The information on this page has been extracted from the KIST Admissions Handbook. Please read the complete handbook for more detailed information on admissions policies. 

Admissions

KIST welcomes academically motivated and well-behaved students from internationally minded families who can demonstrate a commitment to our mission, vision and guiding beliefs. Applications for admission to KIST are considered for all children regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender or socio-economic background. As KIST does not employ a learning needs specialist, we are unable to accept applications for students with special needs. Applications from children with physical disabilities are considered on a case-by-case basis according to the specific needs and whether or not the school environment can cater for such needs.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a truly international student body, applications are accepted from students of all nationalities. In order to promote diversity, we strive to maintain a balance of nationalities at each grade level as well as in individual classes. We also strive to maintain a balance of English language abilities between students at each level. We seek to ensure that the balance of nationalities and language groups is diverse while at the same time does not compromise the position of English as the language of instruction. Gender balance is also a consideration in all classes. Various other factors are also taken into consideration when reviewing applications for admission. 

Age eligibility

Due to the mid-August start to the school year, the cut-off date for enrollment age at KIST is July 31. By this date, all applicants must be the required age as indicated in the charts below to apply. Please check the charts to determine the grade for which your child is eligible to apply. 

For K1, applications for children younger than the eligible age will not be considered for any reason. For K2 and K3, applications outside the cut-off dates will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where specific reasons exist. In such cases, placement decisions will be based on observations, previous educational experiences and teacher recommendations. Observations or assessments additional to the regular enrollment process may also be required. All K1 to K3 applicants must have completed toilet training before joining the school.

In certain cases for Grade 1 to Grade 10, we may consider requests for enrollment for up to a maximum of one grade level above or below an applicant's eligible grade depending on previous school records, years of schooling, and the level of academic performance. In such cases, the specific reason for the request must be stated in your application and documentary evidence must be attached where appropriate.

Applications for Grade 11 and 12 may be considered for children up to a maximum of one year below or a maximum of two years above the eligible age. Due to the nature of the two-year course of study in the Diploma Programme, applications for Grade 11 are not accepted after September 30, and applications for Grade 12 are only accepted from students who are transferring from an IB school where the subject options match those offered at KIST.

Although the decision for an application outside the eligible grade is made after careful consideration of the specific reasons through discussions with parents/guardians, it may not be possible to grant the request if we believe that it would be detrimental to the child's learning development or inappropriate for our teachers or the needs of other students in the class.

Admission requirements and expectations

KIST is a selective school. In order to provide an environment conducive to learning, there are various expectations that must be met by applicants in order to gain admission.

Academic expectations

As an academically focused school, applicants - with the exception of very young children with limited or no schooling - must demonstrate that they are highly motivated learners who achieve high scores in their academic subjects, particularly in English and mathematics, and this must be evident in the application documentation.

Due to the academically challenging curriculum in the Diploma Programme (DP), which includes university level content, there are high expectations for students moving from Grade 10 to the DP in Grade 11. Families for whom Tokyo is their permanent or long-term residence and who are interested in applying to KIST in Grade 11 are strongly encouraged, therefore, to consider applying for admission from Grade 10 or earlier in order to provide students with a longer period of time to develop the knowledge and skills needed to progress to the DP in Grade 11.

Behavior expectations

Through three key concepts: Respect, Responsibility and Safety, KIST strives to create an environment where students from various social and cultural backgrounds can learn together in a safe environment free from prejudice, and where the actions of individuals do not interfere negatively with the learning of others. Applicants are expected to demonstrate exemplary behavior, appropriate attitudes to learning, good organizational skills, focus and concentration in class, and be able to interact appropriately with others. Furthermore, students applying for the upper-Secondary School should be well-spoken, articulate individuals with clear ideas on why they want to study at KIST and how this will affect their future.

Language requirements

The student population at KIST represents a wide range of different countries and cultures. This means that our students also speak a variety of different languages. To enable all students to learn together through one language medium, we have adopted English as our language of instruction. With the exception of applicants wishing to enter K1 from the start of the school year in August, students must have reached a certain level in English already in order to enter the school. Applicants for the Secondary School, in particular, must be able to demonstrate a high level of English ability in order to cope with the demands of studying specialized subjects in English. Because of this, due to the nature of the course of study, applicants seeking admission to Grades 8 and above who are identified as requiring language support are not accepted.

Application screening

It is essential that all aspects of the educational environment provided by the school match the expectations and needs of applicants and their families. As we receive many applications each year for limited places, it is not possible for every child to be admitted. In order to determine the suitability of applicants for our school and identify those who are most likely to benefit from the programs we offer, all applications are screened.

Not all applications will pass the initial screening stage. Those that are unsuccessful will be unable to proceed to the interview and test stage. Please note that we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding screening results. Submission of an application indicates your understanding and agreement with this policy.