Westlink International School Admissions FAQ for the 2026–2027 School Year Choosing an international school is an important decision that directly shapes your child's long-term learning journey. This Westlink international school admissions FAQ for 2026–2027 brings together the most common questions about the process, documents, fees, scholarships and special situations, such as changing schools mid-year or families who have just moved to Hanoi. It helps parents find answers quickly, prepare everything they need, avoid confusion and move through each step of the application with confidence. Frequently asked questions about the Westlink admissions process At this stage, most parents have just one question left: where do I start, and how long will it take to secure a place for my child? This section covers the four international school admissions FAQs that the Westlink admissions team receives most often from parents preparing to apply. How many steps are there in the Westlink admissions process, and how long does it take? There are seven steps: send an enquiry, tour the school, submit an application, attend a trial day, meet the academic school leaders, receive an offer, and complete enrolment. On average, it takes about two weeks from sending an enquiry to receiving an offer. The process can be faster in urgent cases, such as when a family is relocating. Parents do not need to complete all seven steps at once. You are welcome to pause after the tour or the trial day to think things over before making a decision. Image caption: The seven-step Westlink admissions process: from enquiry to completed enrolment in two weeks Where should I start? There are two convenient ways to begin: Send an online enquiry through the form on the Westlink Admissions page, which takes about two minutes. Call the admissions hotline on (+84) 865 777 900 during office hours for direct guidance. Once you have sent an enquiry, the admissions team will get back to you within 24 hours to confirm your details and suggest a tour time that suits your family's schedule. If you are still deciding between the IB and Bilingual programmes, let the admissions adviser know from the start so they can prepare comparison materials for your meeting. What happens during a school tour and a trial day? A school tour is an in-person visit with an admissions adviser lasting 60–90 minutes. Parents will see classrooms, the library, the science laboratories, the sports facilities and the 600-seat auditorium on the 2.5-hectare campus in Tay Ho Tay. The trial day gives students the chance to experience a real class with teachers and classmates. Students spend half a day at school and complete an English proficiency test and written and oral assessments for their chosen pathway. School tours are free of charge, while the trial day assessments carry a placement test fee (VND 2,500,000 for 2026–2027). Families can book a tour on its own, a trial day on its own, or combine the two to save time. Parents can also ask to meet the academic leader for the year group their child will join. Is Westlink still accepting applications for 2026–2027? Westlink accepts applications throughout the year, including mid-year. This sets it apart from many international schools that only accept applications in set intakes. To find out exactly which year groups have places available, parents should call the hotline or send an online enquiry so the admissions team can check real-time availability and respond within 24 hours. Book a school tour so your child can visit, look around and experience Westlink first-hand! Frequently asked questions about application documents Once they understand the process, parents usually ask about paperwork next. This is where families most often get stuck, especially those changing schools mid-year or returning from abroad. This section answers common international school admissions questions about preparing your documents. What documents are required for a Westlink application? The basic application includes seven items: Application form (completed online via the Enquiry form) School reports from the past two years, stamped by the previous school Academic report and behaviour assessment from the previous homeroom teacher Notarised copy of the student's birth certificate Passport or national ID card of the student and parents Four 4x6 photos on a white background, taken within the last six months Health check certificate issued within the last six months If your child is currently on an international programme, please also include their most recent English test results, if available. What additional documents do students transferring from another international school or from abroad need? In addition to the basic application, three further groups of documents are required: Transcripts: IB, Cambridge IGCSE, A Level or AP, with a notarised English translation if the original is not in English. Reference letter: from the homeroom teacher or Head of Year, helping the admissions team understand the student's personality and learning style. Valid residence documents: visa, work permit or temporary residence card. Can I still apply to Westlink if the previous school has not yet released my child's school records? Yes. Parents can still apply using a scan or photo of the school records in the meantime. The Westlink admissions team will work alongside the previous school while the application is being completed. The original stamped records only need to be submitted before your child officially starts the school year. This is particularly helpful for families who need to change schools urgently mid-year. Should I apply online or in person? Either is fine. Option 1: apply online through the Enquiry form on the Westlink website. Parents upload scans of their documents in the same step. Option 2: apply in person at the admissions office at Plot O2, Tay Ho Tay, Bac Tu Liem. If you choose this option, book an appointment in advance via the hotline for one-to-one advice and an on-the-spot document check. What if a document is missing? An incomplete application is not rejected straight away. The admissions team will list exactly what is missing and set a deadline for submitting it that suits each family's circumstances. Would you like help checking your documents before you apply? The admissions team offers one-to-one support via the hotline on (+84) 865 777 900 and responds within 24 hours. Parents can also email scanned documents to info@westlink.edu.vn for a full review. Frequently asked questions about tuition, scholarships and other fees Fees are the most important factor for parents before they decide to apply. In this part of our international school admissions FAQ, you will find the questions the Westlink admissions team is asked most often, answered directly and clearly, with no need to call the hotline. How much are Westlink's fees for 2026–2027? Westlink offers two programmes with different fee levels: IB programme (taught 100% in English): approximately VND 404–636 million per year, depending on year group. Bilingual Middle Years Programme (50/50 English–Vietnamese, Grades 6–9): approximately VND 274–290 million per year. Parents can view the detailed fee schedule for annual and instalment payments for 2026 to compare each year group. Which scholarships does Westlink offer in 2026? Westlink currently offers the following scholarships: IB Scholarship: up to 25% of tuition fees, for applicants from Early Years to the IB Middle Years Programme. Future Leader Scholarship: up to 70% in the first year and 30% in the second year, for applicants aged 12–14 joining the Bilingual Middle Years Programme. ISP Global Voices Scholarship: 50–100% of tuition fees, for applicants entering Grades 6–9 in the IB MYP or Bilingual Middle Years Programme. Parents submit their scholarship application together with their admissions application. The scholarship deadline usually falls before the main admissions round (at the start of the new school year). Places in each round are limited and are considered in the order applications are received. Parents who wish to be considered should apply early; the admissions team will confirm the deadline for the current round within 24 hours of receiving your enquiry. Apply for a Westlink 2026 scholarship today! What other costs are there apart from tuition? Apart from tuition, parents should budget for: An enrolment application fee, paid once when applying. A place-holding deposit, paid after receiving an offer of enrolment. School bus service, lunch and uniform. English language or learning support programmes, if your child needs them. Specialist extra-curricular activities or overnight trips. Additional costs typically amount to around 10–20% of tuition. A detailed fee schedule is sent with the offer letter. Is the place-holding deposit refundable? At Westlink, the place-holding deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. It is paid after the family receives an offer of enrolment and confirms the student's place. When the student officially enrols, the full deposit is deducted directly from the first tuition payment. Parents should pay this fee by the deadline the school sets so enrolment can proceed on schedule. Can I pay tuition in instalments? Parents can choose one of two options: Annual payment: families who pay for the full year receive a preferential rate; the exact amount is confirmed for each year group. Instalments: three payments spread across the school year. The Finance team will explain the preferential rate and payment schedule directly so your family can choose the option that suits you best. What is the process if my employer is sponsoring tuition? For expatriate families in Hanoi whose employer sponsors their child's tuition, Westlink's Admissions and Finance teams will work directly with the company's HR or Finance department. The family needs to provide the company name, an HR or Finance contact, the sponsorship amount and the timeframe. The school will handle the contract, invoices and payment schedule according to the company's requirements, keeping the process transparent and convenient. Is there a discount for families with two children? Yes. Westlink International School (WIS) offers a sibling discount for families with two or more children enrolled at the school. The fee calculator on the tuition fees page asks whether you have another child registered and shows the discount applied; parents should confirm the exact rate for 2026–2027 with the admissions team. See Westlink's tuition fees and family discounts now! Image caption: Westlink fee comparison for 2026–2027: IB and Bilingual programmes Frequently asked questions about entrance assessment By this point, the application is complete and parents face just one final hurdle: the entrance assessment. The important question is not "Is the test hard or easy?" but "Can my child meet the requirements, and if not, what can we do?" Below are the most common international school admissions FAQs the Westlink admissions team receives. What entrance test will my child need to take? At Westlink, students take the CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test) from GL Assessment. This is a standardised assessment widely used by international schools around the world. CAT4 measures four areas of reasoning: verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial. Depending on their age, children may also have a short interview with a teacher or complete an additional written English task. Students applying for the IB programme usually also complete a written and reading assessment in English. CAT4 is not a pass-or-fail test. Westlink uses the results to understand where your child is now, what support they need and which programme suits them best. Is the test difficult? How should my child prepare? CAT4 does not require advance preparation, because it assesses potential ability rather than academic knowledge. Parents do not need to have their child practise past papers. All you need to do is: Make sure your child has a good night's sleep beforehand Arrive 15 minutes early so your child can settle in Bring water and pencils Explain to your child in advance that this is a chance for the school to get to know them, not an exam Would you like your child to become familiar with the CAT4 format before visiting the school? Parents can ask the admissions team for a set of CAT4 sample questions by sending a request through the enquiry form or calling the hotline on (+84) 865 777 900. What happens if my child does not meet the test requirements? This is the admissions question parents feel most hesitant to ask, but it deserves a straight answer. Westlink does not send "fail" letters. Once the results are available, an admissions adviser will speak privately with the family and may suggest: A more suitable programme: for example, a child who applied for the IB programme may be better suited to the Bilingual Programme at this stage. Re-assessment after 3–6 months: if the gap is not too large, the family can prepare and try again. Additional EAL/Learning Support as part of enrolment: if the main barrier is English or a specific skill. The school always handles each case individually, tailored to each student, and there is no concept of a "fail" rejection. My child's English is not strong yet. Can they still take the test? Absolutely. CAT4 also assesses non-verbal, numerical and spatial reasoning, which do not depend on English. For students moving from the Vietnamese national (MOET) curriculum, Westlink offers English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, personalised from day one. EAL is not an extra after-school class like those at language centres; it is integrated into lessons and led by specialist teachers. Parents should check with the admissions team whether any additional cost applies. At Westlink International School, students with developing English proficiency receive personalised support through the English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme. This helps them strengthen their communication and academic language skills while participating in an English-speaking learning environment. With students from more than 30 nationalities, Westlink provides a multicultural community where learners can practise English naturally through daily classroom interactions and collaborative activities. Image caption: Westlink uses CAT4 to understand each student's abilities during admissions Frequently asked questions about special circumstances Not every family applies at the start of the school year. Some families have just moved back from Singapore. Some expatriate families arrive in Hanoi on a timeline already set by their employer. Some students are studying the IB abroad and need to continue without interruption. Below are the four international school admissions FAQs the admissions team receives most often: I need to move my child to a new school mid-year. Does Westlink accept mid-year admissions? Yes. Westlink accepts applications all year round, not only during the start-of-year intake. For mid-year transfers, the process is shortened by one or two steps compared with the standard process. Families simply send an enquiry; the admissions team will respond within 24 hours and promptly arrange a tour together with an assessment. In particular, for students currently at a Vietnamese state school who wish to move to an international programme, the admissions team will work directly with the previous school on the withdrawal process. Parents do not need to go back and forth themselves. We are an expatriate family who has just moved to Hanoi and need to enrol urgently. Is there a fast-track process? Yes. Westlink has a dedicated priority process for expatriate families who have just relocated to Hanoi. Typically, it takes only about one week from enquiry to offer, faster than the standard process. The admissions team uses bilingual documents and coordinates with the HR or Finance department of the sponsoring company. A Trial Day can be arranged within two to three days of your enquiry, helping your child get to know the class and teachers before the application is finalised. My child is studying the IB abroad. Will moving to Westlink mean missing out on learning? This is a common concern among overseas Vietnamese families. Westlink teaches within the international IB framework, aligned with more than 5,700 IB schools worldwide, so students do not have to start over. Before enrolment, the academic team carries out a transition assessment to determine the right year group and any areas that need consolidating. Where needed, students receive extra support during the first few months at no additional cost. The same process applies to students coming from Cambridge or American curricula. I would like to secure a place now but my child will not start straight away. Is that possible? Westlink allows families who have received an offer to complete the place-holding process before the student officially enrols. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable, but it will be deducted directly from the first tuition payment when the student enrols. Parents should speak with the admissions team for guidance on how long a place can be held and the procedures that apply to their situation. Image caption: Westlink students from more than 30 nationalities during a classroom learning activityAlt: Multinational students at Westlink Apply to Westlink today You have now read all the frequently asked questions about admissions. The next step is to connect directly with the Westlink admissions team and begin your child's learning journey. Westlink is committed to responding to every enquiry within 24 hours. You do not need to prepare a complete application from the start; simply decide on the year group and school year you are interested in. Three quick ways to apply Submit the online form: visit the Westlink Admissions page and complete the form, which takes about two minutes. The admissions team will call you back within 24 working hours. Call the hotline directly: 0865 777 900 or 0833 028 855. This is ideal if you want to book a tour quickly, need direct advice or would like a one-to-one meeting with an admissions adviser. Email the admissions team: info@westlink.edu.vn. This works well if you have lots of detailed questions or need to send scanned documents from your child's previous school. Visit the campus in person Westlink International School is located in the Tay Ho Tay New Urban Area, Hanoi, on a spacious 2.5-hectare campus. Parents are welcome to book a school tour with their children to explore the learning environment, meet members of the school team and observe classroom activities when available. Tours can be arranged at a suitable time in coordination with the Admissions Team. Families do not need to decide straight after their first contact. Many families visit two or three times and join a Trial Day before completing their application. Finally, any questions not answered in this article will be covered in detail by the admissions team for your individual circumstances. Book a school tour today! Apply for a Westlink 2026 scholarship! With this Westlink international school admissions FAQ, parents' questions about documents, the process, fees and scholarships are all answered in detail. This information helps you prepare fully, avoid confusion and move through each step of the application with confidence. For any questions not covered above, such as the year group your child is applying for, your family's specific situation or details of termly fees, contact Westlink on (+84) 865 777 900 | (+84) 833 028 855 or email info@westlink.edu.vn, and the admissions team will get back to you within 24 hours.
