Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about ISU
The International School of Ulaanbaatar (ISU) is the only internationally accredited school in Mongolia, and also the only IB World School authorized to offer all three programmes PYP, MYP and DP from Pre-School to Grade 12. ISU moved to its new purpose built campus located at Four Seasons Gardens in 2007. We have 300 students from 27 different countries ensuring an excellent cultural mix. All instruction, except for foreign languages, is in English and our school year runs mid-August to mid-June.
Why is international accreditation so important?
We are accredited with the Council of International Schools (CIS) and also the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
This means that colleges and universities worldwide accept our ISU High School Diploma for entry to their institutions, because we have proven that we have met certain worldwide standards in education.
The fact that we also offer the IB Diploma programme (since 2002) means that successful Diploma students from ISU are given preferred entry to colleges and universities worldwide. The IB Diploma is the most highly regarded, academically rigorous high school diploma awarded to students.
Where have ISU graduates been accepted to University?
Not only do we have our students accepted at nearly all of the colleges and universities to which they apply, but our students have also been offered scholarships to assist with tuition. Some universities offer scholarships specifically for IB Diploma graduates. An increasing number of universities also recognize that students who successfully attain the IB Diploma can be given credit for some subjects in their first year.
Below is a list of some of the colleges and universities that have accepted ISU graduates.
- University of British Columbia (Canada)
- McGill University (Canada)
- Dartmouth University (USA)
- University of Michigan (USA)
- University of Pennsylvania (USA)
- Rhodes University (South Africa)
- University of Maryland (USA)
- Virginia Tech (USA)
- University of London (UK)
- Les Roches International School of Hotel Management (Switzerland)
- University of Illinois (USA)
- Han Dong University (Korea)
- Pepperdine University (USA)
- Lehigh University (USA)
- University of York (UK)
What is the IB?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an organization based in Geneva, Switzerland and Cardiff, Wales. The IB offers high quality programmes of international education to a worldwide community of schools. The total number of IB World schools: 3,295 schools in over 141 countries. The IB website has more information: www.ibo.org
Why is ISU unique by offering all three IB programmes?
There are 182 schools worldwide that offer all three IB programmes. ISU was authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme for Pre-School to Grade 5, the Middle Years Programme for Grades 6-10, and the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11-12 in 2002.
So, not only is ISU among 5.5% of IB schools worldwide that offer all three IB programmes, but we also have nine years of experience to offer these programmes to our students.
ISU is expensive in relation to other schools in Mongolia – why?
We are a non-profit organization – we are not a private business that makes money out of tuition fees.
All of our money is spent on ISU facilities and resources. We receive some funding from the US Government, because we are the only international school recognized by the US State Department in Mongolia, but over 98% of our income comes from tuition fees. We then spend our income on:
- paying for internationally qualified and experienced teachers to come and live in Mongolia and teach students, guaranteeing high quality English language instruction
- maintaining, improving and expanding the school facilities for the students
- ensuring that all of our teachers are trained in the IBO programmes and the latest educational research through professional development
- membership of the International Baccalaureate (IB), the accrediting agencies (CIS, NEASC), and various other international organizations that recognize accredited schools (EARCOS, ACAMIS, AISH, AAIE etc)
- shipping teaching materials and resources from abroad
- the administrative costs of running an internationally accredited school
We are an open and financially transparent school meeting international accounting standards, our accounts are audited and presented to our members at the Annual General Meeting of our Association.
If ISU is a non-profit organization, then who owns your school?
No one individual owns the school. The parents, by enrolling their children at ISU, become members of the International School of Ulaanbaatar Association. This Association elects a Board of Trustees for ISU at the Annual meeting each year. The Board of Trustees ensure the long term vision and financial sustainability of the school and they also appoint a Director to run the school.
What foreign languages do you teach at ISU?
All instruction in the school is in English, with the exception of foreign languages. Therefore students applying for entry to the school and whose first language is not English, must sit an English language proficiency test as the first step in the admissions process.
It is vitally important for English language acquisition that students have a strong first language and therefore we offer Korean and Mongolian from Grades 6-12 to first language Korean/Mongolian speakers. This enhances their success in obtaining the IB Diploma (Grade 11-12) and also the IB MYP certificate (Grades 9-10).
Mongolian language and culture is offered from Kindergarten to Grade 5, to all native speakers and also second language Mongolian speakers through differentiated instruction in the classroom.
From Grades 6-12 we offer French and Chinese as second languages.
If we want to find out more about ISU, how do we do this?
Please look at our website: www.isumongolia.edu.mn as this will give you more details on our programmes, Admissions procedures and the various other activities and opportunities we offer to our students.
Alternatively, you can come to school and make an appointment with Mrs. Erdenebileg, the Admissions and Marketing person for a school tour, and obtain an Admissions Package if you wish. School tours are run regularly throughout the school year, but prior booking is required.