Top 10 International Schools in Singapore 2026

The brief

The benchmark pair: UWCSEA Dover and UWCSEA East, one school across two campuses, IB Diploma 36.4 in 2025, the city's most established IB-only operation at scale.
Strongest single result: Tanglin Trust, IB Diploma 39.1 (2024) and *A-Level 33% A\/A**, the only Singapore school running both routes at the top of the market.
Largest AP cohort in the region: Singapore American School in Woodlands, ~4,100 pupils, AP mean 4.38, 98% at 3-5 in 2025.
Fee compression at the top. Senior-year fees at UWCSEA, Tanglin, Dulwich, NLCS Singapore, Stamford American and SAS cluster between SGD 37,000 and SGD 58,000. The decision is rarely about money.
Supply is regulated. Every private school is CPE-registered; credible operators hold EduTrust certification. New schools open through EDB Request-for-Interest rounds, not free-market entry.

Singapore's international-school field has two anchors and a tightly compressed top tier behind them. UWCSEA runs the longest-established IB operation in Asia across two near-identical campuses. Singapore American School is the largest American school in the region. Around them sit four other through-schools at international rates and two MOE-stream schools that post the country's highest published IB averages.

Specialist needs (SEN, bilingual, francophone, Japanese, Korean, Indian) sit on different shortlists; the pillar Best International Schools in Singapore covers them.

The ranking

1. UWCSEA Dover

Dover Road. Ages 4 to 18. Founded 1971. CIS and WASC accredited. Around 3,000 pupils. 2025 IB Diploma 36.4, pass rate 98.7%.

UWCSEA Dover is the original UWC campus in Singapore and one of the longest-running IB Diploma schools in Asia. The school is IB-only across the entire span: inquiry-led primary, MYP-equivalent middle years, IB Diploma at sixth form. A family enrolling at Dover commits to the IB pathway from age four. Dover sits next to Buona Vista MRT in the southwest school belt; waitlists are the longest in the city at the most popular year groups. Senior-year fees SGD 29,156-37,258.

2. UWCSEA East

Tampines Street 73. Ages 4 to 18. Campus opened 2008 within the school founded in 1971. CIS and WASC accredited. Around 3,000 pupils. 2025 IB Diploma 36.4, pass rate 98.7%.

Same academic results, same curriculum, same admissions standards as Dover. The difference is geography. East is the purpose-built newer campus and the natural choice for families based in Tampines, Changi, East Coast, or Pasir Ris. Waitlists clear faster at most year groups than Dover. Senior-year fees SGD 31,701-39,718. The two campuses are run as one school; placement decisions usually follow address.

3. Tanglin Trust School

Portsdown Road. Ages 3 to 18. Founded 1925. BSO inspections 2022 and 2025. HMC member. Around 2,900 pupils. 2024 IB Diploma 39.1, A-Level *33% A\/A, 87% A\-B*.

Tanglin is the oldest British school in Southeast Asia and posted the country's strongest single set of 2024 results. The senior school runs IB Diploma and A-Levels in parallel, with students choosing at the end of Year 11. HMC membership is the signal that matters: Tanglin's head sits in the same conference as the heads of Eton, Winchester, and St Paul's, the only Singapore school where that is true. Early years and primary run EYFS and the English National Curriculum; for full IB-from-three, look at UWCSEA, NLCS Singapore, or Stamford American. Senior-year fees SGD 25,948-41,593.

4. Singapore American School

Woodlands Drive 41. Ages 2 to 18. Founded 1956. WASC accredited on a six-year term. Around 4,100 pupils.

SAS is the largest American international school in Southeast Asia and the regional benchmark for AP. The 2025 cohort posted AP mean 4.38, 85% at 4-5, 98% at 3-5, alongside the strongest US independents. SAT class of 2025: middle-50 EBRW 640-750, Math 660-780, total 1310-1510. The 36-acre Woodlands campus carries full senior-school athletics, an in-house research division, and AP at unusual scale. SAS is not an IB school: sixth form is AP and a US high school diploma. Woodlands is in the far north near the Causeway; the commute is the operational decision for most families. Senior-year fees SGD 31,000-39,410.

5. Dulwich College Singapore

Bukit Batok West Avenue 6. Ages 2 to 18. Founded 2014. CIS, WASC, COBIS, BSO all fully accredited. Around 2,700 pupils. 2025 IB Diploma 37.1, pass rate 100%, IGCSE *74% A\/A**.

Dulwich is the British-heritage school with the IB Diploma as default. The sixth form is IB-led with a Cambridge A-Level option, the structural inverse of Tanglin. The accreditation stack is the strongest of any school in the city: every major international body in place at full status. The Bukit Batok campus is the largest purpose-built international school site to open in Singapore in the past decade. IGCSE at 16 then IB Diploma at 18, so the IB structure begins at sixth form rather than from PYP. Senior-year fees SGD 20,270-56,220.

6. North London Collegiate School Singapore

Depot Road. Ages 3 to 18. Founded 2020. CIS accredited, COBIS accredited member. Around 1,400 pupils. 2024 IB Diploma 36.52, highest score 43, 20% scoring 40 or above.

NLCS Singapore is the youngest school in the top tier and already running at top-tier results within five years of opening. 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. The Depot Road campus sits next to the Greater Southern Waterfront redevelopment. Senior-year fees SGD 37,563-55,733.

7. Stamford American International School

Woodleigh Lane. Ages 1 to 18. Founded 2009. WASC and CIS accredited. Around 3,000 pupils. 2023 IB Diploma 34.2; AP average 3.5.

Stamford American is the full IB continuum school in the American operating culture: PYP, MYP and IB Diploma, with AP running alongside the IB Diploma at sixth form. Largest combined PYP-MYP-DP cohort in the city. 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. Woodleigh is more central than SAS Woodlands; the campus shares its block with the Australian International School and Brighton College. Senior-year fees SGD 47,390-54,210.

8. Australian International School

Lorong Chuan. Ages 1 to 18. Founded 1993. WASC and CIS accredited. NSW Board of Studies registered. Around 2,700 pupils. 2025 IB Diploma 34.9, 41% Bilingual Diploma, combined ATAR average 85, 40% at ATAR 90+.

AIS is the Australian-curriculum anchor and the only large school in Singapore offering a dual sixth-form exit: IB Diploma or HSC. Australian curriculum through Year 10, then choice of pathway. The HSC route is the most direct entry into Australian Group of Eight universities; the IB Diploma gives globally portable optionality. Infant care from one month, with the full age span on one campus. Senior-year fees SGD 3,330-53,148; the wide range reflects infant-care lanes, not senior tuition.

9. SJI International

Thomson Road, Toa Payoh. Founded 2007. Cambridge IGCSE then IB Diploma at sixth form. Catholic foundation; the international wing of St Joseph's Institution.

SJI International is the most established of the three MOE-stream international wings, alongside ACS International and Hwa Chong International. The SJI brand carries significant local weight; the international school is the route most accessible to international families. Runs Cambridge IGCSE then IB Diploma. Single fee tier across nationalities, no MOE foreign-student quota at the international wing. Toa Payoh is north-central, on the Thomson-East Coast and North-South MRT lines. Recent IB cohort averages are not consistently published; current figures are confirmed at admissions.

10. ACS International

Dover Road. Ages 12 to 18. Founded 2005. CIS accredited. 1,077 pupils. 2023 IB Diploma 36.1, pass rate 96.5%, highest score 45.

ACS International is the secondary-only international wing of the ACS group (the senior group founded 1886). Sixth form runs IB Diploma with strong, consistent results into the mid-to-high 30s. Structurally distinct from ACS (Independent), the MOE-funded wing of the same group that posts averages above 41 but is subject to citizen and PR fee tiers and a foreign-student quota. ACS International is the CPE-registered route for an international family wanting the ACS brand without the local-stream constraints. A new ACS International elementary school is scheduled to open on the same Dover Road site in 2026, completing the through-school.

At a glance

School	Area	Curriculum	Ages	Senior-year fees
UWCSEA Dover	Dover	Full IB continuum	4 to 18	SGD 29,156-37,258
UWCSEA East	Tampines	Full IB continuum	4 to 18	SGD 31,701-39,718
Tanglin Trust	Portsdown	English NC, IGCSE, IB DP + A-Level	3 to 18	SGD 25,948-41,593
Singapore American School	Woodlands	American, AP	2 to 18	SGD 31,000-39,410
Dulwich College	Bukit Batok	English NC, IGCSE, IB DP + Cambridge AL	2 to 18	SGD 20,270-56,220
NLCS Singapore	Depot Road	British, IB DP only	3 to 18	SGD 37,563-55,733
Stamford American	Woodleigh	Full IB continuum + AP	1 to 18	SGD 47,390-54,210
Australian International	Lorong Chuan	Australian, IB DP + HSC	1 to 18	SGD 3,330-53,148
SJI International	Toa Payoh	Cambridge IGCSE + IB DP	12 to 18	Verify with admissions
ACS International	Queenstown / Dover	Cambridge IGCSE + IB DP	12 to 18	Verify with admissions

Fees are 2025-2026 published year-group ranges. SGD 1 equals roughly USD 0.74. AIS and Dulwich ranges span the full school including early years; senior-year fees sit in the upper portion of each range. SAS senior fees include facility components that vary by lane.

How this list was built

Ten schools is a smaller field than Singapore's roughly 70 CPE-registered private schools. Four signals shaped the cut.

Published results. Latest IB Diploma average, A-Level grade distribution, AP scores, ATAR equivalents. The 2024 global IB DP average was 30.32; the schools here sit between 34 and 39. Operators without current, defensible published results dropped out.

Scale and continuity. Through-schools, not specialist sixth forms or boutique primaries. Every school here can take a child from primary or early years to university applications under one operator.

Accreditation depth. CIS, WASC, COBIS, BSO, EduTrust, HMC, FOBISIA. Singapore's regulatory floor is higher than most regional capitals; the schools here clear it comfortably.

Reputational pull. Which schools an arriving family will hear named first by relocation consultants, employer mobility teams, and other parents. The softest signal of the four, used to break ties rather than to lead.

Specialist needs are not captured. Strong bilingual options (Canadian International, GESS, XCL World Academy), strong SEN provision (Dover Court, The Winstedt School), and the national-system schools (Lycee Francais, Swiss School, Korean International, Waseda Shibuya) belong on different shortlists. The pillar guide covers them.

How to use this list

Treat the top six as one tier. UWCSEA Dover, UWCSEA East, Tanglin, SAS, Dulwich, and NLCS Singapore are the schools named first in every relocation conversation. The choice between them turns on curriculum, sixth-form structure, geography, and which campus has space at the year group needed.

Apply early and apply to several. The most competitive schools accept applications a year in advance. Waitlists can stretch to 12-18 months at Reception, Year 7, and Grade 6. Most families serious about a specific top-tier school apply to three or four simultaneously. Application fees of SGD 500 to SGD 1,500 are non-refundable.

Match the school to the sixth-form route. US high school diploma plus AP at SAS. A-Level plus IB DP at Tanglin. IB DP plus AP at Stamford American. IB DP plus Cambridge AL at Dulwich. IB DP plus HSC at AIS. IB Diploma only at UWCSEA, NLCS Singapore, SJI International, and ACS International. The sixth-form route shapes the university application more than the school brand does.

MOE-stream and CPE-registered are different markets. SJI International, ACS International, and Hwa Chong International are the CPE-registered international wings of MOE-stream Singaporean schools. Their MOE-funded siblings (SJI, ACS Independent, Hwa Chong Institution) post higher IB averages but apply citizen and PR fee gating and foreign-student quotas. For most families on Employment Pass and Dependant's Pass, the international wing is the practical entry.

FAQs

Which is the best international school in Singapore?

By 2024 IB Diploma average, Tanglin Trust at 39.1 posted the strongest single international-school result. By tenure, scale and depth of the IB continuum, UWCSEA Dover is the city's reference school. By AP performance, Singapore American School at AP mean 4.38 sits with the strongest American schools globally. "Best" is family-fit: curriculum, sixth-form route, campus, waitlist.

How competitive are admissions at the top schools?

Very. UWCSEA Dover, Tanglin Trust, NLCS Singapore, and Dulwich carry the longest waitlists; popular entry points can stretch to 12-18 months. SAS, UWCSEA East and Stamford American have more capacity at most year groups. Applying to three or four schools simultaneously is standard practice.

Are the MOE-stream schools open to my family?

In principle, yes. SJI, ACS Independent, and Hwa Chong Institution accept foreign-passport applications subject to a quota. Fees are higher than the citizen and PR rates but typically lower than international-school equivalents. The competition is intense. The CPE-registered international wings (SJI International, ACS International, Hwa Chong International) avoid both the quota and the fee gating and are the more accessible route.

What does CPE registration and EduTrust certification actually mean?

The Committee for Private Education, part of SkillsFuture Singapore, registers every private education provider in the country. Every international school on this list is CPE-registered. EduTrust certification is the higher tier and covers governance, financial health, and academic standards. EduTrust Star is the top grade. EduTrust certification is the working baseline for handling Student Pass admissions; the schools on this list hold it.

Is there a debenture system like Hong Kong?

No. Singapore international schools charge one-time enrolment fees (SGD 2,000-10,000), annual development levies (SGD 4,000-6,000), and tuition. No refundable six-figure lump sum is asked. The first-year all-in cost at a premium school typically runs SGD 55,000-65,000 per child once registration, levies, bus, uniforms, and extras are added in.

Sources. IB Organisation global statistical bulletin 2024. School websites and most recent published exam results (2023-2025 depending on school). 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. Singapore Economic Development Board Request-for-Interest records (Wellington College 2018, The Perse 2021, Wycombe Abbey 2024).