Make an Application

No, but we do have an application pool of eligible applicants from which we select based on our holistic admissions criteria and make offers to successful applicants based on our annual timeline. So while there is no waitlist, applicants will have to wait some time to hear the outcome of their application, even if they meet our eligibility criteria.

In those grades where we receive more eligible applications than we have available places, the places are offered according to our allocation policy.

On the basis of entry criteria, both campuses are the same.

However, the number of places opening each year at each campus is different for some grades. As an example, East Campus creates an additional 22 spaces each year in K2, and also recruits to replace any students who leave, while Dover Campus does not create any additional K2 spaces, and only replaces the few students who leave. The capacity per grade on each campus is illustrated on this campus summary.

While places are not allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, eligible applicants who apply earlier in the application cycle are considered for more of the available places in each grade. We have two ‘offer rounds’ in each application cycle, and publish a date by which applications must be submitted in order for us to be able to process the application in time to be considered for that offer round. 

In short, if you are sure UWCSEA is the right choice for your child, know you will be in Singapore for the start of the school year, and are able to commit early if offered a place, we encourage you to apply earlier in the application cycle.

We recommend applying to both campuses by making what we call a ‘dual application' only if you are genuinely interested in a place for your child at either campus and would be equally happy being offered a place at either campus.

As a dual campus applicant, your child will be considered for a larger number of available places and will be placed in the eligible pool of applicants for each campus, once entry criteria have been met.

Since we typically receive 2-3 applications per place for all available places at each campus, a dual campus applicant does not necessarily have a much higher chance of being offered a place; however, it does give us more flexibility when selecting students from our eligible pools for offers.

Learn more about making a 'dual campus' application here

Transfers between campuses are not possible once a place has been accepted at one campus. A stable community supports individual student wellbeing and a sense of connection and belonging, which in turn creates conditions for learning and flourishing. In particular some of the key reasons we do not allow transfers are:

• in line with our mission, our holistic admissions criteria means we admit students who are carefully selected to create a deliberate diversity within the cohort and campus
• the strong sense of community, which is an important part of the UWCSEA experience, is diluted if further transition occurs in an already transient international community
• transferring between campuses interrupts the individualised nature of each student's experience of the learning programme; research shows that a consistent experience founded on our wellbeing and learning principles underpins each student's success

Not at all. While having a sibling is one of the factors we take into consideration when allocating places, we admit between 800 and 1,000 students each year, and a proportion of these are always students without siblings.

We publish the number of students and number of families on each campus page: Dover | East 

We do not create a new class of Kindergarten 2 students each year at the Dover Campus (as we do on East Campus). Although we do replace leavers from Kindergarten 1, traditionally there are very few and these places are generally offered to families who already have a child at the College so that the family can stay together. We do not feel it is fair to open the system and accept a large number of applications for K2 when there is such a small chance of success. 

Families are also welcome to apply for a place at the East Campus.

Families who would like to be advised if we have more places available than predicted can contact Admissions to join a Register of Interest for K2. We then contact these families to invite them to submit an application if a place becomes available. The applications are processed based on our entry criteria.

When more students apply than there are spaces available, we have to select. However, our selection is not based solely on academic performance. Each application is reviewed individually and places are allocated according to holistic admissions criteria that take into account the individual student’s background, experience and potential ‘fit’ with the school.   

Above all, we aim to have balanced and diverse cohorts and particularly in the older grades, we look for students who are committed to our mission and core values and who will embrace the opportunities offered by our holistic learning programme.

No. Transition from Grade 10 to Grade 11 is not subject to any academic thresholds.

Current students select their preferred High School and IB Diploma Programme subject options in Term 2 of Grade 10. In the vast majority of cases these preferences are accommodated. In the rare cases where we are concerned about a student’s choice, the Head of Grade invites the student and parents to discuss subject options. The goal is to ensure that the combination of subjects will allow each individual student to enjoy a successful outcome.

Deferrals are not available. If you are offered a place and are unable to take it up, a fresh application must be submitted for the new proposed year of entry. 

Please talk to your Admissions Officer regarding your child's eligibility for consideration in a future year. They will be able to provide an indication if additional information may be necessary to support any re-application.

Parents can re-apply when applications for that year open, by submitting a new application (which will involve updating the previous application), including payment of another application fee.

Yes, but only for K1 to G8, and only if applications are still open. We fill vacancies that arise in these grades up to the start of Term 2 in January. We typically do not fill vacancies part-way through Term 1 or beyond the start of Term 2.  

The availability of January-entry places depends entirely on the number of leavers we have during Term 1, because we usually start the academic year with all available places filled.

January placements are strongly influenced by factors in the class, cohort, or campus where the vacancies arise, such as gender balance, second language availability, and space availability for additional support needs such as English as an Additional Language (EAL) or other types of Learning Support.