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The short answer
International and British-curriculum schools in Lagos typically charge from about ₦2 million a year in early years to ₦9.5 million or more in upper secondary, according to third-party school directories in 2026, and the most expensive schools list fees in US dollars that run past ₦16 million a year. Families report similar levels in Abuja. These are directory estimates, not official schedules, so get each school's current fee sheet in writing before you decide.
Why fee comparisons are hard
Returning families usually want two things: a curriculum that matches what the children were following abroad (British, American, IB or French) and a clear yearly cost. Nigerian schools do not publish fees in one place, many share them only with families who apply, and the figures that circulate online are often a year or two old. Several schools also charge in dollars or set naira fees with an eye on the exchange rate, so fees can rise mid-cycle.
Fee ranges by tier (labelled)
We group schools into three tiers by what families typically pay. The top-tier numbers draw on directory data; the lower tiers are example planning ranges that you should test against real fee sheets.
| Tier | Typical profile | Annual tuition, Lagos | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium international | Full British/IB pathway, purpose-built campus, boarding option, many foreign-trained teachers | ₦16m to ₦32m+ (some quoted in USD) | Directory listing for one school, 2025-26, unverified |
| Established British-curriculum | IGCSE and A-level, long track record, day and boarding | about ₦2m (nursery) to ₦9.5m (upper secondary); ₦4.5m day / ₦6.5m boarding per session at another school | Directory ranges, 2026, no official schedule |
| Bilingual or mid-tier international | Nigerian and British curricula combined, smaller campus | ₦1.5m to ₦4m (example) | Example planning range |
One directory shows, for a long-established British school in Lagos, typical annual ranges of ₦2 million to ₦4 million in early years, ₦3.5 million to ₦7 million in primary, ₦4.5 million to ₦8.5 million in lower secondary and ₦5.5 million to ₦9.5 million at IGCSE and A-level, with full boarding at ₦7 million to ₦12 million. It says it could not find an official 2026/27 schedule. Another school in the same comparison lists ₦4.5 million per session for day students and ₦6.5 million for boarders, and says its schedule is released each April.
Abuja
Families moving to Abuja often report that the leading international schools there charge in a similar range to Lagos, though that is anecdotal. We did not find dated directory data for Abuja that we could rely on, so treat any Abuja figure you see online with the same caution and ask the school.
The one-off costs returnees forget
Tuition is only part of the first year. Directory data for one Lagos school lists application fees from ₦30,000 for nursery to ₦75,000 for secondary, while the same page elsewhere gives ₦20,000, which shows how inconsistent published figures are. Expect some or all of:
- Application and assessment fees for each child.
- An acceptance or registration fee once a place is offered.
- A refundable caution deposit or a non-refundable development levy.
- Uniforms, books and devices; some schools require a specific laptop or tablet.
- School bus, lunch and after-school clubs, often billed separately.
- Exam board fees for IGCSE and A-level years.
A worked first-year example
An example family with two children, one in primary and one in lower secondary at an established British-curriculum day school in Lagos:
| Item (example) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition, primary child | ₦5,000,000 |
| Tuition, secondary child | ₦6,500,000 |
| Application fees (2 × ₦50,000) | ₦100,000 |
| Development levy (2 × ₦500,000) | ₦1,000,000 |
| Uniforms, books, devices (2 × ₦400,000) | ₦800,000 |
| School bus (2 × ₦600,000) | ₦1,200,000 |
| Example first-year total | ₦14,600,000 |
Check: ₦5,000,000 + ₦6,500,000 + ₦100,000 + ₦1,000,000 + ₦800,000 + ₦1,200,000 = ₦14,600,000. In later years the one-off lines fall away, but annual fee increases usually take their place.
How to compare schools: what to ask
- Ask for the current session's full fee schedule in writing, with every charge listed.
- Ask whether fees are fixed in naira for the session or linked to the dollar.
- Ask how many instalments are allowed and whether there is a discount for paying the year upfront.
- Ask what the refund policy is if you withdraw mid-term.
- Ask which exam boards the school uses and whether it is accredited by the relevant UK, US or IB body.
- Visit in term time and ask to speak to a current parent.
For paying in parts, see paying school fees in instalments. For the bigger picture, our first-year budget for Lagos or Abuja puts school fees alongside rent, a car and power.
Where Pryme fits
Schools are one of the sectors in Spaces, Pryme's merchant ecosystem in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Where a school is in Spaces, Solid Allianze MFB may offer a Loan on Spaces limit based on how your account is run; the amount, cost and repayment date are shown in full and nothing is drawn until you accept (Loans on Spaces). If fees are set in dollars, a Pryme account can hold USD alongside naira (multicurrency).
Questions people ask
How much are international school fees in Lagos?
Third-party directories in 2026 show established British-curriculum schools at about ₦2 million to ₦9.5 million a year depending on year group, and the most expensive schools above ₦16 million. Confirm with each school.
Do Nigerian international schools charge in dollars?
Some list fees in US dollars or link naira fees to the exchange rate. Ask the school whether its fee is fixed in naira for the session.
What extra fees do international schools in Nigeria charge?
Common extras are application and assessment fees, acceptance fees, development levies or caution deposits, uniforms, books, devices, bus, lunch and exam board fees.
Are international school fees in Abuja cheaper than Lagos?
Families often report a similar range to Lagos, but we found no dated data to compare reliably. Ask each school for its current schedule.
Sources
- doris.school: British International School Lagos vs Grange School (third-party directory, 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Where Next: Charterhouse Lagos listing (third-party directory, imported 27 Apr 2026, unverified) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.