Reading a Fee Schedule: Tuition, Levies, Debentures and Company Sponsorship

This article is for parents who have just received a fee schedule from a school abroad. Comparing schools on annual tuition alone can hide other costs that appear later. Below, we split a fee schedule into its parts and read it line by line. Amounts and rules can change, so confirm final details with the school and the official body.

What else appears besides tuition

Hong Kong's Education Bureau publishes international school profiles (as of 2026-10-29) that list annual tuition and, separately, 'other charges'. One school, for example, lists a capital levy and optional debentures among them.

International school costs can include admission-related fees, facility levies and debentures on top of tuition. Whether they are refundable, and on what terms, varies by school. So read each line separately.

1. Separate what you pay every year from what you pay once.
2. Separate what is refundable from what is not.
3. Check what is compulsory and what is optional.

Fee increases and how fees are paid

Fees can rise. Under the School Fees Framework of Dubai's KHDA (as of 2026-10-29), private schools need approval to raise fees. Permitted increases are linked to the school's inspection rating and the Education Cost Index. Fees are paid in instalments by term.

Dubai private schools are rated on six levels, from Outstanding to Very Weak. In 2023-24, 209 schools were inspected and 81% of Dubai students attended schools rated Good or better. Ratings are also linked to allowed fee increases. This is Dubai's system, though. Other places may work differently, so ask the school and the local authority.

Public schools can charge fees too

For international families, public schools are not always free. The rules differ by country and state.

• Singapore: International students who want a place in Ministry of Education (MOE) government primary or secondary schools sit the AEIS or S-AEIS tests in Singapore. The 2026 monthly fees for non-ASEAN students are S$1,035 (primary) and S$2,190 (secondary). ASEAN students pay S$595 and S$1,090 (announced October 2023). The AEIS application fee is separate: S$340 (primary) and S$630 (secondary), non-refundable and subject to GST. The page, last updated 17 July 2026, states that 2026 AEIS applications have closed. S-AEIS applications are expected to open in early January 2027.
• New South Wales, Australia: Under the Department of Education's Temporary Residents Program, most children of temporary visa holders and similar groups pay an application fee and tuition. Exemptions can be requested in some cases, and a pro-rata refund may apply if the visa changes to an exempt category. Rules differ by state.
• New Zealand: The Ministry of Education says every student enrols as domestic or international. International students pay tuition and other fees.
• Canada: Public schools are run by provincial school boards, and large boards have international student programmes. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) takes new applications through 'True North' from 1 October 2026. The February 2027 intake deadline was extended to 30 November 2026. Children whose parents are authorised to work or study in Canada may have a different status and fees, so ask the board.

Company support and visas: confirm separately

The sources used here do not describe how companies support school fees. Ask your employer's HR team in writing whether support covers tuition only, or also admission-related fees and levies. Then match the answer line by line against the school's fee schedule.

The link between visas and fees is explained here only as far as the official notes go (as of 2026-10-29). Australia's Department of Home Affairs describes the subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa as a temporary visa that lets an employer sponsor a skilled worker for a role it cannot fill locally. Public school fees for accompanying children are set by each state's education department, not by the visa.

Immigration New Zealand says children of parents with an appropriate work visa can get a Dependent Child Student Visa and attend school as domestic students without tuition fees. Some work visas do not qualify, and conditions depend on the visa type and the parent's situation. Parents must also show living funds and agree to cover health costs. Check the details directly with Immigration New Zealand.

Converting to won and sending the money

The European Central Bank says its reference rates are 'published for information purposes only' and strongly discourages their use for transactions (as of 2026-10-30). Use them only as a starting point when comparing fees in won. An actual transfer uses your bank's or provider's quoted rate plus fees. No one can say for certain how exchange rates will move.

Woori Bank's guide for overseas students (one bank's guide) says that sending study costs requires a designated foreign exchange bank and proof of study such as an admission letter. A certificate of enrolment or transcript must then be provided each year. The guide also describes amounts that can only be sent through a branch and a threshold at which the National Tax Service is notified. Confirm the details with your bank and the relevant authorities.

Checklist

• I listed tuition, admission-related fees, levies and debentures separately.
• I marked each item as yearly or one-off.
• I have refund terms in writing.
• I know whether the school's fee increases need approval, and from whom.
• I know whether fees are paid by term or in one payment.
• I confirmed the scope of company support, line by line, in writing.
• I calculated costs with the actual transfer rate and fees, not a reference rate.
• I checked the official guidance of the country or state I am moving to.

Ask the school

• Can you give us the full fee schedule, including every charge beyond tuition, and the refund terms in writing?
• Are the debenture and levy optional or compulsory? If refundable, when and on what conditions?
• How are fee increases decided, and when are families told?
• If an employer pays directly, how are invoices issued?
• After enrolment, how do we obtain a certificate of enrolment or transcript, and can we use it as proof for remittances?

Always confirm your own situation with the official authority or an immigration professional.