| If you plan to start a school that has ten or more | | | | performed by certified or licensed contractors including |
| children, you will need to register as a business first | | | | architects. A business signage that is placed on the |
| with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory | | | | building will require an application of an Advertisement |
| Authority of Singapore (ACRA). You must register as | | | | License from BCA. |
| a sole proprietorship, partnership or a private limited | | | | |
| company. Once you have establish a business entity | | | | Registering a Private School |
| with ACRA, you will then register the school with | | | | It is mandatory for all private academic schools, |
| Ministry of Education of Singapore (MOE). | | | | including schools that offer External Degree Programs |
| Choosing a Name | | | | (EDP), to register with MOE in Singapore. Each EDP |
| An important thing to note is choosing the appropriate | | | | has to be registered individually; however, being |
| name for your school. The name of your business | | | | registered is not akin to gaining accreditation or |
| registered with ACRA has to be the same name as | | | | recognition from MOE. |
| the school if the business is registered as sole | | | | When you register the school, you are also required to |
| proprietorship or partnership. The name cannot have | | | | register the school curriculum and teachers. A |
| the words ‘Singapore’ and ‘National’; | | | | education plan for each course has be submitted that |
| ‘University’, ‘Conservatory’ and | | | | states the learning outcomes, teaching methodology, |
| ‘College’, or ‘International’. | | | | class schedules, resources and materials. You will |
| To use the term ‘Academy’ or | | | | need to also submit the qualification documents of the |
| ‘Institution’ as part the school name usually | | | | teachers conducting the courses. |
| indicates that it is a school that offers post secondary | | | | Starting on December 21, 2009, all private academic |
| or tertiary education, and the facilities can | | | | schools must also register with the Council for Private |
| accommodate 500 students at any given time. | | | | Education to operate in or from Singapore The |
| Choosing a Premise | | | | schools affected are those that offer full-time courses |
| There are stringent rules and guidelines for educational | | | | in degree programs and placement tests. Schools that |
| facilities such as the size of classroom and student | | | | offer online and/or international curriculum are required |
| ratio. A planning permission is required and has to be | | | | to register. To read more about the Council of Private |
| obtain from Urban Redevelopment Authority of | | | | Education, please see our article on Mandatory |
| Singapore (URA). A premise for private academic | | | | Registration for Private Education Institutions. |
| school requires a Class II approval from URA. It’s | | | | Committee of Management |
| best to understand and fulfill the rules outlined by URA | | | | Part of the registration requisites also stipulates that a |
| then to risk losing accreditation. | | | | private academic school to have a Committee of |
| If you plan to renovate the space, you will need to | | | | Management. It has to have a minimum of one |
| apply for a building work permit through Building and | | | | member and a maximum of nine. The Committee of |
| Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA). When the | | | | Management’s role is to ensure the school stays in |
| building works are complete, you will also need to | | | | compliance with the provisions of the Education Act. |
| obtain from BCA: a Certificate of Statutory | | | | Enrolling International Students |
| Completion and/or a Temporary Occupation Permit | | | | If you plan to open programs in your school to |
| before you can occupy the space. | | | | international students, you will need to apply for Case |
| You will also need a Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) prior | | | | Trust for Education. Without the certification from |
| to occupying the building. You can obtain an FSC from | | | | Case Trust Singapore, you will not be allowed to enroll |
| Singapore Civil Defense Force through a registered | | | | students in any of the programs in your school. |
| architect or engineer. All renovation works are to be | | | | |