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.
Whether you’re a local or just moved to Singapore and want to give your children quality education, you probably want to know which is the best international school in Singapore for your kids and family.
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 recognise.
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 top international schools in Singapore is the type of curriculum they offer.
Some international schools in Singapore 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 in an international school in Singapore are the tuition fees, language programmes offered, school size, location, special learning programmes offered, and others.
Some of the best schools in Singapore 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. Global Indian International School
Established in 2002, Global Indian International School (GIIS) is one of the leading international schools in Singapore offering International and Indian curricula to students from diverse backgrounds. One of the things we commend GIIS for is its willingness to adapt to the changing times and incorporating cutting-edge technology in its Singapore campuses to cater to the needs of modern students..
Currently, GIIS offers students in kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, and high school different educational programmes. Internationally-renowned programmes from Cambridge and International Baccalaureate are some of the programmes followed by primary and secondary school students (IB PYP, IGCSE and IBDP), besides the Indian national curriculum, CBSE and a customised Montessori-inspired preschool programme called the Global Montessori Plus for early learners.
In fact, GIIS has won the Best Montessori-inspired schools award at the Honeykids Education awards in Singapore in 2021.
It’s worth noting that the education GIIS offers doesn’t only stop with books and the curriculum. GIIS also strives to teach their students values like team work, positive attitude towards learning, agility and adaptability, entrepreneurship skills and more.
GIIS’ SMART campus at Punggol, Singapore features over 40 skill-based studios, high-end performing arts and sports infrastructure and digital classrooms to provide students with a holistic and well-balanced education. With highly qualified and dedicated teachers to support them, GIIS students are well-rounded, confident individuals who are groomed to face the challenges of the real world.
For almost 20 years now, their students have excelled academically, go on to study at the world’s top universities and become leaders in their respective fields.
| WEBSITE | https://singapore.globalindianschool.org |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
Smart Campus +65-69147100 (International) +86-21603-14561 (Call from China) 1800-5722-810 (Toll-free–Call from India) East Coast Campus +65-69147000 (International) +86-21603-14561 (Call from China) 1800-5722-810 (Toll-free–Call from India) |
| ADDRESS |
27 Punggol Field Walk, Singapore – 828649 (Smart Campus) 82 Cheviot Hill, Singapore – 459663 (East Coast Campus) |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Kindergarten to High School |
| CURRICULUM | IB PYP, Cambridge Lower Secondary, IGCSE, IB DP, CBSE, Global Montessori Plus |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Mandarin, French, Tamil and Hindi |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | Contact for more details |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | Contact for more details |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE |
$19,839 (Grade 1, for Admission in 2022-2023) |
Pros
- Multiple curricula options available
- Offers holistic learning with several co-curricular and extra-curricular activities including performing arts, visual arts, sports, service learning and leadership skills development
- Accommodates students from kindergarten to high school (Preschool to Grade 12)
- Moderate-fee school
Cons
- No bilingual programme, English is the medium of instruction
2. 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.
It’s never too early to get your child started in the best international schools in Singapore, and the Australian International School is probably one of the best for early learning.
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
- Specialised 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.
3. 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 maximise their learning ability.
With over 60 extra-curricular activities in arts, culture, education, language, and sports, they strive to empower individual student expression. IFS is definitely a top consideration for international primary schools in Singapore.
| WEBSITE | https://www.ifs.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
[email protected] For non-French speaking students: |
| 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
- Specialised programs for students with special needs available
Cons
- A certain level of French language proficiency is needed in grades 8 and above
4. 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): Bukit Timah Campus (K-13): |
| ADDRESS |
Piccadilly Campus (Preschool): Bukit Timah Campus (K-13): |
| 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 specialised program for students with special needs
- Private bus service only available for Bukit Timah campus
5. Hillside World Academy
The Hillside World Academy (HWA) is also considered the best international school in Singapore when it comes to giving importance to bilingual learning. They 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
6. 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.
Due to their global branches, the Invictus International School is considered by many to be the best school in Singapore if your family has the tendency to move around frequently.
| WEBSITE | https://www.invictus.school/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
Dempsey Campus (Grade 1 to 6): Sentosa Campus (Grade 1 to 2): Centrium Campus (Grade 1 to 12): |
| ADDRESS |
Dempsey Campus: Sentosa Campus: Centrium Campus: |
| 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. EtonHouse International School
The EtonHouse International School has over 100 schools across the world, with 17 schools located in Singapore. The Singapore branches offer different programmes and facilities for all kinds of students.
EtonHouse uses an inquiry-based approach responsive to children’s interests and encourages children to use their innate ability to think creatively, investigate and learn by fully engaging in the process. EtonHouse believes that children should take ownership of their learning. When children are engaged, learning happens naturally and spontaneously. Open-mindedness, critical thinking skills, and a life-long love for learning are just as essential as acquiring knowledge.
They also promote bilingual learning (mostly English and Mandarin) and offer different tracks in bilingual education to suit different learning styles and goals. Those with a keen interest in Mandarin can opt for the full Mandarin Immersion Programme in Pre-School or the Bilingual Immersion Programme in Primary. Some schools offer other additional language options such as Hindi, Japanese, Spanish or English as an Additional Language (EAL).
The different EtonHouse schools cater to different age groups from 18 months to 18 years. 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. They also invest in and implement practices that nurture students’ overall well-being, develop positive behaviours, attitudes and resilience for life and promote a safe, loving and healthy school climate.
Parents who are interested in knowing more about a specific campus may book a personal school or virtual tour on the official EtonHouse website.
| WEBSITE | https://www.etonhouse.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
+65 6746 3333 |
| ADDRESS |
EtonHouse Head Office 8 Stevens Road, Singapore 257819 |
| SCHOOL LEVELS | Pre-Nursery to 13 |
| CURRICULUM | IB PYP, UK Key Stages, IGCSE, IB DP |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED |
*Differs depending on the school English, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Malay, Tamil, and Spanish |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | Contact for more details |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | S$642 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE |
Pre-School (Pre-Nursery to K2) – From $22,680 Primary (Year 1 to 6) – From $27,444 Year 7 to 9 – $30,816 Year 10 to 11 – $33,384 Year 12 to 13 – $35,310 (excluding GST) |
Pros
- Boutique schools with personalised academic and pastoral support
- Different campuses to choose from depending on your child’s needs
- Private transportation service
- Selected schools offer before/after school childcare services from 7am to 7pm
Cons
- Limited support for students with special needs
- No student boarding facilities
10. XCL World Academy
XCL World Academy is a family-orientated international school in Singapore for students aged 2 to 18, offering a personalised and well-rounded international education comprising four International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes that stretches beyond traditional academic subjects to embrace the arts, music, drama, design, innovative technologies and sport.
They are the first and only international school in Singapore authorised to offer both the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and the IB Career-related Programme (CP). The school offers unique career-related pathways in partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the Savannah College of Arts & Design to provide a variety of university-level courses and credits for high school students.
The school places an emphasis on the holistic development of every child and aims to equip children with the academic and lifelong learning skills to be agents of their own success – helping to prepare them for further education, future careers or navigating the opportunities and challenges they will encounter in their lives.
| WEBSITE | https://www.xwa.edu.sg/ |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
+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, IGCSE |
| LANGUAGES OFFERED | English, Mandarin, Spanish, French, DP Japanese Language A |
| SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION | Yes. Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. |
| UNIFORMS | Yes |
| APPLICATION FEE | $800 |
| ADMISSIONS FEE | $5,200 |
| ANNUAL TUITION FEE |
Nursery: $14,920 -$ 22,330 |
Pros
- IB Career-related graduation pathways available
- Separate streams for MYP and IGCSE
- Bilingual programme offer for Early Years students
- Bespoke University & Career Guidance for students from Grade 8 and above
- Wide variety of extracurricular programs with paid enrichment programs
- Free shuttle bus service
Cons
- No student boarding facilities
11. 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.
We certainly hope that this top international schools in Singapore ranking article has helped you narrow down your choices for the best school for your children.
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.