The British School is a non-profit organisation and tuition fees are set to cover the costs for educational development and all school running costs on an annual basis. Tuition fees are paid each month and the monthly fee represents one twelfth of the school annuity. Parents whose children join the school in February are required to pay the January fee. Those joining in August are required to pay the July fee.

Fee payments are due before the fifth day of each month and can be paid at any bank. A monthly invoice is issued by the bank and posted to the pupil’s indicated mailing address at least one week in advance. Lunch fees and costs of local day trips are included in the school monthly fees. For day trips, lunch is provided by the school. Failure to pay any instalment of the school annuity and other charges on the due date entails a default fine of 2% (two per cent) in addition to legal corrections and 1% (one per cent) interest per month. Late instalments may only be paid at branches of the issuing bank.

Tuition fees are established in October/November of the previous year and parents are informed in November. The fees, once established, are readjusted according to Brazilian law. The values are accepted and agreed to by parents in a written annual application for enrolment and contract. For more information, please contact us. 

Entrance Fees

An Entrance Fee is charged at the time a child enters the school. Entrance Fees contribute to the school’s Development Fund which is maintained strictly for major development projects. Use of this fund is controlled by the Board of Governors. For more information, please contact us. 

Reimbursement of Entrance Fees

Parents withdrawing a child within 2 years of the child starting school may request repayment of the Entrance Fee as follows:

• 50% return for departure within the first year
• 25% return for departure within the second year

Requests for returns of the Entrance Fee beyond the two-year timeframe will not be granted.

Returning Pupils

Pupils who leave the school and return at a later date are not charged any further Entrance Fee or any return fee.

Other School Costs

A variety of residential trips are organised for students both to places of educational interest in Brazil and overseas. Costs for these trips are not included in tuition fees and must be paid for separately. The following residential trips have been organised annually in previous years:

Optional trips usually occur during school holidays or over the weekend, with the exception of sports tournaments. International trips are organised by various departments of the Secondary School. These have included Art & Drama trips to New York or London, French trips to Quebec or Paris and Spanish trips to Argentina or Chile. Students in the Secondary School who participate in team sports may also be involved in inter-school competitions outside Rio de Janeiro twice yearly. Students participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme are involved in outdoor pursuits trips over the weekend. In all cases, costs are not included in the tuition fee and must be paid for separately.

Other costs involve personal school materials (a minor ‘School Materials List’ is sent to Primary pupils), some Portuguese books, registration fees for external examinations (IGCSE and IB), transportation and school uniform.

Annual Enrolment Reservation (Reserva de vaga)

The enrolment of each pupil is valid for one academic year, from the 1st January to the 31st December of each year. At the end of each academic year, the school and parents/guardians of enrolled students are required by Brazilian Law to sign an agreement stating the general contractual terms for the provision of educational services for the following year. The contract is registered at the relevant Public Notary, states the obligations and rights of both the school and parents and is the legal document that entitles a pupil to study in the school as long as the school’s By-Laws are respected and all due fees have been paid.

Upon acceptance of the Application for Enrolment Reservation for the following school year, a value equivalent to half the monthly tuition fee of the following year must be paid. The corresponding amount is deducted from the instalment referring to the month of January of that year.
Should a parent/guardian decide to terminate the Agreement by cancelling the enrolment, he/she may do so until 30 days before the commencement of classes. In this event, the amount paid for Enrolment Reservation will be totally refunded. If enrolment is cancelled at a later date, the value paid will be reimbursed up to a limit 50% (fifty per cent) of the total to cover costs incurred.

Further Information

Please contact us at:

Phone: (+55-21) 2539-2717 (ext.196)
Fax: (+55-21) 2539-2717 (ext.151)
E-mail: admissions@britishschool.g12.br