IB Diploma is academically demanding. Students must select six subjects: three at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL), spanning literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and the arts. Beyond subjects, they must complete:

• Theory of Knowledge (TOK): A critical thinking course assessed by essay and presentation
• Extended Essay (EE): An independent 4,000-word research essay in a subject of the student's choice
• Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): A structured programme of extracurricular engagement

The combination of subject breadth, internal assessment, and extended independent research makes the IB Diploma genuinely rigorous. Students who thrive in it are typically those who enjoy exploring connections between subjects and can manage self-directed work alongside examination preparation.

IB and University Entry

UK universities: The IB Diploma is accepted by all UK universities via UCAS, with typical offers expressed as total IB Diploma points (e.g., 38 or 36 points, often with specific HL grade requirements). Top UK universities and Oxbridge have well-established IB entry benchmarks.

US universities: US colleges consider IB a highly favourable qualification. HL grades of 5, 6, or 7 may attract college credit at many US institutions. ISB's parallel AP offering further strengthens US applications.

Belgian and EU universities: Belgian universities (UCLouvain, ULB, KU Leuven, VUB) and most EU universities accept the IB Diploma, with entry requirements varying by faculty.

Australian, Canadian, and Asian universities: The IB Diploma is widely recognised across all major destination countries for international students.

How Global Investments Can Help

For families choosing between ISB, BSB, and St. John's for IB education, the property decision is closely linked — each school sits in a different part of greater Brussels, with different neighbourhood character and price levels. Global Investments supports internationally-mobile families with the full relocation picture, from finding the right home in the right location to longer-term wealth planning and investment.

Contact our team to discuss your Brussels relocation, or read our settling in guide for the practical first steps.

All fee figures are from published 2025/2026 school sources. IB Diploma scores, university entry requirements, and fees change annually. Verify all details directly with schools and the IBO. This guide does not constitute financial or legal advice.