British schools in Singapore: curriculum, fees and how to choose

Last reviewed: November 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Families moving to Singapore from the UK, or from a British school elsewhere, usually want continuity, and the choice is wider than it first looks. British schools in Singapore range from Tanglin Trust School, a non-profit with a 100-year history, to newer arrivals that teach the Cambridge version of the curriculum at a lower price. What separates them is less the label than three practical points: what happens after IGCSE, how much the first year really costs once entry charges are added, and whether there is a seat in your child's year group.

Below are four schools with published 2026-27 fees, how places are allocated, and the citizenship rule that catches families with a Singaporean parent.

What do British schools in Singapore teach?

They follow the English structure from the Early Years Foundation Stage to IGCSE or GCSE exams in Year 11, then a two-year Sixth Form. There are two families of schools:

• English National Curriculum: Tanglin Trust School, Dulwich College (Singapore) and Dover Court International School adapt the curriculum used in England and keep its year names, Nursery to Year 13.
• Cambridge curriculum: The Perse School (Singapore) teaches the Cambridge international programme from Nursery to IGCSE and says it will offer A Levels in Years 12 and 13.

Tanglin's year starts in August, with most offers made from March. Its online year group calculator is worth using before you apply, because placement follows date of birth, not the grade your child finished abroad.

IGCSE, then A Levels or the IB: what happens at 16?

It depends on the school, and it is the curriculum question to settle first. Tanglin's Sixth Form offers both A Levels and the IB Diploma. Dulwich College (Singapore) moves from IGCSE to the IB: in Years 12 and 13 students take either the IB Diploma or the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP). Dover Court prepares students for I/GCSE and the IB Diploma, and its website also reports BTEC results, an option for students who prefer coursework.

A Levels suit students ready to specialise in three or four subjects, often with a UK degree in mind; the IB Diploma keeps six subjects plus the extended essay. Our guide to IB schools in Singapore and how their programmes compare covers the IB side in depth. Timing matters: Tanglin does not accept new students into Year 13, the second year of both courses, so plan a move for Year 12 at the latest.

Four British schools in Singapore compared

Tanglin Trust School

Tanglin's campus is at 95 Portsdown Road and it teaches children from 3 to 18. It is a non-profit company limited by guarantee and registered as an educational charity, according to its admissions FAQs. In 2026-27, Junior School fees (Years 3 to 6) are S$47,490 a year and Sixth Form fees S$58,080, each including a building fund element. Applicants need age-appropriate English, as the school has no provision for English as an additional language, and diagnostic assessments apply from Year 7.

Dulwich College (Singapore)

Dulwich is in Bukit Batok, in the west, and takes children from age 2 in its DUCKS early years school to 18. Its 2026-27 fee sheet lists S$45,240 from Reception to Year 2 and S$59,220 in Year 13, including GST, with a 5% discount for families with three or more children from Reception. Entry depends on academic assessments, which can be resat 6 to 12 months later at the school's discretion.

Dover Court International School

Dover Court, at 301 Dover Road, is part of Nord Anglia Education and takes pupils aged 3 to 18. Its focus is inclusion: three pathways with different levels of support and, the school says, an inclusion team with an educational psychologist and therapists. Mainstream 2026-27 fees are S$38,106 in Years 3 to 6 and S$47,982 in Years 12 and 13; Pathway 3 reaches S$60,579, so ask early which pathway is proposed.

The Perse School (Singapore)

The Perse, at 58 Chestnut Drive in Upper Bukit Timah, is the lower-cost option in this group. Its 2026-27 course fee, which bundles tuition and compulsory programmes, is S$28,202.06 in Years 1 to 6 and S$33,973.66 in Years 7 to 11, including GST. There is a S$1,635 application fee and a separate assessment fee of S$1,635 in Years 1 to 6.

How much do British schools in Singapore cost in 2026-27?

In 2026-27, mainstream annual fees from Year 1 to Year 13 at these four schools range from roughly S$28,000 to S$59,000, before one-off charges. The table compares three entry points.

Figures are annual 2026-27 fees in Singapore dollars from each school's published schedule; Dover Court figures are its mainstream Pathway 1 fees. The Perse's Year 12 figure is the course fee for its new A Level Sixth Form, with tuition marked for adjustment in February 2027.

The GST rule. All four schools quote fees that already include GST at 9%, the rate IRAS states is current. When a school or agent quotes a figure "before GST", add 9% to compare like with like: Tanglin's Guaranteed Placement Right, for example, costs S$165,000 excluding GST, or S$179,850 with it.

Extras that are not in the tuition line:

• Exam fees: billed separately for IGCSE, A Level and the IB; Tanglin suggests budgeting S$1,000 to S$2,500.
• Devices: Dulwich and Tanglin require students from Year 7 to have their own or a school-managed device.
• Buses and meals: billed by outside providers at Tanglin and Dulwich; uniforms are extra.

School fees are only part of the bill: our breakdown of the cost of living in Singapore for a family, from schools to homes puts them next to rent and daily costs.

Can Singapore citizens attend a British school in Singapore?

Only with MOE approval, and only in limited cases. Under the Compulsory Education Act 2000, Singapore citizens living in Singapore who are above 6 and under 15 must attend a national primary school, so an international school needs an MOE waiver to enrol them. Tanglin says that, because of limits on the number of waiver applications, it applies only for children of staff, siblings of waiver holders and children of alumni, and warns that a Nursery place does not guarantee a waiver at Primary 1 age. Dulwich adds children moving from overseas above Primary 1 age. In a 2021 parliamentary reply, MOE said fewer than 0.5% of Singaporean students attend international schools and that it receives 50 to 60 appeals a year. The rule does not apply to permanent residents or foreign nationals.

How do places and waiting lists work?

Demand peaks in the early years, so the entry point shapes your chances. Tanglin accepts applications up to three years ahead, reviews them from the September before entry and keeps some unsuccessful applicants in a wait pool. Its Guaranteed Placement Rights secure a place for a large contribution, but the normal entry criteria still apply. Dover Court charges a S$1,308 placement fee before a multidisciplinary assessment; it is credited to registration if you accept and kept only if you turn down an offer.

A practical checklist for your shortlist:

1. Ask whether the Sixth Form offers A Levels, the IB Diploma or both, and which subjects ran this year.
2. Check citizenship rules if either parent is Singaporean, and get the waiver position in writing.
3. Add application, enrolment and levy charges to the first year's budget, plus exam fees in Years 11 and 13.
4. Map the daily journey: Bukit Batok, Dover Road and Portsdown Road are all in the west and centre, so housing in the east can mean long bus rides.
5. Note withdrawal deadlines: Dulwich asks for notice by 5 March 2027 to leave at the end of Term 3.

Compare more schools in Singapore

If British schools are only part of your search, the full list of best international schools in Singapore compares curricula, age ranges and fees across the island.

Sources: 2026-27 fee schedules and admissions pages of Tanglin Trust School, Dulwich College (Singapore), Dover Court International School and The Perse School (Singapore); Ministry of Education Singapore, compulsory education overview and parliamentary reply of 4 October 2021; IRAS, current GST rate.

More guides to schools in Singapore

• Bilingual schools in Singapore
• How to choose an international school in Singapore
• International school admissions in Singapore
• International school fees in Singapore
• Best international schools in Singapore
• best international schools in Singapore

Frequently asked questions

Do British schools in Singapore charge GST on fees?

Yes. Tanglin Trust School, Dulwich College (Singapore), Dover Court and The Perse School all publish 2026-27 fees that already include GST at 9%, the current rate according to IRAS. If you are given a price before GST, add 9% before comparing it, and check whether exam fees, buses and devices are billed separately.

When should I apply to a British school in Singapore for August 2027?

As early as you can. Tanglin accepts applications up to three years ahead, starts reviewing them in September and closes 2027-28 applications on 15 February 2027, with most offers made from March. Its main intake is Nursery; in older year groups places depend on withdrawals, so apply to two or three schools at once.

Can my Singaporean child attend a British international school in Singapore?

Only if the Ministry of Education grants a waiver. Under the Compulsory Education Act 2000, citizens of primary school age living in Singapore must attend a national primary school. Schools apply for the waiver after offering a place, and Tanglin and Dulwich only apply for set groups, such as siblings or children of staff or alumni.