Islamic Schools in Malaysia 2026
9 Islamic international schools and 6 Islamic-leaning private national schools in Malaysia for 2026. Cambridge IGCSE plus Islamic Studies, Quran, and Arabic instruction. Annual fees RM 12,000 to RM 50,000.
How many Islamic international schools are there in Malaysia?
Malaysia has 9 registered Islamic international schools for 2026: International Islamic School (IIS) Gombak, IISM Kuantan, Idrissi (Iskandar Puteri + Shah Alam campuses), Brainy Bunch (Gombak + Cyberjaya campuses), Seven Skies Shah Alam, Iqra' Kota Bharu, and SRI Bestari International. All combine Cambridge IGCSE curriculum with Islamic Studies, Quran instruction, and Arabic language as core subjects. Annual fees range from RM 12,000 (IISM Kuantan, Brainy Bunch Gombak) to RM 50,000 (Idrissi, SRI Bestari International) per year. Alongside these are 6 Islamic-leaning private national-curriculum (KSSR/KSSM) schools serving the SPM pathway at lower fee points.
Islamic International Schools in Malaysia (9 schools)
Cambridge IGCSE curriculum combined with Islamic Studies, Quran, and Arabic instruction. Suitable for Muslim families wanting global academic recognition alongside Islamic religious instruction.
Islamic-leaning Malaysian-curriculum Private Schools (6 schools)
Following the Malaysian National Curriculum (KSSR for primary, KSSM for secondary, leading to SPM at Form 5) with Islamic Studies integration. Lower fee point than international Islamic schools, suitable for families on the SPM pathway.
What Islamic international schools teach
Malaysian Islamic international schools deliver the standard Cambridge International curriculum alongside Islamic Studies as a core integrated subject. The typical timetable structure:
- Core Cambridge subjects — English, Mathematics, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Humanities (History, Geography), ICT, Art, Physical Education. Taught in English to Cambridge IGCSE standards.
- Islamic Studies (Pendidikan Islam) — Aqidah, Fiqh, Akhlaq, Sirah, Quranic studies. Typically 4 to 8 periods per week.
- Quran and Tahfiz — Recitation, memorisation, and tafsir. Some schools (Iqra' Kota Bharu, selected Idrissi tracks) offer dedicated Tahfiz streams alongside academic IGCSE.
- Arabic language — Modern Standard Arabic taught as a foreign language. Cambridge IGCSE Arabic available as a subject choice at most Islamic international schools.
- Bahasa Melayu — Mandatory for Malaysian-citizen students at all international schools under KPM regulation.
At Year 11, students sit the Cambridge IGCSE examinations. Pre-university options vary by school: Cambridge A-Levels at sixth form, the IB Diploma Programme, or alternatively the Malaysian SPM examination at selected schools that maintain a dual-pathway option.
Islamic schools by region
- Selangor (largest concentration, 6 Islamic international schools): IIS Gombak (Gombak), International Islamic School Gombak, Brainy Bunch International Islamic Montessori Gombak, Brainy Bunch Islamic International School Cyberjaya, Idrissi Shah Alam, Seven Skies Shah Alam, SRI Bestari International Bandar Sri Damansara. Klang Valley families have the broadest curriculum and fee-tier choice.
- Johor: Idrissi International School Iskandar Puteri. The principal Islamic international school in southern Malaysia, with cross-border family intake from Singapore.
- Pahang: International Islamic School Malaysia (IISM) Kuantan. The principal East Coast Islamic international school, lower fee tier than Klang Valley equivalents.
- Kelantan: Iqra' International School Kota Bharu. The principal Islamic international school in Malaysia's most Muslim-majority state. Offers Tahfiz integration stream.
Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak currently have no dedicated Islamic international schools, though several Malaysian-curriculum private schools in these states incorporate strong Islamic Studies content. Families in these states needing Islamic international curriculum typically commute to Selangor or board at one of the Klang Valley schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Islamic international schools are there in Malaysia?
Approximately 9 Islamic international schools are registered with the Ministry of Education (Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia) in Malaysia as of 2026, alongside a similar number of Islamic-leaning Malaysian-curriculum (KSSR/KSSM) private schools. The principal Islamic international schools include International Islamic School Gombak (IIS), International Islamic School Malaysia Kuantan (IISM), Idrissi International School (Iskandar Puteri and Shah Alam campuses), Brainy Bunch Islamic International School (Gombak and Cyberjaya campuses), Seven Skies Islamic International School Shah Alam, Iqra' International School Kota Bharu, and SRI Bestari International School Bandar Sri Damansara. Most combine Cambridge IGCSE curriculum with Islamic Studies and Quran instruction across the school day.
How much do Islamic international schools cost in Malaysia in 2026?
Annual fees at Islamic international schools in Malaysia range from approximately RM 12,000 to RM 50,000 per year for 2026, depending on school tier and curriculum depth. Budget-tier Islamic international schools (IISM Kuantan, Brainy Bunch Gombak) charge RM 12,000 to RM 22,000 per year. Mid-tier Islamic international schools (IIS Gombak, Seven Skies Shah Alam, Iqra' Kota Bharu) charge RM 15,000 to RM 32,000. Premium Islamic international schools (Idrissi, SRI Bestari International) charge RM 25,000 to RM 50,000. Fees typically include Islamic Studies and Quran instruction integrated into the school day at no extra charge. Tahfiz Quran-memorisation streams may carry additional fees at selected schools.
Do Islamic international schools in Malaysia teach the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum?
Yes. Most Islamic international schools in Malaysia deliver the Cambridge International curriculum (Cambridge Lower Secondary plus Cambridge IGCSE at Year 11) alongside Islamic Studies, Quran instruction, and Arabic language as core subjects. Schools then offer either A-Levels or the Malaysian SPM examination as the pre-university qualification. The Cambridge IGCSE qualification at Islamic international schools carries the same global university recognition as Cambridge IGCSE at any other Malaysian international school. Idrissi, IIS Gombak, IISM Kuantan, Seven Skies, and SRI Bestari International all follow this Cambridge plus Islamic Studies model.
What is the difference between an Islamic international school and a Tahfiz school?
An Islamic international school in Malaysia delivers a full secular curriculum (typically Cambridge IGCSE) alongside Islamic Studies, Quran, and Arabic instruction. Students complete IGCSE at Year 11 and progress to A-Levels, IB, or Malaysian pre-university programmes. A Tahfiz school focuses primarily on Quran memorisation (Hifz al-Quran) and Islamic Studies, often with limited secular curriculum coverage. Some Islamic international schools (Iqra' Kota Bharu, selected branches) offer a Tahfiz integration stream where students balance IGCSE academics with Quran memorisation, though pure Tahfiz schools are typically registered separately under the Malaysian Tahfiz curriculum framework rather than as international schools.
Which Islamic international school in Malaysia has the lowest fees?
International Islamic School Malaysia Kuantan (IISM Kuantan) and Brainy Bunch International Islamic Montessori School Gombak are typically the lowest-fee Islamic international schools, with annual tuition starting around RM 12,000 to RM 14,000 per year for Early Years and primary. IIS Gombak and Iqra' International School Kota Bharu also fall in the budget tier at RM 15,000 to RM 28,000. The Idrissi International School and SRI Bestari International School sit at the premium end with fees reaching RM 50,000 per year for senior secondary.
Are there Islamic schools in Malaysia following the Malaysian National Curriculum (KSSR/KSSM)?
Yes. Alongside the nine Islamic international schools, Malaysia has six principal Islamic-leaning private national schools following the Malaysian KSSR (primary) and KSSM (secondary) curricula with strong Islamic Studies integration. These include Sekolah SRI Bestari (primary and secondary, Bandar Sri Damansara), Sekolah SRI Murni (primary and secondary, Cheras), and Sekolah Bestari Asia Pacific (primary and secondary, Subang). Students at these schools sit the Malaysian SPM examination at Form 5 and progress to Malaysian or overseas universities. Fees at Islamic-leaning private national schools are typically RM 5,000 to RM 18,000 per year, significantly lower than Islamic international schools.
Do Islamic international schools in Malaysia admit non-Muslim students?
Most Islamic international schools in Malaysia welcome students of all religious backgrounds, though Islamic Studies and Quran instruction form a core part of the curriculum for all students. The schools' ethos and pastoral framework are explicitly Islamic, with halal-only food on campus, prayer breaks integrated into the school day, and Islamic dress code expectations. Families considering an Islamic international school for non-Muslim children should discuss with the school's admissions office whether the religious-instruction requirements suit the family. Idrissi International School and SRI Bestari International School in particular have published admissions policies open to non-Muslim students with parental acknowledgement of the Islamic curriculum framework.