Based on a survey conducted by human resource consultancy firm ECA International in 2020, Singapore was ranked the 14th most expensive country in the world for expatriates. When compared against countries closer to home, Singapore is ranked 6th place in Asia.
Despite the high cost of living for expatriates here in Singapore, many expatriates still look to relocate here on our sunny island. And it is not surprising why!
With Singapore being a safe and stable country, coupled with the fact that Singapore is known for its exceptional and high quality educational standards, it is no wonder why expatriates are willing to consider relocating to Singapore and enroll their children in some of the schools here.
Did you know that there are more than 50 international schools in Singapore?
With the robust expatriate population, there are over 50 international schools based here in school. Each of these schools boost their own unique methodology, curriculum, and programmes, catering to expatriates and foreigners of various nationalities. This includes Chinese, Koreans, Australian, British, French and so on.
Here are some of the top 20 international schools in Singapore
Whether you are foreigner looking to enroll your child in an international school, or perhaps wanting to know which are the some of the top international schools in Singapore out of sheer curiosity, here is the list:
International School |
One World International School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | SGD $17,793 to SGD $20,457p annually |
| Website | https://www.owis.org/ |
| Address |
|
| Contact | 65 6914 6700 admissions@owis.org |
| Operating Hours | 9 am to 4.30 pm | Monday to Friday 9 am to 1 pm | Saturday |
International School |
Canadian International School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://www.cis.edu.sg/ |
| Address |
|
| Contact |
|
| Operating Hours | 7:45 am – 6:00 pm (M-F) |
International School |
Overseas Family School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://www.ofs.edu.sg/ |
| Address | 81 Pasir Ris Heights, Singapore 519292 |
| Contact | +65 6738 0211 support@ofs.edu.sg |
| Operating Hours | Monday to Friday: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm Saturday: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm Sunday and Public Holiday: Closed |
International School |
Australian International School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://www.ais.com.sg/ |
| Address | 1 Lorong Chuan Singapore 556 818 |
| Contact | Tel: +65 6653 2958 (admissions) Tel: +65 6664 8127 (general enquiries) E: admissions@ais.com.sg |
| Operating Hours | Early Learning Village operates from 8.30am – 3.00pm Elementary School operates from 8.30am – 3.15pm Secondary School operates from 8.30am – 3.30pm |
International School |
Dover Court International School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/singapore |
| Address | 301 Dover Road, 139644 Singapore |
| Contact | General Enquiries +65 6775 7664
Admissions +65 6775 7664 |
| Operating Hours | School Hours: 8.30am – 3.00pm
Office Hours: 7.45am – 5.00pm |
International School |
Chatsworth International School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | Contact for school fees |
| Website | https://www.chatsworth.com.sg/ |
| Address |
|
| Contact | View respective campuses’ contact details here |
International School |
United World College South East Asia |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://www.uwcsea.edu.sg/ |
| Address |
|
| Contact |
|
International School |
The Grange Institution |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://www.thegrange.edu.sg/ |
| Address | 449 Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore 805946 |
| Contact | 65 68173630
enquiry@thegrange.edu.sg |
International School |
Stamford American International School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://www.sais.edu.sg/ |
| Address |
|
| Contact | +65 6602 7247 (Admissions)
+65 6709 4800 (Parent Helpdesk) admissions@sais.edu.sg |
International School |
St. Joseph’s Institution International |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://www.sji-international.com.sg/ |
| Address | 490 Thomson Road, Singapore, 298191 |
| Contact | Elementary School: (+65) 6871 5202 High School: (+65) 6353 9383 |
International School |
Nexus International School (Singapore) |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://www.nexus.edu.sg/ |
| Address | 1 Aljunied Walk Singapore 387293 |
| Contact | +65 6536 6566 enquiry@nexus.edu.sg |
International School |
International Community School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://www.ics.edu.sg/ |
| Address | 27A Jubilee Road, Singapore 128575 |
| Contact | +65 6776 7435
info@ics.edu.sg |
International School |
Invictus International Schools |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | Contact for school fees |
| Website | https://www.invictus.school/ |
| Address |
|
| Contact | centrium@invictus.edu.sg
info@invictus.edu.sg |
International School |
Dulwich College Singapore |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | Contact for school fees |
| Website | https://singapore.dulwich.org/ |
| Address |
|
| Contact | 65 6890 1003 admissions@dulwich-singapore.edu.sg |
International School |
De Hollandse School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school rates here |
| Website | https://www.hollandseschool.org/ |
| Address | 65 Bukit Tinggi Road, Singapore 289757 |
| Contact | 65 6466 0662
admissions@hollandseschool.org |
International School |
Hwa Chong International School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | Contact for school fees |
| Website | https://www.hcis.edu.sg/ |
| Address | 663 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269783 |
| Contact | 65 6464 7077
info@hcis.edu.sg / admissions@hcis.edu.sg |
International School |
Middleton International School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://www.middleton.edu.sg/ |
| Address | Tampines Street 92, Singapore 528889
215 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 588184 |
| Contact | 65 6636 1155 / 65 6875 0089 |
International School |
EtonHouse International |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | Contact for school fees |
| Website | https://www.etonhouse.edu.sg/ |
| Address | 178 Clemenceau Avenue #06-00, Haw Par Glass Tower S 239926 |
| Contact | 65 6746 3333 enquiry@etonhouse.com.sg |
International School |
Sir Manasseh Meyer International School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://smmis.edu.sg/ |
| Address | 3 Jalan Ulu Sembawang, Singapore 758932 |
| Contact | +65 6331 4633 admissions@smm.edu.sg |
International School |
Global Indian International School |
| Specialty |
|
| Pricing | View school fees here |
| Website | https://singapore.globalindianschool.org/ |
| Address |
|
| Contact | admissions.sg@globalindianschool.org |
| Operating Hours | 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (Monday to Friday) 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (Saturday) |
What is the difference between going to an international school versus a local school?
There are several key differences between going to an international school versus a local school in Singapore. Aside from the ratio of student nationalities, here are some of the other key differences:
Curriculum
Most international schools follow curriculums that are a mix of International Baccalaureate (IB), the International Primary Curriculum and the IGCSE. With this international curriculum, it allows expatriates to relocate easily without much disruption to their children’s education.
However, there are also some international schools that offer a hybrid curriculum. This means that the schools offer the home country curriculum with the option to combine with an international curriculum. This allows families to ease back into their home country and facilitates their children’s transition into the educational system in their home countries. Some examples of such schools include Australian International School and Stamford American School.
Teaching pedagogy
The teaching pedagogy of international schools often differ to that of local schools. While local schools in Singapore may place more emphasis on grades and subjects such as Mathematics and Science, international schools may adopt a more holistic and self-exploratory approach for their students. This could include regular field trips as part of their Science module, as opposed to learning directly from textbooks and science labs. However, do note that this typically differs from school to school. It is always good to sign up for a school tour to gain a deeper understanding of the school’s values and teaching pedagogy.
Fees
Perhaps the most stark difference between international schools and local schools lies in the school fees. It is no secret that school fees of any international school ranges in the thousands, amounting to tens of thousands Singapore dollars annually.
On the other hand, school fees for local schools in Singapore are heavily subsidised for Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents from infant care all the way up to universities. Even for foreign students enrolled in local schools, fees may reach up to $650 a month – still significantly more affordable as compared to international schools.
Different academic year and holidays
The academic year and school holidays often vary between international schools and public schools. The academic calendar for international schools typically follows the curriculum. For example, if the children follow the IB programme, this means that their semester will begin in September. Similarly, school holidays will be aligned with the typical summer and winter holidays in other Western countries.
For local schools however, the school semester is usually set by the Ministry of Education (MOE). School holidays are usually in the months of March, June, September, and November to December.
Can international students apply to study at local schools in Singapore?
It is possible for international students to apply to study at a local school in Singapore, albeit a more challenging application process. However, this option may be more feasible and financially sustainable for foreigners who wish to stay for a long term in Singapore.
The first step is to ensure that the child had a student pass to study in the local schools. They may be exempted if they hold a Dependent’s Pass or Immigration Exemption Order.
Enrolment to Primary 1
For foreigners who wish to enrol their child into Primary 1, they are only allowed to do so under Phase 3 of the Primary 1 exercise. Parents will simply need to indicate their interest on the MOE website and wait to receive a notification as to whether their child has been accepted or not.
For children aged 7 and above
There are two test options for the child to take in order to determine the educational level that is appropriate for their age. The two tests are Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS) and Supplementary Admissions Exercise for International Students (S-AEIS). These two tests are conducted in English and the purpose is to assess the child’s English literacy, numeracy and reasoning abilities.
It is important to bear in mind that the success of the application boils down to the child’s performance on these tests. If successful, MOE will consider available vacancies in the schools as well as the declared residential area before finalising on the child’s school placement.
If one spouse is a Singapore Citizen
The application process would then be slightly different. For parents who want to enrol their child anywhere from Primary 2 to 5 or Secondary 1 to 3, they will need to submit an online form and prepare a list of documents for MOE. Similarly, admission are often not guaranteed given the high volume of applicants and limited vacancies.
Singapore citizens are not allowed to attend an international school in Singapore.
Editor’s Note:
While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccuracies. Therefore, we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information.
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