British International School Hanoi (BIS Hanoi)

Academic Excellence at BIS Hanoi

BIS Hanoi has established itself as one of the top-performing international schools in Vietnam, driven by a rigorous dual-track academic programme.

Curriculum Structure

The school follows the English National Curriculum from Early Years (age 2) through Year 9, then transitions to:

• Cambridge IGCSE for Years 10–11 (ages 14–16)
• IB Diploma Programme (DP) for Years 12–13 (ages 16–18)

This British-to-IB pathway is well-established and allows students to build strong subject foundations before tackling the internationally recognised IB Diploma.

Examination Results

BIS Hanoi's results consistently outperform global benchmarks:

• 2023 IB cohort: Average score of 35 points (global average ~30), with a 100% pass rate and multiple students in the world's top percentile
• 2024 IB cohort: Average score of 34.7 points, 98% pass rate, with students ranked in the top 85 worldwide
• 2025 IB: At least one student achieved 44 out of 45 points, among the highest in Vietnam
• IGCSE 2024: 45% of grades were A or A*, with 100% of students passing and achieving university-eligible results

Global Partnerships Enhancing Learning

Beyond standard curriculum delivery, BIS Hanoi benefits from Nord Anglia's unique global academic partnerships:

• Juilliard School (New York): Performing arts curriculum integration; dance, music, and drama enrichment taught by Juilliard-trained specialists
• MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology): STEAM and technology learning frameworks, including Maker Space activities and design thinking
• UNICEF: Global citizenship and community service programmes, encouraging students to engage with real-world challenges

University Outcomes

Nearly 100% of graduates proceed to university. Between 2016 and 2024, BIS Hanoi alumni received offers from 300+ prestigious universities worldwide. The Class of 2023 alone received over 180 individual offers from top-ranked institutions including:

• Stanford University (USA)
• University of Cambridge (UK)
• University College London (UK)
• UC Berkeley (USA)
• National University of Singapore
• University of Toronto (Canada)

The Class of 2024 also earned places at NYU, University of Edinburgh, KAIST, and HKUST.

Teaching Philosophy

The school emphasises personalised learning — adapting instruction to each student's strengths and potential. Teachers are described as "world-class faculty" recruited internationally, with a student–teacher ratio of approximately 10:1 and average class sizes of around 20 students, ensuring strong individual attention.

Educational Philosophy and Values

BIS Hanoi's approach to education is captured in its Three Promises, which serve as both mission statement and daily commitment to students and families:

The Three Promises

1. A Place to Belong — Every student, regardless of nationality, background or ability, is welcomed into a genuinely inclusive community. With 30+ nationalities represented in a roughly 50/50 local-international student body, diversity is seen as an asset rather than a challenge.

2. Experience Excellence — Academic rigour is non-negotiable. The school holds students to high standards through the British curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, and IB Diploma, while personalising learning so each child achieves their personal best — not just a grade.

3. Create Your Future — Education at BIS Hanoi is forward-looking. Through partnerships with MIT (innovation and technology), Juilliard (creative arts), and UNICEF (global citizenship), students develop skills that extend well beyond examinations: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and resilience.

Core Values in Practice

The school's three core values — Integrity, Care, Respect — are woven into daily school life:

• Integrity is modelled by teachers and expected of students in academic and social conduct
• Care is expressed through robust pastoral structures, including a house system, counselling services, and wellbeing programmes
• Respect underpins the school's approach to diversity, with students from 30+ nationalities learning alongside each other

Nord Anglia's Global Vision

As part of Nord Anglia Education (80+ schools worldwide), BIS Hanoi also aligns with the broader group vision of "shaping a generation of creative and resilient global citizens." The school embraces the idea that education must prepare students not just for today's world, but for a rapidly changing future — described in Nord Anglia's messaging as "An education for tomorrow, today."

Pastoral Culture

The Principal's Welcome emphasises that students are "at the heart" of everything the school does. The house system encourages student leadership (e.g. House Captains), and the school's community culture is described as one where students "achieve more than they thought possible" in a supportive environment.

Campus and Facilities

BIS Hanoi's campus is located within the Vinhomes Riverside residential development in Long Biên district — a planned, gated community on the eastern edge of Hanoi. The campus was purpose-built for the school and has been expanded and upgraded since 2012.

Key Facilities

Sports & Physical Education:

• 25-metre indoor swimming pool — used for daily PE lessons, swim team training and competitions
• Early Years splash pool — shallow water play area for nursery and reception-age children
• Full-size AstroTurf football pitch (4G surface) — used for football, athletics and sports days
• Multi-use indoor sports hall — courts for basketball, badminton and volleyball

Performing Arts:

• 200-seat theatre/auditorium — hosts school productions, assemblies, concerts and visiting performers
• Specialist drama studio — equipped for theatre arts and IGCSE/IB Drama
• Music suites and recording studio — acoustically treated rooms with instruments; supports Juilliard partnership
• Dance studio — air-conditioned; used for Juilliard-inspired dance classes for all ages

Academic & Technology:

• STEAM Maker Space — equipped with 3D printers, robotics kits, laser cutters and computing stations; opened approximately 2015 with MIT partnership support
• Science laboratories — separate chemistry, biology and physics labs for IGCSE and IB students
• ICT/Computer suites — up-to-date computing facilities
• Library — well-stocked for both primary and secondary students

Early Years Centre:

• Dedicated, secure section of campus for students aged 2–5
• Colourful classrooms with age-appropriate furnishings
• Outdoor playground with climbing equipment and soft-play areas
• Separate from older students for safety and developmental appropriateness

Dining & Wellbeing:

• Dining hall/canteen — serves hot international and Vietnamese lunches daily (included in fees)
• Health centre — staffed by a full-time nurse

Campus Environment

All buildings are fully air-conditioned — essential in Hanoi's climate. The campus is secured with CCTV, swipe-card access, and a monitored entry system. The Vinhomes Riverside location provides a clean, green, and relatively quiet environment compared to central Hanoi.

Community Life and Co-Curricular Opportunities

BIS Hanoi's community is one of its most distinctive features — a genuinely diverse, multi-national school community in the heart of Vietnam's capital.

The Student Community

• ~1,050 students aged 2–18 across all year groups
• 30+ nationalities represented — including Vietnamese, British, Korean, American, Japanese, Australian, French, and many more
• Roughly 50% Vietnamese / 50% international students — making it genuinely mixed rather than predominantly expatriate
• This diversity is celebrated through cultural events, language programmes and international awareness activities

Co-Curricular Activities (90+ Clubs)

BIS Hanoi runs an extensive CCA (Co-Curricular Activity) programme with over 90 clubs and activities across all age groups. Most activities are included in the fees; some may have small materials charges.

Sports:

• Basketball (competitive; scholarship available)
• Football/Soccer, Swimming, Volleyball, Badminton, Table Tennis
• Cross-Country Running, Yoga, Karate
• Competitive participation in Hanoi Activities Conference, NAE leagues and FOBISIA inter-school events

Performing Arts:

• Choir and Gospel Choir
• Orchestra/Strings Ensemble, Jazz Band, Battle of the Bands
• Drama Club, Dance (Juilliard-inspired)
• Piano Workshop, Art Club

STEM and Academic:

• Robotics Club (competitive)
• Math Olympiad, Science Club, Coding/IT Club
• Model United Nations (BIS Hanoi hosted FOBISIA MUN 2023 with 150+ delegates)
• Debate Club, Quiz/English Club

Languages and Culture:

• French Club, Spanish Club, Korean Club
• Vietnamese Literature Club, Japanese Language

Service and Leadership:

• Student Council, UNICEF/CIS Service Group
• Eco/Green Club, Yearbook/Journalism

Other:

• Baking Club, Chess Club, Film Appreciation, Photography, Origami, Public Speaking/LAMDA

Merit Scholarships

BIS Hanoi offers merit scholarships (up to 20% tuition reduction) in six categories: Primary Academic, Secondary Academic, IGCSE Academic, Performing Arts Excellence, High Technology Excellence, and Basketball Excellence. These are renewable annually based on performance and are open to both Vietnamese and international students from Years 5–12.

Admissions at BIS Hanoi

BIS Hanoi operates a rolling admissions model — there is no single annual application deadline. Families can apply at any point during the year, though places at popular year levels may be limited.

Who Can Apply

• Students aged 2 to 18 (Early Years 1 through Year 13)
• Both Vietnamese nationals and international students are welcome
• The school is selective but not exclusively expat-focused — roughly half the student body is Vietnamese

The Application Process

1. Inquiry and Application — Families submit an application with a non-refundable application fee of VND 4,500,000
2. Assessment — Students undergo academic and English assessments appropriate to their age. This includes English (EAL) tests and interviews for most year groups (EYFS through Year 11)
3. Offer and Enrollment — Upon acceptance, families pay an enrollment fee (VND 23,600,000 for Foundation Stage; VND 70,800,000 for Primary/Secondary) to confirm the place, plus a refundable security deposit of VND 23,600,000
4. Waiting List — Where year groups are full, students are placed on a waiting list

English Language Requirements

As an English-medium school, strong English proficiency is expected. However, BIS Hanoi provides EAL (English as an Additional Language) support for students who are not yet fully fluent — making it accessible to motivated learners from non-English backgrounds. Placement tests determine the level of support needed.

Selectivity and Demand

The school receives approximately 1,000 inquiries per year — a significant number relative to its ~1,050 total enrolment — indicating consistent and strong demand. The admissions process is described as rigorous, ensuring each cohort is well-matched to the school's expectations.

Open Days

BIS Hanoi holds regular open days (e.g. August 4, 2025) where prospective families can tour the campus, meet teachers, and learn about the curriculum. Application fee waivers have been offered for families attending open days.