Nagoya International School

1. Start with an inquiry and set up access to the NIS Admissions Portal. The portal is the primary channel for information requests, scheduling a campus tour, and submitting an online application; paper applications are no longer accepted. Create a family login (user-name and password) to manage communications with Admissions staff. This step ensures you receive timely information and can book a tour or request the admissions packet as needed.

2. Complete the online application and upload required documents. Use the Admissions Portal to submit the application and then provide transcripts and other school records through the same system. Ensure you have past two years of academic records available to upload or arrange for them to be forwarded to NIS. Timely submission of all documents supports the review timeline and testing scheduling if needed.

3. Admissions testing and placement (if required). The Admissions & Development Office coordinates any required admissions testing (including EAL or other assessments) as part of determining eligibility and placement. Testing requirements depend on the applicant's background and timing of enrollment. Results inform whether an Orientation Meeting or Admissions Interview will proceed.

4. Attend the Orientation Meeting or Admissions Interview. An Orientation Meeting or an Admissions Interview will be scheduled with one of the Principals, and English will be used during the interview. It is expected that both parents attend the interview, and a translator may accompany them if needed. This step confirms fit with the school's mission and supports grade placement decisions.

5. Receive a decision and proceed with placement and next steps. After the admissions materials are reviewed, the school determines eligibility, grade placement, and any needed supports. The Admissions Office will contact the family by email or telephone with the outcome and next steps. Availability varies by class, and some grades may already be at or near capacity.

6. Enroll and arrange fees and start date. If offered admission, you'll receive invoicing for tuition and fees. One-time fees include Application Fee ¥50,000, Registration Fee ¥850,000, and Campus Development Fee ¥250,000. Annual tuition varies by grade (ELC ¥2,038,000; Elementary ¥2,543,000; Secondary 6–10 ¥2,954,000; Secondary 11–12 ¥3,026,000). Mid-year entrants are billed quarterly, and refunds are not prorated; all fees are charged in full. Tuition/fees are invoiced by the Business Office with specified payment methods.

7. Final note on capacity and timing. Enrollment is offered through Grade 11, and Grade 12 is not accepted; given capacity constraints, some grades may close or operate a wait-pool. If a class is full, eligible applicants may be placed in a wait-pool and considered for openings later in the year according to the school's priority categories. Early contact with the Admissions & Development Office is advised to understand current class availability.

NIS operates a wait-pool system for classes that reach capacity. When a grade is full or at capacity, eligible applicants may be placed in a wait-pool of candidates until a space becomes available. The wait-pool is not ordered by first-come, first-served timing; admission categories determine space priority. The priority categories (in order) are: 1) current students re-enrolling, 2) siblings of current students, 3) staff children, 4) returning NIS students, 5) siblings of past NIS students or NIS alumni, 6) new expatriate students, 7) transfers from a Partner Preschool, 8) transfers from another JCIS school, 9) new local students. Families on the wait-pool are not asked to pay a tuition down-payment to stay on it, but the application fee must be paid in full to be considered. For the wait-pool, the process can involve pre-purchase or pre-commitment options to reserve spots for mid-year or next year, but these are separate arrangements described by Admissions.

Nagoya International School offers needs-based financial aid for tuition and applicable fees, intended to make an NIS education accessible to a broader range of families. Financial aid may cover between 5% and 50% of annual tuition costs, and bus-related costs are considered but there is no separate financial aid specifically for bus riders. Aid is funded from the operating budget and donations, and the amount awarded depends on each family's financial circumstances and the school's policy and funds available. Families currently receiving aid must reapply each year. Financial aid applications are online and reviewed within four annual windows: March 1–31, June 1–20, August 1–20, and November 10–30 (dates updated for 2026). Newly applying families should apply for admissions and financial aid concurrently, and ensure all required documents are submitted within a window for review. The Financial Aid Office also maintains confidentiality and shares applicant information with the Admissions team as needed.