What age range of students does IICS enroll?
IICS provides education for expat children from 3 years old through 18 years old. Please visit our Admissions section for detailed information.
Does IICS accept Turkish students?
IICS is an international school that can only legally accept foreign students. All students MUST hold a non-Turkish passport to be eligible for admission.
What nationalities are IICS students?
IICS welcomes students from around the world. Our students and our staff currently come from approximately 45 different countries. Each year the mix of nationalities changes and we welcome the diversity that this brings. For the 2009-2010 school year, the distribution of student nationalities was as follows:
Does IICS accept students who don’t speak English?
IICS is an international school with a history of offering a rigorous and caring program for language learners. Many students attending IICS are not native English speakers, though many speak two or even three languages.
IICS offers English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESL) for students who have not yet mastered English.
Students are accepted into IICS with little or no English from Preschool up to and including Year 8. After this, students are tested to see if, with ESL support, they will be able to meet the expectations of the IB Diploma Programme. Please visit the IICS ESL site for additional information.
Does IICS offer counseling for students with special needs?
IICS has Special Needs Counselors for both the Primary School and Secondary School and can provide limited assistance. Details about our counseling program can be found here. In the best interest of the child, parents who are aware of or who suspect that their child has special needs should make the school aware of this during the application process to ensure your child’s needs can be met.
Is IICS an American school?
IICS is an international school, not an American school. IICS is one of the oldest international schools in the world. IICS was originally founded by Robert College as Robert College Community School (RCCS) in 1911 in order to provide an education for the children of Robert College’s foreign professors. As the school’s mission and scope broadened and changed, IICS eventually began to include Istanbul’s entire expat student population and provide an international curriculum. Though Robert College is an American institution, IICS remains international in philosophy and curriculum.
What kind of curriculum does IICS provide?
IICS provides all three of International Baccalaureate's (IB) programs: the Primary Years (preschool-grade 6), the Middle Years (grades 7-10) and the Diploma (grades 11-12). IICS is fully authorized for all 3 IB programs. The curriculum is international in nature and is designed to provide students with a sound educational foundation for attending university outside of Turkey.
IICS’ latest IB review for renewal of its IB authorization was successfully completed in 2007. View comments from the IB Visiting Team here.
Is IICS an accredited school?
IICS is globally accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). It is the only PK-12 international school in Istanbul globally accredited by these agencies.
IICS’ latest accreditation review by CIS and NEASC was successfully completed in 2008.
What are the school hours?
The school hours for students for the 2010-2011 school year are as follows:
Marmara Campus
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 08:30-15:00
Tuesday: 08:30-14:30
Hisar Campus
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 08:30-15:30
Tuesday: 08:30-13:30
The shorter day on Tuesdays is due to weekly faculty meetings.
Does IICS provide boarding facilities?
At this time IICS does not offer boarding options.
Where is IICS located?
The School is located on 2 campuses. The main, purpose-built Marmara campus (PK-grade 12) is 25 miles west of the city center amid rolling hills, overlooking a large lake.
Facilities at the Marmara Campus include a completely automated and newly expanded library with computer stations, a double gymnasium, a multipurpose sports salon, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, a natural grass soccer pitch with running track, spacious playgrounds, three computer labs, three science labs, a design technology lab, a theatre, an outside amphitheatre, a new visual arts building, music rooms and music practice rooms, large classrooms, a newly constructed early childhood center for Preschool and Prep classes, a centrally located college counseling office, a secondary student lounge, and a restaurant with panoramic view all situated on a 160,000m² (16 hectare) campus.
The smaller Hisar Campus (PK-grade 3) is part of the school's original grounds from its inception in 1911. Located in a wooded, historic neighborhood in Bebek near the Bosphorus, the Hisar campus is situated in a beautiful, mature garden overlooking the Hisar castle ramparts with a traditional villa surrounded by modern classroom buildings. The cozy setting at Hisar is inviting and comforting for young learners. Facilities at Hisar include a library and modern computer lab, a large PE and music room, a basketball court rubberized for safety, a climbing wall, and plenty of outdoor space for children at play.
Does IICS provide transportation to and from school?
Most IICS students (approximately 80%) choose to come to school via the bus service coordinated by the school, while others are brought to school by their parents or drivers. For detailed information on transportation, please click here.
IICS also provides transportation for students who engage in the school’s numerous co-curricular activities after school.