FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

Your admissions journey starts with our expert team. They'll guide you through the process, answer your questions, and make sure you have the information you need.

• Complete our online enquiry form to let us know you’re interested in joining the BIS HCMC community. Our admissions team will get back to you within 24 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) to discuss your child’s needs, arrange a tour, and talk you through next steps.
• The best way to get a feel for our thriving school community is to visit us in person. If you can’t make it to Ho Chi Minh City, we’ll happily organise a personalised virtual tour.
• We accept applications all year round. You’ll need to fill in our online form and send us some supporting documents.
• We ask every child to sit an age-appropriate entrance assessment. You’ll also need to provide supporting documents, including school reports, exam certificates, and teacher recommendations.
• If your application is successful, we’ll send you a formal letter offering your child a place. You’ll then need to pay our registration fee.
• Once your child’s place is confirmed, we’ll send you information about their class and form tutor. We’ll also introduce you to other parents and invite your child to one of our orientation days, where they’ll meet their teachers and new classmates.

When you apply, you'll need to send us the following:

• A copy of your child's passport.
• A copy of your child's birth certificate.
• A current photo of your child.
• A copy of both parents' passport or ID card.
• Your child's previous two or latest school reports (in English), if applicable.
• A physical evaluation signed by a doctor (we will provide you with a form).
• A copy of your child's immunisation record.
• Additional Educational Needs (AEN) assessment records, if applicable. 
• Your child's application fee (either in Vietnamese Dong or by bank transfer). 
• You will also need to sign and return our Terms and Conditions form (we'll send this to you once you've submitted your application).

Yes, we ask every child to to sit an age-appropriate admission assessment.

Our youngest children will be invited to a Family Admissions Meeting (FAM). If English isn’t your child’s first language, they’ll need to complete an English as an Additional Language (EAL) assessment (from Foundation 3 upwards). This will help us to assess their EAL needs, if any, and identify what level of support they'll need to access our curriculum and wider school life.

Below, we've provided a breakdown of what our tuition fees cover.

• Primary: books, uniform pack, day trips, lunch and a snack, a variety of co-curricular activities, and external exams.
• Secondary: books, uniform pack, day trips, a variety of co-curricular activities, and external exams (including IGCSEs and the IBDP).

We’ll arrange for you to collect your child’s uniform pack from our shop as soon as we’ve received your registration fee.

Please note: our fees don’t include residential trips, instrument lessons, or school buses. At secondary school, fees don’t include lunch and snacks.

We ask for a refundable deposit to help us prepare for your child’s arrival. Recruiting outstanding international teachers is a comprehensive process, which starts in January each year. We invest a considerable amount of time and money in finding the world’s best and want to make sure that your child will be with us for the following academic year.

You’ll need to give a minimum of 90 days’ notice to withdraw your child and get a refund. This is designed to offset the financial outlay we make recruiting additional staff.

All our students – from early years through to sixth form – follow a carefully considered blend of English and international curricula. This includes IGCSEs and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which set the standard for global education and provide pathways to outstanding higher education across the world.

• Early Years (ages 2-5): Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
• Primary (ages 5-11): English National Curriculum and International Primary Curriculum.
• Secondary (ages 11-14): Key Stage 3 of the English National Curriculum.
• Secondary (ages 14-16): IGCSEs.
• Sixth Form (ages 16-18): International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

Yes, we have a dedicated English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme that supports our non-native English speakers to access the full curriculum. However, we do expect your child to demonstrate a reasonable level of English, appropriate for their age grade, at the application stage.

If a place is offered to your child, with EAL support, this is a compulsory part of their education.

Our class sizes vary. Typically, in primary and secondary, each class has between 20 to 24 students, with 24 the maximum.

Our youngest learners benefit from smaller classes, with an average of 16 students per class and a teacher/teaching assistant to student ratio of 1 to 5. This ensures each child gets the care and attention they need to thrive.

Our sixth form classes are also smaller, with an average of just 12 students to a class. This guarantees your child will receive the best possible support throughout their IBDP journey.

Our three modern campuses – Early Years and Infant, Junior, and Secondary – are dynamic places to learn, complete with state-of-the-art, age-appropriate spaces.

Our facilities include:

• DREAMS and robotics labs featuring state-of-the-art technology, dedicated art and craft spaces and visual art studios.
• All-weather pitches, grass playing fields, basketball courts, indoor gyms, fitness suite and a swimming pool on each campus.
• A 250-seat theatre, auditorium with professional sound and lighting, dance, drama, and music studios.
• Adventure playgrounds, a shaded rooftop garden, and dedicated wellbeing areas.

They do, yes. Your child’s school uniform is included in their tuition fees. You'll receive a new uniform set at the start of each academic year. This includes five tops, three pairs of shorts or skorts, one PE set, one hat or cap, plus swimwear for our early years and primary students. You can buy school bags and replacement items at our uniform shop.

To support our sustainability goals, our Parent Teacher Group offers a uniform swap shop service as an alternative to purchasing new replacement items.

At BIS HCMC, we're one big community. As well as helping your child settle into school life, our Parent Teacher Group will quickly make you feel at home, and you’ll be invited to lots of fun family events throughout the year. We are also more than happy to help you connect with other families – just ask our admissions team for contact details. Please check our dedicated Living in Ho Chi Minh City page for top tips on getting set up, too.

If your child needs a little extra support, we have a dedicated Advice, Support and Counselling (ASC) team that will help them settle in.

Our campuses are located in Thao Dien, which is a predominately expat area of Ho Chi Minh City. Thao Dien has several international and Vietnamese restaurants and cafés to choose from. There are a multitude of modern apartment buildings with excellent facilities. You’ll also find lots of family events and activities in the area, as well as amenities like supermarkets, banks, gyms, and boutiques.