Dulwich College Yangon

A Tale of Two Campuses

Dulwich College Yangon's physical environment is one of its most distinctive features. Across two campuses in different parts of Yangon, the school offers an impressive breadth of facilities rarely found in international schools of comparable size.

Pun Hlaing Campus (Western Yangon)

Located in Hlaing Tharyar Township, the Pun Hlaing campus occupies 12 acres of a golf estate. Key features include:

• 25-metre swimming pool
• Science and ICT laboratories
• Library and resource centre
• Black-box theatre (approx. 350 seats)
• Gymnasium and sports grounds
• Dedicated year-group buildings and a middle school block

This campus opened in August 2016 and serves students from Early Years through to the upper school years. It is approximately 45 minutes by car from central Yangon.

Star City Campus (South-East Yangon)

Situated in Thanlyin Township, the Star City campus covers 20 acres and is the larger of the two sites. Highlights include:

• 50-metre (Olympic-size) outdoor swimming pool
• Indoor gymnasium
• Football and rugby pitches
• All-weather fitness facilities
• Science laboratories, design studios, and a library
• Performing arts theatre
• Boarding accommodation (for students aged 11–15)

The campus is located approximately 30 minutes south-east of Yangon city centre and opened in August 2017.

A Shared Vision of Excellence

Both campuses were developed as part of the US$30 million investment by Dulwich College International and Yoma Strategic Holdings. The facilities were designed to meet international standards from the outset, with plans for additional development including a planned 500-seat performing arts centre. Together, the campuses create a learning environment that supports not only rigorous academics but also a vibrant community life — from competitive swimming to theatrical performance.

A Clear Academic Pathway

Dulwich College Yangon offers a coherent, British-aligned academic pathway from Early Years through to university preparation:

• Early Years / DUCKS (ages 2–5): Play-based learning grounded in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
• Junior School (Years 1–6): Enhanced English National Curriculum covering core and specialist subjects
• Middle School (Years 7–9): Continued English National Curriculum with increasing subject breadth
• Senior School – IGCSE (Years 10–11): Cambridge IGCSE examinations across a range of subjects
• Sixth Form – IB Diploma (Years 12–13): International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, preparing students for top universities worldwide

Subjects Offered

The curriculum at DCY is broad and balanced. Subjects include:

• Core: English Language & Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• Humanities: History, Geography, Cultural Studies, Myanmar Studies
• Languages: Mandarin Chinese, French, Myanmar Language
• Creative Arts: Art & Design, Drama, Music
• Technology: Computing, Design & Technology
• Physical Education

Selective but Supportive

DCY is described as academically selective, meaning students are admitted on the basis of academic aptitude. However, the school also provides EAL (English as an Additional Language) support to assist international students who are building English proficiency alongside their academic studies.

IGCSE and IB Launch

In 2020, DCY announced the formal launch of its IGCSE and IB Diploma programmes, marking a significant milestone in the school's maturation. A key appointment was made in partnership with a 2020 global award-winning educator to lead this expansion. This development positioned DCY as the only school in Myanmar offering both the full British curriculum progression and the International Baccalaureate — a powerful combination for families planning university applications to top institutions worldwide.

Community and Context

Dulwich College Yangon occupies a distinctive position in Myanmar's education landscape — serving an internationally diverse community in a city undergoing significant economic and social transformation.

Who Attends DCY?

DCY primarily serves expatriate families working in Yangon across industries such as finance, energy, NGOs, and diplomatic missions, alongside children of Myanmar's growing professional class. The school's founding cohort comprised students from 12 nationalities, and the community continues to reflect Yangon's cosmopolitan character.

Scale and Intimacy

With an estimated combined enrolment of approximately 530 students across two campuses (~200 at Pun Hlaing, ~330 at Star City), DCY is a relatively small school by international standards. This scale is widely regarded as a strength — fostering close relationships between students, teachers, and families, and ensuring that every child is known and valued.

Boarding Community (Star City)

The Star City campus uniquely offers boarding provision for students in the Senior School (ages 11–15), making DCY accessible to families who are not permanently based in Yangon, or for older students who benefit from the structure of a residential school experience.

DCI Global Network

Being part of the Dulwich College International network connects DCY students and families to a global community of schools across Asia and beyond. This network facilitates student exchanges, joint events, and shared educational resources — broadening students' horizons beyond Myanmar.

Admissions Contact and Access

For families wishing to explore a place at DCY, the admissions contact is Jocelyn Dong ([email protected], +95 9 409 607 479). Both campuses accept rolling applications across the academic year.

Origins and Rapid Growth

Dulwich College International (DCI) announced its entry into Myanmar in April 2016, making Dulwich College Yangon (DCY) one of the first major British international school groups to establish a presence in the country. The move was facilitated through a strategic partnership with Yoma Strategic Holdings, a prominent Myanmar conglomerate.

Two Campuses from the Start

Uniquely, DCY was conceived as a two-campus institution from inception:

• Pun Hlaing Campus – Opened August 2016 in the western Yangon suburb of Hlaing Tharyar Township, on a 12-acre estate (formerly Pun Hlaing International School). This campus serves Early Years through to the upper school.
• Star City Campus – Opened 21 August 2017 in Thanlyin Township (south-east Yangon), on a 20-acre site (formerly British College Yangon). This campus also hosts the school's boarding provision for students aged 11–15.

Investment and Facilities

An investment of approximately US$30 million was committed across both campuses, delivering facilities described as state-of-the-art, including:

• 25m and 50m (Olympic-size) swimming pools
• Science and technology laboratories
• Drama and performing arts theatres (including a 350-seat black-box theatre)
• Art and design studios, libraries, and sports fields

Growing Year by Year

DCY adopted a phased academic model, adding one year group annually from its founding cohort. The school has been building toward a full complement from Early Years (age 2) through to Year 13 (age 18), with IGCSE in Years 10–11 and IB Diploma in Years 12–13. The founding headmaster was Daryl Orchard, and the inaugural cohort comprised students from 12 nationalities, reflecting an international community from day one.

Network Context

DCY sits within the global DCI network, which itself is affiliated with Dulwich College London — one of the UK's most distinguished independent schools, founded in 1619. This heritage underpins DCY's educational ethos, combining over 400 years of British academic tradition with a modern international perspective suited to Yangon's growing expatriate and professional community.

A Philosophy Rooted in Dulwich Tradition

At the heart of Dulwich College Yangon's educational approach is a simple but powerful commitment: students come first. This is not merely a slogan but a guiding principle that shapes curriculum design, pastoral care, and community culture.

Core Belief

The school's stated mission encapsulates its philosophy:

"Our students come first. We believe in inspiring the children of today to become confident global citizens who have the courage and integrity to seize life's opportunities."

This philosophy draws directly from the Dulwich College International ethos, which blends the rigour of the British academic tradition with an internationally minded, values-driven approach to education.

Key Philosophical Pillars

• Global Citizenship – Students are encouraged to see themselves as members of a wider world, fostering intercultural understanding and empathy across the school's multinational community.
• Courage and Integrity – Beyond academic achievement, DCY emphasises character development, with courage and integrity identified as core values that guide student behaviour and aspiration.
• Holistic Development – The school recognises that education extends beyond the classroom, investing in arts, sports, and co-curricular activities as essential to a well-rounded education.
• Individual Care – DCY emphasises that every child is known, valued and cared for, reflecting a pastoral culture that prioritises the wellbeing of each student within a small-school community.

Academic Rigour Within a Nurturing Environment

DCY follows the Enhanced English National Curriculum, providing a structured, academically demanding pathway. The school is academically selective, ensuring that students are well-matched to the curriculum's expectations. At the same time, the pastoral structures and EAL (English as an Additional Language) support mean that international students transitioning into an English-medium environment receive meaningful assistance.

This balance — between high academic standards and genuine student care — is perhaps the defining characteristic of the DCY educational philosophy.