Returning Singaporean students can, from July 10, apply to join local schools

Singaporean students who are relocating back to the Republic can apply from July 10 for admission in the 2026 academic year. PHOTO: ST FILE

Angelica Ang

UPDATED Jul 01, 2025, 01:27 PM

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SINGAPORE - Singaporean students who are relocating back to the Republic can from July 10 apply for admission to a secondary school, junior college or Millennia Institute (MI) in the 2026 academic year.

They will sit centralised tests under the School Placement Exercise for Returning Singaporeans (Spers) and receive a list of schools they are eligible for based on their performance, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said in a press statement on July 1.

Those seeking admission to Secondary 1 to 3 in 2026 will have from July 10 to 23 to apply for admission, and will sit their Spers-Sec tests from Sept 1 to 5, which will comprise tests for English and mathematics.

Application for junior colleges and MI will open from July 10 till Oct 17, and the Spers-Sec tests will be held on Nov 6.

Applicants will receive their posting results in December, and join the schools at the start of the school term in 2026.

As Secondary 4 and Pre-University 2 are national examination years, returning Singaporeans generally do not enter the school system at these levels, MOE added.

Those wishing to join a secondary school in Singapore in 2026 but are unable to take the Spers-Sec tests in September can instead take tests in December under the Supplementary Placement Exercise (SPE).

Application for the SPE will open from Nov 4 to 17, and the SPE tests will be held on Dec 3. SPE applicants will receive their school posting results in February 2026 for admission in the same month.

Returning Singaporeans who can return by September 2025 are advised to apply for Spers-Sec instead of SPE, as this would allow them to start school in January 2026 alongside their peers.

Alternatively, students can apply for a place in a primary or secondary school near their homes in Singapore through the Assured School Placement (ASP) service.

Instead of centralised tests, the prospective school may conduct school-based assessments and an interview to determine the appropriate level and class for the child, MOE added.

Those who wish to find out more about the placement exercises can visit https://www.moe.gov.sg/returning-singaporeans

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