Government, private and international schools: how to choose

The official differences between the three kinds of school in curriculum, admission, language, passes and fees, how an international school’s diploma relates to university entry, and what to ask before choosing.

Verified 2026-10-31

Choosing starts with knowing which kind of school you are looking at. This only states differences that official pages support, as of 31 October 2026, and says so where there is no official single answer.

The core differences

Aspect	Government school	Private school	International school (Foreign System School)
Curriculum	Local curriculum, taught in English; students learn English and a Mother Tongue	Varies by school; courses such as diplomas and degrees must be registered with SWDA	International curriculum (MOE’s description)
Admission	Through MOE’s admission exercises, subject to vacancies; MOE assigns the school	Apply directly to the school	Apply directly to the school
Who it mainly serves	International students can apply, with limited places (Primary 1 registration gives priority to citizens and PRs)	We did not read an official statement	MOE says it primarily caters to expatriates’ children
Student’s Pass	Needed unless the child holds a valid Dependant’s Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass or Immigration Exemption Order	Depends on the type of school; see ICA’s pages	Needed; the school must be EduTrust-certified; the same passes exempt
Fees	Official monthly figures	Set by each school	Set by each school

Government schools

MOE says mainstream schools use English as the language of classroom instruction, and the admission tests are in English.
International students enter through the admission exercises: Primary 1 registration, or the AEIS and S-AEIS for Primary 2 to 5 and Secondary 1 to 3. Places depend on vacancies and MOE assigns the school. See AEIS.
Age guideline: a child should be no more than 2 years older than the typical age for the level.
Monthly fees differ by nationality and school type. International students’ fees include GST. Figures are in Cost components.

Private schools

The Private Education Act requires private schools to be registered with SWDA, and courses such as diplomas, degrees, full-time certificates and preparatory courses must be registered too.
SWDA says it oversees registration but does not endorse courses. EduTrust is a quality assurance scheme covering academic processes, governance, quality management and student protection; it does not assess course content.
Check registered schools, permitted courses and EduTrust-certified schools on the Training Provider Gateway (tpgateway.gov.sg).
A school that does not subscribe to the course fee insurance schemes may not collect more than two months of fees in advance.

International schools and Privately-Funded Schools

MOE says international schools (private education institutions) primarily cater to expatriates’ children. A Singapore Citizen student may be admitted only if the school first gets MOE’s approval, which MOE considers case by case.
Privately-Funded Schools offer international curricula at secondary and pre-university level while following the policies on bilingualism and National Education. MOE’s page says returning Singaporeans do not need MOE’s approval and apply directly to the school.
ICA says students at Foreign System Schools and Privately-Funded Schools must apply for a Student’s Pass, and the school must be EduTrust-certified. Apply 2 to 3 months before the course; for a transfer, at least 4 weeks before the new course.

An international school’s diploma and university

Whether a university accepts it depends on the qualification, the results and the programme. NTU’s international qualifications page lists the IB Diploma, the American High School Diploma/AP and UK A-Levels among accepted qualifications, and also states that:

each programme has minimum subject requirements in a separate document;
UK A-Level applicants need at least 4 subjects at A2 level in a single sitting, and subjects from separate sittings are not accepted;
IB applicants must give NTU direct access to IBO transcripts;
qualifications where English was not studied throughout also need an English test.

This is one university’s example; read each university’s own page. See Universities in Singapore.

What to ask before choosing

Is the school and the course registered with SWDA, and is it EduTrust-certified? (Check tpgateway.gov.sg yourself.)
Who awards the certificate? Does the target university’s admissions page list this qualification, and with what subjects and grades?
Besides tuition, what one-off fees are there (application, registration, deposit, school bus, uniform)?
How much is collected in advance, and what is the refund rule?
If the child’s English is not strong enough, what support is offered, and are places limited?
Which pass is needed and who applies? See Student’s Pass.

This is a general checklist, not about any particular school.

Common mistakes

Treating an international school as an easier route to university: universities assess the qualification and programme separately.
Treating EduTrust as proof of course quality: the official guidance says it does not assess course content.
Assuming you can pick a government school: schools are assigned.
Ignoring the pass: all three kinds of school need you to check it, and Foreign System Schools must also be EduTrust-certified.

Using the site’s tools

Compare routes side by side in Compare paths.
Enter the child’s situation in the planner to see which route fits.

FAQ

Will an international school’s diploma always be accepted by Singapore universities?

No. NTU, for example, lists the IB Diploma, the American High School Diploma/AP and UK A-Levels among the qualifications it accepts, but each programme has its own subject requirements, UK A-Level applicants need at least 4 A2 subjects in a single sitting, and IB applicants must give NTU direct access to IBO transcripts. Confirm with the target university and programme, not only with the school.

What language are government schools taught in?

MOE says its mainstream schools use English as the language of classroom instruction, and the bilingualism policy requires students to learn English and a Mother Tongue language. Admission tests for international students are also in English.

Do private and international schools need a Student’s Pass?

ICA says students at Foreign System Schools and Privately-Funded Schools must apply for a Student’s Pass and the school must be EduTrust-certified; holders of a valid Dependant’s Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass or Immigration Exemption Order are exempt. Government schools also need a Student’s Pass unless the child holds one of those.

Can a Singapore Citizen child attend an international school?

MOE says international schools primarily cater to expatriates’ children, and the school must get MOE’s approval before admitting a Singapore Citizen student, which MOE considers case by case. Privately Funded Schools do not need MOE approval.

How do the fees compare?

Government schools have official monthly figures for international students (see the cost article). Private and international schools set their own fees, with no single official figure, so ask for a written fee list.

Sources

View plain text (for AI)