International school admissions in Manila reward families who start early and stay organised. Metro Manila's most established schools cap year groups well before the August start, and the paperwork — visas, records, immunisations, references — takes longer to assemble than most relocating parents expect. This 2026 guide walks through the timeline, the documents and the assessment styles of the city's leading international schools.
The Manila admissions timeline for 2026
Most international schools in Manila run an August-to-June academic year, though some follow different calendars, so confirm dates school by school. A practical planning rhythm:
- Nine to twelve months ahead: shortlist schools, join virtual open houses and register interest. Kindergarten and the IB Diploma years fill first.
- Four to eight months ahead: submit applications with complete documents, sit assessments and receive offers. For an August 2026 start, the strongest window runs from October 2025 to March 2026.
- Eight to two weeks ahead: sign enrolment contracts, pay reservation fees and finalise bus routes and uniforms.
Rolling admission is standard, and mid-year entry is possible where seats exist, but the top schools maintain waiting lists in popular grades, so an early application buys real options.
Documents Manila schools require
- Report cards from the previous two school years, in English or officially translated
- Passport bio page and, once available, the child's visa or ACR I-Card details
- Birth certificate and recent passport-size photographs
- Immunisation records and a health certificate
- Confidential recommendation forms from current teachers, sent directly between schools
- Standardised test results (MAP, ISA, IGCSE and similar) where available for older students
Philippine regulations add one wrinkle worth knowing: foreign students need a study-eligible visa status, and schools' registrar teams are practised at guiding families through the paperwork. Start the document file the day you decide to move — attestations and translations are the slowest step.
How the leading schools assess applicants
Brent International School Manila
Brent, one of the Philippines' longest-established international schools, offers an American-style programme with the IB Diploma. Admissions review transcripts and recommendation letters, with placement testing in English and mathematics where records are incomplete or the applicant is changing curricula. Its Biñan campus south of Metro Manila draws families from Alabang and the southern business districts.
Nord Anglia International School Manila
Part of the global Nord Anglia group, NAIS Manila teaches the English National Curriculum with the group's signature collaborations. Admissions are non-selective but structured: a family meeting, previous reports and an age-appropriate baseline assessment to plan support. Being newer to the market, it often has availability in year groups the legacy schools have closed, which matters for mid-year arrivals.
Australian International School
AIS delivers an Australian curriculum pathway and attracts families planning onward moves to Australia or seeking its practical, well-being-focused model. Applicants provide prior records and complete an informal assessment; the Southern Hemisphere-friendly structure can ease transitions for children arriving from Australian school calendars.
Eton International School
Eton International School serves families seeking a smaller, more personal international setting with English-medium instruction. Admissions centre on a family interview and diagnostic screening, and the school's scale allows genuinely individual placement decisions — often a good fit for younger children or families new to international education.
English support and language requirements
Manila is one of the easier cities in Asia for English-medium schooling: English is an official language of the Philippines, and international school classrooms operate entirely in English. For children joining without fluent English, the larger schools run EAL programmes with in-class support in primary years; entry into IGCSE, IB and AP courses from around age fourteen requires functional academic English everywhere. Filipino language and culture classes are part of most programmes in some form, which helps children connect with their host country.
Fees and reservation deposits
Annual tuition at Manila's international schools typically runs from PHP 500,000 to PHP 1,600,000 depending on school and age group, with the IB Diploma years at the top of the range. At admission, expect a non-refundable application fee of PHP 10,000–25,000, and on acceptance a one-time facility or capital fee that can reach PHP 250,000–500,000 at the premium schools, plus a seat reservation deposit credited against tuition. Ask for the complete fee schedule — including bus, uniforms, exam fees and annual increases — before signing, and check whether the capital fee is payable again if you withdraw and later return.
After the offer: enrolment and the first term
Offers in Manila usually come with a two-to-four-week acceptance window. Before signing, confirm the year-group placement in writing — cut-off dates differ between American, British and Australian systems, and a child born mid-year can legitimately sit in two different grades depending on the school. Once enrolled, ask about orientation days, buddy programmes and the parent association: Manila's international school communities are famously welcoming, and families who plug in early find the transition dramatically easier. Keep certified copies of every document you submitted, since the same file resurfaces for visa renewals and, eventually, university applications.
If you are choosing between two offers, weigh the commute as heavily as the curriculum. A school that saves your child ninety minutes a day on EDSA traffic returns that time as sleep, sport and homework, and no programme advantage outweighs a punishing daily journey for a young child.
Practical tips for relocating families
Match housing to campus location: Bonifacio Global City and Makati suit schools in the central business districts, while families at Brent or in the south often settle in Alabang. Manila traffic is severe, and a school bus journey that looks short on a map can take over an hour at peak times, so test the route before committing to a lease. If your arrival date is uncertain, keep the admissions office informed — schools hold places for communicative families and most will run interviews and assessments by video before you land. Compare verified school profiles, parent reviews and fees on International School Advisor as you build your shortlist.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply for a 2026 school place in Manila?
Apply between October 2025 and March 2026 for the August 2026 intake, and up to a year ahead for kindergarten and IB Diploma years. Rolling admissions continue afterwards where seats remain.
Do Manila international schools require entrance exams?
Most assess through previous reports, teacher recommendations and age-appropriate placement tests in English and maths rather than competitive entrance exams. Older students may need standardised test results for IB or AP placement.
Can my child attend an international school in Manila without speaking Filipino?
Yes. Instruction is fully in English, and Filipino is taught as a language and culture subject. Children new to English receive EAL support, particularly in the primary years.