Marist Brothers International School

MBIS is located in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The campus address is 1-2-1 Chimori-cho, Suma-ku, Kobe 654-0072. It sits in a quiet residential area between the mountains and the sea, close to Kobe's coast. The school is within easy reach by foot to Suma Station, with two train lines nearby.

MBIS offers education from Early Years through Grade 12. It is an IB World School offering the full continuum (PYP, MYP, and DP) and is accredited by WASC.

MBIS is a co-educational international day school.

About 35 nationalities are represented. The largest group is Japanese (around 23%), followed by North Americans (about 18%), with roughly 59% of students coming from the rest of the world; overall, international students comprise the majority of the student body.

MBIS provides counseling services to support students' academic, social, emotional, and mental well-being, with a school counselor and collaboration with specialists. It includes targeted support for developmental and other special needs.

MBIS does not have a formal country affiliation; it is located in Japan and serves a diverse international student body.

MBIS is founded by the Marist Brothers, a Catholic religious order, and operates within the Marist educational tradition.

Students typically follow a school day with morning homeroom/assembly, first period starting around 8:50 AM and dismissal around 3:10 PM; after-school activities and clubs can continue beyond that time.

MBIS runs its own bus service with routes such as Shioya and Ashiya. The Shioya route schedules pickups at about 7:55–8:20 AM and afternoon drops around 3:25–3:50 PM. The Ashiya route serves multiple stops with pickups around 7:15–7:55 AM and afternoon drops around 4:20 PM. Timetables are published for each route.

MBIS in Kobe, Japan offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum for students from Early Years through Grade 12, with English as the language of instruction and alignment with Common Core standards. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) guides learners from Early Years 3 to Grade 5 through inquiry-based, transdisciplinary units that integrate language, mathematics, science, social studies, arts, physical education, and religion. The Middle Years Programme (MYP) runs from Grade 6 to Grade 10 across eight subject groups—English, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, an additional language (Japanese), Physical Education, and Design—and includes a Grade 10 Personal Project. The Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11–12 requires six subjects across Groups 1–6 (Studies in language and literature, Language acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and The Arts) and the core Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and CAS. MBIS has been IB-authorized since 2017 and is accredited by WASC, confirming its global standards of curriculum design and assessment.

MBIS integrates Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) throughout its curriculum to support the emotional, social, and ethical development of every student. SEL at MBIS fosters emotional intelligence, resilience, and healthy relationships, and equips students with tools to manage their emotions, set goals, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. The approach emphasizes self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making as core competencies. MBIS maintains a safeguarding focus and has a dedicated team to address student safety and wellbeing. Counseling services are available to support students' mental and emotional well-being, including a Guidance Counselor and a Social/Emotional Counselor who work with students across grades. The MBIS safeguarding team and policies are designed to ensure a safe, supportive environment for all students.

MBIS provides specialized support for students with developmental disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, and other special needs. The school has a Director of Student Support Services and a Whole School Counselor who coordinate student support across the campus. Admissions state that MBIS welcomes all applicants, but personnel and facilities may not be equipped to accommodate the full range of student needs; admissions and placement decisions are made on an individual basis. MBIS maintains a Student Services framework that includes a Medical Office staffed by a Medical Officer and a Nurse to address health and well-being needs. Counseling services explicitly address developmental and special needs as part of MBIS's support offerings. Given the above, MBIS provides SEN-related support primarily through counseling and student support staff rather than a publicly catalogued, centralized SEN program.

English is the primary language of instruction at MBIS. The school serves a multilingual community with over 20 languages spoken. MBIS accepts students who are still developing their English; the admissions FAQ notes a preference for an age-appropriate level of English but that language-learning students can be considered. There is a Marist English School program described on MBIS's site that teaches English as a second language to younger learners. These elements indicate that MBIS supports EAL learners through both in-school acceptance of learners and an external English language program for younger students.

MBIS prioritizes mental and emotional well-being alongside academics, with Counseling Services available to students. The school provides a Guidance Counselor for academic and university planning, and a Social/Emotional Counselor for developing emotional intelligence, resilience, and coping strategies. Counseling sessions are confidential and offered in person or online, with dedicated ways to arrange appointments (e.g., through the school's wellbeing platform). Counselors help students address issues such as stress, anxiety, interpersonal relationships, and personal growth, supporting them across the school journey. The counseling framework explicitly notes collaboration with specialists when needed to support student well-being.

MBIS is committed to child protection and safeguarding, aligning with the Japanese Act on the Prevention of Child Abuse and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The school's safeguarding policies and practices align with the standards of the Japan Council of International Schools (JCIS) and other accrediting bodies. A dedicated MBIS Child Saf safeguarding Team responds to concerns about student safety and collaborates with parents, school colleagues, and authorities as needed. Staff adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and receive ongoing safeguarding training with clear reporting procedures. Counseling services are part of safeguarding, with pathways to involve specialists when appropriate to protect student well-being.

1. Submit an Online Application: Begin by submitting the online application with the required details about the child and family. An online Applicant Page is created after submission to organize and track the process. An application fee is required and can be paid via bank transfer or credit card, incurring a 5% processing fee. 2. Provide Supporting Documents: Upload all necessary documents, including academic records from the past three years, proof of identity, and a recommendation from a current teacher or principal. A checklist of the required documents is provided in the online Applicant Page to guide families. 3. Interview & Assessment: After the application is reviewed, an admissions team member will schedule an interview with the Divisional Head. An English language proficiency test may be administered if deemed necessary for certain grades. 4. Finalize Enrollment: If accepted, complete the required enrollment forms and submit payment for the enrollment deposit. All applicants must reside in the Kansai region with at least one parent or guardian during study, and the school does not sponsor student visas; families should arrange the visa themselves and can request proof of admission if needed.

Marist Brothers International School offers scholarships and tuition assistance programs to support families. Eligibility criteria and application guidelines are outlined in the Scholarships and Tuition Assistance Policy. For the 2025–2026 academic year, a detailed Fee Schedule is available, and scholarship programs are designed to assist students based on merit and/or need. Parents should review the policy for specifics on how to apply and qualify.

If no space is available in the requested grade level, an applicant may be placed in a wait pool. The wait pool operates as a pool of candidates rather than a strict sequential list. When a space becomes available, the most suitable candidate is selected from the pool, and some grade levels may be nearing capacity, which influences waitpool usage.