Quick answer: when does the school year in Singapore start? It depends on the system. MOE schools run from January to November in four terms: in 2027, from Monday 4 January to Friday 19 November. Most international schools run from August to June, as Dover Court (11 August 2026) and Tanglin Trust (18 August 2026) do, while SJI International follows the calendar year.
Last reviewed: November 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Key takeaways
- MOE published the 2027 calendar on 14 July 2026: primary and secondary schools start on Monday 4 January 2027 and end on Friday 19 November 2027, with four terms and four vacations.
- The longest MOE breaks in 2027 run from 29 May to 27 June and from 20 November to 31 December, according to the Ministry of Education.
- Northern hemisphere international schools started 2026-27 in August: Dover Court on 11 August, Canadian International School on 12 August and Tanglin Trust on 18 August 2026, according to their calendars.
- For entry to MOE schools in 2027, international students sat AEIS tests from 1 to 3 September 2026; S-AEIS applications open in early January 2027, with tests planned for late February to early March.
A family relocating to Singapore in March can find one school halfway through its year and another a few weeks into a new one. That is because the school year in Singapore follows at least three patterns: the January to November year of government schools, the August to June year of most British and North American international schools, and the January to December year of a few international schools.
Below are the 2026 and 2027 term dates for MOE schools and five international schools, and what the differences mean for a mid-year move and family holidays.
When does the school year in Singapore start?
In January for government schools, and usually in August for international schools. The Ministry of Education (MOE) runs one national calendar for its kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools, split into two semesters of two terms each. Junior colleges start later: in 2027, Year 1 students at junior colleges and Millennia Institute begin on Wednesday 3 February, while second-year junior college students return on 11 January.
International schools set their own calendars. British, Canadian and other northern hemisphere schools begin in August, matching the academic year in Europe and North America, which eases transfers for families who move every few years. A smaller group, including SJI International and the Australian International School, runs from January to December.
MOE school terms and holidays for 2026 and 2027
In 2026, MOE primary and secondary schools started on Friday 2 January. Term 1 ran to 13 March, Term 2 from 23 March to 29 May and Term 3 from 29 June to 4 September. Term 4 began on 14 September and ends on Friday 20 November, and the year-end holidays run from 21 November to 31 December 2026.
For 2027, MOE has confirmed these dates:
- Term 1: Monday 4 January to Friday 12 March. Primary 1 and Kindergarten 1 start on 4 January; Primary 2 to 6 and Kindergarten 2 start on 5 January.
- Term 2: Monday 22 March to Friday 28 May.
- Term 3: Monday 28 June to Friday 3 September.
- Term 4: Monday 13 September to Friday 19 November.
- Vacations: 13 to 21 March, 29 May to 27 June, 4 to 12 September, and 20 November to 31 December.
MOE also lists school holidays on Monday 5 July (after Youth Day), Tuesday 10 August, Friday 3 September (Teachers' Day) and Friday 8 October (Children's Day, primary only), plus days off in lieu on 9 February, 3 May and 27 December, when Chinese New Year, Labour Day and Christmas fall on weekends.
International school calendars for 2026-27
Dover Court International School
Dover Court, part of the Nord Anglia group, opened Term 1 on Tuesday 11 August 2026 and closes it on Friday 11 December. Term 2 runs from Tuesday 5 January to Thursday 25 March 2027, with a half-term from 9 to 12 February around Chinese New Year, and Term 3 runs from Monday 12 April to Friday 25 June 2027, according to the school's published term dates.
Tanglin Trust School
Tanglin, a non-profit school founded in 1925, started 2026-27 on Tuesday 18 August after an orientation day on 17 August. Its calendar shows an October half-term from 12 to 23 October, a Christmas break from 14 December, Term 2 from Monday 4 January 2027, an Easter break from 29 March to 9 April and a last day on Tuesday 29 June 2027. It already publishes its 2027-28 calendar, which helps families planning a move a year ahead.
Canadian International School
CIS works in two semesters rather than three terms. At its Lakeside campus, Semester 1 started on Wednesday 12 August 2026 and ends on 15 January 2027; Semester 2 runs from 18 January to Thursday 17 June 2027, the students' last day. School holidays fall from 17 October to 1 November, 19 December to 10 January and 3 to 11 April.
SJI International
SJI International follows the calendar year in two terms. In 2027, Term 1 starts with a staggered entry on 11 to 13 January and ends on 11 June; Term 2 starts on 19 July for all students and ends on 3 December. The mid-year holiday runs from 14 June to 15 July. In 2026, Term 2 started on 20 July and ends on 4 December.
The Australian International School also runs a January to December year, with four ten-week terms and two four-week holidays, one in June and July and one over Christmas. Its 2027 Term 1 starts on Tuesday 19 January, and Term 4 ends on 9 December 2027, according to the school.
Singapore school calendars compared
| School or system | Year starts | Terms and last day | Long holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOE primary and secondary (2027) | 4 Jan 2027 | 4 terms, ends 19 Nov | 29 May to 27 Jun; 20 Nov to 31 Dec |
| Dover Court (2026-27) | 11 Aug 2026 | 3 terms, ends 25 Jun | 12 Dec to 4 Jan; 26 Mar to 11 Apr |
| Tanglin Trust (2026-27) | 18 Aug 2026 | 3 terms, ends 29 Jun | From 14 Dec; 29 Mar to 9 Apr |
| Canadian International School (2026-27) | 12 Aug 2026 | 2 semesters, ends 17 Jun | 19 Dec to 10 Jan; 3 to 11 Apr |
| SJI International (2027) | 11 Jan 2027 | 2 terms, ends 3 Dec | 14 Jun to 15 Jul; from 6 Dec |
| Australian International School (2027) | 19 Jan 2027 | 4 terms, ends 9 Dec | 21 Jun to 16 Jul; 29 Mar to 9 Apr |
Sources: MOE press release of 14 July 2026 and the 2026-27 or 2027 calendars published by each school. Dates can change, so check the latest version before booking flights.
What happens if you move to Singapore mid-year?
For international schools, the cleanest entry points are the start of a term. January is the start of Term 2 at Tanglin and Dover Court and of Semester 2 at CIS, so a family arriving over Christmas can usually aim for the second term rather than waiting for August. For calendar-year schools such as SJI International, January is the start of the year, and July is the mid-year entry point.
MOE schools work differently for international students. They apply through the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS), which places children in Primary 2 to 5 and Secondary 1 to 3 for the following January. For 2027 admission, applications have closed and the tests took place from 1 to 3 September 2026. The supplementary S-AEIS opens for applications in early January 2027, with tests planned for late February to early March, according to MOE.
If you are moving between hemispheres, check the year group as well as the date. A child halfway through a January to December year who moves to an August school may be placed in a different year group, so ask each admissions team how they place children arriving from another calendar.
Where school holidays overlap, and where they do not
Families with children in two systems, or one parent working to the MOE calendar, will find only partial overlap. Chinese New Year is common ground: in 2027 the public holiday falls on 6 and 7 February, MOE schools close on 8 and 9 February, and Dover Court's half-term runs from 9 to 12 February. The March break also lines up loosely: MOE schools stop from 13 to 21 March, while Tanglin, Dover Court and the Australian International School break from late March into April.
The summer is where calendars diverge most. MOE schools are on holiday from 29 May to 27 June 2027, while Tanglin and Dover Court teach until late June and then start their summer break. At the end of 2026, MOE schools finish on 20 November, three to four weeks before Dover Court (11 December) and CIS (18 December) close for Christmas.
A checklist before you book
- Download the calendar for the current and the next year from each shortlisted school; Tanglin and SJI International already publish theirs for 2027-28 and 2027.
- Note staggered starts, orientation days and staff training days, which affect childcare.
- Match flights home to the long breaks, not to the MOE calendar if your child is in an international school.
- Budget for the whole year at once: our guide to the cost of living in Singapore for a family covers fees and rents.
Compare schools in Singapore
To compare curricula, fees and locations as well as calendars, see our list of the best international schools in Singapore.
More guides to schools in Singapore
- Best international 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
Frequently asked questions
When are the school holidays in Singapore in 2027?
For MOE schools, the 2027 vacations run from 13 to 21 March, 29 May to 27 June, 4 to 12 September and 20 November to 31 December, with extra school holidays on 5 July, 10 August, 3 September and, for primary pupils, 8 October. International schools set their own breaks: Tanglin Trust, for example, finishes its 2026-27 year on 29 June 2027.
Can my child join a school in Singapore in the middle of the year?
At international schools, the start of each term is the usual entry point: Term 2 begins on 4 January 2027 at Tanglin and on 5 January at Dover Court, subject to places. MOE schools admit international students mainly through the AEIS, whose tests ran from 1 to 3 September 2026 for January 2027 entry, and the S-AEIS, with applications in early January 2027.
Do international schools in Singapore follow the MOE calendar?
Most do not. British and North American schools such as Dover Court, Tanglin Trust and Canadian International School run from August to June, while SJI International and the Australian International School follow the calendar year with a mid-year break in June and July. All of them close on Singapore public holidays, such as Chinese New Year on 6 and 7 February 2027.