About SEM
St. Joseph's College is a school located in Nainital. It is affiliated to the ICSE board. The school was established in 1888. Explore fees, admission process, facilities and parent reviews on this page.
Quick facts
- Which board is SEM affiliated to?
- St. Joseph's College is affiliated to ICSE and is a full-boarding school in Nainital.
- Where is SEM located?
- St. Joseph's College is located at Near Raj Bhawan, Tallital, Nainital, Naina Range, Uttarakhand 263002, Nainital – 263002, Nainital.
- When was SEM established?
- St. Joseph's College was established in 1888 and has been operating in Nainital for 138 years.
- Is SEM co-ed or single-gender?
- St. Joseph's College is a co-educational school.
- Is SEM accepting admissions?
- St. Joseph's College is open to enquiries for April to March. Use the Apply or Enquire button on this page to start an enquiry.
St. Joseph's College, is a residential school in Nainital, Uttarakhand providing public school education at its best. It has been one of the premier schools in the country since its inception in 1888. The school is now more than 125 years old and has seven fields, a gymnasium, a basketball court, billiards room and a swimming pool. It focuses on all round development of students and co-curricular activities are considered equally important as classroom studies. Apart from Academics, building character and instilling good values is our main area of focus. As our school motto says, "Certa Bonum, Certa Men." This translates to "Fight a Good Fight".
About the school
Tucked into Nainital, Uttarakhand, St. Joseph's College is a respected co-educational full boarding school catering to families looking for a ICSE school in Nainital. The school has been running since 1888, giving it 138 years of continuous operation in Nainital. SEM prepares students for the ICSE board examinations and covers up to the senior secondary stage.
Campus and learning spaces
On the academic side, the campus at SEM lists 12 learning spaces — including Boys Hostel, Wifi, Smart Classes, Cafeteria/Canteen, Library/Reading Room and Playground, plus 6 more. Between them, these spaces support classroom teaching, structured sport and the school's co-curricular calendar.
Parent fit
Families comparing SEM against other ICSE schools in Nainital usually weigh three things: how the school handles the transition between primary and senior school, the strength of the co-curricular calendar, and how transparent the admissions team is during the enquiry. If you're choosing between CBSE and IB for the long-term exit, factor in the colleges your child is most likely to apply to — that decision often settles the board question more cleanly than a side-by-side feature comparison. Use the Compare tool on the platform to stack SEM against one or two finalists on board, fees, facilities and parent ratings before booking the campus visit round.
Learning depth
Day-to-day, SEM's learning environment combines classroom teaching with hands-on time in smart classrooms, audio-visual room and CCTV coverage where the campus supports it. Continuous assessment is layered on top of the term examinations, with project work and lab assignments contributing to the final grade in most subjects.
Curriculum at SEM
SEM prepares students for the ICSE board examinations, with English as the primary medium of instruction. Additional languages taught include English. The ICSE curriculum emphasises English-language depth and detailed internal assessments alongside board examinations. Academic sessions run April to March, with continuous assessment supplementing term examinations.
Location and neighbourhood
SEM is located at Near Raj Bhawan, Tallital, Nainital, Naina Range, Uttarakhand 263002, Nainital – 263002. Families comparing SEM usually weigh it against other ICSE schools in Nainital on commute, fees and facilities.
Learning environment
Beyond the classroom, the 30:1 student-teacher ratio means classrooms at SEM are sized for individual attention. Overall, SEM suits families considering boarding and families wanting a co-educational setting. Read the FAQs below for quick answers to common parent questions, and use the Admissions tab for the step-by-step application process.
Nainital is the catchment for St. Joseph's College, with most enrolled families living within a 15–20 minute drive of the school gate.
ICSE coverage at this campus carries the board's traditional emphasis on English-language depth and broad subject choice through Class 10.
Affordable fees position this school well for families prioritising value-for-money over premium infrastructure spend.
Key facts
- Board
- ICSE
- City
- Nainital
- Type
- Private
- Format
- Full Boarding
- Gender
- Coed
- Level
- Senior Secondary
- Medium of instruction
- English
- Languages taught
- English
- Established
- Student : teacher ratio
- 30:1
- School timings
- 9:00AM to 4:00PM
- Academic session
- April to March
- Key facilities
- Boys Hostel, Wifi, Smart Classes, Cafeteria/Canteen, Library/Reading Room, Playground
Updated 17 June 2026 Verified school data
Admissions 2026-27 at SEM
Admissions for the 2026-27 session at St. Joseph's College typically open between November and February. Status is currently enquiring. Use the Enquire button on this page to start a formal enquiry.
- 1Fill application form —
- 2Written test of applicant —
- 3Parent's interaction/interview —
- 4Applicant's oral test —
- 5Document verification at school —
Fees at SEM
Annual tuition fees at St. Joseph's College range from ₹0/year, depending on grade. One-time admission fees, security deposit (often refundable), uniform and transport are charged separately. We update fees from official school sources at least once per academic session.
See grade-wise fee breakdownCurriculum & boards
St. Joseph's College is affiliated to ICSE. Medium of instruction is English, with additional languages taught: English. Levels covered range up to senior secondary.
Facilities at SEM
- Boys Hostel
- Wifi
- Smart Classes
- Cafeteria/Canteen
- Library/Reading Room
- Playground
- Auditorium/Media Room
- Science Lab
Parent reviews
St. Joseph's College has an overall rating of 5.0 / 5 from 1 parent reviews on AdmissionSchool. Reviews are verified before publishing.
Read all reviewsLocation & connectivity
St. Joseph's College is located at Near Raj Bhawan, Tallital, Nainital, Naina Range, Uttarakhand 263002, Nainital – 263002. Use the Address tab for a full map and directions.
Hostel & Boarding
Boys' hostel
- Room types
- Single, Double, Triple
Girls' hostel
- Room types
- Single, Double, Triple
Food & dining
- options
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