Busan South Korea
Busan Foreign SchoolDescription
Busan Foreign School opened its doors to the Busan community and its surrounding areas in October of 1996.
With only two students originally, it has since expanded to encompass early childhood to twelfth grade, currently educating over 240 students from 20 different nations. In addition to the increase in enrollment, the curriculum has developed into a highly rigorous American standards-based program that offers students a wide variety of courses and activities.
Located in the popular Haeundae New Town area, Busan Foreign School is situated among modern high rises, an array of Asian and western-style restaurants, scenic hiking trails, and the popular and picturesque Haeundae Beach. This neighborhood has seen continuous growth of foreign business and development since its inception and shows no sign of slowing down. Since Busan is the major port of South Korea, shipping and international trade are the major industries in the city.
Busan Foreign School stands out as the premier English-speaking school in Busan. BFS has been graduating high school seniors for over fifteen years and sending them abroad to some of the world's most prestigious universities and colleges. The graduating class of 2016 gained acceptances to over 48 colleges and universities — many of which were ranked among the top 200 universities in the world. BFS is fully accredited from Kindergarten to Grade 12 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Other school affiliations include the East Asia Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS), the Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea (certification), Korean Council of Overseas Schools (KORCOS), American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea (EUCCK), National Honor Society (NHS), National Junior Honor Society, the National Association of Student Councils, and the Southern Korean Athletic Conference (SKAC).
Busan Foreign School offers all classes for students at any school-aged level. We have a full-day Early Childhood program for three and four-year-olds. We offer fully inclusive elementary classes in grades Kindergarten to Grade 5. In addition for middle and high school students, the school provides a variety of electives and core courses such as: AP Literature, AP Calculus, Physical Education/Health, Studio Art, Maker Space, Korean, Spanish, English Language Learner (ELL) centers, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Film Studies, Global Issues/MUN, Business, and Personal Finance, Band, Music History, and Choir.
- Day school tuition No Information
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Grades for day school
Pre-K/Reception -
12th Grade/Year 13 - Scholarships Available Yes
- Number of Students 250
- Year founded 1996
- Boarding school tuition No Information
- Curricula Advanced Placement, US National, Reggio Emilia Approach
- Type Co-ed
Accreditations
WASC
Scholarships
Financial help and scholarships are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Admissions Information
Admissions Process
Apply - apply through our website
Documents - submit all required documents
Interview - complete an interview with someone from the admissions team
Testing - undergo level and standardized testing if necessary
Decision - Admissions Committee will review all documents and will reach a decision within 2-3 weeks.
Entry Requirements
Families who are interested in sending their dependents to Busan Foreign School must fall into one of the following categories of eligibility.
- At least one parent must hold a foreign (non-Korean) citizenship
- A dependent of Korean parents who has lived abroad for 3 years (1095 days).
- Students can join after the academic year begins Yes
- Waiting List Yes
Academics
- Assigns homework Yes
- Use of technology in the classroom Yes
- Language of instruction English
- ELL support Yes
- Teacher/Student ratio 1:8
- Learning support Yes
- Native English teachers Yes
- Languages taught English
- Number of teaching staff 33
- Examinations available
Teacher Qualifications
All teachers are certified in their grade level and content area in either the United States or Canada, except for foreign language teachers.
School Life
- Bus service Yes
- Sports teams available Yes
- Pastoral Care Yes
- Do students practice religion at the school No
- School start time 8:30 am
- School end time 3:30 am (one hour later if the child participates in after-school activities)
- Most common nationality USA
- Max class size 22
- School provides lunch Yes
- Uniform required Yes
- Access to an educational psychologist Yes
- Student nationalities 20
- Average class size 14
Schools Facilities
- Early childhood indoor and outdoor playground
- Outdoor futsal field
- Gymnasium
- Auditorium
- Lab
- Cafeteria
- Maker space
School Lunch
Two menus are provided: Western and Asian.
University Relations
- University counseling Yes
- Percent that pursue university 95%
University Destinations
Our bright BFS graduates attend universities worldwide, with the majority attending colleges in the U.S. To see a list, check out our High School Profile.
University Counseling
Busan Foreign School realizes one of the most important decisions in a student’s life is choosing the right college or university. Over 95% of BFS graduates go on to post-secondary studies, the majority of which attend high-ranking universities in the United States.
Busan Foreign School provides the guidance, tools, and opportunities for students and families to prepare to successfully enter some of the most competitive universities in the world.
- The PSAT is provided to grades 8-11 at no charge
- BFS is an SAT Testing Center open only to BFS students
- We are visited by a variety of colleges and universities each year who introduce students to exciting opportunities abroad
- BFS holds frequent parent and student seminars to provide guidance on the application process
- Senior English is dedicated to assisting students with the college application process
- High school students use Maialearning to help guide their university decision making