IB schools in Singapore: programmes, fees and how to choose

Last reviewed: November 2026 by David from ISA. Fees are those published by each school for 2026-27 and include GST; always confirm the current schedule with the school.

Choosing among IB schools in Singapore is less about finding one and more about narrowing a long list. The International Baccalaureate is taught in preschools, in international schools that run it from age 3 to 18, in schools that switch to it only for the last two years, and in a few local schools that prepare Singaporean teenagers for the Diploma.

This guide explains the four IB programmes, where each is taught, what the Diploma years cost in 2026-27 at three schools with published fees, and the questions that separate a strong IB school from one that simply offers the course.

What do IB schools in Singapore actually teach?

The IB has four programmes, and a school can be authorised for one, several or all of them:

• Primary Years Programme (PYP), ages 3 to 12: inquiry-based units that cross subject lines. Several Singapore schools follow it with Cambridge courses in the later years.
• Middle Years Programme (MYP), ages 11 to 16: eight subject groups and a final personal project. Fewer schools offer it; many use IGCSE for ages 14 to 16 instead.
• Diploma Programme (DP), ages 16 to 19: six subjects, three at higher level, plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service. This is the programme most families mean by "IB school".
• Career-related Programme (CP), last two years of secondary: combines DP courses with a career-related study. The School of the Arts offers it in Singapore.

A school that runs PYP, MYP and DP is called a continuum school. Canadian International School is one; others mix the IB with Cambridge, so a child might take the PYP, then IGCSE, then the DP. If you want help with the bigger choice of qualification, our comparison of AP and IB programmes sets out who each suits.

Which local schools in Singapore offer the IB?

A handful of local schools teach the Diploma, mainly to Singaporean students. Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) runs a six-year Integrated Programme leading to the IB Diploma alongside its four-year track, the School of the Arts teaches students aged 13 to 18 towards the IB Diploma or the IB Career-related Programme, and the Singapore Sports School offers the Diploma with entry through Direct School Admission.

Foreign children can apply to mainstream government schools through the Ministry of Education's AEIS, which covers Primary 2 to 5 and Secondary 1 to 3. Applications usually open in July, the 2026 tests ran from 1 to 3 September, and successful children start in January, because the local school year follows the calendar year. Places depend on test results and vacancies, and MOE warns that admission is not guaranteed. A supplementary round (S-AEIS) takes applications in early January 2027, with tests planned for late February to early March. Monthly fees for international students depend on nationality and include GST, and independent schools such as ACS (Independent) set their own.

In practice, most expatriate families who want the IB choose an international school, where the year usually starts in August and mid-year entry is possible if a place is free.

IB schools in Singapore with published 2026-27 fees

Canadian International School

Based in Jurong West, the school offers the full IB continuum, with the PYP in primary and the MYP and DP in secondary. Its 2026/2027 fee schedule lists S$41,840 for Grades 1 to 3, S$51,240 for Grades 7 to 10 and S$53,500 for Grades 11 and 12, with Chinese-English and French-English bilingual streams in the primary years. New families pay a S$1,000 application fee, a S$5,500 confirmation fee for a first child and a one-off S$4,300 facilities fee. The school says it charges no ongoing building levy.

Dover Court International School

Part of Nord Anglia Education and located on Dover Road, Dover Court teaches a British curriculum to Year 11 and then lets Sixth Form students take the full IB Diploma, individual IB courses or a BTEC business diploma. For 2026-27, Years 12 and 13 cost S$47,982 a year including GST, with a S$920 application fee, a S$3,555 registration fee and a building fund of S$3,189 a year. The school reports a class of 2026 average of 35.2 points, against a global average of 30.9.

One World International School

OWIS teaches the PYP from early childhood to Grade 5, Cambridge programmes from Grade 6 to IGCSE, and the IB Diploma in Grades 11 and 12 at its Nanyang and Digital (Punggol) campuses, with Cambridge A Levels as an alternative. At the Nanyang campus the 2026-27 fee for Grades 7 to 12, Diploma years included, is S$27,774, the lowest of the three; at the Digital campus the Diploma years cost S$33,168 plus a S$7,291 building fee, S$40,459 in all. The one-time application fee is S$1,420, and bus fees add S$4,296 to S$5,257 a year depending on distance.

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

Among these three schools, the Diploma years cost between S$27,774 and S$53,500 a year, and the one-off fees in the first year can add several thousand dollars more.

Figures in Singapore dollars, including 9% GST, from each school's 2026-27 fee schedule.

Watch the GST line. The schools in this guide quote fees with GST included, but older brochures and some relocation packages use pre-GST figures. OWIS shows the difference clearly for 2025-26: S$25,005 before GST and S$27,255 with it for Grades 7 to 12. If your employer pays a capped allowance, check which number it covers. SJI International, which pairs IGCSE with the Diploma, also states that all its fees include 9% GST, and asks high school families for a S$6,000 security deposit.

A first-year example. For a student entering Grade 11 or Year 12 in August 2027 at 2026-27 rates, the first-year bill would be about S$64,300 at Canadian International School (tuition, application, confirmation and facilities fees), about S$55,646 at Dover Court (tuition, application, registration and building fund) and about S$33,971 at OWIS Nanyang with a mid-distance bus. Fees normally rise each year, so budget for an increase. For housing and daily costs on top, see our guide to the cost of living in Singapore for a family.

How to choose an IB school in Singapore

Check the authorisation. Only authorised IB World Schools can teach the programmes under the IB name, and a school may be authorised for the DP but still a candidate for the PYP or MYP. The IBO's online school finder shows the status of each programme.

Ask how many students take the full Diploma. A school average means more when you know how many students sat the full DP rather than individual courses, and which higher-level subjects actually ran last year. Dover Court, for example, offers both routes.

Think about the route to 16. A child moving on to another country at 14 may be better served by a continuum school or by IGCSE, depending on the next destination. Ask what happens if your child joins in Grade 10 or Year 11, one year before the Diploma starts.

Plan for results day. In 2026 the IB released May-session Diploma results on 6 July at 12:00 GMT, which is 8pm in Singapore; confirm the 2027 date with the school. Ask the school how it supports students that evening and in the following days, when conditional university offers are confirmed or remarks are requested.

Compare IB schools in Singapore

For a wider view of curricula, fees and locations across the island, see our ranking of the best international schools in Singapore.

Sources: 2026-27 fee schedules of Canadian International School, Dover Court International School, One World International School and SJI International; IRAS; Ministry of Education (AEIS); websites of ACS (Independent), the School of the Arts and the Singapore Sports School; International Baccalaureate.

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

Further reading: British schools in Singapore and their A Level and IB routes.

Frequently asked questions

Are there IB primary schools in Singapore?

Yes. The Primary Years Programme covers ages 3 to 12 and is taught at international schools such as Canadian International School and One World International School, where it runs from early childhood to Grade 5. Before applying, check in the IBO's school finder that the school is fully authorised for the PYP rather than still a candidate.

Do IB school fees in Singapore include GST?

International schools now publish fees with GST included. Canadian International School, Dover Court and One World International School all state that their 2026-27 figures include the 9% rate in force since 1 January 2024. One-off charges such as application, confirmation or registration fees are listed separately and usually also include GST.

Can my child switch to an IB school in Singapore in Grade 11?

Often, but places in the first Diploma year are limited and schools assess subject choices before offering a place. Applying a year ahead helps. Dover Court lets Sixth Form students take the full Diploma or individual IB courses, which can suit a late arrival. Ask whether the school can teach your child's first language as a Diploma subject.