Bangkok Patana School vs NIST International School
Bangkok Patana School and NIST International School are both in Bangkok, about 12 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes, and Bangkok Patana School also offers British, EYFS and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE. Published annual fees are THB 495,000 - 975,000 at Bangkok Patana School and THB 628,200 - 1,094,500 at NIST International School, which puts NIST International School roughly 17% higher. Bangkok Patana School takes pupils from 2 to 18, and NIST International School from 3 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 2,200 and 1,800 pupils. Typical class sizes are 22 at Bangkok Patana School and 20 at NIST International School.
IB (DP), British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Curriculum
IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils
Pupils
2,200
Pupils
1,800
Typical class size
Typical class size
22
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
1957
Opened
1992
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Bangkok Patana School is located on La Salle Road (Sukhumvit 105), in the Bangna district of eastern Bangkok. The campus is easily accessible via the Bang Na BTS Skytrain station and major roads such as the Bang Na–Trat Expressway. It is situated in a residential area with close proximity to international communities and commercial hubs like Mega Bangna and BITEC.
Location
NIST International School is located on Sukhumvit Soi 15 in central Bangkok, within walking distance of the Asok BTS (Skytrain) and Sukhumvit MRT (subway) stations.
The area is part of the Wattana district, a residential and commercial zone popular with expatriate families. The school is easily accessible by public transportation or private vehicle.
Stages
Stages
Bangkok Patana School is divided into Early Years, Primary, and Secondary sections. The Early Years Foundation Stage includes Nursery, Foundation Stage 1 and 2. The Primary section runs from Year 1 to Year 6, while Secondary includes Year 7 through Year 13, ending with the IB Diploma Programme.
Stages
NIST offers three main school divisions aligned with the International Baccalaureate: the Primary Years Programme (ages 3–11), Middle Years Programme (ages 11–16), and Diploma Programme (ages 16–18). The school enrolls students from early childhood through to the end of secondary school.
School type
School type
Bangkok Patana School is a day school and It does not offer boarding facilities.
School type
NIST is a private, not-for-profit, co-educational day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Bangkok Patana offers a structured Additional Educational Needs (AEN) programme. Learning Support is available across all school levels, with specialized staff such as learning support teachers, educational psychologists, and speech and language therapists. Interventions may include small group sessions in literacy and numeracy, one-on-one academic coaching, and targeted support for executive functioning or language development. The school also runs an English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme from Year 1 to Year 9 for students who need support accessing the curriculum in English. Additionally, a Gifted and Talented programme identifies and extends learning for high-ability students within the classroom and through enrichment.
Additional learning support
NIST provides inclusive learning support services for students with additional learning needs. The school offers support from trained specialists and personalized learning strategies, based on individual assessments and IB-aligned practices. Services are tailored in partnership with families and teachers.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any country.
Country affiliation
NIST does not have an affiliation with any specific country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
Bangkok Patana School is not affiliated with any religion. It is a secular school that welcomes students from all faiths and cultural backgrounds.
Religious affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any religion and is a secular institution.
School day structure
School day structure
The school does not have publicly available information on their day structure.
School day structure
The school day typically starts around 7:30–8:00 a.m. and ends between 2:30–3:00 p.m., depending on the year level. Lunch and break times are scheduled by division and age group. Extracurricular activities may take place after regular hours.
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school does offer a bus service. The service is divided into several distance-based zones: Zone 1A, 1B, 1C, and Zone 2. Shuttle bus options are also available for specific routes.
Bus service details
NIST offers a private bus service through an external provider for students living across Bangkok. Routes and pickup locations are coordinated with families upon enrollment. The service is optional and incurs an additional cost.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
One-Time Fees Application Fee: THB 4,000
Non-refundable. Paid at the time of application; does not guarantee placement. Entrance Fee: First Child: THB 250,000 Second/Subsequent Children: THB 200,000
Non-refundable. Payable upon acceptance before first entry. Staggered payment options available:
Foundation Stage entrants: THB 40,000 first, remainder before Year 1
Year 1 entrants: THB 40,000 first, remainder before Year 3
Deposit: THB 50,000 (refundable)
Returned upon withdrawal with notice and clearance of all dues.
Annual Tuition Fees (by year level) These are paid termly in 3 installments. Fees include residential visits (Years 3–10 & Year 12) and lunch (Nursery–Year 6).
Nursery: THB 495,000 (Term 1: 220,000 / Term 2: 145,000 / Term 3: 130,000)
Foundation Stage 1: THB 555,000 (245,000 / 165,000 / 145,000)
Foundation Stage 2: THB 615,000 (275,000 / 180,000 / 160,000)
Year 1–2: THB 720,000 (320,000 / 210,000 / 190,000)
Year 3: THB 760,000 (335,000 / 225,000 / 200,000)
Year 4–5: THB 765,000 (340,000 / 225,000 / 200,000)
Year 6: THB 780,000 (345,000 / 230,000 / 205,000)
Year 7–9: THB 810,000 (360,000 / 240,000 / 210,000)
Year 10: THB 920,000 (410,000 / 270,000 / 240,000)
Year 11: THB 680,000 (410,000 / 270,000 / Term 3: waived)
Year 12: THB 975,000 (435,000 / 285,000 / 255,000)
Year 13: THB 720,000 (435,000 / 285,000 / Term 3: waived)
Capital Assessment Fee Annual: THB 30,000 Term 1: 13,400 Term 2: 8,800 Term 3: 7,800
Paid termly alongside tuition.
EAL Fee (English as an Additional Language) Applicable to Year 1–9 students only if required by the school.
Annual: THB 105,000 Term 1: 46,700 Term 2: 30,900 Term 3: 27,400
Maximum of six terms of charges even if provision continues.
Transport Fees Fees depend on distance zone and one-way vs round-trip:
Zone 1A: One-way: THB 45,200 Round trip: THB 77,000
Zone 1B: One-way: THB 48,000 Round trip: THB 82,300
Zone 1C: One-way: THB 60,100 Round trip: THB 102,800
Zone 2: One-way: THB 67,800 Round trip: THB 116,100
Refund Policy No refunds for short-term or authority-mandated closures.
Refunds are available only on a half-term basis for:
Tuition, capital, transport, and lunch (if leaving before half-term break)
Prorated by remaining school days.
Year 13 deposit refunds processed by 31 July.
No refunds after first week of: ECAs Instrumental Music Sports Programme
Payment Methods All payments must be in Thai Baht:
Cash (only if ≤ THB 10,000) Cheque or cashier’s order (payable to Bangkok Patana School) Credit card (AMEX, KBank, Citibank/UOB; Thai cards only; installment plans available) Bank transfer via KBANK/CIMB Bill Payment (forms via Parent Gateway) Online payment via Parent Gateway (SCB, PayPal, QR Code) Direct bank transfer
Fee details
Application and One‑Time Fees (first year only):
* Application Fee: THB 6,000 * Assessment Fee: THB 2,500 (non‑refundable) * Registration Fee: THB 265,000 * Campus Development Fee: THB 575,000 (refundable upon graduation if all school property is returned and notice given)
Annual Tuition Fees (excluding one‑time fees) (based on age/grade)
* Early Years 1-2: THB 628,200 * Year 1 : THB 796,700 * Grades 1–6 : THB 842,800 * Grades 7–9 : THB 923,700 * Grades 10–11 : THB 1,003,800 * Grades 12–13 : THB 1,094,500 Tuition is typically billed annually, with families often paying per term per school policy.
Billing & Payment Terms
* Payment schedule follows fixed term dates; if due dates fall on weekends or holidays, payments are due the next business day. * Overdue payments incur a monthly surcharge of 1.25%, and transcripts or other documents may be withheld until fees are cleared.
Other Costs
* Uniforms and school supplies must be purchased via the on-site NIST Shop; options include new or second‑hand items. * Meal plans for Early Years through Grade 2 cost approx. THB 25,000 per year. Secondary students purchase food à la carte (approximately THB 130–150 per day).
Refund Policy
* Tuition is not refunded if a student leaves mid‑semester. * Refunds on campus fee deposit are available only if all conditions are met.
Payment Options
* Tuition and fees can be paid via bank transfer or credit card (credit card payments include a 1.5% surcharge at the school shop).
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
—
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
—
Food options
Food options
—
Food options
—
House system
House system
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House system
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
In the early years and primary school, the school uses the English National Curriculum, starting with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework in Nursery and Foundation Stage. From Year 1 to Year 6, students continue with the UK national curriculum, covering core subjects like English, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities, alongside specialist instruction in subjects like Music, Art, Physical Education, and Thai.
In secondary school (Years 7 to 11), students continue with the English National Curriculum, and in Years 10 and 11, they study for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams, primarily under the Pearson Edexcel examination board.
In Years 12 and 13, students follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). This is a two-year academic programme that includes six subject groups along with core components like the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).
Curriculum details
NIST International School offers the full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum across all age groups. Students in Early Years through Grade 5 follow the Primary Years Programme (PYP), which emphasizes inquiry-based learning across core subjects. Grades 6 to 10 follow the Middle Years Programme (MYP), which includes interdisciplinary projects and subject study in areas such as mathematics, sciences, language acquisition, and the arts. In Grades 11 and 12, students complete the IB Diploma Programme (DP), choosing from six subject groups and completing core components including Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). All programmes are taught in English, with additional language learning and specialist classes in visual arts, performing arts, and physical education. The curriculum is structured to meet IB standards while also incorporating service learning and opportunities for real-world application.
1. Document Preparation Parents prepare scans of all required documents: recent school reports (last 2 years), birth certificate, parents’ and student passports, photos, and for dual nationals, Thai ID and house registration. Existing forms, such as the Application Agreement and doctor’s letter, must be completed and uploaded online.
2. Online Submission Applications must be submitted through the school’s online portal (non-Thai or Thai national streams), with all documents uploaded and the application fee paid. The process begins with login/registration and proceeds only when files are complete.
3. Assessment & Review The admissions team reviews all application materials. Depending on age and needs, students may undergo assessments such as EAL for English proficiency or readiness checks for early years. Teacher recommendations and writing samples are also required.
4. Decision & Offer Based on assessments, past school reports, recommendations, and available space, a formal offer letter is issued by the Head of School. A THB 50,000 acceptance fee (deposit) is due once the offer is accepted.
5. Enrollment Upon receipt of the signed offer letter, deposit, and (for non-Thai students) valid non-immigrant visa documents, student enrollment is confirmed.
Admissions
1. Schedule a visit or virtual tour. If possible, families are encouraged to tour the campus or attend an online session to view facilities and discuss learning programmes. 2. Submit application documents. You'll provide reports, recommendation forms, medical records, passport scans, and any relevant educational assessments or IEPs. 3. Complete admission assessment. Applicants sit for age-appropriate assessments on campus—or, for remote students, at their current school or online. Assessment results help determine placement and additional support needs. 4. Receive decision and complete enrolment. If admitted, the school issues an Acceptance Letter with instructions on confirming your place, paying deposit fees, and enrolling online via Veracross. Meal plans, schedules, and extracurricular sign-ups follow.
Scholarships
Scholarships
Bangkok Patana does not offer in-house academic scholarships.
Scholarships
As of publicly available information, NIST does not offer formal scholarships for academic or need-based support.
Waitlist
Waitlist
The school does maintain a waiting pool when year groups are full. Placement on the waitlist depends on factors such as availability, siblings at the school, returning students, date of application, and the need for support services.
Waitlist
NIST does operate a wait pool for year levels that reach capacity. If no immediate space is available, your child may be placed in this pool and contacted if a spot becomes available. This provides flexibility for families applying mid-year or when popular year levels are full.
