School fees information and FAQs
Fees Overview
Fee structure 2022/2023
The following table shows fees payable for the 2022/2023 school year, as at 17 January 2022. Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change. All fees are quoted in Singapore dollars and include 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST), where applicable. GST is subject to change. Most resources (i.e., textbooks) are included in the school fees.
General FAQs
- How does the College build the budget? Who creates it and when?
- What are the components of the budget?
- How does being a non-for-profit school affect the budget?
- How does being a member of the UWC movement affect the budget?
How does the College build the budget? Who creates it and when?
The budget is set based on the resources required to fulfil the College’s mission and strategic objectives. It is prepared by the Leadership team at the College for approval by the Board. It is presented first to the Finance Committee of the Board before being brought to the full Board of Governors.
During the planning process leadership teams identify financial resources and funding required for major strategic initiatives during the following year, along with any staffing or operational needs. These are reviewed, then built into a draft expense budget, along with other considerations such as depreciation, capital requirements and contingencies. The process is rigorous and each budget holder has their budget reviewed at several different levels.
At the same time, research and benchmarking of fees is done in the market to ensure the College remains competitive and attractive to potential students and staff.
Once the budget is approved by Governors, it is monitored by budget holders and the Finance team.
What are the components of the budget?
The budget takes into account income and expenditure. Income is mainly from tuition fees, development levy, boarding fees, application fees and College Shop revenue. Income also arises from activities and trips. These latter are on a cost-recovery basis, and reflected both in income and expenses.
Similar to other schools, our main expenditure is on teaching and administrative and support staff salaries and benefits. Facilities, utilities, maintenance and depreciation, rental and expenses related to technology, professional learning and other administrative expenses make up the rest.
Uniquely among international schools, and in line with our mission, part of the tuition income goes to support scholarships to UWCSEA. This is to support students of great promise and potential in accessing a UWC education. The diversity of background, culture, socio-economic status and life experience the scholars bring to our community enriches the everyday experience of students, staff and parents.
How does being a non-for-profit school affect the budget?
Most international schools in Singapore are for profit and are accountable to investors, but, as one of a handful of not-for-profit schools, UWCSEA is accountable for fulfilling our mission and exists only to serve and benefit students, while managing costs for the benefit of all. We are a company limited by guarantee and governed by the Charities Commission and as such do not have any investors or shareholders.
Any surplus generated is used to support programmes or the long-term funding needs of the College, such as renewal premium for land leases, redevelopment cost of campuses, long term funding of the scholar programme and capital expenditure for building improvements and upgrades.
How does being a member of the UWC movement affect the budget?
Questions on 2022/2023 budget
- What is driving the increase in fees?
- How different is the increase this year compared to what was announced last year?
- What about the fact that additional activities, such as Outdoor Education trips, are no longer taking place? Does that not reduce costs?
- Why are there slightly different increases at different grade levels?
- How do UWCSEA's fees compare with those of other international schools?
- What is the development levy for?
- Are East and Dover campuses still separate legal entities?
What is driving the increase in fees?
The fee increase is directly related to the increase in costs, mainly focused on contractual and merit increases for teaching and administrative staff, development of our education offer, in particular additional pathways in High School and the increase in the number of Teaching Assistants in Primary School. We are also continuing to experience a general price increase for goods and materials.
How different is the increase this year compared to what was announced last year?
What about the fact that additional activities, such as Outdoor Education trips, are no longer taking place? Does that not reduce costs?
The overseas trip element of the Outdoor Education programme has been paused as a result of pandemic restrictions. The overseas trips were always an additional cost to parents - that is, they are not included in fees.
The Outdoor Education programme itself continues with local trips and activities, and still requires planning and delivery, liaising with local providers and the staffing to reimagine the programme, ensure the activities deliver on the programme’s learning objectives and students remain safe and engaged. The overall cost of running the programme has not changed.
Why are there slightly different increases at different grade levels?
How do UWCSEA's fees compare with those of other international schools?
We regularly review our fees in relation to other Foreign System Schools in Singapore and to comparable international schools in the region. Comparing school fees is difficult as you are not comparing like with like. For example, some schools include outdoor education trips in the fees, while we charge them separately. However, external benchmarking puts us in the top quartile of fees, along with the main Foreign System Schools in Singapore, but within that quartile, our fees are lower than those of the schools most like ours.