International Schools in Mauritius

International schools in Mauritius give expat families several clear pathways, including French-programme schools, English-medium schools and International Baccalaureate options. The right choice depends on your child’s age, language level, expected length of stay and where you plan to live on the island.

This article gives a practical overview of international schools in Mauritius, including curriculum, location, age range, fees, admissions and a few points worth checking before you apply.

How to Choose the Right School in Mauritius

Before comparing schools, start with the questions that matter most for your family. Curriculum is usually the first one. Some families want continuity with the French system, others prefer a British pathway, and others look for the flexibility of the IB. Mauritius offers all three, but not every school covers every stage from early years to the end of secondary school.

Language also matters. If your child is already in a French school abroad, a French-programme school may make the transition easier. If your family is more comfortable in English, an English-medium school may be more suitable. Some French schools on the island also place a strong emphasis on English, which can be useful for internationally mobile families.

Location matters more than many families expect. International schools are mainly concentrated in Curepipe, Moka, Mapou, Cascavelle and Tamarin. That means your school shortlist often influences where you choose to live, especially if you want to avoid long daily journeys.

For families comparing school access with daily life, it is also useful to look at property options in the Central Plateau, on the North Coast and on the West Coast.

International Schools in Mauritius by Curriculum

French-programme schools in Mauritius

If you want a French academic pathway, Mauritius has several established options.

Lycée La Bourdonnais is one of the best-known French-programme schools on the island. Based in Curepipe, it offers a continuous pathway from ages 5 to 18, from primary through to the baccalauréat.
Les Petits Futés, École du Centre, Collège Pierre Poivre and Lycée des Mascareignes form a strong Moka pathway. École du Centre states that pupils can complete their schooling from age 3 to the bac on the same site, while Lycée des Mascareignes covers the secondary years up to the baccalauréat.
École du Nord in Mapou welcomes pupils aged 3 to 15, from nursery to lower secondary. The school highlights its enhanced English provision within a French framework, and its own materials explain that students typically continue their lycée years at Lycée des Mascareignes.
École Paul et Virginie in Tamarin is a French pre-primary and elementary school that welcomes children from kindergarten to CM2. It also presents a personalised support structure for some pupils through its EAC programme.
École de l’Ouest is a newer French-programme primary school serving families on the west coast. For buyers or relocating families looking specifically at the west, it is worth checking directly how its age coverage and development align with your needs.

English-medium and IB schools in Mauritius

For families looking for English-medium teaching or globally recognised qualifications such as IGCSE and the IB Diploma, Mauritius also offers several strong options.

Northfields provides an IB Primary Years Programme in its primary school and a secondary pathway that includes MYP, IGCSE and the IB Diploma. It is one of the more comprehensive English-medium international options on the island.
Le Bocage International School in Moka focuses on secondary education and offers the IB Middle Years Programme, the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme, with BTEC integrated into the CP pathway.
Clavis International Primary School is an English-medium primary school for children aged 3 to 11 and offers the IB Primary Years Programme. It now operates in both Moka and Beau Champ, which may matter for families deciding between central and east-coast living.
Westcoast International Primary School in Cascavelle is an English-medium primary school built around the International Primary Curriculum. Westcoast International Secondary School continues the pathway on the west coast and offers secondary education with IGCSE and the IB Diploma.
Telfair International Academy in Tamarin follows the British curriculum and offers schooling from 3 months to 15 years. The school also presents The Bridge as a support programme for pupils who need additional guidance or specialist attention.

Fees Admissions and Budgeting

School fees in Mauritius vary significantly depending on the school, age group and sometimes the student’s status. Several schools publish detailed fee schedules directly on their sites, which is a useful reminder that families should always work from the current year’s official schedule rather than from general estimates.

Before applying, it is worth checking a few practical points carefully:

whether there are registration or first-enrolment fees
whether any of those fees are refundable
whether assessments are required
whether transport, meals, uniforms, books or activities are billed separately
how the payment calendar works across the school year

Admissions processes also vary. Some schools ask for observations or placement steps for younger children, while others require formal entrance assessments for certain year groups or for students joining from a different system.

Practical Tips Before You Apply

Try to visit schools in person whenever possible. A prospectus can tell you the curriculum, but it will not tell you how the school feels, how the campus works at drop-off time, or whether the atmosphere suits your child.

Check the age range carefully. Some schools offer a full journey from early years into secondary, while others stop at primary or lower secondary. This matters if you want continuity rather than another school change a few years later.

Ask about transport early. At least some schools do not run transport directly and instead share contacts for private providers. That can affect both cost and daily logistics, especially if you live outside the main school catchment areas.

Do not assume all school calendars follow the same rhythm. Published calendars show that some French-programme schools start the academic year in late August, while some English-medium schools operate on a calendar-year structure with separate term dates. Always confirm the current timetable directly with the school.

A practical starting point for relocating families

For many families, schooling is one of the key factors shaping where they choose to live in Mauritius. Looking at schools first often makes the property search easier, especially if you want to balance commute, daily routine and long-term family plans.

If you are comparing areas in Mauritius with schooling in mind, the next step is usually to shortlist both neighbourhoods and schools together rather than treating them as separate decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What language do international schools in Mauritius teach in?

French-programme schools teach mainly in French, while British and IB schools teach mainly in English. Some schools also place particular emphasis on bilingual development or strengthened English provision.

Can my child transfer between schools in Mauritius?

Yes, but it is usually easier within the same curriculum. Moving from one system to another may require an assessment, a review of past reports or extra support.

Do schools provide transport?

Some do not operate transport directly and instead provide contacts for private transport companies. It is worth asking this early in the process.

Can a child join mid-year?

That depends on the school, year group and available places. Families relocating to Mauritius should contact admissions teams as early as possible, especially where waiting lists apply.

What should families check before applying?

At minimum, check the curriculum, age coverage, language of instruction, admissions process, fee schedule, school calendar and transport arrangements. Those are the points most likely to affect day-to-day family life after relocation.

Sources

This article is provided for general information only. School age ranges, curricula, fees, admissions requirements, support services and academic calendars can change. Families should confirm all current details directly with each school before making any education or relocation decision.