St. Michael's International School

St. Michael's International School is located in Kobe, Japan, and is a British international school teaching in English (with a structured British-style curriculum delivered by native English-speaking teachers). The school publishes a clear set of fees and payment policies and notes that fees may be revised by the school. The site also indicates annual tuition/fee-related information is structured around a not-for-profit model with a range of charges beyond tuition (see details below). Fees are stated in Japanese yen and the school can be contacted for current amounts and invoicing. The school's admissions process is described separately for families residing in Japan and for families residing overseas, with a single admissions contact point and a multi-step submission/assessment pathway. The admissions page confirms that the academic year runs from August to June and operates three terms, with a focus on international-mindedness and a British-style curriculum. The page also notes that the school accepts online applications and provides details for online information sessions and tours.

Fees (summary of fees as published):
- Tuition: Tuition Fees are paid per student and are charged in two installments each year, in July and January. If a child joins mid-year (e.g., January or April), tuition is charged from the month of entry; other fees remain payable in full. A 15% sibling discount on tuition is offered to families with multiple children. The exact tuition amount is not shown on the page, and current figures are provided on invoice from the admissions office.
- Maintenance Fee: Paid annually for all students, non-refundable, not pro-rated, and due in August.
- Insurance: Annual per-child insurance covering death, hospitalization, and outpatient costs; non-refundable.
- PTA Fee: Annual per-family fee, non-refundable.
- Technology Fee: One-time fee for Year One and new students in Years Two to Six; non-refundable.
- English Language Support (Immersion English Programme): Available for Year 5 & 6 students joining from overseas with limited English; details and fees are provided on inquiry.
- Other costs and optional items: Library bag and school cap are charged with other school fees; after-school activities are optional; school lunch, bus, and in-house photos are optional. Replacement bags and caps carry extra costs.
- Payment terms and penalties: A late payment penalty of ¥30,000 applies if payments are received 15 days after the due date; accounts unpaid after 60 days may be suspended; reinstatement requires an extra payment of ¥50,000 plus full remaining year's fees. The annual tuition/fee policy also states all fees must be paid in full and that late withdrawal and non-payment can affect enrollment/records.
- Where fees are paid from Japan or overseas: Bank transfer details are provided for both domestic and overseas payments, and the school notes that the payer is responsible for any bank charges.

Admissions Process (Step-by-step, two pathways):
A) For families residing in Japan
1. Step 1 – Online application and fee payment: Submit the online application form and upload required documents (child photo, birth ID, and school reports if applicable). The Application Fee must be paid at the time of application by bank transfer; the application is non-refundable and is not reviewed until the school confirms receipt. The school asks for disclosure of any learning, medical, or behavioral issues at this time and to email related documents if applicable.
2. Step 2 – Confidential Recommendation from current school: The school will contact the child's current/previous school to obtain a Confidential Recommendation Form and conduct a background check. When all documents are received and the report is satisfactory, you will be invited to the next stage; places are subject to availability. If places are unavailable, your family will be placed in a waiting pool and informed of this status.
3. Step 3 – Interview and assessment: You and your child are invited to visit for an interview and initial assessment; a trial day may be arranged to clarify suitability. Additional testing/interview with a Learning Enrichment Programme Coordinator may be scheduled if required.
4. Step 4 – Notification and securing a place: Expect a decision within about two weeks via the email address provided in the application. If accepted, you will receive an Acceptance of Place Form and a school-fees invoice; to secure the place, you must submit the form and pay the fee invoice as specified. If oversubscribed, you may be placed in the waiting pool, and you will be contacted when a space opens.

B) For families residing overseas
1. Step 1 – Online application and overseas documentation: Complete the online application and upload required documents (child photo, birth ID, school reports). The Application Fee must be paid at application time by bank transfer; overseas transfer fees may apply (about ¥4,000). The school asks for open disclosure of learning/medical/behavioral issues and to email any relevant documents.
2. Step 2 – Confidential Recommendation from current school: The school will contact the child's previous/current school for a Confidential Recommendation Form and a background check. If reports are satisfactory and spaces are available, you will be invited to the next step; if not, you'll be placed in the Waiting Pool and informed of the status.
3. Step 3 – Overseas provisional acceptance: The school issues an Overseas Provisional Acceptance, plus an invoice for the Registration Fee and an Acceptance of Provisional Place Form. To secure a place, you must complete the form and pay the Registration Fee prior to the interview and assessment; the Registration Fee is normally non-refundable. If the year group is oversubscribed, applicants will be placed in the waiting pool.
4. Step 4 – Assessment & interview in Kobe: The interview and assessment occur on arrival in Kobe to formalise acceptance. You may join the class on an agreed date with the Head of School; you'll be invoiced for all outstanding school fees after a successful assessment. If the child is not accepted, the Registration Fee is refunded; however, if information was knowingly withheld at Step 1, the refund may not take place.

Waitlist/Pool (oversubscription and placement):
- The school uses a waiting pool when a year group is oversubscribed. Placement in the pool occurs after the interview/assessment process if there are no available places at that time. The pool's capacity to admit wait-pooled students varies from year to year, and families will be contacted when openings occur. This wait pool mechanism is described in both the in-Japan and overseas application procedures.

Scholarships and financial assistance overview:
- The published live site does not list a formal scholarship program with eligibility criteria or application steps beyond the standard tuition and fee structure. The school does publish a 15% tuition sibling discount, which applies to tuition fees (not to all other fees). For families seeking financial assistance beyond the sibling discount, inquiries are usually directed to the Admissions Office for guidance on potential options or humanitarian/Donor-funded funds, as referenced in related school materials (not published as a standard, clearly defined scholarship program on the live site). The presence of a scholarship-focused fund or donor-supported scholarship program is mentioned in development and alumni materials outside the live admissions pages, but it is not published as a formal, on-page scholarship offering with clear criteria on the live site. Families seeking financial aid should contact the Admissions Office to discuss current options and eligibility.

Yes. The school uses a wait pool for oversubscribed year groups. Wait-pooled applicants are admitted only as spaces become available, and capacity to admit wait-pooled students varies from year to year. This wait-pool process is noted in both the in-country and overseas admissions procedures. If you are placed in the wait pool, you will be informed when an opening becomes available.

The live site does not publish a formal scholarship program with explicit criteria or application steps. A 15% tuition discount is available for siblings. References to a Miss Lea Scholarship Fund or donor-supported scholarships appear in development or alumni materials outside the live admissions pages, but there is no published, page-level detail on a current scholarship program with criteria on the live site. For families seeking financial assistance beyond the sibling discount, contact Admissions for guidance on current options.