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Bangkok Thailand
NIST International SchoolDescription
The first full, not-for-profit IB World School in Bangkok, NIST International School was established in 1992 with the guidance and support of the United Nations. The school now welcomes over 1,600 students representing more than 50 nationalities, and provides all three International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes: the PYP, MYP and DP. NIST is governed by the parent-elected NIST International School Foundation and is accredited through the Council of International Schools and New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Through the IB and its own unique, student-driven programmes, NIST aims to inspire, empower and enrich lives. In addition to its rigorous, progressive academics, the school offers an expansive World Languages Programme and more than 300 extra-curricular activities. With its graduates attending the best universities around the globe and going on to become community leaders, NIST has become recognized as one of the world’s leading international schools.
- Day school tuition $16800 - $30300 USD
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Grades for day school
Pre-K/Reception -
12th Grade/Year 13 - Scholarships Available No
- Number of Students 1660
- Year founded 1992
- Boarding school tuition No Information
- Curricula IB Diploma, IB Middle Years, IB Primary Years
- Type Co-ed
Accreditations
Council of International Schools (CIS), International Baccalaureate (IB), New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), Thailand Office for National Education Standards & Quality Assessment (ONESQA)
Tuition
Enrollment at the school also requires application, assessment and registration fees, as well as a campus development fee. The tuition fee is inclusive of all other academic provisions, including English support (if required), MacBook Air laptops (for secondary students), off-campus trips and learning experiences, and resources.
Curricula
Rather than pursue the full IB diploma, students may opt to earn individual IB certificates and enroll in NIST courses.
Admissions Information
Admissions Process
NIST welcomes students from all over the world to apply to our school, and applications are accepted for review throughout the year. However, we strongly believe that selecting a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you can make, and one that deserves careful consideration. Whenever possible, before submitting an application, we highly encourage parents to visit our school by arranging a meeting with a member of our admissions team and touring our campus. Online applications typically open from September onward. Please note that if you are living in Bangkok at the time of application, the deadline for submission is mid-December. Families who are moving from overseas and looking for a mid-year enrollment are welcome to apply. Please note that we are running a waitpool in some year levels.
Entry Requirements
Families interested in enrolling their children must first complete the pre-application, and the admissions team will follow up with information about the availability of spaces in the year level(s). If space is available, the following documents are required for the full application process: school reports, recommendation forms, medical form, passport scans and birth certificate, legal documents (if applicable), and other supporting documents (if applicable; i.e. IEP, educational psychological report, etc.).
- First application deadline December
- Students can join after the academic year begins Yes
- Waiting List Yes
- Application fee (domestic) $190 USD
- Application fee (international) $190 USD
Waiting List
NIST uses a wait pool model, and we consider several factors when we review an admissible application in order to make a decision whether to extend an offer of enrollment, including: age, class size/space availability, English language proficiency, previous school records and recommendation(s), siblings currently at NIST, IB programme experience, nationality/ethnicity, admissions test/academic ability, and extra-curricular/community involvement. Though all of these factors play a role in our decision, none guarantees acceptance, as they are considered as a whole. Placements for students who require EAL or learning support will also depend on availability of resources and the needs of our current students.
Academics
- Assigns homework Yes
- Use of technology in the classroom Yes
- Language of instruction English
- ELL support Yes
- Teacher/Student ratio Varied based on year level
- Gifted and talented student support Yes
- Learning support Yes
- Native English teachers Yes
- Languages taught Mandarin, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Thai
- Number of teaching staff 222
- Examinations available International Baccalaureate Diploma - IB Dip
Teacher Qualifications
All NIST teachers must possess a valid national teaching qualification.
Homework
In line with educational research into the impact of homework, it is not assigned at the elementary level, though students do complete some project work and are encouraged to read outside of school hours. At the secondary level homework is assigned in line with standardized procedures to ensure that it is relevant and can be managed in students' available time. We believe in assigning homework not as "busy work", but rather as a means of reinforcing concepts, building connections and practicing skills. The amount of homework students receive thus varies by year, teacher and subject. In general, NIST teachers provide enough work to challenge students, while still allowing time for extra-curricular activities. Additional details are available in the parent handbooks.
Gifted and talented student support
The school has a support and enrichment department that works with classroom teachers to provide additional resources and guidance for all students, including those who require additional challenge.
Use of technology in the classroom
In the early years students are gradually introduced to technology under the guidance and supervision of their teachers. As they progress into elementary, a 1:1 iPad programme allows them to begin using devices to enrich their learning. Upon entering secondary, every student is provided with a MacBook Air laptop.
Learning Support
The school has a support and enrichment department that works with classroom teachers to provide additional resources and guidance for all students, including those who require additional support.
Native English Teachers
NIST believes in the value of diversity. While many of our staff are native English speakers, we employ the best teachers regardless of ethnicity or background. Research in inclusion strongly demonstrates the benefits of maintaining a diverse faculty, particularly in ensuring that all students acquire a sense of belonging.
Languages Taught
There are three ways that a student can learn languages at NIST:, studying a NIST mother tongue Language A provided in the curriculum; studying a Language A not provided by the school in the fee-paid Community Languages Programme (CLP), which requires an additional payment through the Community Languages Committee; and studying a Language B offered by the school.
Number of Teaching Staff
This does not include academic assistants and teaching assistants.
School Life
- Bus service Yes
- Sports teams available Yes
- Pastoral Care Yes
- Do students practice religion at the school No
- School start time Over the past twenty years, an increasing body of research has demonstrated a strong link between the amount of sleep children and teenagers get each night with their overall physical and mental wellbeing, as well as their performance in school. Due to the strong evidence that early start times can be detrimental, particularly for teens, NIST maintains later start times of 8:00 AM for elementary students (8:45 AM for those in early years) and 8:30 AM for secondary students.
- Most common nationality Thai
- Max class size 24
- School provides lunch Yes
- Supervised care before or after school Yes
- Uniform required Yes
- Access to an educational psychologist Yes
- Student nationalities 61
- Average class size 22
Schools Facilities
Nestled in the heart of one of Bangkok’s busiest business districts, the NIST International School campus is located on Sukhumvit Soi 15, mere minutes from Asok BTS Station and Terminal 21. NIST’s 25-rai campus encompasses ten buildings that house over 90 classrooms and state-of-the-art facilities. Beyond the dedicated, purpose-built Early Years Centre, Elementary Building and Secondary Building, the campus includes a Creative Arts Building, Sports Complex and several multi-purpose halls. With its expansive theatre, performance studio, recording studio, sports courts, FIFA-standard pitch, library, science labs, counselling lounges, tech centers and much more, the school offers facilities that even rival universities in the region.
Bus Service
NIST works with Montri Transportation Corporation to provide daily transportation for families who choose to use their services. The school also runs its own shuttle buses for members of the NIST community to and from the Asok BTS Station and the entrance to Sukhumvit 15 throughout the day.
School Lunch
All snacks and lunches are provided by NIST's in-house catering service, overseen by a professional chef. Students may choose from a wide ranges of cuisines (including Asian and Western options), and a salad bar, noodle station and sandwich station are all available on a daily basis. Cafés throughout the school have pre-made items available, and parents are also welcome to use them.
ELL
English support is provided by specialist teachers as needed at no additional cost.
Supervised Care
Limited supervision of students is provided before and after school in designated areas, including playgrounds and community spaces.
Sports Teams
As one of the founding members of the Southeast Asia Student Activity Conference (SEASAC), the NIST Falcons compete against their peers from other top schools in Southeast Asia, as well as students around the globe. The Falcons athletes and scholars have amassed dozens of national and international championships over the past two decades, and students may choose to join a wide range of sports, from basketball and swimming to fencing and rugby. The school is also home to the Chelsea FC International Development Centre, and several full-time Chelsea coaches are based on the NIST campus.
Uniform
A school uniform is required for all students and can be purchased from the school shop.
Pastoral Care
NIST's model is based on teachers functioning first and foremost as advisors. Children flourish in a learning environment where they feel safe and supported, and it is therefore crucial to ensure that they receive emotional and social support. The school has advisory sessions built into the curriculum, and dedicated counselors are provided to focus on pastoral care.
Access to an educational psychologist
In additional to in-house support, NIST maintains close connections with top educational psychologists in Bangkok to provide further resources as required.
Extracurricular Activities
NIST encourages all students to push beyond their limits through the Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) Programme, which offers more than 300 activities in areas as diverse as sports, drama, music, art, technology, academics, language, and social and environmental activism.
University Relations
- University counseling Yes
- Percent that pursue university 100
University Destinations
NIST students have attended all of the top universities worldwide. However, the counselors focus on helping students find institutions that most closely match their strengths and intended field of study. Therefore, while some choose to accept offers at well-known universities such as Stanford, Harvard, Oxford and MIT, others enroll in highly specialized programmes that are equally challenging and respected.
University Counseling
In order to prepare both students and parents for the transition to university-level studies, NIST provides a comprehensive programme that begins in Year 10 and continues throughout high school. This includes individual and group discussions, information sessions, university visits and fairs, and social and emotional counseling. By structuring these activities over the course of four years, we ensure that our graduates leave NIST as mature, conscientious adults.