FAQ

All prospective families begin by completing a straightforward application on TES’ admissions portal from September through January. Requirements for a complete application can be found here.

Overseas Applicants: Once a fully completed admissions application and fee have been submitted, admissions assessments and student and family interviews are conducted on a rolling basis from September through February.

On-island Applicants: Once a fully completed admissions application and fee have been submitted, applicants will be scheduled for admissions assessments and student and family interviews on campus on key dates from November through February.

Admissions offers are made in March and April as seats are confirmed to be available.

Families seeking a Semester 2 admission should submit an application by November. Assessments and interviews are conducted in October and November, and decisions are communicated in December for a February start.

As part of our commitment to safeguarding, data protection, and transparency in the admissions process, we do not accommodate inquiries/applications made by applicants (students) or third parties such as education consultants or relocation agents. TES works directly in partnership with the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) only.

TES does not offer rolling admissions decisions due to stable enrollment and the inclusivity a shared start provides at the beginning of each semester. Decisions for a Semester 1 start (August) are communicated in March-April, and Semester 2 start (February) are shared in November-December.

In exceptional circumstances, TES will consider an application from an off-island family on short notice, e.g. government/civil service post or corporate relocation outside of the published admissions calendar. Please reach out to the Admissions Office directly at admissions@tes.tp.edu.tw or +886-2-8145-9007 Ext. 51 to discuss your application in this instance.

• Each year, TES receives more applications from qualified applicants than available seats. As such, we place qualified applicants into a waiting pool for the school year in which the student applied.

• A student can be placed in the waiting pool only after the applicant has completed the admissions process and the application has been reviewed and recommended by the Admissions Committee.

• Each applicant is reviewed with all other waiting pool applicants and qualified new applicants in subsequent admissions rounds.

• Only applicants applying for a Semester 1 start are eligible for placement into the waiting pool.

• If a waiting pool candidate cannot secure a seat for the school year in which they applied, the waiting pool does not carry forward to the next school year, and the candidate must submit a new application for admission.

• A waiting pool is about determining which applicant is the best fit should a seat become available. We do not have a waiting list, which is a first-come, first-served approach.

Admissions applications for the main window of consideration are accepted from September through January for an August start, e.g. from September 2025 through January 2026 for an August 2026 start.

Some governments require their civil servants to receive a Provisional Letter of Acceptance or similar for their children in order to be considered for a future post in Taiwan. Please schedule a time to discuss your special admissions inquiry via video conference, or reach out to the Admissions Office directly at admissions@tes.tp.edu.tw or +886-2-8145-9007 Ext. 51 to discuss your application in this instance.

Year 2/CP/Klasse1 onwards: due to specific curricular and language requirements a candidate may formally apply and be considered for enrollment in only one section at TES.

Nursury/PS/Kindergarten through Year 1/GS/Preschool: a candidate may formally apply and be considered for enrollment in one section at TES, but can register interest in another section at the time of application. If a candidate is unsuccessful in the application process for their initial section, a candidate may apply to other interested section(s) and proceed through the assessment process once an additional application fee is received. 

Families seeking admission to TES must meet the eligibility requirements set forth by the Government of the Republic of China (ROC), which stipulates that in order to enrol in an international school in Taiwan, a child must hold a valid passport of a foreign country or recognised territory. Proof of legal residence in Taiwan is a condition of enrolment.

Parents should note that admission decisions are based on the best fit according to the school’s mission, values and goals. They are not made on a rolling, or first-come, first-served basis. In accordance with the school’s founding mission of providing an education programme to children of expatriate families that come to Taiwan for work, and/or need to study in a European national curriculum as provided at TES, amongst equally qualified applicants, priority consideration - not automatic placement - will be undertaken for candidates who apply within the main admissions window and meet any number of the considerations below:

• Expatriate families that come to Taiwan for government or key business/commerce-related reasons 
• Expatriate passport holders who are native speakers of the language of the curriculum applied for 
• Children who have a sibling already enrolled at TES
• Children who have come from the same / or will be continuing into the same national curriculum.

On-island applicants: TES does not offer rolling starts due to stable enrollment and the inclusivity a shared start provides at the beginning of each semester.

Off-island applicants: Like on-island applicants, we require families to begin at the beginning of each semester but are mindful of the complexity of global relocation. In exceptional circumstances, a non-traditional start date will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

While they don’t define a student's application, admissions assessments are an integral part of TES’ holistic admissions process, which aid our admissions committee in determining an applicant's academic profile and readiness for our formal classroom environment and multilingual program.

Please refer to TES’ Year Group Placement Chart, which reflects age boundaries for curricula that follow the Northern Hemisphere school calendar from August to June.

Families coming from a Southern Hemisphere school calendar or wishing to be considered for admissions outside of TES’ stated Year Group Placement boundaries due to special considerations should make special note in the admissions application.

The Admissions Committee will consider each request on a case-by-case basis.

TES cannot sponsor or acquire a visa for students. To enrol in an international school in Taiwan, the child must hold a valid passport from a foreign country or territory recognised by the Government of the Republic of China. Proof of legal residence in Taiwan is a condition of enrolment.

Under R.O.C. law and as part of TES’ commitment to safeguarding, consideration for admissions and enrolment requires the student to reside with the parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

Most families choose to reside near TES’ European Primary Campus (EPC), in either Shilin or Beitou District. Additionally, the EPC’s excellent location near Zhishan Station on Taipei MRT’s Tamsui-Xinxyi Red Line allows families living closer to the city centre quick and easy access to TES.

While TES recognises the importance of making education accessible, we currently do not offer need-based or merit-based financial aid. Our focus is on delivering an exceptional educational experience that reflects the total cost of the high-quality resources and opportunities we provide. Please refer to the Tuition & Fees page for more details.

TES’ teaching faculty is reflective of the diversity in the greater school community; joining our outstanding Taiwanese faculty are teachers across the anglophone world (UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand), France, and Germany. More than one-third of our faculty hold advanced degrees and bring a rich depth of experience and expertise to their classroom teaching.

One defining aspect of TES’ culture is its depth of first languages spoken formally in the academic curriculum. Students across TES’ two campuses are engaged in the academic study of at least two languages formalised into the curricula: English, Chinese, French, and German.

A student-owned 1:1 programme allows for a personalised and equitable learning experience, allowing students and teachers to experience transformational learning opportunities. Immediate access to personal devices makes it possible for students to access a more comprehensive array of resources to support their learning, communicate with their peers and teachers, and become fluent in their use of technological tools. Currently, iPads are being utilised in BPS Years 3 through 6 and FPS CE2 through CM2. All TES secondary students are utilising laptops.

Students in TES’ British Primary (BPS) and British Secondary and High School (BSHS) sections have access to a wide range of support from our Additional Learning Needs (ALN) team. Please refer to the BPS ALN Handbook for more information.

Speakers of limited English who are enrolled in TES’ British Primary Section  (BPS), French Primary Section (FPS), or British Secondary and High School (BSHS) have access to a range of English as an Additional Language (EAL) resources. Home to the most comprehensive range of English speakers, the BPS offers resources that match the varying linguistic needs of students - ranging from in-class enrichment to individual/small-group intensive EAL support.  Please refer to the BPS EAL Handbook for more information.

At TES, we believe in the potential of every student to excel. We do not have a separate gifted and talented program because our academic programmes are designed to challenge and engage all students at high levels of learning.

Exam results don’t define a student, but we understand they do matter. TES students continue to achieve well above the global average in both the IGCSE and IB examinations. More detailed results can be found in the current TES Academic Profile.

University destinations for TES graduates accurately reflect the diverse nature of our students and their interests. Nearly 50% of graduates attend university in North America, while almost 30% attend university in the UK and continental Europe. More detailed results can be found in the current TES Academic Profile.

Over 80% of TES students participate in at least one weekly co-curricular activity. Co-curricular activities span a wide range of student interests, including recreational and competitive sports, individual and ensemble musical groups, studio arts, STEAM, debate, speech, Model UN, foreign languages, and student-led group pursuits.

In a geographical and linguistic context, TES is a global community of over 1,700 students from 50+ countries, speaking 30+ first languages.

In line with TES’ approach to diversity and inclusion, students join mixed-ability classrooms that take into account gender, native language, cultural background, and language and special learning needs.

Students enrolled from Y1-Y6 in the British Primary Section wear school uniforms. All other students at TES do not have a uniform requirement but are required to follow community expectations for attire.

Students in the Early Years learn in classrooms ranging from 16–20. Students in the Primary and Secondary sections learn in classes ranging from 22–24.

Please note: On occasion, due to unexpected circumstances, class sizes may temporarily exceed the planned capacity. In such cases, the school ensures that the necessary resources are provided to support the learning needs of all students without compromising educational quality.

On school days, TES campuses open to students at 7:30 A.M. (with classes beginning at 8 A.M.) and close after co-curricular activities at 4:10 P.M. Some students may remain on campus longer for certain co-curricular activities, organised sports, competitions, and special events.

TES is a day school serving the locally residing expatriate community in Taipei and does not have a boarding programme.

TES’ mission is to serve the international community residing in Taipei and does not host short-term/semester/year-abroad studies.

TES follows a Northern Hemisphere school calendar of 180 instructional days from late August through June. There are Autumn (October) and Spring (April) Breaks of one week, a three-week Winter break, and several local holidays ranging from one day to one week. A current school year calendar can be found here.

A balanced hot lunch is available to students, including options for students with dietary restrictions. BPS Nursery students must bring a home-packed lunch, and students who do not elect to have school lunch are welcome to bring their own lunch. A sample lunch menu can be found here.

School bus service is available to all students aged seven and above. Approximately half of the eligible students at the primary campus and two-thirds at the secondary campus travel to and from school by bus. Other students arrive by private and public transportation, bicycle, or walking.