Schools, Universities & Student Community Partners

Start 9–12 months before the move for international and private schools, and at least 3–6 months before for state schools that allocate by catchment area. International schools in Dubai, Singapore, London and Toronto frequently have waiting lists for popular year groups, and many close admissions for the following September by January or February.

Look at three things: continuity (will your child be able to slot back into your home system or a university you have in mind?), language of instruction, and assessment style. IB Diploma and A-Levels are accepted by almost every global university; the American Diploma/AP is best for US-bound students; French Baccalauréat suits children continuing in French; and local curricula (Canadian provincial, UK GCSE/A-Level, UAE MOE) work well if you plan to stay long-term.

Tuition varies hugely: Dubai and Abu Dhabi international schools typically charge AED 40,000–110,000 per year ($11K–$30K), London independent schools £20,000–£45,000, Singapore IB schools S$30,000–S$50,000, and Toronto/New York private schools $25,000–$60,000. Budget extra for application fees, uniforms, school transport, lunches and extracurriculars (often 15–25% on top of tuition).

Plan to provide the child's passport and visa, birth certificate, vaccination records, last two years of school reports (translated and sometimes notarised), proof of address in the destination city, and parents' ID. Some countries (UAE, Israel, France) require an attestation or transfer certificate from the previous school issued in the local language.

Start with the university's international student office and any country-of-origin student association (Hillel, ISA, MSA, Chinese Students and Scholars, etc.). Most universities offer first-year guaranteed on-campus housing — apply early. For off-campus, use the university's vetted partner platforms and avoid wire-transferring deposits to unverified landlords on social media.

Yes — schools, colleges, universities, student associations, education consultants, language schools, daycare providers and community organisations can join our Education Partner network. Partners are featured on relevant country and city pages, receive qualified family or student inquiries, and can co-create relocation content. Apply via the Education Partner form on this page.