Hillcrest International School in Nairobi follows the British curriculum from Play Group to Year 13 (A level). It has published its fees for the September 2026 to August 2027 school year. This guide sets out tuition by year group, boarding, lunch, transport, deposits, the payment rules and how Hillcrest compares with other schools.
About Hillcrest
Hillcrest is organised by British key stages: Early Years (Play Group to Foundation Stage 2), Key Stage I (Years 1–2), Key Stage II (Years 3–6), Key Stage III (Years 7–9), Key Stage IV (Years 10–11, the IGCSE years) and Key Stage V (Years 12–13, A level). It is a day school with weekly and full boarding from Year 7.
Tuition per term, 2026/27
| Year group | Tuition per term (KSh) | Caution deposit (KSh) |
|---|---|---|
| Play Group | 135,100 | 25,000 |
| Nursery (morning only) | 269,900 | 25,000 |
| Nursery (full day) | 332,800 | 25,000 |
| Foundation Stage 1 | 359,800 | 25,000 |
| Foundation Stage 2 | 398,700 | 25,000 |
| Year 1 | 463,500 | 25,000 |
| Year 2 | 667,200 | 50,000 |
| Years 3–5 | 843,400 | 50,000 |
| Year 6 | 867,500 | 50,000 |
| Years 7–8 | 905,600 | 50,000 |
| Year 9 | 933,000 | 100,000 |
| Year 10 | 1,013,400 | 100,000 |
| Year 11 | 1,520,100 | 100,000 |
| Years 12–13 | 1,626,450 | 100,000 |
Years 11, 12 and 13 are billed as an annual fee in two instalments, in August and December, rather than per term. The caution deposit is paid once on joining and refunded after the pupil’s final term, less any deductions for losses or breakages.
Boarding and lunch
| Item | Years 7–10 (KSh) | Years 11–13 (KSh) |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly boarding | 239,900 | 359,850 |
| Full boarding | 378,000 | 567,000 |
| Boarding deposit | 28,955 | 28,955 |
| Lunch (from Year 9) | 46,800 | 70,200 |
Tuition includes learning materials, and lunch and daytime snacks for Early Years and the prep school. Lunch is charged separately from Year 9.
Transport
| Option | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | Zone D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return, Nursery to Year 10 | 59,100 | 76,800 | 94,400 | 106,300 |
| One way, Nursery to Year 10 | 35,500 | 46,100 | 56,700 | 63,800 |
| Return, Years 11–13 | 88,650 | 115,200 | 141,600 | 159,450 |
| One way, Years 11–13 | 53,250 | 69,150 | 85,050 | 95,700 |
All school buses have supervisors, and the zone depends on where you live.
Payment rules
- Fees are billed per term in August, December and April and must be paid by the first day of term.
- Outstanding fees attract a 2% surcharge a month, and the school may stop a child attending classes until fees are paid.
- A sibling discount of 10% of tuition applies to the second and later children.
- Registration costs a non-refundable KSh 5,000, and a place is secured only when the caution deposit is paid.
- Withdrawal needs a full term’s written notice; otherwise a term’s fees are charged and the deposit is kept.
- Examination and registration fees, trips and activities outside the standard programme are charged separately.
What a year costs
A Year 7 day pupil pays KSh 905,600 a term in tuition, about KSh 2.7 million over three terms, before transport. Adding full boarding (KSh 378,000 a term) brings tuition and boarding to KSh 1,283,600 a term. In Year 12 the annual tuition is KSh 1,626,450 plus lunch, transport and any boarding.
Budgeting for a private school
The published tuition is only the starting point. When you plan a year, add up tuition for all three terms, boarding or meals, transport, one-off joining costs such as enrolment fees and deposits, uniforms and sports kit, examination entry fees, school trips, optional clubs and coaching, devices and stationery. Ask the school for a full list of charges for your child’s year group, and check whether fees rise each year and by how much, because most private schools review fees annually.
Paying a year in advance can earn a discount where schools offer one, but only pay ahead if you are confident your child will stay for the whole year, since refund and notice rules usually favour the school. Keep every receipt and bank slip, and pay only into the accounts printed on the school’s official fee schedule.
Choosing between curricula
Kenyan private schools follow either the national competency-based curriculum (CBC), the British curriculum (IGCSE and A level) or, in some schools, the International Baccalaureate. The national curriculum leads to Kenyan assessments and KUCCPS placement for university, while British-curriculum learners usually apply to universities directly, in Kenya or abroad, with their IGCSE and A-level results. Kenyan universities accept international qualifications through equivalence from the Kenya National Qualifications Authority, so check the requirements of the universities your child is likely to apply to before choosing a pathway.
How Hillcrest compares
Hillcrest’s Year 10 tuition of KSh 1,013,400 a term compares with KSh 762,000 a year for full boarding in Grade 10 at Nova Pioneer Tatu City, and with at most KSh 53,554 a year paid by parents at a public boarding senior school in 2026. See Brookhouse School fees for another Nairobi international school.
Admission
Families apply with a completed registration form and the KSh 5,000 registration fee. Children who cannot be placed immediately join a waiting list, and parents are told when a place becomes available.
Related
School fees in Kenya hub · Brookhouse School fees · Public senior school fees 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much is Hillcrest per term?
Tuition ranges from KSh 135,100 (Play Group) to KSh 1,013,400 (Year 10) per term in 2026/27; Years 11–13 pay KSh 1,520,100–1,626,450 a year in two instalments.
Does Hillcrest offer boarding?
Yes, from Year 7: weekly boarding KSh 239,900 and full boarding KSh 378,000 a term for Years 7–10.
Is there a sibling discount at Hillcrest?
Yes, 10% of tuition for the second and later children.
What is the Hillcrest registration fee?
KSh 5,000, non-refundable.
What happens if fees are paid late?
Outstanding fees attract a 2% surcharge a month.
Sources: Hillcrest International School, Kenya Gazette. Last updated October 2026.
