Education

Ulaanbaatar has 8–10 international schools serving the expatriate community. The International School of Ulaanbaatar (ISU) is the largest and most established, offering an American curriculum and IB Diploma. Other options include British, Turkish, and Korean international schools. Fees are significant but lower than equivalent schools in major Asian hubs.

Mongolia's public education system is free for all residents and has seen significant improvement in recent decades. However, instruction is entirely in Mongolian, making it challenging for expat children who don't speak the language. For families committed to long-term integration, public schools offer full immersion and are well-regarded academically.

Mongolia has over 90 universities and colleges, with the National University of Mongolia and Mongolian University of Science and Technology being the most prestigious. Some programs are offered in English, particularly at the graduate level and in partnership with international institutions.

Learning Mongolian is one of the most rewarding investments for expat life in Mongolia. The language uses Cyrillic script and has a grammar structure quite different from European languages, but private tutors are extremely affordable and the effort is deeply appreciated by locals.