International Primary School Admissions 2026: What Parents Need to Know When preparing to enrol your child at an international primary school, it helps to understand the age requirements, documents, admissions process and tuition fees involved. Researching early gives families more time to prepare and helps avoid unnecessary last-minute gaps. This guide covers key admission details for international primary schools in 2026, helping you plan ahead and choose a suitable pathway for your child. What age can a child start Year 1 at an international primary school? Age is one of the first things parents need to confirm before looking into documents, tuition or the admissions process. International primary school admission requirements are usually set by a child's age at a specific point in the year, rather than by birth year alone. Common age guidelines Under common guidelines in Vietnam, a child who turns 6 by 31 December of the enrolment year can start Year 1. At Westlink, the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) is for students aged 6 to 10, covering Year 1 to Year 5, with a learning pathway designed to suit each age group. Westlink runs the IB PYP for students aged 6–10. Starting outside the usual catchment area, mid-year, or transferring from overseas Not every child starts at the beginning of the school year. Many international primary schools accept applications throughout the year, depending on place availability and entrance assessment results. This is particularly relevant for repatriating families or students transferring from an international school overseas. In these cases, it's worth looking closely at how well the previous curriculum lines up with the new one, to minimise disruption to your child's learning. At Westlink, it's worth understanding the IB Primary Years Programme in advance, to see how the School structures the curriculum and supports transitioning students. Documents required for international primary school admission Once you've confirmed your child meets the age requirement, the next step is preparing the documents each school asks for. Having everything ready from the start makes the admissions process smoother and reduces the need for follow-up paperwork. Standard required documents At the initial application stage, families usually complete an online application form and attach scans or photos of the required documents. This can include a school report or recent academic records, a copy of the child's passport, an immunisation record and a recent photo. Once enrolment is confirmed, parents may be asked to submit hard copies or certified copies of the relevant documents to the admissions office to complete the process. Document requirements can vary by programme and by school Each school may apply different document requirements and assessment processes depending on the programme. Beyond the administrative paperwork, students may also need to take an entrance assessment to determine their academic level, English proficiency, and the level of support they may need. At Westlink, parents are encouraged to speak directly with the admissions team to confirm the requirements for their child's specific situation. Families can also find out more about how to apply, to prepare the right documents from the outset. The international primary school admissions process, step by step The admissions process at an international school usually involves several steps, designed to help the School understand the student while also giving families a chance to assess fit before enrolling. Rather than seeing this as a complicated procedure, parents can think of it as four main steps. Step 1: Research the school and book a tour Families usually start by submitting an enquiry and booking a tour. This is a chance for parents to learn about the curriculum, facilities and learning environment, and for children to get familiar with the campus before a decision is made. At Westlink, parents can find out how to apply to understand what to prepare at each step. Step 2: Submit the application Once you've done your research and settled on the right programme, the next step is submitting the application along with the required documents. Having everything ready from the start helps the process run smoothly and reduces back-and-forth over missing paperwork. Step 3: Attend a trial session and entrance assessment Once the application is received, the student may be invited to a trial session in an actual classroom, lasting around half a day. During this time, the child's English is assessed along with certain speaking, writing and learning skills, to help determine the right level of support. As of now, the fee for the trial session is VND 2,500,000. The aim of this step is to help the School get to know the student better, while giving families a chance to see how well their child fits the learning environment. A trial session helps students get used to the learning environment before enrolling. Step 4: Discuss the results and complete enrolment After the trial session, families will discuss the assessment results and the right learning pathway for their child with the academic team. The School will then confirm the outcome and guide families through the next steps if the student meets the admission requirements. Processing time after the trial session can vary case by case, so parents should confirm directly with the admissions team when booking. For initial enquiries, Westlink currently commits to responding within 24 hours. Tuition fees and scholarships for international primary school Tuition is one of the key factors parents weigh when considering an international primary school. To budget accurately, though, it helps to look at fees by year group, payment terms and any financial support available, rather than relying on a single headline figure. Beyond tuition, parents should also ask about the enrolment application fee, the reservation fee, transport and meals, as these costs are easy to overlook when calculating the total for a school year. At Westlink, primary tuition for the international programme ranges from around VND 383–603 million per year, depending on the year group. The School also runs scholarship schemes at different points in the admissions cycle. Parents can look into the 2026 scholarship programme, with support of up to 70% available in some cases, to help plan their family's finances. Scholarships of up to 70% are available for the IB programme at Westlink International School. Frequently asked questions about international primary school admissions Is international primary school tuition worth it? Tuition should be weighed against the overall value a school offers — from the curriculum and teaching staff to the language environment and level of individual support for students. Parents should measure these factors against their child's needs and the family's longer-term financial plans. Can a child starting Year 1 keep up in a bilingual or fully English-medium programme? How well a child keeps up depends on their language foundation and the level of support the school provides. In international programmes, students who aren't yet confident in English can be supported through EAL (English as an Additional Language) to gradually adjust to learning in English. Will leaving my contact details lead to constant follow-up calls? No. The admissions team will usually get in touch to confirm your needs and share the relevant information. Parents are welcome to suggest a preferred time and method of contact to avoid unwanted interruptions. Understanding international primary school admissions helps parents prepare documents, choose the right programme and build a suitable learning pathway for their child. Alongside entry requirements, it's also worth considering the learning environment, teaching approach and level of student support. With these factors in mind, Westlink International School is well worth considering in Hanoi. Parents are welcome to book a tour to see the programme, learning spaces and overall fit for their child's needs first-hand.
