The short answer
Montenegro has a small but steadily growing education market, strongest in areas popular with expats and foreign buyers - Podgorica, Tivat / Porto Montenegro, Kotor and Budva. The public system is European-style and taught in Montenegrin, and is free for residents (including many foreign children with a residence permit).
For most foreign families the real decision is between free local public schools (Montenegrin language, full local integration) and tuition-based international schools (UK, US, IB, French or Russian-medium, taught in English or bilingually). Fees vary widely by school and level, and are best confirmed directly with each school. The densest choice is in Podgorica; the strongest coastal cluster is around Tivat and Porto Montenegro.
How the Montenegrin school system works
Montenegro follows a European-style structure with three main stages, and teaching in the public system is primarily in Montenegrin - a language very close to Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian. English is taught as a subject, but it is not the language of instruction in state schools.
- Compulsory education runs typically from age 6 to 15, covering primary and lower secondary through the osnovna škola (basic school).
- Upper secondary follows from about age 15 to 18, split between the general academic gymnasium and vocational schools.
- Language of instruction in public schools is Montenegrin, with English taught as a subject rather than the main medium.
Public schools are funded by the state and free for residents, including many foreign children once they hold a residence permit. In practice, though, expat families often prefer private or international schools to keep continuity with a UK, US or IB programme, or to study in Russian - which matters most when children may later transfer back home or on to another international school.
International & private schools by region
International and private schools cluster in four areas. Podgorica has the widest choice; the Tivat-Kotor bay is the core coastal cluster; and Budva adds British and IB options on the Riviera. Herceg Novi has no confirmed international school of its own. I do not publish fee figures here - schools revise them yearly, some quote in dollars, and several add registration, capital levies or boarding on top. Request the current schedule directly from each school.
Podgorica
Capital · largest choicePodgorica has the densest cluster of international and private schools and is the country's main education hub - the default for families who prioritise schooling choice and year-round infrastructure over a sea view.
QSI International School of Montenegro (QSIM) American · English
- Curriculum
- American-style, English-medium; accredited by the Middle States Association (MSA).
- Levels
- Preschool, elementary and secondary - PK-12.
- Fees
- On request. QSI publishes in US dollars, not euros, and the euro ranges circulating online understate the real cost - ask the school for the current schedule.
United Kids International Montenegro (UKIM) IB PYP · A-level
- Curriculum
- English-medium, ages 3-18; authorised IB World School for the Primary Years Programme since November 2024 - the authorisation covers PYP only, not MYP or the Diploma. Secondary leads to Pearson Edexcel International GCSEs and A-levels. The school states it is a Pearson Edexcel exam centre; it does not publish a centre number.
- Fees
- On request.
EFEP - French School in Podgorica French
- Curriculum
- French national curriculum with a European orientation. Around 80% of pupils are not native French speakers, so this is not a francophone-only school.
- Levels
- Primary through lower secondary on site. Seconde and Première are delivered by CNED distance learning and are not homologated; exams are sat in Belgrade. Check directly if this affects your child's university pathway.
- Language
- Taught in French; pupils do not need to be native French speakers to enrol.
The British Academy British · Cambridge
- Curriculum
- English-medium, UK-style day school (Cambridge, IGCSE, A-levels). It is the only English-medium day school in Podgorica; every other English-medium option is on the coast. It opened in September 2024, so no A-level cohort has graduated yet. The Romanovih 33 address distinguishes it from the London institution and from the Balkan language schools trading under the same name.
- Fees
- Not published. Request the current schedule directly from the school - I have not been able to verify a reliable public fee range.
Tivat · Kotor · Porto Montenegro
Coastal · strongest expat clusterThis is the core coastal cluster for international education, centred on Porto Montenegro marina and the Kotor-Tivat corridor - the primary draw for families buying across the wider bay, including Porto Montenegro, Luštica Bay and the Kotor Riviera.
Knightsbridge Schools International - Montenegro (KSI) Full IB World School
- Curriculum
- Full International Baccalaureate (IB) World School - offers PYP, MYP and DP (nursery to diploma).
- Levels
- Ages 3-18. Day throughout; boarding from age 11, charged separately.
- Fees
- On request. Tuition rises steeply from nursery to Diploma Programme, and boarding, registration and a capital levy are charged separately - confirm the current schedule with the school.
- Audience
- Popular with yacht / Porto Montenegro buyers, long-term expats and remote workers.
British International School - Arcadia Academy British · Cambridge
- Curriculum
- British, Cambridge International; offers A-levels. The school describes itself as the first Cambridge International School in Montenegro.
- Levels
- Ages 3-18.
- Fees
- Not published. The figures circulating online trace back to a 2020/21 fee sheet the school has since removed, so I do not quote them. Ask the school for the current schedule.
Budva · Herceg Novi · wider coast
Coastal · British & international optionsFewer international schools than Tivat or Podgorica, but real options exist in Budva - British and IB qualifications on the Riviera, within reach of resort buyers. Herceg Novi has no confirmed international school of its own.
Dukley Academy British curriculum
- Curriculum
- British curriculum taught in English. Officially approved Pearson Edexcel centre, leading to British qualifications. International teaching staff; all lessons in English.
- Levels
- Reception through secondary.
- Fees
- On request.
Adriatic College IB Diploma · Pearson · national curriculum
- Curriculum
- Three parallel routes. The Montenegrin national programme, taught in Russian, through Year 9. A Pearson Edexcel route taught in English, from iPrimary to International GCSE. And the IB Diploma, taught in English, for ages 16-19. The school's licence permits teaching in Montenegrin, Russian and English.
- Levels
- Ages 5-19. Preschool 5-6, primary 6-11, middle 11-16, IB Diploma 16-19. No provision for under-5s.
- Fees
- Published by the school; confirm the current year's schedule directly.
International school fees at a glance
| School | Area | Curriculum | Ages / levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| QSI (QSIM) | Podgorica | American · English | PK-12 |
| UKIM | Podgorica | English · IB PYP · Pearson Edexcel A-level | Ages 3-18 |
| EFEP | Podgorica | French-medium · open to non-native speakers | Primary-lower secondary; Seconde/Première via CNED* |
| British Academy | Podgorica | British · Cambridge | Reception through secondary |
| KSI Montenegro | Tivat / Porto | Full IB (PYP·MYP·DP) | Nursery through secondary |
| Arcadia Academy | Kotor / Tivat | British · Cambridge | Ages 3-18 |
| Dukley Academy | Budva | British | Reception through secondary |
| Adriatic College | Budva | IB Diploma · Pearson Edexcel · national | Ages 5-19 |
I no longer quote fee figures for any school here. Fees change yearly, some schools quote in US dollars, and extras such as registration, capital levies and boarding are charged on top - confirm the current schedule directly with each school.
*EFEP's Seconde and Première classes are delivered by CNED distance learning and are not homologated; exams are sat in Belgrade. Verify with the school how this fits your child's pathway.
Once you have picked a school from this table, the next question is where to live for that school run. That is the part I do: the areas that work, the real 8am drive, and what is on the market there now with asking prices. No fee.
Before you write to me, read who I am and how I work - then send me the school and I will come back with the shortlist.
Check any school yourself
These are the registers I use, and you can read them without asking me or the school.
- Licensed institutions in Montenegro - the Ministry's register of every licensed preschool, primary and secondary school in the country.
- School network map - every state school by municipality.
- IB World Schools - which schools are authorised, for which programmes, and since when.
- Pearson Edexcel centres - which schools can enter students for Edexcel exams.
- Cambridge International schools - find a Cambridge school.
- Recognition of a foreign school certificate - if your child transfers mid-year.
- Enrolment in a state school.
What foreign families ask most
From an expat and foreign-buyer perspective, the same handful of questions come up again and again. Here's what matters and what to plan for.
Language & curriculum continuity
The first question is usually whether the programme is UK, US, IB, French or Russian-medium (no school here teaches a Russian Federation curriculum) - and how easily a child can transfer back to their home system or on to another international school anywhere in the world. IB (KSI, Adriatic College IB Diploma) and Cambridge (Arcadia) are the most attractive for globally mobile families precisely because they are recognised worldwide.
School fees & total cost of education
Fees differ sharply by school and level, and I do not quote figures here - published ranges go stale quickly, some schools bill in US dollars, and the headline tuition is rarely the full cost. Beyond tuition, budget for registration, capital levies, boarding where offered, uniforms, transport and extracurricular activities.
Admissions & waiting lists
The top schools - especially in Tivat / Porto Montenegro and Podgorica - can carry waiting lists, and many sources advise applying 6-12 months in advance. Schools often request prior school records, vaccination documentation and a placement assessment, particularly for upper grades.
Transport & daily logistics
Families living in Budva but using Tivat / Kotor schools may face a 30-45 minute commute each way, longer in summer. For buyers eyeing more remote coastal spots, one of the biggest practical constraints is school accessibility in winter, when traffic and road conditions change. This is worth mapping before committing to a location.
Mixing public and private
Some families place younger children in international schools and older children in local gymnasiums once language allows - balancing integration and cost. Others do the reverse: local kindergarten first, then switch to an international primary or secondary. There's no single right pattern; it depends on the child's age, language, and how long the family plans to stay.
How schools shape where to buy
If you're relocating with children, it often helps to read Montenegro's regions through an “education lens.” Here's how the main areas compare when schooling is part of the decision.
Podgorica
Tivat · Porto Montenegro · Kotor
Budva
Herceg Novi · Portonovi
Frequently asked questions
What language are schools taught in in Montenegro?
Public schools teach primarily in Montenegrin, which is very close to Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian. English is taught as a subject but is not the main language of instruction. International and private schools teach mainly in English, with one French-medium option in Podgorica that enrols a large share of non-native French speakers.
How much do international schools in Montenegro cost?
Schools set and revise their own fees, and several do not publish them, so I do not quote ranges here - the numbers circulating online are often out of date or in the wrong currency. Ask each school for its current schedule, and budget separately for registration, capital levies, boarding where offered, uniforms, transport and extracurriculars.
Are public schools in Montenegro free for foreign children?
Yes. Public schools are funded by the state and free for residents, including many foreign children once they hold a residence permit. Teaching is in Montenegrin, so many expat families still prefer international schools for curriculum continuity.
Which town has the most international schools?
Podgorica, the capital, has the densest cluster of international and private schools and is the main education hub. The Tivat-Kotor coastal area (around Porto Montenegro) is the strongest coastal cluster, home to IB and British schools.
Where are the IB (International Baccalaureate) schools?
The main IB World Schools are Knightsbridge Schools International (KSI) at Porto Montenegro in Tivat - offering PYP, MYP and DP - and Adriatic College in Budva, which offers the IB Diploma for ages 16-19. United Kids International in Podgorica has been authorised for the Primary Years Programme since November 2024. The IB transfers worldwide, which is why it appeals to globally mobile families.
Is there a British curriculum school in Montenegro?
Yes, several. British International School - Arcadia Academy, between Kotor and Tivat, follows the Cambridge International curriculum and offers A-levels. In Podgorica, The British Academy on Romanovih 33 is the capital's only English-medium British day school; it opened in September 2024, so no A-level cohort has graduated yet. In Budva, Dukley Academy teaches the British curriculum in English as an approved Pearson Edexcel centre, and Adriatic College offers Pearson Edexcel qualifications from iPrimary to International GCSE alongside the IB Diploma.
How far in advance should you apply?
Top schools in Tivat/Porto Montenegro and Podgorica can have waiting lists, so many sources advise applying 6 to 12 months in advance. Schools often request prior school records, vaccination documentation and a placement assessment, especially for upper grades.
Can children commute from the coast to Podgorica?
It's possible but demanding: the coast-to-Podgorica commute can be 1 to 1.5 hours each way in high season. Most families either live in or near Podgorica, or use coastal schools. Within the coast, Budva to a Tivat/Kotor school is roughly a 30-45 minute drive, longer in summer.
Tell me the school, I'll tell you where to live
Send me the school you've picked, or your children's ages if you're still choosing. I come back with the areas that work for that school run, the real 8am drive, and what's on the market there right now with asking prices. No fee.
Homes near the strongest school clusters: Boka Place, Tivat and Vero Residences, Porto Montenegro (KSI on site), Centrale, Luštica Bay and Heights, Luštica Bay (Tivat schools, 20-25 minutes), Pelinovo, Budva (Dukley Academy and Adriatic College).