St. Joseph’s International School Kuching vs Tunku Putra-HELP School
St. Joseph’s International School Kuching and Tunku Putra-HELP School are both in Sarawak, about 8 km apart. Both schools offer British, Cambridge A Levels and Malaysian programmes, and St. Joseph’s International School Kuching also offers Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS Levels. Published annual fees are MYR 14,800 - 21,400 at St. Joseph’s International School Kuching and MYR 10,060 - 32,410 at Tunku Putra-HELP School, which puts Tunku Putra-HELP School roughly 17% higher. St. Joseph’s International School Kuching takes pupils from 13 to 18, and Tunku Putra-HELP School from 3 to 19. St. Joseph’s International School Kuching is the larger school, with around 1,500 pupils to Tunku Putra-HELP School's 800. Typical class sizes are 25 at St. Joseph’s International School Kuching and 30 at Tunku Putra-HELP School.
British Curriculum, Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Malaysian Curriculum
Curriculum
British Curriculum, Cambridge A Levels, Malaysian Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
1,500
Pupils
800
Typical class size
Typical class size
25
Typical class size
30
Instruction language
Instruction language
English, Malay
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2017
Opened
1996
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
St. Joseph’s International School Kuching is situated at Lot 419, Section 58, KTLD, Jalan Tan Sri Datuk William Tan, 93450 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The school occupies the former site of SK St. Teresa in the Padungan area, placing it within the central business district of Kuching. This central location offers convenient access to various parts of the city.
Location
Tunku Putra-HELP School is located at The NorthBank along the Kuching–Samarahan Expressway in Tabuan Jaya, Kuching, Sarawak. It sits in a rapidly developing residential and commercial area and is close to the planned Stutong station on the upcoming Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), which will improve accessibility in the future.
Stages
Stages
St. Joseph’s International School Kuching is divide into Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary and A-Level.
Stages
The school is divided into Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary, and Sixth Form (A-Level) sections. It offers both Malaysian national and British international curricula from age 3 through Year 13 (A-Level).
School type
School type
The school is a co-educational day school and it does not provide boarding facilities.
School type
TPHS is a co-educational day school. Boarding facilities are not available.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
St. Joseph’s International School Kuching provides several types of learning support to help students beyond the classroom. They offer English language support, extended school hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., giving students time for extra tutorials, homework help, and consultations with teachers. In addition to academics, the school supports students’ personal growth through creative arts activities like music, dance, and drama.
Additional learning support
TPHS provides a dedicated Learning Support programme to assist students with higher learning needs. Support is primarily delivered within the classroom setting, but there is also a designated Learning Support Room (B22.5) for more focused interventions. The school emphasizes stimulating various approaches to enhance brain function for learning.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school does not have a country affiliation.
Country affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation, as it is managed by the Marist Brothers and operates under the guidance of the Archdiocese of Kuching.
Religious affiliation
TPHS is a secular institution with no religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
School Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
School day structure
The school does not have publicly available information on their day structure.
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school does not offer a bus service
Bus service details
The school does not offer a bus service.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application & Registration Fees Application Fee (one-time, non-refundable): RM 500 Assessment Test Fee: RM 100 per student
Registration Fee (one-time, non-refundable):
For Years 7–9: 1st child: RM 4,000 2nd child: RM 2,000 3rd child: RM 1,000 4th child: Free
Refund Policy For Secondary Students (Years 7–11) Parents must give 1 month’s written notice before withdrawing a student.
If no notice is given, an extra full term's fee will be charged.
Refunds:
Before mid-term: Eligible for 50% refund of that term’s fee. After mid-term: No refund given.
For Pre-University Students If a student does not complete the A-Level programme, the deposit (1 semester fee) will be forfeited.
If the withdrawal happens after the exam registration deadline, exam fees are non-refundable.
For students asked to withdraw by the school, unused deposits may be refunded, but exam fees will not be.
Payment Methods JomPAY (Online Bill Payment) Credit or Debit Card Payable in person at the school office. Cheque
Fee details
Kindergarten (Kindy 1 to 3) Annual Fee: RM 10,060 Per Instalment (3 terms): RM 3,353
International Primary School Malaysian Students: Primary 1–3 Published Rate: RM 20,530/year or RM 6,844 per term Bursary Rate: RM 17,450/year or RM 5,817 per term
Primary 4–6 Published Rate: RM 22,530/year or RM 7,510 per term Bursary Rate: RM 19,150/year or RM 6,384 per term
Non-Malaysian Students: Primary 1–3 Published Rate: RM 20,530/year or RM 6,844 per term Bursary Rate: RM 18,475/year or RM 6,159 per term
Primary 4–6 Published Rate: RM 22,530/year or RM 7,510 per term Bursary Rate: RM 20,275/year or RM 6,759 per term
International Secondary School (Year 7–11) Malaysian Students: Published Rate: RM 32,410/year or RM 10,804 per term Bursary Rate: RM 27,550/year or RM 9,184 per term
Non-Malaysian Students: Published Rate: RM 32,410/year or RM 10,804 per term Bursary Rate: RM 29,170/year or RM 9,724 per term
The school does not have publicly available information on their Refund Policy and Payment Methods.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
—
Boarding arrangements
—
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
—
Uniform requirement
—
Food options
Food options
—
Food options
—
House system
House system
—
House system
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
—
Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
St. Joseph’s International School follows the Cambridge International Curriculum at both secondary and pre-university levels. Students typically enter at Year 7 and progress through to Year 11, preparing for the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations. The IGCSE curriculum covers core academic subjects such as English, Mathematics, the Sciences, and Humanities, along with options like Art and ICT. Malaysian students are also required to take Bahasa Melayu and Moral or Islamic Studies, in line with national regulations.
At the pre-university level, students can choose between two academic tracks: the Cambridge A-Level programme or the Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT). The A-Level is an 18-month programme split into Year 12 (12 months) and Year 13 (6 months), typically involving three to four subjects in the Sciences, Mathematics, or Humanities. The AUSMAT programme, delivered over 12 months, is assessed continuously through coursework and final exams and is based on standards set by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority of Western Australia. Both qualifications are widely accepted by universities in Malaysia and abroad.
Curriculum details
Tunku Putra-HELP School offers a dual-track curriculum comprising the Malaysian National Curriculum and the British-based International Curriculum. At the Kindergarten level, the school blends the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) with elements from the Malaysian curriculum, emphasizing early literacy, numeracy, and social development through play-based learning.
In the National Primary section (Standard 1–6), students follow the Malaysian KSSR syllabus, enhanced by British and Singaporean resources in Mathematics and Science. Subjects include Bahasa Malaysia, English, Science, Mathematics, Mandarin, History, ICT, Music, Visual Arts, Physical Education, Moral Studies, and Islamic Studies where applicable.
The International Primary stream (Years 1–6) follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), a theme-based program designed to foster global perspectives, creativity, and inquiry-based learning. This curriculum is complemented by the English National Curriculum for literacy and numeracy.
At the secondary level, students in the National stream (Form 1–5) follow the KSSM syllabus, leading up to the national SPM examination. The curriculum is supported by additional content from Singaporean and British syllabi for Mathematics and Science.
For the International Secondary stream (Years 7–11), students pursue the Cambridge curriculum, leading to the IGCSE examinations. TPHS also offers Cambridge International A-Levels (Years 12–13) for students in pre-university, enabling them to specialize in their preferred academic disciplines and preparing them for higher education globally.
1. Download and complete the relevant registration form from the school's website. Submit the completed form along with the required documents, which include: Two copies of the student's most recent academic report A copy of the student's birth certificate A copy of the student's MyKad or passport Two recent passport-sized photographs A copy of the parent's MyKad or passport
2. Prospective students may be required to sit for an entrance assessment to determine their suitability for the school's curriculum.
3. An interview with the student and parents may be conducted to discuss the student's educational background and expectations.
4. Successful applicants will receive an offer letter. Acceptance of the offer requires payment of the necessary fees.
5. Upon acceptance, the student will be officially enrolled, and further details regarding orientation and class placement will be provided.
Admissions
1. Submit Application Form and Documents Complete the application form and submit it along with the following documents:
Medical and Health Record form Two recent passport-sized photographs of the child, parents, and guardian (if applicable) Copies of the child's birth certificate, passport, identity card (Malaysian), and visa (non-Malaysian) Copies of both parents' passports, identity cards (Malaysian), and visas (non-Malaysian) Most recent school report and a testimonial regarding character and ability from the principal or class teacher If the child is staying with a guardian, provide the guardian's recent photo, passport, identity card (Malaysian), visa (non-Malaysian), and a letter confirming the appointment as a guardian
2. Assessment Once the complete application is received, the applicant will be scheduled for an assessment. The assessment varies depending on the year group and includes a meeting with the coordinator of the relevant section.
3. Application Review The school reviews the assessed applications, considering factors such as assessment results, school reports, subject options at IGCSE, English language ability, the child's behavior, and availability of places.
4. Offer of Place If the application is successful, an offer of place will be made. Placement is at the school's discretion, considering the student's age, academic ability, and level of achievement. Acceptance of the offer requires payment of the applicable fees by the stipulated date. If fees are paid by an employer, a Letter of Financial Guarantee must be provided.
5. Admission Upon receiving payment or a Letter of Financial Guarantee, the school will communicate the child's start date and provide support with purchasing the school uniform and textbooks. The Admissions Officer or Coordinator will provide details for the first day at school.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The school does not have publicly available information on scholarships.
Scholarships
TPHS offers bursaries and special rebates on tuition fees. For instance, the 2025 fee structure indicates that Malaysian students in Years 7 to 11 can receive a bursary. Non-Malaysian students may also be eligible for bursaries.
