One World International School (OWIS) Singapore: Admissions, Fees & Curriculum Guide for International Families

One World International School, known as OWIS, is a group of international schools with several campuses in Singapore, including the Nanyang campus at 21 Jurong West Street 81, a Digital campus, and a Newton campus for younger students. Like North London Collegiate School Singapore, covered elsewhere in this series, it is a school, not a university or college, so this guide is written for families relocating to Singapore with children and for older students choosing a route to university. OWIS teaches children from about age 3 to 18, using the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in the early years, a Cambridge-based curriculum in the middle years, and the IB Diploma or A-Levels in the final two years. It is priced well below the most expensive Singapore international schools. This guide covers exactly what international families need to know about OWIS: curriculum, the 2026-27 fee schedule and extra charges, campuses, admission, and how it prepares students for university.

Quick facts snapshot

• Institution: One World International School, an international school group in Singapore with Nanyang, Digital, and Newton campuses
• Ages: about 3 to 18 at the Nanyang campus
• Curriculum: the IB Primary Years Programme in the early and primary years, a Cambridge-based middle years program with IGCSE in the later secondary years, and the IB Diploma Programme or A-Levels in the final years
• 2026-27 annual tuition at Nanyang and Digital: S$24,158 for early childhood and grades 1 to 6, S$27,773 for grades 7 to 10, and S$33,168 for IB Diploma or A-Levels
• Newton campus tuition: S$27,491 for early childhood and grades 1 to 5
• Application fee: S$1,420, non-refundable, and no separate registration or enrolment fee is listed
• Bus fees: about S$4,296 to S$5,257 a year for two-way service depending on distance zone
• Payment: three instalments a year, with sibling discounts of 5% to 20%
• Community: third-party sources say the school caps any single nationality at about 30% and offers a bilingual program in Mandarin and English

Reputation and results

OWIS is a well-known mid-priced international school group in Singapore, and it markets its multicultural community and its bilingual options. I did not find independently published IB or A-Level results for the school, so ask for the last five years of results, the number of students in each cohort, and where recent graduates went to university, since results alone can be misleading in small cohorts. Ask also about teacher turnover and class sizes, which matter for a school's day-to-day quality.

Curriculum and how the school works

Younger students follow the IB Primary Years Programme, an inquiry-based curriculum, and students in the middle years follow a Cambridge-based program leading to IGCSE in grades 9 and 10. In grades 11 and 12 students can choose the IB Diploma Programme or A-Levels, and one campus offers a flagship A-Levels pathway with a credit toward fees. The school also offers a bilingual program in Mandarin and English in the primary years. Families should ask how students switch curricula if they arrive from another system and how subject choices work in the senior years.

Admissions and international eligibility

Admission requirements were not detailed on the fee page I read, and OWIS does not present itself as highly selective in the way some Singapore schools do. Applicants typically submit previous school reports and an assessment, and foreign students generally need a Student's Pass, which is usually applied for with the school's help. Confirm the process, the documents, and the timing with the school and Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

English language and language support

• Teaching is in English, with a bilingual Mandarin program in the primary years
• Ask what English support is offered for students who arrive with limited English and what it costs
• Ask how second languages are taught and assessed
• Ask about the bilingual program's entry requirements

Application checklist

A typical application includes recent school reports, identity documents, and the S$1,420 non-refundable application fee, followed by an assessment. Ask about waiting lists in your child's year group, since some campuses fill quickly.

Fees, charges, and discounts

For 2026-27, OWIS lists annual tuition at the Nanyang and Digital campuses of S$24,158 for early childhood and grades 1 to 6, S$27,773 for grades 7 to 10, and S$33,168 for the IB Diploma or A-Levels. The Newton campus lists S$27,491 for early childhood and grades 1 to 5. The application fee is S$1,420, and no separate registration or enrolment fee is listed. Bus service costs about S$4,296 for zone 1 (up to 3 kilometres), S$4,777 for zone 2, and S$5,257 for zone 3 (over 10 kilometres) as two-way annual fees. Parents pay tuition in three instalments, with later payments by GIRO. Sibling discounts of 5% to 20% apply to the second to fifth child at some campuses, the Newton campus has a S$1,000 Founding Family offer for 2026-27, and the A-Levels flagship offers a S$3,000 credit over two years. Over grades 7 to 12 the fees run to about S$170,000 per child before bus, uniforms, and extras, so budget for the whole journey.

Estimated living costs in Singapore

• Singapore is among the most expensive cities in Asia for housing, though a wide range of housing types is available
• Families relocating for work usually need employment passes and dependant's passes, which are separate from the student pass
• The Nanyang campus is in Jurong West, in the west of the island, so housing in the west may reduce the commute
• Medical insurance is required for international students, so check what it covers
• Food from hawker centres is inexpensive compared with restaurants

Campus life and student support

The Nanyang campus is set in Jurong West, near the Nanyang Technological University area, and offers facilities for sports, arts, and science. Families should ask about pastoral care, extracurricular options, how new students settle in, and how the school handles the mix of nationalities.

Preparing for university and post-school options

The IB Diploma is accepted by universities in many countries, and A-Levels are widely accepted in the UK, Singapore, and other countries. Ask which pathway suits your target countries, how the school's university counselling works, and where recent graduates have gone. Because IB and A-Level applications follow different deadlines and requirements, ask for a timeline that matches your child's target universities.

Immigration and residence for international families

Foreign students generally need a Student's Pass to study at a school in Singapore, and parents usually need their own work or long-term visit passes, so the family's overall immigration position matters. Singapore's rules differ for citizens, permanent residents, and foreigners, and international schools may have separate policies for local students. Confirm current requirements with the school and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority before you plan your move.

Health insurance and pre-arrival preparation

Check what health insurance is required for your child and what the school requires. Budget for the pass fees, flights, uniforms, housing deposits, and school transport, and arrange housing early so your child can start at the beginning of a term.

What to expect in the first months

The first weeks involve settling in, meeting teachers, and learning the school's routines. Children who arrive from a different curriculum should ask about any catch-up support.

A realistic budget

For a child entering grade 7, tuition of S$27,773 in the first year plus the S$1,420 application fee and a bus fee of about S$4,300 to S$5,300 comes to roughly S$34,000, and the total over grades 7 to 12 runs to about S$170,000 before uniforms and extras. Add family housing and living costs in Singapore, and compare with other international schools.

Questions to ask before you accept a place

• What is the total cost per year, including bus, uniforms, and extras?
• How does the school support students who arrive mid-year or from another curriculum?
• What are the IB and A-Level results over the last five years, and how large are the cohorts?
• How does university counselling work for students heading to different countries?
• What immigration status does my child need, and how long does it take?
• What are the refund terms if we have to leave Singapore?

Who OWIS suits best

OWIS suits families who want an international, multicultural school at a mid-range Singapore price, with IB and Cambridge options and a bilingual program. It may suit less well families who want a highly selective school, a single-nationality community, or a specific national curriculum.

Choosing between international schools in Singapore

Singapore has many international schools with different curricula, sizes, and fee levels. Compare the curriculum, the results, the class sizes, the pastoral care, the location, and the total cost, and visit the campuses if you can. If a university degree is the eventual goal, check how the school's curriculum aligns with your target countries.

Step-by-step application roadmap

1. Check the campus and year-group place.
2. Submit the application and the S$1,420 fee.
3. Complete the assessment and any interview.
4. Accept the place and pay the first instalment.
5. Arrange the Student's Pass and family immigration documents.
6. Arrange housing, uniforms, and transport.

Preparing your documents early

Gather school reports, identity documents, immunisation records, and any previous assessment results, and keep copies of everything. Ask the school to confirm fees, instalment dates, refund terms, and deadlines in writing.

Frequently asked questions