Best IB Schools in Singapore

Singapore runs more IB schools at high averages than anywhere else in the world. UWCSEA Dover has been one of the IBO's most-cited examples for two decades. Tanglin Trust posted 39.1 in 2024. Dulwich, NLCS Singapore, and Stamford American sit in the mid-to-high 30s. A wide mid-tier of IB-continuum schools posts mid-30s averages, still well above the global benchmark.

Fees at the top end are compressed: senior-year fees at UWCSEA, Tanglin, Dulwich, NLCS Singapore, Stamford American, and Australian International all sit between SGD 37,000 and SGD 58,000. The decision turns on continuum versus layered, IB-only versus hybrid sixth form, campus, and waitlist.

The MOE context shapes the market. ACS (Independent), Hwa Chong, and SJI are local Singaporean schools offering the IB Diploma at sharply different fee tiers for citizens, PRs, and international students. Their academic ceiling is high; accessibility for an arriving expat family is not. Every private school in Singapore is CPE-registered with SkillsFuture Singapore; credible operators hold EduTrust certification. The regulatory floor is higher than in most regional capitals.

The top tier

UWCSEA Dover and East

Dover Road (Dover Campus) and Tampines (East Campus). Ages 4 to 18. Dover founded 1971, East 2008. CIS and WASC accredited. Around 3,000 pupils each.

UWCSEA Dover is the original UWC campus in Singapore and one of the longest-running IB Diploma schools in Asia. Both campuses run as one school across two sites with an identical academic offer: 2025 IB Diploma 36.4 on both, pass rate 98.7%. UWCSEA has been a structural reference point for the IBO globally; the CAS and service-learning model shapes how many other schools deliver the Diploma core.

UWCSEA is IB-only across the school: inquiry-led primary, MYP-equivalent middle years, IB Diploma at sixth form. A family enrolling commits to the IB pathway from early years. Dover sits next to Buona Vista MRT; East is the purpose-built newer campus and the natural choice for families east of the city. East waitlists clear faster at most year groups; Dover's are among the longest in the city.

Tanglin Trust School

Portsdown Road. Ages 3 to 18. Founded 1925. BSO-inspected 2022 and 2025. HMC member. Around 2,900 pupils.

Tanglin is the oldest British school in Southeast Asia and posted the city's strongest 2024 IB DP result: 39.1. The senior school runs IB DP and A-Levels in parallel, operationally expensive and rare; families choose the route at the end of Year 11.

Tanglin is not an IB-continuum school. Early years and primary run EYFS and the English National Curriculum; the IB DP sits at sixth form alongside A-Level. For IB from age 3, UWCSEA, NLCS Singapore, or Stamford American are the closer fit.

Dulwich College Singapore

Bukit Batok West Avenue. Ages 2 to 18. Founded 2014. CIS, WASC, BSO, COBIS all fully accredited. Around 2,700 pupils.

Dulwich is the British-heritage school with the IB Diploma as default. 2025 results: IB DP 37.1, 100% pass rate, IGCSE *74% A/A**. The sixth form is IB-led with a Cambridge A-Level option, the inverse of Tanglin. The accreditation stack is the strongest in the city. IGCSE at 16, then IB DP at 18, so the IB structure begins at sixth form rather than from PYP.

North London Collegiate School Singapore

Depot Road. Ages 3 to 18. Founded 2020. CIS accredited, COBIS accredited member. Around 1,400 pupils.

NLCS Singapore is the youngest of the top tier and already running at top-tier results: IB Diploma 36.52 in 2024, 20% at 40+ points, highest score 43. The sixth form is IB-only, no A-Level option; structurally closer to UWCSEA than to Tanglin or Dulwich. The UK parent (North London Collegiate, Edgware) is one of the strongest academic girls' schools in England; the Singapore campus is co-educational from early years with a STEAM emphasis.

Stamford American International School

Woodleigh Lane. Ages 1 to 18. Founded 2009. WASC and CIS accredited. Around 3,000 pupils.

The full IB continuum school in the American operating culture: PYP, MYP, DP, with AP alongside the IB Diploma. 2023 IB DP 34.2; AP average 3.5. Largest combined PYP-MYP-DP cohort in Singapore. The natural pick for an American family that wants the IB Diploma rather than a US high school diploma, or that wants the option to switch between IB and AP at sixth form.

Strong mid-tier

Below the top six, the mid-tier is wider in Singapore than in most cities because the regulatory floor is higher. Credible IB operators at a lower price point or with a specific niche.

Australian International School

Lorong Chuan. Ages 1 to 18. Founded 1993. WASC, CIS, NSW Board of Studies registered. Around 2,700 pupils. Australian curriculum through Year 10, then IB Diploma or HSC in Years 11-12. 2025 IB DP 34.9, 41% Bilingual Diploma, ATAR average 85. The IB-or-HSC dual exit gives families a choice between a globally portable Diploma and an Australian university entry pathway.

Canadian International School

Jurong (Lakeside) and Tanjong Katong. Ages 2 to 18. Founded 1990. WASC and Cognia accredited. Around 2,100 pupils. A full IB continuum school across two campuses. 2025 IB Diploma 35. Bilingual Chinese-English programme alongside the standard English-medium track from early years.

Dover Court International School

Dover Road. Ages 3 to 18. CIS re-accredited 2025, WASC. Around 1,900 pupils. The Nord Anglia option. Runs IB Diploma, A-Level, and AP in parallel at sixth form, alongside BTEC. IB Diploma 33.1, IGCSE *90.2% A-C, A-Level 67% A-B*. Strong on inclusion and learning support; lower entry threshold than the top tier.

Overseas Family School

Pasir Ris. Ages 2 to 18. Founded 1991. WASC accredited. Around 2,500 pupils. IB Diploma 35, 94% pass rate in 2025. MYP, IB Diploma, and Cambridge A-Level at sixth form. Larger than its public profile suggests; long-established expat-family base.

German European School Singapore

Dairy Farm Lane. Ages 2 to 18. Founded 1971. CIS, WASC accredited; recognised by Germany as an Excellent German School Abroad. Around 1,800 pupils. Two tracks side by side: the German curriculum leading to Abitur, and the IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP). 2025 IB DP 34.6, 100% pass rate, top score 45.

Nexus, XCL, Chatsworth, ISS

• Nexus International. Aljunied, founded 2011, ~1,500 pupils. IB DP plus Cambridge IGCSE / A-Level. 2023 IB DP 35.1, 98% pass rate. Taylor's operator.
• XCL World Academy. Yishun, founded 2014, CIS accredited. Full continuum plus AP. 2024 IB Diploma 35.0, 21% at 40+ points, 33% Bilingual Diploma.
• Chatsworth International. Orchard, founded 1995, WASC accredited. Full continuum. 2025 IB Diploma 34.3; MYP eAssessment average 43.
• ISS International. Preston Road, founded 1981, CIS and WASC. The smallest CIS-accredited IB school in the city at 450 pupils. 2024 Diploma obtained 94%, Bilingual Diploma 88%.

MOE-stream IB schools

Three local Singapore schools run the IB Diploma alongside or in place of the GCE A-Level: ACS (Independent), Hwa Chong, and SJI. They are MOE-governed, not CPE-international-school-governed. They post IB Diploma averages at the top of the global range. Two constraints apply for arriving expat families.

Fee gating. Singapore citizens pay subsidised local fees. Permanent residents pay higher fees, still well below international rates. International students pay full international rates, typically higher than the citizen rate but often still lower than the equivalent international school.

Quota gating. Singapore caps the proportion of foreign students at MOE-funded schools. Entry is competitive and sometimes restricted to specific year groups.

Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

ACS (Independent) is the IB-stream wing of one of Singapore's oldest schools (ACS group founded 1886). 2024 IB Diploma average 41.2, 2023 41.6. MOE governed. ACS (Independent) is structurally different from ACS International, the CPE-registered international school using the ACS name but operating as a separate institution; ACS International posted 36.1 in 2023.

Hwa Chong International School

The CPE-registered international wing of the Hwa Chong group. Founded 2005. CIS accredited. IB Diploma 2025 average 38.3, 46.4% at 40+ points. Distinct from Hwa Chong Institution, the MOE-funded local school that runs A-Levels and the Integrated Programme. For an expat family, Hwa Chong International is the accessible Hwa Chong: single fee tier across nationalities, no MOE quota.

SJI International

SJI International is the IB-track partner school to SJI (MOE), founded 2007, in Toa Payoh. Runs Cambridge IGCSE then IB Diploma at sixth form. The SJI brand carries significant local weight; the international school is the route most accessible to international families. Recent IB cohort averages are not consistently published; verify the current figure with admissions.

Best for full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP)

If a family wants the complete IB pathway from age 3 to 18 under one school's roof, the choice narrows. Many of the city's "IB schools" only run the Diploma at sixth form; the structured PYP and MYP underneath is a separate institutional choice.

Schools running the full PYP-MYP-DP continuum in Singapore: UWCSEA Dover, UWCSEA East, Stamford American, Canadian International, GESS, XCL World Academy, Chatsworth, and ISS International.

NLCS Singapore runs an IB-style early years and primary plus the IB DP at sixth form, with MYP-informed middle years rather than formal MYP authorisation. Tanglin and Dulwich are not continuum schools; both layer the IB Diploma over British-style preparation.

At a glance

Fees are 2025-2026 published year-group ranges. USD converted at roughly SGD 1 = USD 0.74. Westbourne's 44 IB DP average is on a single-digit cohort; treat as indicative. Verify current figures with each school.

The four IB programmes

Most parents arriving in Singapore use "IB" to mean the IB Diploma at sixth form. The Diploma sits inside a longer continuum.

Four programmes. The PYP (ages 3-12), MYP (11-16), Diploma Programme (16-19), and Career-related Programme (16-19). Most Singapore IB schools run the DP. Several run the PYP and MYP underneath it. Dulwich and Tanglin run the DP at sixth form over British-style middle years.

PYP and MYP execution varies. PYP is inquiry-led and concept-driven. MYP runs eight subject groups with conceptual framing and school-based, criterion-referenced assessment. Both are strong when the school invests in teacher capability; both can become thin when the school treats the framework as a brand exercise.

The Diploma is structurally consistent. Six subjects (three Higher Level, three Standard Level), plus the core: Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, CAS. Graded out of 45 points. Assessment combines external examinations and moderated internal components.

The 2024 global IB Diploma average was 30.32. Top Singapore international schools post averages between 35 and 39. MOE-stream schools post 41 to 42. Singapore sits structurally above the global mean across all tiers.

How to choose between them

This is rarely a fee decision at the top end. SGD 37,000 to SGD 58,000 covers the senior-year range across UWCSEA, Tanglin, Dulwich, NLCS Singapore, Stamford American, AIS, and ISS. The decision turns on four things.

IB-only or hybrid sixth form. IB-only: UWCSEA, NLCS Singapore, Chatsworth, ISS. Hybrid: Tanglin (IB + A-Level), Dulwich (IB + Cambridge AL option), Stamford American (IB + AP), AIS (IB + HSC), Dover Court (IB + A-Level + AP), Nexus and OFS (IB + Cambridge).

Continuum or layered. PYP-MYP-DP from early years: UWCSEA, Stamford American, Canadian International, GESS, XCL, Chatsworth, ISS. British-style or American-style middle years then IB at sixth form: Tanglin, Dulwich, NLCS Singapore.

Campus and commute. Dover, Tampines, Portsdown, Bukit Batok, Depot Road, Woodleigh, Lorong Chuan, Jurong, and Yishun are different commutes from Holland Village, Bukit Timah, Sentosa Cove, the East Coast, and the CBD. School-run traffic on the AYE, PIE, and ECP is heavier than the map suggests; drive each route in morning rush.

Capacity and waitlists. UWCSEA Dover, Tanglin, and NLCS Singapore carry the longest waitlists. UWCSEA East, Dulwich, and Stamford American have more capacity at most year groups. Hwa Chong International, OFS, GESS, and the smaller schools clear faster.

Related reading

• Best International Schools in Singapore
• Best British Schools in Singapore
• What is the IB Diploma?
• IB HL vs SL
• IB vs A-Levels
• British vs IB vs American curriculum
• What is CIS accreditation?

FAQs

Which is the best IB school in Singapore?

By 2024 IB Diploma average, Tanglin Trust at 39.1 is the strongest international-school result, with ACS (Independent) at 41.2 the strongest MOE-stream result. By IB tenure and depth of CAS, service-learning, and the full continuum, UWCSEA Dover is the city's reference school. "Best" is family-fit: continuum or layered, IB-only or hybrid, campus, waitlist.

What is the average IB Diploma score in Singapore?

Top international schools post averages between 34 and 39; MOE-stream Singaporean schools post 41 to 42. The 2024 global IB Diploma average was 30.32. Singapore sits structurally above the global mean across all tiers.

Can my child do the IB at a local Singapore school?

Yes, in principle, at ACS (Independent), Hwa Chong, and SJI. Two constraints apply. Fee gating: international students pay full international rates, higher than the citizen and PR rates but often still lower than international-school equivalents. Quota gating: foreign-passport admission is capped at MOE-funded schools and is competitive. The CPE-registered international wings (Hwa Chong International, SJI International, ACS International) avoid both constraints.

Does a school running PYP and MYP produce better IB Diploma results?

Not directly. The structural argument is that PYP and MYP build the inquiry, research, and writing habits the Diploma demands. The counter-argument is that British-style preparation through IGCSE (Dulwich, Tanglin) produces equally well-prepared DP candidates. The Singapore data goes both ways: Tanglin's 39.1 (no PYP/MYP) and UWCSEA's 36.4 (full continuum) both sit at the top.

What does CPE registration mean for international schools in Singapore?

The Committee for Private Education (part of SkillsFuture Singapore) registers all private education providers in Singapore. Every international school in the city is CPE-registered; credible operators hold EduTrust certification covering governance, financial health, and academic standards. EduTrust Star is the top tier; EduTrust certification is the working baseline for handling Student Pass admissions.

Sources. IB Organisation global statistical bulletin 2024. School websites and most recent published exam results. BSO inspection records (UK Department for Education). CIS, WASC, COBIS, NEASC accreditation registers. HMC and FOBISIA membership directories. Singapore Committee for Private Education / SkillsFuture Singapore CPE registration and EduTrust certification records. Singapore Ministry of Education school information service.