Singapore
Australian International School Opens Scholarship Applications for 2027 Entry
A new two-track programme offers Year 9 to 12 students up to 50 percent off tuition, with a deadline of 1 August 2026. It is the first time AIS Singapore has formalised such an award.
The Australian International School (AIS) in Singapore has launched what it is calling its first formal scholarship programme, offering tuition reductions of up to 50 percent to outstanding secondary students entering Years 9 to 12 in 2027. According to Relocate Magazine, the programme opens two distinct tracks: a General Scholarship for high academic achievers and a Specialist Scholarship for students with proven depth in leadership and service, sport, STEM and innovation, or the arts.
The General Scholarship provides up to 50 percent off tuition fees and requires applicants to be performing in the 90th percentile or above in standardised assessments or public examinations, alongside demonstrated involvement in school life. The Specialist Scholarship, which offers up to 25 percent fee support, targets students who have represented a school or national team, produced significant project work, or competed at a high level in their field. Both awards are open to current AIS students and to external applicants, subject to meeting the school's admissions criteria.
Why now
AIS sits at the premium end of Singapore's international school market, with annual tuition for senior secondary students reaching SGD 51,600 per year before additional fees. The launch of a merit scholarship is a notable shift in positioning. In a city where several schools froze fees for 2026 to 2027 in response to affordability pressures, a structured scholarship programme signals a different approach: holding published fee levels while creating a selective pathway for families who might otherwise look elsewhere.
Head of School Steve Lupton framed the award around the school's broader ethos, saying the programme recognises students who demonstrate potential and the willingness to take risks, rather than simply those with polished records. Scholars will be able to choose from four senior programmes: the Cambridge IGCSE, the IB Diploma, the Australian Higher School Certificate, and IB Courses+. AIS reports that all of its graduates receive university offers, with 99 percent gaining entry to one of their top two choices and more than 15 percent scoring 40 or above in the IB Diploma, placing them among the programme's global top performers.
Application window and next steps
Applications are now open, with the deadline set at midnight on 1 August 2026. Submissions received before the close will be reviewed in July for the 2027 academic year. The school is holding a virtual open house on 4 June 2026 for prospective families wanting to learn more before applying. For AIS, which serves more than 2,000 students from over 50 nationalities on a single connected campus, the programme represents an effort to sharpen its competitive edge at precisely the moment when Singapore's international school market is becoming more crowded at the secondary level.