An Overview of Singapore International Schools

Singapore has dozens of international schools offering IB, British, American, and hybrid curricula, with published annual tuition ranging from about SGD20,000 for early-years places to about SGD59,000 in the senior years at the priciest ones.

Singapore is a multicultural country with a sizable expat population and with dozens of international schools to choose from, you will certainly be able to find one that offers the curriculum, extracurricular activities, and culture that you want for your child. 

While we are unable to cover every school, you will find an overview of the many types of international schools, curricula, and admission procedures.

Types of International Schools in Singapore 

Singapore is well-known for its high quality of education, in part because it is home to a number of world-class international schools offering a variety of educational systems. Strong schools are one of the biggest drivers of quality of life in Singapore for expat families with kids. 

Understanding the different types will help you determine which learning style is ideal for your child and which education system will benefit them the most in the future, whether applying to universities or relocating to another country.

* All tuition fees are quoted in SGD as annual rates for the 2026/27 school year unless marked otherwise.

IB or International Curriculum Schools

Most general international schools will focus on providing an international curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) to make it easier for the children of expats to continue their education in new countries.

Examples include:

Overseas Family School

• Grades: Pre-K1 (Pre-Kindergarten) – High School
• Number of Students: About 3,000
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

United World College South East Asia (UWCSEA)

• Grades: Kindergarten – High School
• Number of Students: About 2,500 – 3,000 
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

XCL World Academy 

• Grades: Nursery – Grade 12 
• Number of Students: About 1,000
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

National Schools

National schools are international schools that follow the curriculum and syllabus of their home country. This is a great option for students who expect to return to their native country within a few years, as well as for older students who want to apply to colleges in a particular country. For example, students who are interested in American universities will be required to take the SAT or ACT, whereas British-based curriculums require GCSE subject exams. 

Examples include:

Singapore American School

• Grades: Preschool – Grade 12 
• Curriculum: American
• Number of Students: About 4,000
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

Australian International School

• Grades: Infant Care (2 months) – Year 12 
• Curriculum: Australian 
• Number of Students: About 2,800
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

Global Indian International School (GIIS)

• Grades: Kindergarten – High School 
• Curriculum: Indian/CBSE 
• Number of Students: About 2,600
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

Hybrid Schools 

Hybrid schools are international schools with dual curriculums. They  combine the curriculum from a particular country, like national schools, and follow one or more international curriculums. Students have the option to either pursue a hybrid curriculum or choose either of the options. 

This is a great option if you want to widen university options to anywhere in the world. This way, your child can follow a US or UK-based syllabus but still be able to receive an IB diploma or Cambridge IGCSE Certificate, giving them a higher chance of getting accepted to schools worldwide. 

Examples include:

Stamford American International School (SAIS) 

• Grades: Toddler (2 years) – Year 13 
• Curriculum: American, English IB, Advanced Placement (AP), and Business and Technical Education Council (BTEC) 
• Number of Students: About 3,000
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

German European School Singapore (GESS)

• Grades: Pre-Kindergarten – High School
• Curriculum: German and English IB
• Number of Students: About 1,800
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

GIG International School 

• Grades: Class 1 to 10 
• Curriculum: Cambridge and IB 
• Number of Students: About 1,500 
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

Religious Schools 

If you prefer your child to stay in a faith-based school, Singapore has international schools that combine the culture of their religion with a UK or US curriculum. The top choices include the following:

Sir Manasseh Meyer International School (SMMIS)

• Grades: Pre-school to Secondary school
• Curriculum: British National Curriculum Literacy, Singapore Maths, International Primary Curriculum (IPC), International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC), Cambridge, Jewish Education 
• Number of Students: About 1,000
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

St. Joseph’s Institution International (SJI)

• Grades: Prep 1 – High School
• Curriculum: Singaporean, British, IB, and IGCSE
• Number of Students: About 2,000
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

International Community School (ICS)

• Grades: Pre-kindergarten to Grade 12
• Curriculum: American with a Christian focus
• Number of Students: About 500
• Tuition: Check the school’s website for current annual fees.

Curriculum

If you or your child do not mind following a specific curriculum from the US, UK, or other countries and would rather focus on the academic programs offered when selecting an international school, Singapore offers some of the best curriculums in Asia.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum provides an internationally accepted and academically rigorous education for students aged 3 to 19 years. Most schools will have the IBDP or Diploma Program for high school students. Some schools will have an IB curriculum from the start through the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) for those ages 3-11 years old and the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) for kids ages 11-16 years old. 

The IB’s own Singapore page lists 41 IB World Schools offering at least one IB programme (as of April 2025), a count that also includes some local schools. Schools that offer all three IB programs, from elementary school to high school (IBPYP, IBMYP, IBDP), include:

1. Canadian International School, Lakeside Campus 
2. Chatsworth International School 
3. German European School Singapore 
4. HWA International School (formerly Hillside World Academy)
5. ISS International School
6. Stamford American International School
7. XCL World Academy 

Tuition for an IB curriculum is more expensive than schools with a regular curriculum. Aside from HWA International School (formerly known as Hillside World Academy), all of the institutions listed above publish their annual tuition on their websites, with high school tuition being on the higher end. HWA is one of the only bilingual English-Mandarin IB schools in Singapore, originally set up at the invitation of Singapore’s Economic Development Board. Confirm its current fees directly with the school, since they aren’t always listed alongside the others.

Cambridge IGCSE

The Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is a two-year program that students complete during Grades 9 and 10 to prepare for the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), which, if performed well, can lead to acceptance into top UK universities. 

Depending on the school, after finishing the IGCSE program in 10th grade, students will continue on to either the Cambridge A-Level curriculum or the IBDP.

The IGCSE is less rigorous and much more flexible than the IBDP. There are approximately 70 subjects to pick from, all of which are available in a variety of combinations. Students can customize their education and professional goals by selecting the subjects they want to study. 

However, different schools will provide various subject availability and combinations, so you can choose a school that provides a wide range of alternatives or one that best matches your child.

Many international schools in Singapore offer the IGCSE program. Some of the top choices include:

Tanglin Trust School  is one of the oldest non-profit British international schools in Southeast Asia. It is also one of the few schools to offer both the IGCSE and IBDP programs. It is typically a top choice for many parents, resulting in a year-long waiting list.

EtonHouse International School is an international education group with 13 schools in Singapore, some conveniently located downtown. Aside from their IGCSE program, they are known for providing excellent bilingual learning (English and Mandarin) programs. 

Dulwich College (Singapore) is one of the most expensive schools in Singapore (up to SGD59,220 a year in Year 13) but also highly sought after. Its students averaged 37.7 points out of 45 in the 2026 IB exams. Besides IGCSE, this British international school also offers the IBDP, IB Career-Related Program, and STEAM initiatives. 

Preschool and Early Childhood

Given the variety of teaching styles available today for young students, some parents may want more hands-on and independent learning over  traditional methods. Singapore also offers a number of preschool programs for parents who are particular about their children’s early education. Many working parents combine preschool with a nanny in Singapore to cover the hours before and after school. 

EYFS

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) accepts children from a few months old to the age of five. The UK government establishes the standards, which place a heavy emphasis on developing a child’s creative, language, and critical thinking skills at an early age. 

Schools that use this curriculum generally teach subjects such as communication, emotional development, math, and others through games and play. Dover Court International School, Invictus International Preschool, and the aforementioned Tanglin Trust School are among the best schools that provide EYFS.

Montessori Approach

The Montessori and Reggio Emilia are similar methods of education that have been growing in popularity over the last few years for children ages 2-6 years old. These approaches focus heavily on hands-on and project-based group learning to develop leadership skills, independence, and self-care from a young age. 

Brighton Montessori has 6 locations in Singapore, with programs starting from pre-nursery (1.5 years old) to K-2 (6 years old) with current monthly fees listed on the school’s website. 

Blue House Nursery & International Preschool is a Reggio Emilia school that provides lessons and playgroups for children aged 6 months to 6 years. They also feature a co-working space for parents who want to catch up on work or network with other families while waiting for their children. Tuition depends on the number and length of classes per week; check the school’s website for current term fees. 

Fees

Without a doubt, the cost of attending an international school doesn’t come cheap in one of the most expensive cities in the world. The annual tuition fee will be the biggest cost to consider, along with registration fees and other extracurricular expenses.  

Tuition

Top-tier international schools such as Dulwich College, Tanglin Trust, ISS International School, and the Australian International School charge about SGD54,000 to SGD59,000 a year in the senior years (Dulwich’s Year 13 tuition is SGD59,220 and Tanglin’s Year 12 and 13 tuition is SGD58,080 for 2026/27), with tuition typically rising 3-8% as your child moves up each age group. See the fee comparison table below for a school-by-school breakdown. 

Specialist programmes can cost more. Canadian International School’s Foundation programme, an intensive English track for students new to the language, costs SGD56,880 to SGD62,480 a year, and Nexus charges SGD57,600 to SGD59,400 for its own Foundation Programme. Dover Court’s small-class learning-support streams (Pathways 2 and 3) run up to SGD60,579. (Verified October 2026.)

Plenty of solid schools charge well under the top-tier rates. Some more affordable choices include GIG International School and Middleton International School.

Most schools will offer a 10-20% sibling discount on tuition if you have more than one child attending. Scholarships or paying in installments are also available at most schools upon request. If your employer covers part of the fees, check how that allowance is treated under Singapore income tax for foreigners, since a school-fee benefit is often taxable. 

Expat parents increasingly report that employer education allowances are being capped or cut, so more families are choosing strong mid-tier schools like Middleton or GIIS over the top-tier names. With annual fee rises of 3-8% common, it is worth budgeting for increases each year your child moves up a grade.

Singapore International School Fee Comparison (2026/27)

Here’s how annual tuition compares across some of Singapore’s best-known international schools. Figures are list prices from each school’s own fee schedule where we could confirm them directly; where a school’s fee page was a locked PDF or unreachable, we’ve marked the figure “approx.” and pulled it from a third-party aggregator instead. Expect extra costs on top for application fees, enrolment or capital levies, buses, and uniforms.

School	Annual Tuition Range (SGD)	Curriculum	Notes
Tanglin Trust School	SGD36,300–58,080	British (IGCSE, A Level) and IB	SGD1,000 application fee, SGD4,500 enrolment fee, and SGD4,500 capital levy for new students.
German European School Singapore (GESS)	SGD28,855–43,990 (IB stream)	German curriculum and IB	SGD400 application fee, SGD3,550 enrolment fee, and an annual SGD6,130 development levy (halved from year two). Not-for-profit school.
Singapore American School (SAS)	SGD32,510–43,780	American, AP	SGD2,500 application fee, a one-time registration fee of SGD8,660 (US passport or Green Card holders) or SGD9,900 (everyone else), and a SGD7,770–9,030 annual facility fee.
United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA), Dover	SGD39,069–49,926	IB	Plus an application fee of SGD627 (one campus) or SGD1,254 (both), a one-time SGD4,992 enrolment fee, and a development levy of SGD9,537 in year one, then SGD5,166 a year.
ISS International School	SGD27,748–57,356	IB (PYP, MYP, DP)	The course fee already includes a SGD2,582 development fee and a small fee-protection charge. Plus a SGD3,667 enrolment fee and, if it applies, a SGD510 placement test fee.
Stamford American International School (SAIS)	SGD20,420–56,110	American, IB, and AP	Lower figures are part-week and full-day places at the Early Learning Village; Grades 1 to 12 cost SGD49,040–56,110, including the technology fee. Plus a SGD950 application fee, a SGD4,000 (early years) or SGD4,140 (Grade 1 up) enrolment fee, and a one-time facility fee of SGD3,200 or SGD8,320.
Dulwich College (Singapore)	SGD21,080–59,220	British National Curriculum and IB	The low end is half-day toddler and nursery. Plus a SGD1,500 application fee, a SGD4,000 enrolment fee, and a one-time SGD4,500 capital levy for new students.
Canadian International School (CIS)	SGD20,780–53,500	IB (English programme)	English-programme rates. The Chinese-English bilingual stream costs more at some grade bands. Plus a SGD1,000 application fee, a SGD5,500 confirmation fee for a first child, and a one-time SGD4,300 facilities fee.
Dover Court International School (Nord Anglia)	SGD30,198–47,982	British, EYFS to A Level and IGCSE	Plus a SGD920 application fee, a SGD3,555 registration fee, and a SGD3,189 building fund fee each year.
Australian International School (AIS)	SGD20,136–54,744	Australian curriculum and IB	Figures are for the 2027 school year (January start). Plus a SGD920 application fee, a SGD4,450 enrolment fee, and a one-time facility fee of SGD6,200 (Prep to Year 12) or SGD2,745 (nursery and preschool).
Nexus International School	SGD26,600–50,800	IB	Plus a SGD1,090 application fee, a SGD5,123 enrolment fee, and a SGD2,000 development levy each year.
XCL World Academy	SGD27,580–49,810	IB	Plus a SGD288 application fee, a SGD6,355 enrolment fee, and a SGD3,000 annual development fee.
Overseas Family School (OFS)	SGD28,400–44,800	IB	The school lists fees per semester, so we doubled them for a yearly figure (full-day Pre-K1 to Grade 12). Plus a SGD1,000 application fee and a SGD2,000 registration fee.
Global Indian International School (GIIS)	approx. SGD13,600–36,000	Indian/CBSE and IB	Approx., third-party estimate; the school doesn’t publish a full fee schedule online, so confirm with admissions. One of the more affordable full-curriculum options; 25% sibling discount for a second child.

Every school on this list adds costs on top of tuition: a non-refundable application fee, an enrolment or capital levy due once you accept a place, and sometimes a resource or building fund fee. Ask for the full, current fee schedule in writing before you commit. Published figures shift year to year and don’t include sibling discounts or employer-negotiated corporate rates.

Application

The majority of international schools in Singapore will charge an application fee, which ranges from around SGD300 to SGD2,500 per child depending on the school, and is either non-refundable or partially refundable. This cost is due only after an application and necessary documents have been sent, and a spot has been confirmed by the school. 

Many schools host yearly open houses or participate in education fairs, where you may be eligible for registration fee waivers or significant discounts. We suggest that you frequently check the school’s website for information on these available dates.

After accepting your offer letter, there is a non-refundable enrollment or registration fee for all new applicants. It typically runs from around SGD2,000 at schools like Overseas Family School to more than SGD5,000 at Nexus International School (SGD5,123) and XCL World Academy (SGD6,355). Singapore American School charges the most, with a one-time registration fee of SGD9,900 for families without a US passport or Green Card. (Verified October 2026.)

Others

The cost of transportation, school lunches, uniforms, technology fees, and test fees for IB or IGCSE schools can add several thousand SGD every year. Parents on expat forums reckon the all-in bill usually lands 15 to 25% above the tuition figure once levies, buses and exam fees are counted.

Some schools may also require a one-time or annual facility fee for the maintenance of the school’s campus. These prices can be quite steep. For instance, the Australian International School charges a one-time, non-refundable facility fee per child. It’s SGD6,200 from Prep to Year 12, or SGD2,745 for nursery and preschool. (Verified October 2026.) 

Tips for Choosing a School

Choosing the best school for your children from among Singapore’s dozens of international schools is a difficult task. Besides tuition and fees, here are some other things to think about when comparing overseas schools. 

If you’re new to Singapore or considering coming here in the near future, here are also some resources to help you get settled.

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Learn More:

• Moving to Singapore: A Guide for Expats
• Cost of Living in Singapore as an Expat

Education Quality

A school is only as good as its teachers and its curriculum, so start there. International schools in Singapore hire teachers from all over, and the depth of experience varies a lot from one school to the next.

Ask who will actually teach your child’s year group, where they trained, and how long they have been at the school. High staff turnover is common at some schools and worth asking about directly.

If your child is strong in a particular subject, or needs extra help in one, look for a school with real depth in that area rather than a general reputation for being good.

Extracurricular Activities

Clubs and sports are where a lot of the soft skills develop: communication, teamwork, and confidence. Most Singapore international schools run a wide range of them, though the mix differs from school to school.

You will find swimming, football, and basketball almost everywhere, alongside more unusual options like robotics, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, horse riding, scuba diving, debate, and musical theatre at the larger campuses.

If your child already plays a sport or an instrument, finding a school that offers it makes settling into a new country much easier. Check whether activities are included in tuition or billed on top, since that varies too.

School Environment

Beyond the curriculum, pay attention to how a school feels day to day. Class sizes are one of the biggest practical differences from a local school: international classes usually cap around 24 students and often run smaller, so your child gets more direct time with teachers.

Tour the campus during school hours if you can. Watch how staff talk to students, look at the outdoor and quiet spaces, and let your child picture themselves there.

A school that suits your child’s temperament matters as much as its ranking or its fees.

Facilities

Some international schools in Singapore provide cutting-edge facilities, while others are relatively modest. You should prioritize schools with great facilities if you want your children to have a wide range of opportunities for extracurricular activities. For example, UWCSEA has a variety of sports facilities, including an Olympic-size pool, a gymnasium, and tennis courts.

Other schools, such as the Nexus International School, offer more unique extracurricular activities, like notable Introduction to Filmmaking workshop where students will learn scriptwriting, directing, and cinematography.

Location

Even though Singapore is small, it might take up to an hour to go to and from school during the morning rush hour. Many expat families report regretting signing a lease before confirming a school place, since commutes can stretch to an hour during morning rush hour and rental contracts lock you in for two years. Moreover, depending on how far you have to send your child to school, you could spend roughly SGD2,400 to SGD5,400 a year on the school bus, depending on distance and operator.

Bus timetables shape after-school life too. Parents say a campus far from home can mean your child skips clubs to catch the last bus, so check the route before you pick the school or the flat.

Check out our other guides on locating housing and the best neighborhoods for families to learn more about where to reside in Singapore. A local real estate agent in Singapore who knows the school catchment areas can save you from signing a lease before your child’s place is confirmed.

Learn More:

• Buying a Condo in Singapore: A Step by Step Guide 
• The Complete Guide to Renting an Apartment in Singapore 

Admission Process

Due to the large expat community in Singapore, some of the better or more popular foreign schools will have waiting lists. Some schools will also have a hierarchy system. For instance, students with US citizenship or a Green Card will be given admission priority at the Singapore American School.

Other international schools will also have quotas on the percentage of students from each country in order to maintain the school’s diversity. Your own Employment Pass status usually determines which Dependant’s Pass your child gets, which most schools ask to see at application. Therefore, if there are already too many students from your country enrolled at that school, you may be placed on a waiting list. 

You can find each school’s rules on space availability and application priorities on their website under the Admissions tab.  Expat parents consistently report that waitlist movement is real. Families relocate out of Singapore regularly, so staying on lists at multiple schools simultaneously is a worthwhile strategy.

Check that a school is registered before you pay anything. The Ministry of Education says full-time schools that follow a foreign or international curriculum register with SkillsFuture Singapore, whose role has since passed to the new Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA). Many schools put their registration number and dates on their website. Nexus, for example, lists one running from 21 March 2023 to 20 March 2027.

If a school doesn’t show one, ask admissions for the number and expiry date in writing. If your child will study on a Student’s Pass rather than a Dependant’s Pass, the school also needs EduTrust certification: ICA lets only EduTrust-certified private schools offer places to foreign students. (Verified October 2026.)

Admissions Timeline and Waitlists

Singapore’s international schools run rolling admissions with two main intake points: August, for the northern-hemisphere academic year, and January, at schools that also run a January start. Rolling doesn’t mean relaxed. At the best-known schools, popular year groups for the August intake can close six to twelve months ahead, especially at Reception, Year 3, and Year 7.

UWCSEA and Tanglin Trust in particular tend to run genuine waitlists in the most popular year groups, not just a formality. Tanglin takes applications up to three years ahead, starts reviewing them in the September before entry, and fills places from an applicant pool rather than a first-come list. For an August 2027 start, its deadline is 15 February 2027. (Verified October 2026.)

Families relocate out of Singapore constantly, so staying active on a waitlist at two or three schools at once is standard practice among expat parents here, not a sign you’re struggling to get a place. Some parents on Singapore forums sidestep the crowded kindergarten year groups by using a local preschool until Grade 1, then applying.

Have these ready before you start applying:

• Your child’s passport, birth certificate, and your own Employment Pass, Dependant’s Pass, or other valid visa
• Two to three years of school reports or transcripts
• Immunization and health records
• A teacher recommendation letter, usually from the current homeroom or subject teacher
• Results from an English or academic placement assessment for older grades, plus an interview at most schools

If your employer is relocating you, ask HR early whether the company already holds seats or a corporate agreement with a specific school. Some multinationals block-book places each year, which can move your child up the waitlist considerably faster than applying cold. Parents who relocated on a two-to-three-month timeline say big-name schools rarely have places in the early primary years. A school with rolling admissions is often the safer bet.

One thing that surprises new arrivals: Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents can’t simply choose an international school over a national one. Singapore Citizens born after 1 January 1996 fall under the Compulsory Education Act and must attend a national primary school unless the Ministry of Education (MOE) grants an exemption. For a Foreign System School, the government’s term for most international schools, the school itself applies for that waiver on the family’s behalf once it has an available place, and MOE decides case by case. This mostly matters for returning Singapore permanent residence holders and dual-national families; if neither parent nor child holds Singapore citizenship, it doesn’t apply to you.

Application fees (typically SGD300 to SGD2,500, non-refundable) don’t guarantee a spot, and paying one at three or four schools in parallel is normal practice among Singapore expat parents rather than a backup plan.

International Schools vs Government (National) Schools

Singapore’s own government schools, run by the Ministry of Education (MOE), rank among the best in the world, so an international school is not automatically the better call. It comes down to how long you plan to stay, your budget, and how your child learns. Here is how the two compare on the points parents ask about most.

	International schools	Government (MOE) schools
Approach	Individualized, with room for creativity and soft skills	Intensive and exam-focused, strong on maths and science, more pressure
Curriculum	Home-country or international (IB, IGCSE, AP); each school sets its own	A single national MOE syllabus, the same across every school
Annual fees	Roughly SGD20,000 to SGD59,000	Usually under SGD12,000, and lower still for citizens and PRs
Class size	Capped around 24, often 17–20, usually with a teaching assistant	Typically 32–34 per class
Languages	English plus the school’s mother tongue (French, German, Mandarin, and others)	English plus a local second language (Mandarin, Malay, or Tamil)
School calendar	Often follows the represented country, including its holidays	Fixed MOE calendar, with breaks in March, June, September, and December

MOE schools are far cheaper, but Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents are generally expected to attend them, as covered in the admissions section above. For most expat families on an Employment Pass or Dependant’s Pass, an international school running a familiar curriculum is the practical choice, especially if you expect to move abroad with your kids again.

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Now, on to You

Singapore is lucky to have so many international school options, but it can be difficult to choose the best one for your children. 

When applying to schools, be proactive and try to attend as many open houses or campus tours as possible to learn about the school’s culture and facilities, as well as to take advantage of any registration discounts that may be offered. 

Finally, don’t worry too much because all of the international schools are pretty excellent and dedicated to giving the greatest education possible for your child, so you can’t go wrong with any school you end up choosing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does international school cost in Singapore?

Published annual tuition runs from about SGD20,000 for early-years places to about SGD59,000 in the senior years at the priciest schools like Dulwich College and Tanglin Trust, before application fees, enrolment levies, buses, and uniforms. Specialist programmes can cost more, and a few schools, such as Global Indian International School, don’t publish full fees online. See the fee comparison table above for a school-by-school breakdown.

Can Singapore citizens or permanent residents attend international schools?

Not automatically. Singapore Citizens born after 1 January 1996 fall under the Compulsory Education Act and must attend a national primary school unless the international school applies for an MOE waiver on the family’s behalf and MOE approves it case by case. A small number of Privately Funded Schools that follow MOE’s bilingualism and National Education policies don’t require this exemption.

What curricula do Singapore’s international schools follow?

IB is the most common, followed by British schools running IGCSE and A Levels, American schools offering AP, and a smaller group of national and religious schools tied to a specific home country’s system. A few schools, like Stamford American, blend two or more of these into a hybrid programme.

How far ahead should I apply, and how do waitlists work?

Start nine to twelve months before your target start date. UWCSEA and Tanglin Trust in particular run genuine waitlists for popular year groups, and applying to two or three schools in parallel is standard practice among Singapore expat parents rather than a backup plan.

Does my employer typically cover international school fees in Singapore?

Many relocation packages include a school-fee allowance, though parents increasingly report these being capped or cut. Get the exact amount and which fees it covers, tuition only or tuition plus buses and uniforms, in writing before you sign your contract.

What costs come on top of tuition?

Budget for a non-refundable application fee (SGD300 to SGD2,500), an enrolment or registration fee once you accept a place (SGD2,000 to nearly SGD10,000), plus buses, uniforms, and technology fees that can add several thousand SGD a year.

Are sibling discounts or scholarships available?

Most schools offer a 10-20% sibling discount once you enrol more than one child, and some offer more for a third child. A handful run merit or need-based scholarships, but these are usually reserved for current students rather than new applicants, so ask directly rather than assuming one exists.

What’s the difference between an international school and a national school in Singapore?

International schools like UWCSEA or Tanglin Trust follow a curriculum from another country or an international framework like the IB, and mainly serve students on foreign passports. National (MOE) schools follow Singapore’s own syllabus and are the default for most Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents.