Part 2: Other Informations
1. Application Period
Applications for school admission are accepted by schools subject to availability of vacancies. Application can be made anytime during the year. For admission to Primary One in the following year, the applicant may register with the school of choice during or after Phase 3 of the annual Primary One Registration Exercise (http://www.moe.edu.sg/esp/schadm/p1/).
2. Donation to the Education Fund
A foreign student is requested to make biennial donations (that is, once every two years) to the Education Fund of the Ministry of Education if his/her application to study in Singapore is approved. Foreign students are requested to make the biennial donations of S$1,000 within the period stated in the Letter of Donation.
Thereafter, foreign students are requested to make the donation in advance every two years. The biennial donations are requested from foreign students of all nationalities who seek admission to schools, junior colleges and centralised institute for the academic year beginning in January each year.
The donations to the Education Fund are eligible for tax-exemption and the official receipts will be made in favour of either the donor or the foreign student. The donation is non-refundable except when the foreign student is awarded a Singapore Government Scholarship in the year of admission or when he/she has not attended any lessons in school.
3. Particulars of Guardian
The foreign student is required to provide the particulars of his/her guardian to the school for contact purposes. The guardian should be a Singapore Citizen/Singapore Permanent Resident above 21 years old or the parent of the foreign student if the parent is working/staying in Singapore. A foreign student should report any change in guardianship to his/her school principal.
4. Choice of school
Parent/guardian can approach the school of choice directly. Admission is dependent on the availability of vacancies in the school provided there are no Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents on the school’s waiting list.
5. Placement Test conducted by the school
The foreign student will be tested subjects such as English, Mathematics and Mother Tongue Language (where applicable). The tests are conducted by the school which the foreign student is seeking admission to.
6. Level of Admission
Besides the performance in the school placement test, foreign students will be considered for admission to a level subject to documentary proof that he/she has completed the previous level, and the age criteria. Foreign students who have been admitted at the primary level must complete the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) before proceeding to the secondary level.
7. Exemption from offering Chinese, Malay or Tamil as a Mother Tongue Language
Exemption from the mother tongue requirement may be considered on a case-by-case basis after the student has been admitted to school. Application for exemption should be made through the school principal, who will refer the application to the Languages & Literature Branch, Ministry of Education, for consideration.
9. Monthly School Fees
For Government and Government-Aided Schools, the monthly rates of school fees payable are S$80 for primary, S$130 for secondary and S$240 for pre-university levels. For children of Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents and dependants of Employment Pass and Skilled Work Permit Holders, the monthly school fees payable for the first 2 years are S$3 for primary, S$5 for secondary, and S$6 for pre-university levels. For the third year onwards, the school fees payable will be determined based on their citizenship status.
In addition to school fees, all students are to pay miscellaneous fees. The maximum monthly miscellaneous fees payable are S$11 for primary, S$16 for secondary, and S$22 for pre-university levels. Students studying in Autonomous Schools are also required to pay additional miscellaneous fees. You can check directly with the schools on the actual amount of miscellaneous fees payable.
10. Admission to Kindergartens, Private Schools, Universities & Polytechnics
A foreign student seeking admission to a kindergarten, private school or an institution of higher education (ie university or polytechnic), you would need to approach the kindergarten, private school or institution directly.
11. General
In accordance with the Immigration Regulations, a foreigner is exempted from applying for a Student’s Pass if he/she is a Dependant’s Pass or Immigration Exemption Order Holder studying in a Government/Governement-aided/Independent School. For more details on Student’s Pass applications, please refer to ICA ’s website .
Age Criteria for Admission of Foreign Students
Level Permissible Age Range as at 1st Jan or Year of Admission
Primary 1 6 to 10+
Primary 2 7 to 11+
Primary 3 8 to 12+
Primary 4 9 to 13+
Primary 5 10 to 14+
Primary 6 No direct admission is allowed to this critical level as the students will not have sufficient
preparation time for the Primary School Leaving Examination held towards the end of the year.
Secondary 1 12 to 16+
Secondary 2 13 to 17+
Secondary 3 14 to 18+
Secondary 4 No direct admission is allowed to this critical level as the students will not have sufficient
preparation time for the GCE "N" or GCE "O" Level Examinations held towards the end of the year.
Secondary 5 No direct admission is allowed to this critical level as the students will not have sufficient
preparation time for the GCE "O" Level Examinations held towards the end of the year.
Pre-U 1 16 to 20+
Pre-U 2 No direct admission is allowed to this critical level as the students will not have sufficient
preparation time for the GCE "A" Examinations held towards the end of the year.
Pre-U 3 No direct admission is allowed to this critical level as the students will not have sufficient
preparation time for the GCE "A" Examinations held towards the end of the year.