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The International School of Busan is located at 50 Gijang-daero, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan 46081, South Korea. The campus comprises the Early Years Centre, Elementary School, and Secondary School across four main buildings on a single site. It sits in Busan's eastern coastal area in the Gijang district and is accessible by major routes. The school is connected to Busan by public transport and its own bus service.
ISB has three main school levels: the Early Years Centre (preschool/kindergarten), Elementary School, and Secondary School. The school serves students from roughly age 2 to 18.
ISB is a co-educational, English-medium, not-for-profit day school. It offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme.
ISB provides inclusive learning and student support through Learning Support and English as an Additional Language. The admissions and support process involves a team of staff and appropriate documentation to determine feasible support options.
There is no formal country affiliation.
Non-denominational; there is no specific religious affiliation.
The school year runs from mid-August to mid-June and comprises about 180 teaching days. School hours are 8:30 am–3:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
ISB operates its own bus fleet to transport students to and from school and for field trips. Bus routes cover Busan, Ulsan, Jinhae, and Geoje Island, and service may not be available for every location. Morning designated pick‑ups are near students' homes; afternoon buses finish at 3:40 pm (end of school) and 4:40 pm (end of After School Activities). GPS tracking is available for parents.
ISB requires the PE uniform for PE classes. Non-marking gym shoes and socks are required, and a hat is strongly encouraged during terms one and three for UV protection. PE uniforms may be ordered online and picked up from The Bear Necessities, the ISB School Shop.
Healthy lunches are available to purchase in the school cafeteria. Dishes are prepared on-site daily and there are always vegetarian and non-vegetarian options available. The school encourages healthy eating and discourages foods high in fats, sugars or artificial ingredients.
ISB is governed by a 10-member volunteer Board of Governors drawn from diverse cultural and business backgrounds; Board members, elected by the parents, include four parent representatives and three non-parent representatives, and they oversee mission, bylaws, policy, and financial health while delegating day-to-day operations to the Head of School. The school operates under a management contract with Busan Metropolitan City; in 2025 a renewed agreement provides five-year renewable usage rights and greater autonomy as the city's officially authorized international school operator.
The International School of Busan is an IB World School in Busan offering the three IB programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP) in Elementary, Middle Years Programme (MYP) in secondary, and the Diploma Programme (DP) in the upper school. The Elementary School teaches in English and uses the PYP with an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary Programme of Inquiry, authorized since 2009. In the Secondary School, ISB implements the MYP and DP; timetabling supports specialist instruction in English, Individuals and Societies, Art, Mathematics, Science, Design Technology, PE, Spanish, Korean and Music. The DP comprises six subjects from six groups plus the DP Core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, Creativity, Activity and Service), for students typically aged 16-19 and prepared for university study. ISB holds WASC accreditation and is a member of CIS and ECIS, with additional pathways such as the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and a dedicated University/College Counseling program.
ISB supports social and emotional learning through Secondary School counseling for academic, career, and personal development, and through Elementary School pastoral care provided by homeroom teachers, with wellbeing framed as a core school value in guiding statements and strategic planning.
ISB states an inclusive admissions approach and provides Learning Support plus access to external service providers for students with learning and language differences; determination of student support involves leaders, teachers, counselors, and support staff.
ISB provides EAL support with dedicated EAL teachers who offer extra English language instruction and/or curriculum support in inclusive or pull-out models; English is the language of instruction and inclusion.
Mental wellbeing is supported via Secondary School counseling for personal development and through Elementary pastoral care, with wellbeing explicitly emphasised in ISB's guiding statements and strategic planning.
ISB has a Board-adopted Child Protection Policy with prevention-focused lessons, comprehensive staff background checks, a Code of Conduct, and formal safeguarding training, and a designated Child Protection Officer (Amanda Illeperumaarachchi) plus a safeguarding lead on the Board; the school complies with Korean law regarding child protection.
1. Step 1: Review the Application Checklist. Complete the Online Application and upload required documents. A non-refundable application fee of KRW 300,000 or USD 300 must be paid before the application can be submitted. The fee does not guarantee admission.
2. Step 2: Process and Review of Application. Admissions staff may contact you for additional information, which can take time to gather. In some cases, families are asked to connect with counselors or special education teachers to provide better insights on the learning needs of your child. These steps help the school understand support requirements and planning needs.
3. Step 3: Interview and Assessment. The interview with the Principal is required for all applicants. Assessments in Math and Reading are required for applicants between Grade 3 and Grade 11. The process helps the school gauge fit and academic readiness.
4. Step 4: Acceptance. The acceptance decision is made by the Principal or Head of School after reviewing all documents. For the new school year starting in August, new students are generally not offered places until returning students have completed their reenrollment. Acceptance for foreign students is typically offered before the end of April, and in May for Korean students.
5. Step 5: Payment. Once an offer is made, an official letter confirming the offer is sent by email. If the family wishes to accept, they must inform the school within 7 days. The invoice is sent to parents after acceptance of the offer.
6. Step 6: Submit Additional Documents. Before the first day of school, additional documents are required. Failure to provide these documents can adversely affect the student's initial days at ISB.
Note on fees: The Online Application page states a non-refundable application fee of KRW 300,000 or USD 300. The Tuition and Fees section points to the 2025-26 Tuition and School Fee Information Handbook for full details on tuition, transportation, cafeteria, and other school fees, along with payment due dates and refund policy.
ISB offers an Academic Scholarship Programme for the 2026-2027 academic year. Scholarships are awarded to candidates who demonstrate outstanding academic ability, based on aptitude and potential, at grade levels 9 (age 14+), 10 (age 15+), and 11 (age 16+). Scholarship categories include 100%, 75%, 50% tuition concessions, and Honorary Scholarships with no fee concession. These concessions apply to tuition fees only and do not cover transport, cafeteria, enrolment, technology, or capital development fees. Scholarships are determined in open competition by the Academic Scholarship Selection Panel and can vary in number year to year.
Who May Apply: Students aged 14-17; Korean nationals who have resided overseas for three years or more; international students residing in Korea; some other eligibility nuances described in the page. Existing ISB students are only eligible for Honorary Scholarship. The Educational Leadership Team or Board of Governors members are typically only eligible for Honorary Scholarship.
Scholarship Application Process: Submitting an application; Scholarship Assessment Day for shortlisted candidates (English and Mathematics), Group Discussion, and Interview; Scholarships announced after assessment. Key dates for August 2026 entry include application deadline on February 28, 2026, invitations for Assessment Day on March 6, 2026, and Scholarship Assessment Day between March 9–13, 2026.
Applications Include: MYP candidates must provide a personal statement (350–500 words) explaining how an IB education will help them achieve their goals and a 350–500-word proposal for a Personal Project. DP candidates must provide a similar statement and a 4,000-word Extended Essay proposal. The Academic Scholarship is limited to five students at any one time (1 x 100%, 2 x 75%, 2 x 50%); for more information contact admissions@isbusan.org or call +82 51 742 3332.
ISB uses a waiting list for applicants when spaces are not immediately available. Qualified applicants who are not accepted due to space are placed on the waiting list and will be considered once spaces become available. It is the family's responsibility to provide ISB with updated academic records whenever they become available.
The campus is in a quiet residential area in Haeundae, Busan, beside Jangsan Mountain. It is about a 10-minute walk from Metro Line 2 Jung Dong Station and a 10-minute bus ride to the beach. The address is 45, Daecheon-ro 67 beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan 48084, Republic of Korea. The campus is near Yangun Elementary School and sits within the Haeundae district.
BFS serves Pre-K3 through 12th grade. The school is organized into Early Childhood, Elementary (Kindergarten to Grade 5), and Middle & High School (Grades 6–12).
Co-educational, day school.
BFS provides English Language Learner (ELL) support with dedicated teachers for K–2, 3–5, and 6–12. The school also offers Academic Support within Student Life and counseling services. A Child Safeguarding policy is in place to protect students.
No formal country affiliation; BFS operates as an international, American standards–based school.
No religious affiliation is listed.
The standard school day typically runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with after-school activities available.
BFS operates a bus service with multiple routes in Busan (and related areas). Bus routes are listed with drivers and designated stops; safe transport procedures are described in the BFS School Handbook, including arrival practices (buses aim to arrive about 10 minutes before the start) and a late bus option for after-school activities.
Busan Foreign School has a school uniform consisting of three basic sets across the year: a cold-weather uniform, a warm-weather uniform, and a PE uniform. The dress code is Monday through Thursday for uniforms; Friday is a casual dress day, and high school has formal days on Tuesdays. Uniform items are available through local providers: PL Schoolwear (46 Yongso-ro 14beon-gil, Nam-gu, Busan) and Land's End; the PTSO also operates a gently used uniform program.
The school cafeteria is managed by Chef Jongin Kim, a culinary professional with experience at the Ritz-Carlton Seoul and other roles. A nutritionist, Ms. Hyemin Park, has joined the team to oversee nutrition. For the 2025-26 school year, BFS introduced the culinary team, and menus are posted online (e.g., Menu December 8–12 and Menu December 15–19).
Busan Foreign School has been a nonprofit organization (Registered Charity
Busan Foreign School delivers a rigorous American standards-based curriculum from Early Childhood through Grade 12 and is accredited by WASC; the program includes Advanced Placement (AP) courses and an AP Capstone Diploma for college preparation. In Elementary (PK–Grade 5), instruction aligns with the Common Core for literacy and mathematics, the AERO Standards for Social Studies, and NGSS for Science, with social-emotional learning supported by the Wayfinder program and Responsive Classroom. In Middle and High School, BFS uses the Understanding by Design framework and maintains a 26-credit graduation requirement; the AP program offers courses across English, History, Economics, Chemistry, Psychology, and more, including the AP Capstone Diploma. Instruction is delivered in English, with Korean or Spanish offered as world-language options at the Elementary level and ELL support available for non-native speakers. The Early Childhood program (PK3–K4) uses a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach with a full-day curriculum focused on literacy, numeracy, art, music, physical education, and social-emotional readiness for transition to Kindergarten.
SEL is supported through the Counseling Department and the Student Success Team, delivering universal social-emotional lessons and coordinating targeted SSTP plans, while Wayfinder and Responsive Classroom practices foster self-awareness, empathy, collaboration, and positive behavior.
BFS uses an inclusive model with Learning Support and an Academic Support Coordinator to develop Student Success Team Plans addressing academic and social-emotional needs, and provides Language Support for English Language Learners (ELL).
English Language Learner (ELL) support is provided under BFS's inclusion model; new students are assessed at enrollment and the level of ELL support is determined using the WIDA assessment when appropriate.
Mental wellbeing is supported by the Counseling Department through self-advocacy, social dynamics, and mental-health work, with middle and high school advisory sessions focusing on SEL topics and on-site Military Family Life Counselor support for eligible families.
Safeguarding is addressed through mandatory staff training via ChildSafeguarding.com, annual review of the BFS Child Protection Handbook by teaching staff, and compliance with Korean reporting requirements and U.S. military safeguarding frameworks.
1. Contact Us. Contact BFS through the inquiry form to get started. This initiates the admissions process and provides BFS with basic information about your child, the grade level you're targeting, and how you prefer to be reached. You may be invited to schedule a campus visit or receive additional instructions from the Admissions Team. 2. Apply. Submit the application through the BFS application portal. The portal guides you through the submission process and collects essential information about the student and family, and you will be guided to the next steps. 3. Submit Documents. Submit all required documents as guided by the portal instructions. Document requirements vary by eligibility category: for students with at least one foreign parent (dual citizenship), you must provide the completed Student Application form, copies of passports, last two years of academic records, birth certificate or family relation certificate, standardized test results (upon request), and letters of recommendation or attendance/good standing as applicable; for Korean-parent families, you must provide the completed form, copies of passports, last two years of academic records for grades 2 and above, family relation certificate, Entry & Exit Certificate, standardized test results (upon request), and letters of recommendation or attendance/good standing as applicable. 4. Interview. Complete an interview with a member of our Admissions Team (in-person or virtual). The interview is an opportunity to discuss the student's background, readiness, and goals, and to ask questions about BFS. 5. Testing. Undergo level and standardized testing if necessary (level testing and/or English language ability). Testing helps determine placement and language support needs. 6. Decision. Our Admissions Committee will review the application and all documents; you will receive a decision within 2-3 weeks. If admitted, the Admissions Office will communicate directly with the family for additional enrollment documents and requirements.
