International Student Admissions

International students without DP, IEO and whose parents are not SC/SPR and who wish to seek school admission to mainstream public primary and secondary schools are to 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.

Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS)

Under AEIS, international students would be able to enjoy the convenience of a centralised test and an offer of a school place if they pass the test. 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 be offered a place in a suitable school, based on available school vacancies and their performance in the centralised test.

Please visit the AEIS section for more information.

Applying Directly to Schools

International students who are seeking admission to Primary 2–5 and Secondary 1–3 but are unable to make it for the AEIS exercise and those who are seeking admission to Primary 1 or JCs may approach their schools of choice directly to apply for admission.

• Those seeking admission to Primary 2–5 and Secondary 1–3 are required to sit for and pass the Qualifying Test before making a direct application to schools.
• Those seeking admission to Primary 1 or JCs are not required to sit for the Qualifying Test, and can apply to their schools of choice directly.

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.

Step-by-Step Guide for Applying Directly to Schools

Admission is subject to the availability of vacancies, provided there are no SC/SPR children on the schools’ waiting lists, and the schools’ admission criteria.

1. Qualifying Test

   International students without DP, IEO and whose parents are not SC/SPR and who are seeking admission to Primary 2–5 or Secondary 1–3 are required to sit for and pass a Qualifying Test (QT) before making a direct application to schools.

   For more information, please visit the Qualifying Test section on this website. If you have passed the QT and are eligible for school admission, please see Step 2.

   International students seeking admission to Primary 1 or JCs are not required to sit for the QT; please see Step 2.

2. Apply at school of choice

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.