HITPFees for international students (non-ASEAN)
| School | Monthly school fees | Monthly misc. fees | Monthly total | Per year (x12) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government primary | 1,035 | 14.17 | 1,049.17 | 12,590.04 |
| Government secondary | 2,190 | 21.80 | 2,211.80 | 26,541.60 |
Singapore dollars. Fees for international students include GST [1]. The monthly fee covers school fees and miscellaneous fees only [1]; the yearly figure is the monthly total multiplied by 12.
We checked one government primary school (Admiralty Primary School) and one government secondary school (Yuying Secondary School); both showed the same amounts for 2026 and 2027 [1]. Run your child's school through MOE's fee checker to confirm.
Why Chinese nationals fall under "non-ASEAN"
MOE charges different fees to Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and international students [1], and splits international students into ASEAN and non-ASEAN.
MOE lists the ASEAN countries as Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. China is not on the list [1].
How MOE charges it: yearly, over 12 months
Fees are calculated on an annual basis and deducted over 12 months, school holidays included, so there are still deductions in November and December [1].
On these figures, a year at a government secondary school costs S$26,541.60, about 2.1 times the S$12,590.04 for primary. Moving from primary to secondary adds about S$13,951.56 a year.
What these figures leave out
- Independent and specialised independent schools set their own fees; check each school's website [1].
- Uniforms, transport, tuition and enrichment are not part of the monthly fee.
- Housing and living costs vary too much between families for us to give an estimate here.
- Fees after 2027: MOE's fee checker currently covers 2026 and 2027 only. Later years will be whatever MOE publishes.
Three sums to do before you move
- Government school is not free: look up the fee for your child's nationality first.
- Moving up to secondary takes the monthly fee from S$1,049.17 to S$2,211.80; set the difference aside early.
- List housing, living costs, uniforms, transport and tuition separately.
FAQ
There are fees. Chinese nationals pay non-ASEAN international student fees: S$1,049.17 a month at the government primary school we checked and S$2,211.80 at the government secondary school [1].
Yes. Fees are annual and spread over 12 months including holidays, so November and December are still charged [1].
Yes. MOE states that fees for international students are inclusive of GST [1].
Each school sets its own fees. MOE asks parents to check the school's website for the latest figures [1].
MOE's fee checker only goes up to 2027. From 2028, go by whatever MOE publishes; we do not project figures.
Sources (checked 5 November 2026)
- [1] MOE · School fees（学费查询） 页面更新：2026-10-16
All figures are from the current Singapore government pages above; if they change after publication, the official pages prevail.