AIU International School

About AIU International School

AIU International School is a not-for-profit Cambridge school in Alor Setar, the state capital of Kedah. The school is backed by two charitable bodies: the Albukhary Foundation and Irsyad. This not-for-profit structure keeps fees well below the national median for international schools, making it one of the more affordable Cambridge options in Malaysia.

AIU is one of only four registered international schools in Kedah. For families in the northern peninsula who want a Cambridge pathway without relocating to Penang or the Klang Valley, AIU fills that gap. The school occupies Kompleks Albukhary on Jalan Tun Razak, a central location in Alor Setar.

Curriculum at AIU International School

AIU International School follows the Cambridge International curriculum for Grade 1 through Grade 6 at the primary level. Instruction is trilingual: English serves as the primary medium, with Malay and Mandarin taught as additional languages.

The Cambridge Primary programme covers English, Mathematics, and Science as core subjects, with students working toward Cambridge Primary Checkpoint at Grade 6. Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level pathways are part of the school’s planned secondary progression, giving students a route to internationally recognised qualifications without leaving Kedah.

The trilingual approach is a specific feature of AIU. Students receive structured instruction in three languages from Grade 1, which is less common among international schools in the northern states where most schools offer only English and Malay.

Fees at AIU International School

AIU International School is priced significantly below the national average for international schools. The not-for-profit model keeps annual tuition between RM 12,000 and RM 18,000. The school fees guide explains how to budget for one-time and recurring costs.

Fee Type	Amount (RM)
Application fee (one-time)	500
Registration fee (one-time)	1,000
Activity and resource fee (annual)	1,600
Annual tuition (Grade 1-6)	12,000 to 18,000

First-year total for a Grade 1 student comes to approximately RM 15,100 (application + registration + resource fee + tuition at the lower band). From the second year onward, the annual cost is tuition plus the RM 1,600 resource fee.

For comparison, international schools in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur with Cambridge Primary programmes typically charge RM 18,000 to RM 48,000 per year for tuition alone. AIU’s fee structure is closer to that of a private primary school than a typical international school.

Admissions at AIU International School

AIU International School admits students from Grade 1 (age 6-7) through Grade 6. The school accepts both Malaysian and international students. Contact the admissions office at Kompleks Albukhary for intake dates and required documents.

Contact admissions: 014-769 7982, admin@aiuis.edu.my.

AIU International School in Kedah

AIU International School is at Kompleks Yayasan Al-Bukhary, Jalan Tun Razak, Alor Setar, 05200 Kedah. As one of four international schools in the state, AIU serves a wide catchment area across northern Kedah including Jitra, Changlun, and Kuala Kedah.

Kedah has 4 registered international schools and 7 private schools total. The Kedah international schools directory lists all registered options.

Contact: 014-769 7982, admin@aiuis.edu.my, aiuis.edu.my.