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International Student Admissions

This information pertains to International Students:

  • with Dependant’s Pass (DP) or;
  • with Immigration Exemption Order (IEO) or;
  • with either parent who is Singapore Citizen (SC) or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR)

International students with DP, IEO or SC/SPR parent(s) may approach their schools of choice directly to apply for admission or take part in the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS).

Age Criteria

International students should ensure that they satisfy the age requirements for the levels they are seeking admission into. MOE does not recommend admission to levels where international students will be more than two years older than their classmates.

Please refer to the section on the age criteria for admission of international students for more information.

Applying Directly to Schools

Schools generally consider admission applications throughout the year, and international students may apply for admission at their schools of choice directly throughout the year. Admission is subject to the availability of vacancies, provided there are no SC/SPR children on the schools’ waiting lists, and the international students meeting the schools’ admission criteria. Please refer to the step-by-step guide below for more details.

For admission to Primary 1 in the following year, the international student can register with the school of choice during or after Phase 3 of the annual Primary One Registration Exercise.

Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS)

Alternatively, international students can apply for centralised school admission under AEIS. The 2008 AEIS centralised test will be held on 22 Sep 08 and 13 Oct 08 for applicants seeking school admission into Primary 2–5 and Secondary 1–3 levels for academic year 2009. Applicants who pass the test would automatically be offered a place in a suitable school, based on available school vacancies and their performance in the centralised test. There would be no school choices.

Please visit the AEIS section for more information.

Step-by-Step Guide for Applying Directly to Schools

  1. Apply at school of choice

  2. School conducts placement test if there is a vacancy. Applicants will be tested on subjects such as English, Mathematics and Mother Tongue Language (where applicable).

    If applicant passes the placement test and the school accepts him / her, the school will issue a Letter of Acceptance (LOA). The LOA will indicate in-principle acceptance of the applicant, and the applicant can then proceed to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to apply for a student’s pass with the letter (see Step 3).

    Admission is subject to the applicant obtaining and returning with a student’s pass from the ICA within 2 weeks from the LOA’s date of issue.

    Applicants who are holding a DP or an IEO are not required to apply for a student’s pass from ICA. He / She can be admitted by the school immediately upon passing the placement test.

  3. Apply for student’s pass at ICA

    The LOA is valid for 2 weeks from the date of issue. Upon receiving the LOA, the applicant should proceed to ICA immediately to apply for a student’s pass. Applicant must produce the original LOA endorsed by the School to ICA.

  4. Return to school within 2 weeks with student’s pass

    The applicant must return to the school with a valid student’s pass within 2 weeks of the LOA’s date of issue. Otherwise, the applicant will forfeit his / her admission to the school.