In brief
Families on the western Riviera choose between two systems. The French state system offers international sections, free of tuition, in which children follow the French curriculum with extra hours taught in a second language, as at the Campus International de Valbonne in Sophia Antipolis. Private schools teach mainly in English: Mougins British International School follows the English National Curriculum, the International School of Nice offers the IB Diploma and ICS Côte d'Azur in Valbonne takes primary children. Monaco has its own international and British schools. Settle schooling before you settle on a village.
Two systems compared
| State international sections | Private international schools | |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | French national curriculum plus subjects taught in the section language | English National Curriculum, IGCSE, A Level or the International Baccalaureate |
| Language | Mainly French | Mainly English, with French lessons |
| Final diploma | Baccalauréat français international (BFI) | A Levels or IB Diploma |
| Tuition | No tuition fee; some sections charge an association fee | Annual fees, several published below |
| Entry | Language tests at set dates in the school year | Application and assessment through the year, subject to places |
The BFI replaced the former international option of the baccalauréat (OIB) from the 2024 examination session, according to the Ministry of Education.
State schools with international sections
Campus International de Valbonne
The Campus International de Valbonne (CIV) is a public collège and lycée at 190 rue Frédéric Mistral, inside the Sophia Antipolis park in Valbonne. About 2,300 pupils share a 12-hectare campus, which also has university preparatory classes.
| Level | International sections |
|---|---|
| Collège (ages 11 to 15) | German, British, Chinese, Spanish and Italian |
| Lycée (ages 15 to 18) | German, American, Chinese, Spanish, Italian and Russian, leading to the BFI |
| Lycée | French and Italian EsaBac |
Note that the English-language section at lycée is American, while at collège it is British. Boarding is for lycée pupils only. The school publishes no section fee on its website; ask the school directly. The Valbonne and Sophia Antipolis guide describes the villages around the campus.
Other state and contracted schools
| School | Town | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| Lycée Masséna | Nice | Arabic and Portuguese international sections to the BFI; boarding |
| Institut Fénelon | Grasse | Private school under contract with the State, so it follows the French curriculum; the only British international section at lycée level in the académie de Nice, according to the ministry list; primary from age 3 |
| Collège Niki de Saint Phalle | Valbonne | International sections at collège level |
| Collège L'Éganaude | Biot | International sections at collège level |
| Collège César | Roquefort-les-Pins | International sections at collège level |
| Collège Antoine Risso | Nice | British international section |
| Collège Joseph Vernier | Nice | Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese and Russian sections |
Several lycées in Valbonne, Antibes, Cannes and Nice offer European sections, which add hours of a language but do not lead to the BFI. Check the languages of each collège with the school, as they change.
How admission works
- Apply in the winter before entry. For entry to sixième (age 11) in September 2026, applications ran from 1 December 2025 to 26 January 2026, with written and oral tests in the section language in March.
- At entry to sixième the académie expects level A1 in the section language; children arriving from outside the French state system also sit French and mathematics tests.
- For entry to seconde (age 15) the application file goes to the lycée in February.
- Places in première and terminale open only when pupils leave, so arrive before age 15 if you can.
Dates change each year; the académie de Nice publishes them for each intake.
Private international schools
| School | Location | Ages | Curriculum | Published tuition 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mougins British International School | 615 avenue Maurice Donat, Mougins | 3 to 18 | English National Curriculum, IGCSE, A Level or BTEC; a French bilingual pathway | €15,960 to €25,600 a year |
| International School of Nice | 15 avenue Claude Debussy, Nice | 3 to 18 | IB Primary Years Programme, IGCSE, IB Diploma; IB World School since 1990 | €11,700 to €25,884 a year |
| ICS Côte d'Azur | 245 route des Lucioles, Valbonne | 2 to 11 | IB Primary Years Programme, taught half in English and half in French | €12,780 to €16,995 a year, plus a canteen fee |
| Mouratoglou Academy Tennis-Études | Biot | 10 to 18 | American section with AP courses or a French section, combined with tennis training; boarding | Not published |
| EIB Schools | Nice, Cagnes-sur-Mer and Pégomas; Collège Lycée International Lafayette in Nice | Nursery to 18 | Bilingual French and English | Not published |
All of these are private schools outside the State contract. The fees above are those each school publishes for 2026-27; registration and application charges are extra. Mougins School was founded in 1964 and is part of the Globeducate group, as are the International School of Nice and ICS Côte d'Azur.
Monaco
| School | Address | Ages | Curriculum |
|---|---|---|---|
| International School of Monaco | 43 avenue Princesse Grace | 2½ to 18 | Bilingual English and French; IB Primary Years, Middle Years, Diploma and Career-related programmes |
| The British School of Monaco | 31 avenue Hector Otto and 8 avenue de Fontvieille | Early years to secondary | English National Curriculum and Cambridge IGCSE; opened in 2022 |
The International School of Monaco publishes tuition of €29,700 to €36,100 for 2026-27. For buying and living there, read our guide to buying in Monaco.
Polish families
There is no Polish international section in the académie de Nice. The Polish schools run under the ORPEG network in France are in Paris, Aulnay-sous-Bois, Lyon, Strasbourg and Lille. Polish-speaking children on the Riviera can join any of the English or French programmes above.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Campus International de Valbonne free?
It is a state school, so there is no tuition fee. Boarding and meals are charged; for 2025-26 the school published a boarding cost of €1,900 for the first term and €1,425 for each of the other two, seven days a week. Ask the school whether a fee applies to the section your child would join.
Which schools teach in English from age 3?
Mougins British International School and the International School of Nice both take children from age 3 and teach in English. ICS Côte d'Azur in Valbonne takes children from age 2, teaching half in English and half in French.
What is the BFI?
The baccalauréat français international is the French baccalauréat taken in an international section, with extra subjects in the section language. It replaced the international option of the baccalauréat from the 2024 session.
Is there a British sixth form near Sophia Antipolis?
Mougins British International School teaches A Levels and BTEC. In the state system, Institut Fénelon in Grasse has the British international section at lycée level; the Valbonne campus's English-language lycée section is American.
Which villages are closest to these schools?
The villages closest to the Valbonne campus and ICS Côte d'Azur are Valbonne, Biot, Opio and Roquefort-les-Pins; Mougins School is in Mougins, near the hills towards Cannes. Our guide to moving to Sophia Antipolis compares the villages.
When should we apply?
As early as possible. State sections test in March for September entry; private schools admit through the year but only where a place is free. Apply while you search for a home rather than after you buy.
Last updated: 11 October 2026