International Student Admissions
Many parents wish for their children to study in Singapore, to benefit from the internationally renowned academic standards and sound curriculum.
The most important aspect for parents to note is that English is the medium of instruction in Singapore schools. While at the primary school level, students with little English may be able to pick up the language sufficiently quick to excel in the system, students should possess good proficiency in English if the student is entering secondary school level and above.
Admission to Mainstream Public Schools
For international students looking to enter mainstream public primary schools, secondary schools and junior colleges (JCs), the Ministry of Education (MOE) conducts a centralised Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS) during the September/October period annually for admission in January of the following year.
The AEIS comprises an English test and a Mathematics test. Applicants who pass the test will be offered a place in a suitable school. Please note that the exercise is for admission into Primary 2-5 and Secondary 1-3 only. Admission into Primary 6 and Secondary 4 is usually not granted as it would not be in the student’s interest to be admitted during the critical national examination years.
International students who wish to enter Primary 1 or JCs may approach the schools directly.
Results of the AEIS are generally released in mid-December.
You can find information of mainstream public schools in the MOE’s School Information Service website.
Please click here for specific procedures according to pass status.
Admission to Other Schools
International students who wish to enter a pre-school, private school or post-secondary institution such as a university or polytechnic should approach the institution directly.
School and Miscellaneous Fees
The school fee rates recently underwent a review. From 2011 onwards, non-ASEAN international students will pay higher school fees than Singapore Permanent Residents. The monthly fees are shown in the table below:
| Level |
Nationality |
2011 |
2012 |
| School Fee (SGD) |
Miscellaneous Fee* (SGD) |
Total (SGD) |
School Fee (SGD) |
Miscellaneous Fee* (SGD) |
Total (SGD) |
| Primary |
Singapore PR |
22.00 |
11.00 |
33.00 |
40.00 |
11.00 |
51.00 |
| IS (Non-ASEAN) |
245.00 |
11.00 |
256.00 |
345.00 |
11.00 |
356.00 |
| IS (First 2 years)# |
170.00 |
11.00 |
181.00 |
Same as non-ASEAN rates |
| Secondary |
Singapore PR |
30.00 |
16.00 |
46.00 |
55.00 |
16.00 |
71.00 |
| IS (Non-ASEAN) |
340.00 |
16.00 |
356.00 |
470.00 |
16.00 |
486.00 |
| IS (First 2 years)# |
235.00 |
16.00 |
251.00 |
Same as non-ASEAN rates |
Junior College
/ Centralised Institute |
Singapore PR |
43.00 |
22.00 |
65.00 |
80.00 |
22.00 |
102.00 |
| IS (Non-ASEAN) |
550.00 |
22.00 |
572.00 |
750.00 |
22.00 |
772.00 |
| IS (First 2 years)# |
380.00 |
22.00 |
402.00 |
Same as non-ASEAN rates |
School fees and miscellaneous fees payable may be reviewed by the MOE and individual schools from time to time.
Independent Schools charge their own school fees. Please check directly with the school regarding the fees payable.