By Lindsey Tan
International schools in Singapore offer top-notch education, providing students with world-class facilities, multifaceted support, and an open-minded environment full of different cultures.
If you want to know which school fits your criteria perfectly, we’ve listed down the best international schools in Singapore and all the info you need: curricula offered, tuition fees, languages offered, and more.
Note that if you need help making sense of all the curriculum speak, we’ve also prepared a glossary for you below! Just refer to it whenever you run into an acronym/term you don’t recognize.
How many international schools are in Singapore?
Singapore is a multicultural hub that is home to many native Singaporeans and expatriates. Because a sizable portion of Singapore’s population consists of expatriates, the demand for international schools has skyrocketed through the years.
According to the International Schools Database, there’s currently over 50 international schools in Singapore. With so many international schools to choose from, it’s no wonder that many parents are overwhelmed with the task of choosing the best school for their children .
The primary differentiating factor among international schools is the type of curriculum they offer.
Some international schools may focus on providing international curricula such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). For others, they may opt for national curricula such as the English National Curriculum, the American curriculum, and the Australian curriculum, among others.
Other important factors that should also be considered are the tuition fees, language programmes offered, school size, location, special learning programmes offered, and others.
Some international schools may also provide students with perks such as extracurricular activities, transportation services, boarding houses, and much more.
Aside from academics, the school’s learning environment is another important element to consider since it is crucial to the development of your children’s physical, emotional, and social skills.
To help narrow down your search, we picked out the top 13 best international schools in Singapore based on factors we’ve listed above. We made sure to choose the schools based on the quality of education and school experience they can provide for your children.
Without further ado, here are the best international schools in Singapore!
1. Canadian International School
The Canadian International School (CIS) is conducive to easy learning, boasting a relaxed, friendly environment for its students. The teacher-student ratio is 1:11, allowing educators to monitor the development of each student more carefully.
They have a diverse student body and staff hailing from 70 different nationalities. They also monitor English language proficiency requirements upon application.
CIS also promotes digital literacy through its K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum. Through this program, students from grades 4 to 12 are encouraged to use iPads and MacBooks as a tool for education.
They offer different language programmes depending on the student’s needs: the English programme, the Chinese-English bilingual programme, and the French-English bilingual programme.
Campus tours are also available for parents who want to learn more about the environment at CIS. You can avail of either on-site personal campus tours or virtual tours by booking on their website.
The Canada International School has 2 campuses, by the way: the Lakeside Campus in the west and the Tanjong Katong Campus in the east.
The Lakeside Campus caters to students aged 2 to 18, while the Tanjong Katong Campus accommodates students aged 3 to 12.
| WEBSITE | https://www.cis.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | Lakeside Campus: [email protected] +65 6467 1732 +65 6467 1729 Tanjong Katong Campus: [email protected] +65 6345 1573 +65 6345 4057 |
| ADDRESS | Lakeside Campus: 7 Jurong West Street 41, Singapore 649414 Tanjong Katong Campus: 371 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437128 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Nursery to Grade 12 |
| CURRICULUM | IBDP |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Chinese, French, and Spanish |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | No |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | S$2,500 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | *Tuition fees differ depending on campus Nursery: S$16,000 – S$24,000 Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 1: S$32,000 – S$33,000 Grade 1 to 6: S$33,000 to S$39,000 Grade 6 to 12: S$35,000 to S$40,000 |
Pros
- Promotes digital literacy at a young age through K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum
- Chinese-English bilingual programme for Chinese-speaking students and French-English bilingual programme for French-speaking students
- Pastoral care available for all students
Cons
- You are required to provide your child with an iPad and/or MacBook on the first day of school.
- Bilingual programmes limited to only Chinese and French
- Relatively small school populace
- No specialized programs for students with special needs
2. Singapore American School
At Singapore American School (SAS), educators emulate a high-quality American education. Students are treated to world-class facilities such as multiple gymnasiums, an immense library, a private bus service, and even a 1-acre natural rainforest.
Aside from academics, SAS also puts an emphasis on developing a student’s artistic and athletic abilities through a wide variety of extracurricular activities. They boast hundreds of after-school clubs for students in elementary to high school.
SAS also values strengthening school spirit and student unity through its Booster Club. By participating in the Booster Club, students learn the values of volunteering and showing support to student-athletes and performers in various school events.
For non-English speaking applicants, don’t fret — English proficiency is not required for levels Pre-K to Grade 3. EAL will be supported in their classes, all of which have a teacher-student ratio of 1:10.
| WEBSITE | https://www.sas.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | +65 6363 3403 |
| ADDRESS | 40 Woodlands Street 41, Singapore 738547 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Pre-K to High School |
| CURRICULUM | AP and High school diploma |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Chinese, Spanish, and French |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | No |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | S$2,500 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | Pre-Kindergarten: S$39,000 – S$41,000 Kinder to Grade 5: S$47,000 – S$49,000 Middle School (Grade 6 to 8): S$50,000 – S$53,000 High School (Grade 9 to 12): S$52,000 – S$54,000 |
Pros
- Wide 36-acre campus with world-class facilities
- American educational system-centric curriculum
- Private bus service for students
- School-owned iPads and Macbook will be issued to students as modes of learning
Cons
- Private bus service may cost around S$956 – S$2,450 per semester depending on proximity to campus
- No specialized programs for students with special needs
- Relatively large school populace (around 4,000 students)
3. Australian International School
Australian International School (AIS) is a CIS-accredited (Council of International Schools) school, where students are trained via an Australian-based curriculum. AIS caters to students as young as 2 months old to 18 years old.
You heard that right: they cater to infants as young as 2 months old! This is done through their Special Infant Care program aimed at toddlers 2 months to 18 months old.
AIS offers a private bus service for students ages 2 years old and above. For parents who will avail of this service, you may opt to choose 2-way or 1-way trips.
Co-curricular activities are a big part of the AIS curriculum, where students are encouraged to participate in athletic, social, and cultural activities to promote well-roundedness.
Some of the opportunities offered are indoor and outdoor sports, robotics, music, theatre and visual arts, and much more.
Parents may also sign up for personal tours around the campus to learn more about the facilities available and the different learning programs AIS offers.
| WEBSITE | https://www.ais.com.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | [email protected] +65 6653 2958 (admissions) +65 6664 8127 (general enquiries) |
| ADDRESS | 1 Lorong Chuan, Singapore 556 818 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Pre-K to Year 12 |
| CURRICULUM | NAPLAN |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Chinese, Indonesian, and French |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | No |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | Infant Care: S$500 Nursery to Year 12: S$800 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | Infant Care: S$1,200 – S$2,500 Elementary School (Prep to Year 5): S$35,868 Secondary School (Year 6 to 9): S$41,232 Secondary School (Year 10 to 12): S$42,852 |
Pros
- Australian educational system-centric curriculum
- Specialized programs for infant care
- Wide variety of co-curricular activities for students
- Private bus service
Cons
- No after-school care program or supervision available after class hours
- Annual technology fee of S$535 to S$963 for school-provided laptops and S$300 to bring your own device. Only Macbook Pros and Macbook Air are allowed.
4. International French School (Singapore)
The International French School (IFS) is a member of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), which ensures that the quality of the curriculum is 100% in accordance with the French national curriculum.
IFS accepts students ages 2 to 18 years old and makes sure that each student is closely monitored by having a low student/educator ratio of 1:9 to 1:15. They also offer bilingual education in French and English.
Non-French-speaking students can also enroll in IFS, boasting a diverse student body consisting of 67 nationalities. Non-French-speaking children from up to 12 years old are welcome to apply, while older students need to undergo assessment.
Students with special needs, learning challenges, and even gifted students may be enrolled in the IFS GAIN program. The GAIN program aims to provide special students with personalised learning programs that provide guidance to maximize their learning ability.
With over 60 extra-curricular activities in arts, culture, education, language, and sports, they strive to empower individual student expression.
| WEBSITE | https://www.ifs.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | [email protected] +65 6805 0000 For non-French speaking students: [email protected] +65 6805 0001 |
| ADDRESS | 3000 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, Singapore 569928 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Kinder to High school |
| CURRICULUM | GCSE |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Mandarin, French, Spanish, German, and Latin |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | Yes |
| UNIFORMS | Yes for Kinder to Elementary; Middle to High School students are only required to wear uniforms for P.E. and field trips |
| APPLICATION FEE | Infant Care: S$500 Nursery to Year 12: S$800 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | Kindergarten: S$10,000 – S$18,000 Elementary: S$18,000 – S$20,000 Middle School: S$21,000 – S$22,000 High School: S$26,000 |
Pros
- French educational system-centric curriculum
- Student exchange programs available
- No application fees
- An extensive number of language learning options for students
- Specialized programs for students with special needs available
Cons
- A certain level of French language proficiency is needed in grades 8 and above
5. United World College of South East Asia
Photo from official YouTube channel of UWC South East Asia
UWC South East Asia (UWCSEA) boasts a holistic learning programme consisting of academics, activities, outdoor education, personal and social education, and service.
UWCSEA also advocates diversity, hosting a staff of 500+ and a student body of 5,000+ hailing from all over the world.
Part of their advocacy for diversity is encouraging students to hone and develop their primary language through a wide variety of language programmes available. This is in addition to their EAL programme.
They are also considered to be one of the best boarding schools in Singapore. The school accepts boarding admissions for grades 8 and up.
UWCSEA offers different activities to students who want to develop their athletic and artistic skills. Their Service programme teaches students the value of sustainability and social impact through engaging activities such as environmental initiatives, leadership training, and more.
They also offer a learning support programme for students with special needs. Through this programme, learning systems are tailored to a student’s individual needs.
There are two UWCSEA campuses: the Dover Campus in the west and the East Campus in the east.
| WEBSITE | https://www.uwcsea.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | Dover Campus: [email protected] +65 6775 5344 +65 6419 9326 (24-hour security desk) East Campus: [email protected] +65 6305 5344 +65 6260 0602 (24-hour security desk) |
| ADDRESS | Dover Campus: 1207 Dover Road, Singapore 139654 East Campus: 1 Tampines Street 73, Singapore 528704 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Kinder to Grade 12 |
| CURRICULUM | GCSE, IB |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Danish, Bahasa Indonesian, Bengali, Cantonese, Tamil, Thai, Urdu, Malay, Hebrew, and Russian |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | Yes |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | S$615 – S$1,230 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | Kinder 1 to Grade 1: S$39,000 Grade 2 to 5: S$40,000 Grade 6 to 10: S$45,000 Grade 11 to 12: S$47,000 |
Pros
- Beginner and advanced language programs for students whose primary language is not English
- Wellness and counselling services offered
- Large number of language programmes offered compared to other international schools
- Specialized programs for students with special needs available
Cons
- Limited slots for boarders and extensive boarding application process
- Language programmes change depending on campus
- No private bus service
6. Chatsworth International School
Chatsworth International School offers the IB curriculum for students from ages 3 to 18 years old. Chatsworth International School seeks to teach with a holistic approach, with arts as an integral part of their nurturing environment.
Chatsworth also operates a preschool for students 18 months old to 6 years old. The Chatsworth Preschool is registered with the Singapore Early Child Development Agency (ECDA), which ensures that younger students are prepared for Singapore’s local mainstream schools.
Chatsworth puts emphasis on hands-on learning and keeps low student ratios in classrooms. For preschool, the average ratio is 1:5-10, while for K-13, it’s 2:22-24 for Kinder 1 to Year 2 and 1:24 for Years 3 to 13.
Chatsworth has two campuses: the Piccadilly Campus for preschool and the Bukit Timah Campus for K-13 students.
For parents who want a tour of the campus and its facilities, virtual and on-site tours are available on their website.
| WEBSITE | https://www.chatsworth.com.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | Piccadilly Campus (Preschool): [email protected] +65 6481 5585 Bukit Timah Campus (K-13): [email protected] +65 6463 3201 |
| ADDRESS | Piccadilly Campus (Preschool): 3 Piccadilly Circus, Singapore 797641 Bukit Timah Campus (K-13): 72 Bukit Tinggi Road, Singapore 289760 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Kinder to Year 13 |
| CURRICULUM | IBDP |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Mandarin, Japanese, and French |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | No |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | S$250 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | Kinder 1 & 2: S$23,000 Year 1 to 6: S$27,000 Year 7 to 9: S$28,000 Year 10 to 11: S$29,000 Year 12 to 13: S$32,000 |
Pros
- Dedicated classrooms with school-provided iPads for each student and teacher to use
- Yearly local and international excursions and camps for students
- Private bus service
- University advising for graduating students
Cons
- No specialized program for students with special needs
- Private bus service only available for Bukit Timah campus
7. Hillside World Academy
The Hillside World Academy (HWA) gives importance to bilingual learning by offering a variety of language programs from as early as kindergarten to high school.
They do this by implementing 2 languages (mainly English and Chinese) as the medium for instruction and by offering after-school language classes.
They also offer a broad range of co-curricular activities, which include sports, arts, culture immersion, science, and more. HWA is also a member of the Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools (ACSIS) and lets its students compete in competitive sports against other international schools.
HWA also offers and assists students in finding accommodations. Depending on the student’s preferences, they may help the students by finding boarding houses, private rooms for rent, and even accommodations with families in Singapore.
The school campus is surrounded by greenery, boasting an environmental learning experience through facilities such as the Bio Pond. The campus also offers different facilities for sports and other recreational activities.
| WEBSITE | https://www.hwa.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | Online enquiry form +65 6254 0200 (admission enquiries) +65 6254 0500 (student support) |
| ADDRESS | 11 Hillside Drive, Singapore 548926 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Preschool to Grade 12 |
| CURRICULUM | IB |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish, and Italian |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | No |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | Preschool to Grade 6: S$165 Grade 7 to 12: S$330 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | Preschool: S$18,000 Grade 1 to 6: S$31,000 Grade 7 to 10: S$32,000 Grade 11 to 12: S$33,000 |
Pros
- Remedial classes are offered to students who need help with their academics
- Emphasis on bilingual mode of education
- Private shuttle service
- School-provided iPads are available for students; Middle school and high school students are allowed to use their personal laptops in school
Cons
- Private shuttle service only picks up students at certain points, not from their homes
- No specialized programs for students with special needs
8. Invictus International School
The Invictus International School has 7 campuses around the world, with 3 campuses in Singapore: the Dempsey, Sentosa, and Centrium campuses.The Centrium campus is set to open at the start of 2021 and will cater to students from grades 1 to 12.
Note: The Centrium campus offers grade 1 prep to 9, and grade 11 for the academic year 2020-2021. Grades 10 and 12 will be offered starting academic year 2021-2022.
They describe their curriculum as holistic and future-proof-learning, putting an emphasis on international-mindedness. The school also offers a Chinese-English bilingual program from Grades 1 to 6 and an English-medium programme from grades 7 to 12.
The new Centrium campus promises larger classrooms, better science facilities, and recreational spaces for the students to enjoy while learning. The maximum teacher-student ratio is 1:25.
The school also offers a private transportation service catered to a student’s needs. They will assign the most suitable vehicle for a student (car, MPV, or bus) depending on distance and time.
| WEBSITE | https://www.invictus.school/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | Dempsey Campus (Grade 1 to 6): [email protected] +65-6259 3877 Sentosa Campus (Grade 1 to 2): [email protected] +65-6694 5088 Centrium Campus (Grade 1 to 12): [email protected] +65-6271 6088 |
| ADDRESS | Dempsey Campus: 73 Loewen Road, #01-21, Singapore 248843 Sentosa Campus: 31 Ocean Way, #01-15, Singapore 098375 Centrium Campus: Blk 71 Loewen Road, Singapore 248847 (until Dec 2020) 320 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218108 (from Jan 2021) |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Grade 1 to 12 |
| CURRICULUM | IB for Grade 1 to 10, Cambridge International A-levels for Grade 11 to 12 |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English and Chinese |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | No |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | S$200 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | Grade 1 to 6: S$15,000 – S$17,000 Grade 7 to 12: S$18,000 |
Pros
- Private transportation service catered to students
- Chinese-English bilingual programme
Cons
- No specialized programs for students with special needs
- Lack of other language programmes
- No student boarding facilities
9. Melbourne Specialist International School
The advocacy of Melbourne Specialist International School (MSIS) is to provide education that suits the needs of students with special needs. This includes a specialized curriculum, dedicated facilities, and specially-trained staff and teachers.
MSIS has integrated a model of education that provides both educational and therapy services. These services consist of occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, art therapy, music therapy, and psychology.
Aside from academics, the school also assists and encourages students to participate in various recreational activities to develop their personal and socio-emotional skills.
They give specialized attention to each learner, thanks to their teacher-student ratio of 1:4. For older students, they implement a transition period for teaching independent living skills and pre-vocational training.
| WEBSITE | https://msis.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | [email protected] +65 6634 8891 |
| ADDRESS | 75C Loewen Road, Singapore 248853 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Pre-Kinder to Year 6 |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | Yes |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | S$1,200 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | Pre-Kinder to Kinder: S$23,000 – S$25,000 Year 1 to 2: S$22,000 Year 3 to 6: S$29,000 – S$31,000 |
Pros
- Curriculum is tailored to special needs students’ requirements
- Accepts students ages 3 to 21 years old
- Specialized facilities for special education
- Very low teacher-student ratio
Cons
- Mostly English-based medium of instruction
- No transportation service provided by school
- No student boarding facilities
10. Tanglin Trust School
Established in 1925, Tanglin Trust School (TTS) is the oldest British international school in South East Asia, following the English National Curriculum.
The school accepts students ages 3 to 18, starting from infant school all the way to senior school. For Years 12 and 13, parents and students may opt to enroll in either the IB programme or the A Level programme.
One of the main features of Tanglin Trust School is their extensive library with over 70,000 books available for check-out.
Their library is also equipped with iPads and Chromebooks for student use, as well as e-books, audiobooks, and online learning applications.
TTS houses over 140 competitive sport teams and supports students in local and international competitions. They also have dedicated arts programs with specialist teachers for students to develop their skills in art, design, drama, music, and film.
True to its British roots, Tanglin employs a House system, similar to the one in the Harry Potter films. Students in Year 1 are sorted into houses (via sorting hat!) and engage in yearly social and sporting events and competitions to gain points for their house.
| WEBSITE | https://www.tts.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | [email protected] +65 6778 0771 (general enquiries) +65 6770 3583 / +65 6770 3480 (admissions) |
| ADDRESS | 95 Portsdown Road, Singapore 139299 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Nursery to Year 14 |
| CURRICULUM | English National Curriculum |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Mandarin, Chinese, French, and Spanish |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | No |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | Nursery to Year 2: S$27,000 – S$34,000 Year 3 to 6: S$36,000 Year 7 to 11: S$39,000 – S$41,000 Year 12 to 14: S$45,000 |
Pros
- British educational system-centric curriculum
- House System (a big plus if your child is a Harry Potter fanatic!)
- No application fees
- Private transportation service
- No EAL programme
Cons
- No specialized programs for students with special needs
- No student boarding facilities
11. EtonHouse International School
The EtonHouse International School has over 100 schools across the world, with 19 schools located in Singapore. The Singapore branches offer different programmes and facilities for all kinds of students.
EtonHouse schools follow a research-based inquiry curriculum where students are encouraged to use information technology and inquiry-based learning to develop essential skills.
They also promote bilingual learning (mostly English and Mandarin), with some schools offering third language options such as Hindi or Japanese.
The different EtonHouse schools cater to different age groups. The Orchard campus, having the biggest selection, provides Year 1 to 13 programmes.
EtonHouse also offers a variety of extracurricular activities for students to enjoy after class. After-school supervision and bus services are available to students who stay behind for extracurriculars.
Parents who are interested in knowing more about a specific campus may book a personal or virtual tour on the official EtonHouse website.
| WEBSITE | https://www.etonhouse.com.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | [email protected] +65 6746 3333 |
| ADDRESS | EtonHouse Head Office 178 Clemenceau Avenue #06-00, Haw Par Glass Tower Singapore 239926 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Year 1 to 13 |
| CURRICULUM | IB |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | *Differs depending on the school English, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Malay, Tamil, and Spanish |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | No |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | S$535 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | Year 1 to 6: S$29,000 Year 7 to 9: S$30,000 Year 10 to 11: S$33,000 Year 12 to 13: S$34,000 |
Pros
- Private transportation service
- Different campuses to choose from depending on your child’s needs
- After school supervision and childcare
Cons
- No specialized programs for students with special needs
- No student boarding facilities
- Few language programs available; dependent on branch offering
12. GEMS World Academy
The GEMS World Academy (GWA) has schools across the globe, with the Singapore branch located in Yishun. They take pride in being “a truly international school” by catering to students and teachers of over 60 nationalities.
GWA follows the IB curriculum from nursery to Grade 12 and offers different pathways for graduating students. They are the first and only international school in Singapore to be authorised to offer the IB Diploma Programme and IB Career-related Programme (CP).
Various extracurricular activities are also offered to students after classes. Parents may register their children in free activities such as sports and arts clubs or through paid enrichment programs such as the aviation club, backpack filmmaking, rock climbing, and much more.
One of the GWA’s specialized IB career-related programmes in aviation. They have partnered with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, considered the world’s top aeronautical university, to give their students valuable skills for university entrance credentials.
| WEBSITE | https://www.gwa.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | [email protected] +65 6808 7321 (general enquiries) +65 6808 7300 (admission enquiries) |
| ADDRESS | 2 Yishun Street 42, Singapore, 768039 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Nursery to Grade 12 |
| CURRICULUM | IB |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Mandarin, Spanish, and French |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | No |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | S$5,200 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | Nursery: S$21,000 Pre-K to Kinder 2: S$23,000 – S$33,000 Grade 1 to 6: S$33,000- S$34,000 Grade 7 to 10: S$39,000 Grade 11 to 12: S$40,000 |
Pros
- IB Career-related graduation pathways available
- Wide variety of extracurricular programs with paid enrichment programs
- Free private bus service
Cons
- No specialized programs for students with special needs
- No student boarding facilities
13. The Grange Institution
The Grange Institution is focused primarily on providing quality education for Primary School students (Year 1 to 6) through a dynamic and creative environment. The school offers both the Cambridge Primary Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum.
They also offer specialist subjects to provide students essential knowledge and skills outside of their core subjects. These subjects consist of personal, social, and physical education, arts, music, technology, and language.
The school prioritizes individual learning and has an average class size of 10, with the largest class having 16 students. Students’ social and academic progress are monitored through different assessments regularly conducted by teachers.
| WEBSITE | https://www.thegrange.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION | [email protected] +65 68173630 |
| ADDRESS | 449 Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore 805946 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Year 1 to 6 |
| CURRICULUM | IPC |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Mandarin, and Japanese |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | No |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | S$500 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE | S$19,900 for all levels |
Pros
- British educational system-centric curriculum
- Private bus service
- Relatively affordable annual tuition fees
- Very low teacher-student ratio
Cons
- No specialized programs for students with special needs
- No student boarding facilities
- Lack of outdoor facilities compared to other schools
And with that, we’ve concluded our list of the best international schools in Singapore. For any unfamiliar terms you’ve encountered in this article, please refer to the glossary of academic terms below.
Glossary of Academic Terms
Advanced Placement (AP) – A program based on American and Canadian education. It offers college-level curriculum to high school students and can be earned as college credit.
English as an Additional Language (EAL) – A learning program in the existing curriculum that supports students who aren’t fluent in English but pass the school’s standards.
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) – A qualification offered for specific school subjects for Year 10 and above that prepares students for the next stage in education or employment.
Groupe d’Accompagnement et d’Inclusion (GAIN) – A learning support structure practiced by the Agency for French Education Abroad for students with special needs and learning challenges.
International Baccalaureate (IB) – An international standard of curriculum offered in 4 programmes, namely for Primary Years, Middle Years, a Diploma Program, and a Career-related Program.
International Primary Curriculum (IPC) – A curriculum for ages 3 to 12 years old that allows individual, comprehensive learning.
National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) – The Australian assessment for students in Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 for reading, writing, language, and mathematics.
Local Schools vs International Schools in Singapore
Even if you now know which international schools are best on the island, you should also make sure that the school is actually best for your child.
You see, every student is unique, and choosing the right school for them based on reputation is not a one-size-fits-all situation.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing between local and international schools in Singapore for your children. These are general notes, by the way: they won’t apply to every single local or international school, but they are fairly representative.
| LOCAL SCHOOLS | INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS | |
|---|---|---|
| TEACHING STYLES | They uphold a formulaic system that garners results and encourages self-discipline and healthy academic competition. | They highly encourage students to be more creative and critical of what they learn and experience with their holistic approach. |
| CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT | Foreign students will acclimate to Singaporean culture quicker with the majority of the student body being citizens. | Students are introduced to different cultures and thus different perspectives and a network of international contacts, but it may hinder their immersion in local society to a degree. |
| CURRICULUM | The Singaporean school system is generally inclined to prioritize STEM subjects, leaving little space for students to take interest in different subjects in arts and language. | They follow different curricula, giving parents the option of which is better suited for their children’s education. |
| LANGUAGES | Foreign language subjects, normally restricted to other Asian languages, are offered as electives and not with the objective of fluency. | The curriculum supports students becoming proficient, if not fluent, in their second (or third) language of choice. |
It is worth mentioning that international schools are often recommended to students who will most likely reside in a different country in the future. This isn’t to say that students in local schools will be at a disadvantage should they also reside somewhere else. There is no wrong decision as long as the criteria fits your child’s learning needs.
Likewise, Singaporean students may opt to study at international schools to undergo different curricula, language programs, etc.
Comparison of International Schools in Singapore
Here’s a quick recap for all of the need-to-know information for each school in our list of the best international schools in Singapore (scroll to the right to view more info).
| SCHOOL LEVELS | CURRICULUM | LANGUAGES | UNIFORMS | APPLICATION FEE | TUITION FEE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | Nursery to Grade 12 | IBDP | English, Chinese, French, and Spanish | Yes | S$2,500 | Nursery: S$16,000 - S$24,000 Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 1: S$32,000 - S$33,000 Grade 1 to 6: S$33,000 to S$39,000 Grade 6 to 12: S$35,000 to S$40,000 |
| SINGAPOREAN AMERICAN SCHOOL | Pre-K to High school | AP and High school diploma | English, Chinese, Spanish, and French | Yes | S$2,500 | Pre-Kindergarten: S$39,000 - S$41,000 Kinder to Grade 5: S$47,000 - S$49,000 Middle School (Grade 6 to 8): S$50,000 - S$53,000 High School (Grade 9 to 12): S$52,000 - S$54,000 |
| AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | Pre-K to Year 12 | NAPLAN | English, Chinese, Indonesian, and French | Yes | Infant Care: S$500 Nursery to Year 12: S$800 | Infant Care: S$1,200 - S$2,500 Elementary School (Prep to Year 5): S$35,868 Secondary School (Year 6 to 9): S$41,232 Secondary School (Year 10 to 12): S$42,852 |
| INTERNATIONAL FRENCH SCHOOL | Kinder to High school | GCSE | English, Mandarin, French, Spanish, German, and Latin | Yes for Kinder to Elementary Middle to High school students only P.E. uniforms | N/A | Kindergarten: S$10,000 - S$18,000 Elementary: S$18,000 - S$20,000 Middle School: S$21,000 - S$22,000 High School: S$26,000 |
| UNITED WORLD COLLEGE SOUTH EAST ASIA | Kinder to Grade 12 | GCSE, IB | English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Danish, Bahasa Indonesian, Bengali, Cantonese, Tamil, Thai, Urdu, Malay, Hebrew, and Russian | Yes | S$615 - S$1,230 | Kinder 1 to Grade 1: S$39,000 Grade 2 to 5: S$40,000 Grade 6 to 10: S$45,000 Grade 11 to 12: S$47,000 |
| CHATSWORTH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | Kinder to Year 13 | IBDP | English, Mandarin, French, and Japanese | Yes | S$250 | Kinder 1 & 2: S$23,000 Year 1 to 6: S$27,000 Year 7 to 9: S$28,000 Year 10 to 11: S$29,000 Year 12 to 13: S$32,000 |
| HILLSIDE WORLD ACADEMY | Preschool to Grade 12 | IB | English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish, and Italian | Yes | Preschool to Grade 6: S$165 Grade 7 to 12: S$330 | Preschool: S$18,000 Grade 1 to 6: S$31,000 Grade 7 to 10: S$32,000 Grade 11 to 12: S$33,000 |
| INVICTUS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | Grade 1 to 12 | IB, Cambridge International A-levels | English and Chinese | Yes | S$200 | Grade 1 to 6: S$15,000 - S$17,000 Grade 7 to 12: S$18,000 |
| MELBOURNE SPECIALIST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | Pre-Kinder to Year 6 | N/A | N/A | Yes | S$1,200 | Pre-Kinder to Kinder: S$23,000 - S$25,000 Year 1 to 2: S$22,000 Year 3 to 6: S$29,000 - S$31,000 |
| TANGLIN TRUST SCHOOL | Nursery to Year 14 | English National Curriculum | English, Mandarin, Chinese, French, and Spanish | Yes | N/A | Nursery to Year 2: S$27,000 - S$34,000 Year 3 to 6: S$36,000 Year 7 to 11: S$39,000 - S$41,000 Year 12 to 14: S$45,000 |
| ETONHOUSE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP | Year 1 to 13 | IB | *Differs depending on the school English, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Malay, Tamil, and Spanish | Yes | S$535 | Year 1 to 6: S$29,000 Year 7 to 9: S$30,000 Year 10 to 11: S$33,000 Year 12 to 13: S$34,000 |
| GEMS WORLD ACADEMY | Nursery to Grade 12 | IB | English, Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, and French | Yes | S$5,200 | Nursery: S$21,000 Pre-K to Kinder 2: S$23,000 - S$33,000 Grade 1 to 6: S$33,000- S$34,000 Grade 7 to 10: S$39,000 Grade 11 to 12: S$40,000 |
| THE GRANGE INSTITUTION | Year 1 to 6 | IPC | English, Mandarin, and Japanese | Yes | S$500 | S$19,900 for all levels |
Our list of the best international schools in Singapore all offer world-class education and facilities for students from different parts of the world. Rest assured, enrolling your child in any of these schools will be a wise choice.
Specifically looking for preschools? Check out our list of the best preschools in Singapore! The list consists of both local and international schools that are all great choices for young learners.