Boarding Schools in Selangor 2026
Selangor hosts two boarding schools running British curriculum and Cambridge IGCSE programmes, both as weekly-boarding complements to day enrolment. The principal options are Tenby International School Setia EcoHill (Semenyih) and Sri KDU International School (Subang Jaya). Annual fees (boarding plus tuition) range from RM 50,000 to RM 120,000.
Selangor sits at the centre of the Klang Valley conurbation, with the densest concentration of international and private day schools in Malaysia. The state does not host a flagship full-boarding institution in the same league as Marlborough College Malaysia (Johor) or Epsom and KTJ (Negeri Sembilan), but two Klang Valley international schools have built weekly and flexi-boarding programmes serving outstation Malaysian families, regional expatriates, and parents whose work or travel schedules push beyond the daily commute window. This day-school-plus-boarding hybrid is the distinctive Selangor model. For the deep curriculum and admissions framework, see the boarding schools in Malaysia guide.
What are the top boarding schools in Selangor?
Two schools form the principal Selangor boarding shortlist, both running weekly boarding as the default residential mode.
Tenby International School Setia EcoHill at Semenyih is the larger of the two Selangor boarding campuses by residential capacity. Part of the Tenby Schools network (which runs five Malaysian campuses), the Setia EcoHill site delivers the English National Curriculum from Early Years through Year 13, with Cambridge IGCSE at Years 10 to 11 and Cambridge A-Levels at Years 12 to 13. Weekly boarding runs Monday to Friday, with a flexi-boarding option priced per night for ad-hoc stays. Day tuition sits in the mid tier at RM 22,000 to RM 45,000 per year.
Sri KDU International School at Subang Jaya is one of the most-cited British-aligned day schools in Selangor, with a smaller weekly boarding cohort opening from Year 7. The campus runs the English National Curriculum with Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels. The Sri KDU group also operates the Sekolah Menengah Sri KDU Malaysian-curriculum sister school on the same Subang Jaya site, though that programme is day-only.
Premium British boarding schools in Selangor
Sri KDU International School anchors the premium British weekly-boarding tier in Selangor. The Subang Jaya campus follows the English National Curriculum, with UK house system, prefect roles, and pastoral structures common to British-aligned schools. Day tuition runs RM 35,000 to RM 70,000 per year, with the weekly boarding supplement adding RM 30,000 to RM 50,000 for a total all-in cost of around RM 65,000 to RM 120,000. Sri KDU holds Cambridge Pathways accreditation. The Tenby Schools network campus at Setia EcoHill sits at a more affordable mid-tier price point but with comparable Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level pathways. Several other Selangor international schools (Garden, BSKL, Alice Smith) sit nearby on the Klang Valley map but are day-only without a boarding option.
International boarding schools in Selangor
Beyond the British-curriculum boarding tier, the Selangor international schools sector is largely day-only. Day-school international options in Selangor that families sometimes weigh against weekly boarding include Tenby International School Tropicana Aman (Telok Panglima Garang, day-only), Tenby International School Setia Eco Park (Shah Alam, day-only), Sekolah Rendah Sri KDU (the primary feeder, day-only), Fairview International School Subang Jaya (IB Primary Years Programme, day-only), and Reigate Grammar International School Malaysia (Seri Kembangan, day-only). Families based outside the Klang Valley who want British-curriculum boarding typically extend their shortlist into Negeri Sembilan (Epsom, KTJ, Adcote) given the one-hour drive radius.
Boarding school fees in Selangor
Total annual cost at a Selangor boarding school for 2026 ranges from around RM 50,000 to RM 120,000 depending on school and boarding format. Component breakdown: Tenby International School Setia EcoHill runs RM 22,000 to RM 45,000 day, plus RM 25,000 to RM 35,000 weekly boarding supplement (total RM 50,000 to RM 80,000). Sri KDU International School runs RM 35,000 to RM 70,000 day, plus RM 30,000 to RM 50,000 weekly boarding supplement (total RM 65,000 to RM 120,000).
Capital and enrolment fees range from RM 5,000 to RM 25,000 one-time. Cambridge examination entry fees run RM 200 to RM 900 per IGCSE or A-Level subject. Boarding deposits run one to two months of boarding fee, refundable on exit. Flexi-boarding ad-hoc nights typically price RM 200 to RM 500 per night. SST at 6 percent applies to tuition above RM 60,000. See international school fees in Malaysia for the full breakdown.
How to apply to a Selangor boarding school
Application to Tenby Setia EcoHill or Sri KDU follows a four-step process. First, submit the application form with the last two years of school reports, English-language proficiency evidence (CEFR B1 or above for Year 7 entry, B2 or above for sixth form), and a personal statement. Second, complete the school placement assessment in English, Mathematics, and sometimes Science (delivered online or onsite at the Klang Valley campus). Third, attend a parent and student interview at the campus, plus a separate boarding interview if applying for boarding from outset. Fourth, on offer acceptance, the school processes the EMGS student-pass application for non-Malaysian students (3 to 4 months).
Both schools run a principal September intake. Mid-year entry is accepted subject to space and a placement assessment, with the next term-start as the practical effective date for non-Malaysian students given the student-pass timeline. Apply 6 to 12 months ahead. For broader admissions criteria across all Malaysian boarding schools, see the boarding schools in Malaysia guide.
Related boarding school resources for Selangor
- Boarding schools in Malaysia by state: Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, and the full state directory
- Boarding schools in Malaysia guide: curriculum, admissions, student-pass, EAL support
- Best international schools in Malaysia: ranked shortlist across all curricula
- British curriculum schools in Malaysia: the curriculum framework anchoring Sri KDU and Tenby
- Cambridge IGCSE in Malaysia: the Years 10 to 11 qualification at both Selangor boarding schools
- A-Level schools and colleges in Malaysia: the Years 12 to 13 pathway at Sri KDU sixth form
- International schools in Selangor: day-school directory for the same state
Frequently asked questions about boarding schools in Selangor
Does Selangor have boarding schools?
Selangor does not host a flagship full-boarding institution in the same league as Marlborough (Johor) or Epsom and KTJ (Negeri Sembilan), but two Klang Valley international schools offer weekly or flexi boarding alongside their core day-school enrolment. Tenby International School Setia EcoHill at Semenyih is the principal Selangor weekly-boarding option, running Cambridge IGCSE at affordable mid-tier fees. Sri KDU International School at Subang Jaya offers a smaller weekly boarding cohort serving outstation Malaysian families and expatriates based outside the immediate Klang Valley commute. Both schools position boarding as a day-school complement rather than a full residential programme.
How much does weekly boarding cost in Selangor?
Weekly boarding in Selangor adds RM 25,000 to RM 50,000 per year on top of standard day tuition, for a total annual cost ranging from RM 50,000 to RM 120,000 depending on school. Tenby International School Setia EcoHill at Semenyih runs day tuition of around RM 22,000 to RM 45,000 with a weekly boarding supplement adding RM 25,000 to RM 35,000 (total roughly RM 50,000 to RM 80,000 all-in). Sri KDU International School at Subang Jaya day tuition runs RM 35,000 to RM 70,000 with weekly boarding supplement around RM 30,000 to RM 50,000 (total roughly RM 65,000 to RM 120,000). Both schools also offer flexi boarding by the night for ad-hoc overnight stays.
What's the difference between weekly boarding and full boarding?
Weekly boarding means the student lives at the school Monday to Friday and returns home on weekends, while full boarding means the student lives at the school throughout the term, returning home only at half-term and end-of-term breaks. Weekly boarding suits families based within 2 to 4 hours' drive of the school who want the academic week structured around school but maintain family routines on weekends; full boarding suits families based outside Malaysia or in distant states (East Malaysia, north Peninsular) where weekly return is impractical. Selangor's two boarding options (Tenby Semenyih, Sri KDU) run weekly as the default, with flexi options for ad-hoc nights. The full-boarding model in Malaysia is concentrated at Marlborough (Johor), Epsom, KTJ, Adcote (Negeri Sembilan), and Shattuck-St. Mary's (Johor).
Can my child board at Sri KDU?
Sri KDU International School at Subang Jaya offers a weekly boarding programme as a complement to its primary day-school enrolment, with boarding houses opening from Year 7 (age 11). The Sri KDU boarding cohort is significantly smaller than the day enrolment, with capacity capped to maintain pastoral oversight. Boarding admissions runs through the same application channel as day enrolment, with an additional boarding interview and a small boarding deposit. Sri KDU runs Cambridge IGCSE at Years 10 to 11 and A-Levels at Years 12 to 13. Families considering Sri KDU boarding typically come from outstation Malaysian (Penang, Johor, East Malaysia) or expatriate (Singapore, Indonesia, Korea) backgrounds where the Subang Jaya location places the school inside a reasonable weekly-return radius.
How do I apply to a Selangor boarding school?
Application to Tenby Setia EcoHill or Sri KDU follows the standard Malaysian international boarding pathway. Submit the application form with the last two years of school reports, English-language proficiency evidence (CEFR B1 or above for Year 7 entry, B2 or above for sixth form), and a personal statement. Complete a school placement assessment in English, Mathematics, and sometimes Science. Attend a parent and student interview at the campus, plus a separate boarding interview if applying for boarding from outset. On offer acceptance, the school processes the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) student-pass application for non-Malaysian students (3 to 4 months). Both schools accept mid-year entry subject to space, though September is the principal intake. Apply 6 to 12 months ahead of the intended boarding start.