Choosing a school is often the decision that determines where in Marbella a family actually lives. The main international schools are spread across different areas of the municipality, and the school run is a genuine quality-of-life factor – particularly in summer when traffic on the coastal road slows considerably. If you have not yet decided on an area, it makes sense to read our guide to Marbella's best neighbourhoods alongside this one. This guide covers the main school options honestly, including fees, admissions realities and what families should know before applying.
- 01Marbella has five established international schools – mainly British curriculum, with IB options at several
- 02Apply 10–12 months in advance – popular year groups at Aloha and Swans fill early, sometimes with waiting lists
- 03Annual fees range from ~€6,000 to ~€14,000 depending on school and year group – verify directly as fees change annually
- 04Most schools charge a non-refundable enrolment or reservation fee on top of tuition
- 05School location should influence neighbourhood choice – the commute matters more than many families expect
- 06Spanish public schools are free and accessible to registered residents, with language support available
Overview of Schooling Options in Marbella
Marbella has an unusually strong international school offering for a town of its size. Most follow British curricula through to IGCSE and A-levels, with IB Diploma programmes at several schools. The main options – Aloha College, Swans International, EIC, Laude San Pedro and St. Anthony's – have been operating for decades and have established reputations with the expat community.
Beyond these, there are smaller or more specialist options: an American-curriculum school in Estepona, a Swedish school in Marbella, and the Spanish public system, which is free and accessible to all registered residents.
The right school depends on curriculum preference, location relative to where you live, budget and whether your children have specific language or academic needs. There is no single best school – the one closest to your home, with the curriculum that fits your family's trajectory, is usually the most practical starting point. For context on how school fees fit into the overall family budget in Marbella, see our cost of living guide.
School fees, admissions requirements and availability change every year. Everything in this guide is a planning framework based on 2025/26 information. Always contact schools directly for current fee schedules, availability and application deadlines before making relocation decisions.
British vs IB vs Spanish Systems
Understanding the curriculum differences matters, particularly for families who may move again or have children approaching exam years.
British curriculum (IGCSE / A-levels): The most common in Marbella. Familiar to UK families and widely recognised internationally for university applications. Most of Marbella's international schools follow this pathway.
IB (International Baccalaureate): Offered alongside British curricula at Aloha College and EIC at Diploma level (Years 12–13). The IB Diploma is highly regarded by universities worldwide and suits families who may relocate internationally. It is more demanding and broader in scope than A-levels.
Spanish Bachillerato: Laude San Pedro offers a Spanish pathway alongside the British one – useful for families planning long-term residence in Spain and wanting children to integrate into the Spanish university system.
Spanish public school: Free, locally embedded and follows the Spanish national curriculum. Realistic for younger children adapting to a new language; harder for older children arriving with no Spanish. More on this below.
Aloha College
Aloha College in Nueva Andalucía is one of Marbella's best-known and most academically regarded international schools. Founded in 1982, it offers British curriculum from Early Years through to A-levels and IB Diploma. University placement results are consistently strong.
Admissions: Aloha explicitly encourages enquiries up to a year in advance. The school has published waiting lists and some year groups have been full. The process involves school reports, passport copies, proof of English ability from Year 1 upward, and visits or placement testing depending on year of entry.
Aloha is the school most commonly cited by expat families as their first choice in the Nueva Andalucía area. If you are targeting Aloha, apply before December for the following September – do not wait until spring.
Swans International School
Swans is located in the Sierra Blanca area, close to the Golden Mile, making it the most conveniently placed school for families renting or buying in that corridor. It follows a British curriculum from Early Years (EYFS) through to A-levels.
Admissions: Waiting lists are described as common, particularly in Primary and Sixth Form. The entrance fee structure is tiered by year group – €1,975 for Foundation Stage, €2,975 for Years 1–6, €3,975 for Years 7–13. These are non-refundable. Apply early, particularly if you are targeting Primary entry.
Swans has a reputation for being welcoming to newly arrived families and has good modern facilities. Its location makes it the natural school choice for Golden Mile and central Marbella residents.
EIC – English International College
EIC is located in Elviria on the east side of Marbella, making it the primary school for families based in that area. It is widely regarded as one of the most academically rigorous schools on the Costa del Sol, with strong university placement results and a well-regarded IB Diploma programme.
Admissions: The main application window runs January to March, though EIC states it tries to accommodate applications throughout the year. The process involves school reports, a campus tour, and interviews or assessment testing before an offer is made. Fee schedule and registration deposit should be confirmed directly as EIC does not publish these publicly.
EIC's location on the east side is both its strength and its limitation. Families in Elviria have a short commute; families on the western side of Marbella or in Nueva Andalucía face a 20–30 minute drive each way.
Laude San Pedro International College
Laude San Pedro stands out for offering both a British pathway and a Spanish Bachillerato route – the only main Marbella school that integrates both systems meaningfully. This makes it particularly relevant for families planning long-term residence in Spain.
Admissions: Described as slightly more flexible than Aloha or Swans, but Year 1 and Year 7 entry points can still fill. Registration and deposit costs should be confirmed directly. Laude operates a school bus service covering a wide area of the western Costa del Sol – a practical advantage for families in San Pedro, Estepona or further west.
Fees are the most affordable of the main Marbella international schools, making it a strong option for families balancing budget with curriculum quality.
St. Anthony's College
St. Anthony's is a smaller British-curriculum school with a Catholic ethos, located in Mijas Costa – part of the wider Costa del Sol catchment rather than Marbella proper, but within reasonable reach for families in central or eastern Marbella.
Books, uniforms and external exam fees are billed separately. Admissions details and the full age range should be confirmed directly with the school, as published information is limited.
Other Schools Worth Knowing
Atlas American School of Málaga (Estepona): The clearest American-curriculum option in the wider Marbella catchment. Ages 3–18, located in Estepona. Published 2026/27 fees include a €2,000 family admission fee, €500 annual registration per student and a €1,000 deposit per student. A viable option for families specifically seeking an American system.
Svenska Skolan Marbella International: A Swedish-curriculum school in Marbella, relevant primarily for Scandinavian families. 2025/26 fees show a €1,000 registration fee and Year 7 tuition split into two payments of ~€6,750 each.
The International School Estepona: British-curriculum school on the New Golden Mile, 20 minutes west of Marbella. 2025/26 fees around €7,530/year for ages 4–6 and €8,700/year for ages 7–11. Runs a summer school programme. A reasonable alternative for families based in Estepona or the western Costa del Sol.
School Fees in 2026 – Overview
These are annual tuition ranges based on 2025/26 information. They do not include enrolment or reservation fees, uniforms, school trips, lunch programmes or external exam fees, which are billed separately by most schools.
For a family with two children at a mid-range school, total school costs typically add €1,000–2,000/month to the household budget. This is the second-largest monthly expense for most Marbella expat families after rent.
Fees increase annually. Always request current fee schedules directly from schools rather than relying on figures published online, including this guide. The ranges above are planning benchmarks, not quotes.
Waiting Lists & Admissions – What to Know
The key practical point: Marbella's international schools are in demand. Popular year groups – particularly Year 1 entry, Year 7 entry and Sixth Form – fill well before the academic year begins. Families who apply in summer for a September start frequently find limited availability.
Aloha College has the most documented admissions timeline and explicitly operates a waiting list. Apply between November and January for the following September.
Swans International recommends applying 10–12 months ahead. Waiting lists are common in Primary and Sixth Form.
EIC accepts applications year-round but the main window is January to March. Check availability directly for your child's year group.
Laude San Pedro is described as slightly more flexible but Year 1 and Year 7 can still fill. Apply early regardless.
Most schools require recent school reports (usually the last two years), passport copies, proof of address and – depending on the school and year group – an English language assessment or placement test. Some conduct interviews with children or parents as part of the process.
If you are relocating with a specific school as a priority, contact the school before finalising your neighbourhood. There is no point living near Aloha College if the year group your child needs is full. Confirm a place first, then choose where to live around it.
Practical School Life
School hours: British-style schools in Marbella typically start around 8:45–9:00am. Factor in traffic, particularly during the school run on the coastal N-340 in term time.
School transport: Laude San Pedro operates a bus service covering a wide area with a monitor on each bus. Other schools vary – check directly. Private school transport services also operate in the area.
After-school activities: All main schools offer extra-curricular programmes. Quality and range vary – ask specifically when visiting.
Summer programmes: Several schools run summer camps and programmes. Laude San Pedro ran a summer camp in 2025 for ages 3–16 from late June to August. The International School Estepona and others offer similar. Useful for families arriving in summer before the school year begins.
Best Areas to Live Near Schools
School location should be a primary factor in neighbourhood choice, not an afterthought. Marbella's traffic during term time – particularly on the N-340 coastal road – makes what looks like a 15-minute drive considerably longer in practice. For a broader picture of what each area is like to live in day-to-day, see our living in Marbella guide.
| School | Natural neighbourhood base |
|---|---|
| Aloha College | Nueva Andalucía, western Golden Mile |
| Swans International | Golden Mile, central Marbella |
| EIC | Elviria, East Marbella |
| Laude San Pedro | San Pedro de Alcántara, Guadalmina |
| St. Anthony's | Mijas Costa, eastern San Pedro |
Families with children at Aloha or Swans typically base themselves in Nueva Andalucía or the Golden Mile corridor. EIC families concentrate in Elviria. Laude San Pedro families are primarily in San Pedro and the areas immediately east and west.
Living on the opposite side of Marbella from your school adds 30–45 minutes to the daily school run in peak traffic. Over an academic year, that adds up significantly.
Public Schools in Marbella
Spanish public schools are free and open to all children registered on the local padrón (municipal register). They are a realistic option for some expat families, particularly younger children who adapt to language more quickly. Getting on the padrón is one of the first steps after arrival – our moving to Marbella guide covers the full registration process.
Enrolment in Andalusia runs through the Junta's online system, with the main application window in March and April for a September start. School assignments are typically confirmed in June. Late applications after April are harder to place.
Andalusia operates ATAL classrooms – language support for foreign pupils in public primary and secondary schools – which helps non-Spanish-speaking children transition. That said:
- Younger children (primary age) generally adapt to Spanish faster and integrate more successfully
- Older children (secondary age) arriving with no Spanish face a more difficult transition and may need additional private tutoring
- The academic environment and extracurricular offering differs significantly from international schools Public school is a viable and cost-effective route for families committed to long-term residence in Spain and integration into local life. It is a harder choice for families who may relocate again or whose children are mid-way through a British or IB curriculum.
FAQ – International Schools in Marbella
Sources: School admissions pages and published fee schedules 2025/26; Aloha College, Swans International School, EIC and Laude San Pedro official websites; Atlas American School and Svenska Skolan published fee information; Junta de Andalucía public school enrolment guidance. School fees, admissions requirements and availability change annually – contact schools directly for current information. Information last verified May 2026.
