British International School Ho Chi Minh City

Campus Life at BIS HCMC

BIS HCMC operates three distinct campuses, all located in the Thao Dien neighbourhood of District 2, Ho Chi Minh City — one of the most popular areas for expatriate families in Vietnam. Despite being separate campuses, they function as one cohesive school community.

Early Years & Infant Campus (EYIC)

Designed specifically for children aged 2–5, the EYIC is a nurturing environment with facilities including:

• Indoor and outdoor swimming pools
• Multi-sport courts and rooftop garden
• Sensory walkways and soft play areas
• A DREAMS lab for early technology exploration
• A dedicated music room and library/storytelling area
• The Fundinotots play and exploration space

Junior Campus (Years 1–6)

The Junior Campus bridges early childhood and secondary education. Its facilities include:

• A 25-metre swimming pool
• Artificial grass playing field and basketball courts
• Gymnasium and outdoor play areas
• Science, DREAMS, and cookery labs
• Purpose-built creative art studios and music suites
• Library

The EYIC and Junior Campus are connected by a dedicated footbridge, enabling easy movement between the sites.

Secondary Campus (Years 7–13)

The Secondary Campus is the main and most comprehensively equipped campus, featuring:

• 25-metre swimming pool
• Artificial turf pitch and basketball courts
• Fitness gym
• Professional 250-seat auditorium and theatre
• Dance and drama studios
• Soundproofed music suites
• Science, Design & Technology, and Robotics labs
• The Curve library with individual and group study rooms
• Café, canteen, and bistro
• Dedicated Sixth Form centre
• Wellbeing spaces

Community and Atmosphere

With over 2,300 students from 56 nationalities, BIS HCMC is a genuinely multicultural community. The school's co-curricular programme offers over 100 activities, from competitive sports (football, swimming, volleyball, triathlon) to performing arts, robotics, Model United Nations, and community service. This breadth of opportunity, combined with outstanding academic results and a supportive wellbeing culture, makes BIS HCMC one of the most sought-after international schools in Southeast Asia.

Academic Excellence at BIS HCMC

BIS HCMC has firmly established itself as one of Vietnam's top-performing international schools in terms of academic outcomes. The school's 2025 International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) results were exceptional: the average score was 36.4 out of 45, a pass rate of 97.1%, and 29.2% of candidates scoring 40 or above — nearly double the global IB average. One student achieved the maximum score of 45, and 14.7% of graduates earned a bilingual diploma.

University Destinations

Academic achievement translates directly into impressive university placements. In 2025, an extraordinary 53% of BIS HCMC graduates were accepted into QS Top 100 universities, spanning the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and Singapore. Notable recent placements include:

• 2023 cohort: University of Manchester (17 students), Durham University (13), King's College London (13), University of Edinburgh (9), University of Toronto (9), Imperial College London (8), University College London (8), Penn State (8)
• 2024 cohort: University of Toronto (5), Imperial College London (3), University of Cambridge (1), University of Sydney (1)

IGCSE Performance

At the IGCSE level, the school maintains an equally strong record, with 97% of students achieving A-C grades across five or more subjects* — a benchmark that reflects the rigour of teaching from Year 7 onwards.

Teaching Approach

The school follows a British curriculum framework, with IGCSE in Years 10–11 and the IB Diploma in Years 12–13. Teachers are largely recruited from the UK and international markets, and the school benefits from Nord Anglia's global professional development infrastructure. Students are challenged to think critically, collaborate internationally, and pursue academic excellence in preparation for the world's most selective universities.

Unique Academic Partnerships

BIS HCMC's academic programme is distinguished by unique global partnerships. The collaboration with Juilliard School (New York) brings performing arts expertise into the curriculum, while the MIT STEAM partnership enriches science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education from an early age — giving students access to programmes and mentorship rarely available at secondary level.

A 25-Year Journey of Growth

British International School Ho Chi Minh City opened its doors in August 1997 under the name 'Tiny Tots', operating from a renovated building in the Thao Dien neighbourhood of District 2. The school was founded to serve the growing expatriate community in Ho Chi Minh City, providing a British-style education in a city that was rapidly opening to international business and families.

Early Growth

In its formative years, the school expanded by incorporating the Fundino kindergarten and extending its curriculum upwards to cover primary and then secondary education. This growth reflected both increasing demand from expatriate and locally resident international families and the school's developing reputation for quality.

Joining Nord Anglia Education

A key milestone was the school's integration into the Nord Anglia Education group, one of the world's leading premium international school operators. This brought with it access to global resources, enhanced teacher recruitment pipelines, curriculum partnerships with institutions such as Juilliard School and MIT, and a commitment to continuous school improvement through regular inspection and review.

Three-Campus Model

To accommodate its expanding student body, BIS HCMC developed a three-campus model, all within the Thao Dien area of District 2:

1. Early Years & Infant Campus (EYIC) – for students aged 2–5
2. Junior Campus – for Years 1–6 (ages 6–11)
3. Secondary Campus – for Years 7–13 (ages 11–18), which is the main campus

By 2022, when the school celebrated its 25th anniversary, it had grown to over 2,300 students from 56 nationalities, with state-of-the-art facilities including three 25-metre swimming pools, professional performing arts spaces, and advanced STEAM laboratories across its campuses.

Global Institutional Partnerships

One of BIS HCMC's most distinctive features is its formal academic partnerships with two of the world's most renowned institutions: Juilliard School (New York) and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). These partnerships, facilitated through Nord Anglia Education's global network, are integrated into the school curriculum rather than being optional add-ons.

Juilliard Partnership

The collaboration with Juilliard brings world-class performing arts expertise directly to BIS HCMC students. Juilliard-trained specialists contribute to the school's music, drama, and dance programmes. Students benefit from:

• A curriculum informed by Juilliard's performance and creative arts pedagogy
• Access to masterclasses, workshops, and feedback from Juilliard faculty
• Enhanced drama, music, and dance opportunities within the school's co-curricular programme
• A professional-standard 250-seat auditorium and performing arts centre on the Secondary Campus

MIT STEAM Partnership

The partnership with MIT centres on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education. Through this collaboration:

• Students engage in real-world problem-solving challenges inspired by MIT methodologies
• The school's DREAMS labs are equipped with 3D printers, robotics equipment, and advanced design technology
• The Robotics Team competes at international VEX championships, applying skills developed through the curriculum
• STEAM programming begins in the early years, ensuring students build a sustained foundation

Impact on Student Outcomes

These partnerships are not merely branding exercises — they are reflected in student achievements. BIS HCMC students have participated in international robotics competitions, performed in high-quality theatrical productions, and gone on to study at top arts and STEM universities worldwide. The integration of creative and technical disciplines across the curriculum reflects a genuine commitment to holistic, 21st-century education.

Community and Co-curricular Life

A Truly International Community

With students from 56 nationalities and over 2,300 learners across three campuses, BIS HCMC embodies the ideal of a globally minded school community. Families include long-term expatriate residents, diplomatic families, and a growing proportion of Vietnamese families seeking a world-class international education.

Over 100 Co-curricular Activities

BIS HCMC's co-curricular programme is one of the richest available at any international school in Vietnam. Over 100 CCAs are offered, spanning:

Sports: Football, volleyball, basketball, swimming (Barracudas Swim Squad), table tennis, badminton, gymnastics, netball, cross-country, athletics, triathlon, and even Quidditch.

Performing Arts: School productions, string orchestra, choir, dance, drama — all enhanced by the Juilliard partnership.

STEAM & Academic: Robotics Club (VEX competitive team), science clubs, Model United Nations (BISMUN), and design challenges informed by the MIT partnership.

Service & Leadership: Community service is embedded in the school culture. BIS HCMC collaborates with UNICEF on global citizenship projects, and students engage in local fundraising and environmental initiatives, including support for local animal shelters.

Wellbeing and Pastoral Care

The school invests significantly in student wellbeing. Multiple school counsellors are in residence across campuses, and the school's pastoral approach is informed by its Outstanding rating from British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections. Students feel safe, well cared for, and prepared for life in a constantly changing world.

Parent Engagement

BIS HCMC encourages strong parent involvement through regular events, parent-teacher meetings, and an active school community. The Nord Anglia Education network also provides families with access to a broader international community across 79 schools in 32 countries.