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What is the IB?

The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) is based in Geneva Switzerland and Cardiff Wales. The IB offers high quality programmes of international education to a worldwide community of schools. The total number of IB World schools: 3,000 schools in over 130 countries. The IB website has more information: www.ibo.org

There are 136 schools worldwide that offer all three IB programmes. ISU was authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme for Pre-School to Grade 5, the Middle Years Programme for Grades 6-10, and the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11-12 in 2002.

So, not only is ISU among 5% of IB schools worldwide that offer all three IB programmes, but we also have five years of experience to offer our students.

ISU is expensive in relation to other schools in Mongolia - why?

We are a non-profit organization – we are not a private business that makes money out of tuition fees.

All of our money is spent on ISU facilities and resources. We receive some funding from the US Government, because we are the only international school recognized by the US State Department in Mongolia, but all of our income comes from tuition fees. We then spend our income on:

1. paying for internationally qualified and experienced teachers to come and live in Mongolia and teach students, guaranteeing high quality English language instruction,
2. building the new school and improving facilities for the students, as well as maintenance of the facilities
3. ensuring that all of our teachers are trained in the IBO programmes and the latest educational research through professional development
4. membership of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), accrediting agencies (CIS, NEASC), and various other international organizations that recognize accredited schools (EARCOS, ACAMIS, AISH, AAIE etc)
5. and the administrative costs of running an internationally accredited school.

We are an open and financially transparent school meeting international accounting standards, our accounts are audited and presented to our members at the Annual Meeting of our Assocation.

I have included a table that summarises the tuition fees from selected IB schools in the Asia Pacific region so that you can compare ISU tuition fees with other similar schools.

If ISU is a non-profit organization, then who owns your school? 

No one individual owns the school. The parents, by enrolling their children at ISU, become members of the International School of Ulaanbaatar Association. This Association elects a Board of Trustees for ISU at the Annual meeting each year. The Board of Trustees ensure the long term vision and financial sustainability of the school and they also appoint a Director to run the school.

What foreign languages do you teach at ISU?

All instruction in the school is in English, with the exception of foreign languages. Therefore students whose first language is not English, and applying for entry to the school must sit an English language proficiency test before the admissions interview. Grade placement is partially determined by this test. Secondary students (Grades 6-12) applying for entry must have sufficient English language ability to cope with the academic level they are applying for.

It is vitally important for English language acquisition that students have a strong first language and therefore we offer Korean and Mongolian from Grades 9-12 to first language Korean/Mongolian speakers. This enhances their success in obtaining the IB Diploma (Grade 11-12) and also the IB MYP certificate (Grades 9-10).

Mongolian language and culture is offered from Kindergarten to Grade 5, to all native speakers and also second language Mongolian speakers through differentiated instruction in the classroom.

From Grades 6-12 we offer French, Mongolian and Chinese as second languages.

If we want to find out more about ISU, how do we do this? 

Please look at our website: www.isumongolia.edu.mn as this gives parents/students a taste of what we can offer them, plus lots of information on Admissions procedures and different additional activities/opportunities we offer.

Alternatively, you can come to school and make an appointment with the Receptionist for a School tour, and obtain an Admissions Package. School tours will be run regularly throughout the school year and prior booking will be required.