The Montessori School of Tokyo

1. Admissions Process (Tokyo/on-site path) The process begins when you submit the Enquiry and the online Application Form, including an application fee of 30,000 yen. You must also provide Progress Reports and Recommendation Letters if you have previously attended other schools; translations are required if any reports are not in English. This initial step starts the formal review, and your materials will be screened as part of the admissions decision.

2. Document Screening The Admissions team reviews your application together with the Progress Reports and Recommendations to assess fit and completeness. This step ensures that all required materials are in order and that the family and student meet the basic criteria for admission. You should expect a determination based on the documentation before moving to the next stage.

3. Notification of Document Screening Status After the document review, families are informed of the screening outcome. If the documents pass screening, you will be invited to the next stages of the process. If additional information is needed, you may be asked to supply it at this point.

4. Student Visit and Parent Interview The next step involves a Student Visit in a classroom with MST faculty and a Parent Interview with a member of the Admissions team. For the Little People programme, the Student Visit may be postponed if the child is not yet old enough to participate informatively. This stage provides firsthand observation of the child in a Montessori setting and a chance for families to ask questions.

5. Notification of Admissions Status Families receive a formal admissions decision after the interview and visit. This notification confirms whether the family has been offered a place in the school. In all cases, the decision is communicated to the family with any next steps and timelines.

6. Additional Notes (Tokyo residents) If you are visiting Tokyo and progressing through Steps 1–4, the parent interview is conducted in person, and the School News and Updates page notes that even families passing document screening may not be invited to a Student Visit or Parent Interview immediately due to capacity constraints. Admission timelines can thus vary.

Non-Tokyo Residents (alternate path) 7) Non-Tokyo process start The process for families not able to visit Tokyo begins with Steps 1–4 as described above, but the Parent Interview is held by video conference. This accommodates applicants who are outside Tokyo during the initial stages.

8. Provisional Admissions Status (non-Tokyo path) If you are not immediately able to relocate, you may receive a Provisional Admissions Status after the document screening and video interview. This provisional status allows for continued consideration while arranging relocation. The family will be notified of provisional status, and further steps follow once relocation is completed.

9. Student Visit after Relocation (non-Tokyo path) After the family relocates to Tokyo, the Student Visit is held in a MST classroom. This visit occurs once the family is in the country and reachable for enrollment within the current academic year.

10. Notification of Final Admissions Status (non-Tokyo path) Final admissions status is issued after the Student Visit, completing the formal decision process for those admitted via the non-Tokyo path.

Notes: The school reports that spaces open irregularly and that capacity constraints may affect invitation timing for Student Visits or Parent Interviews. This means that even applicants who pass documentation may experience delays in in-person visits. Current siblings and other admissions priorities are described in the eligibility criteria.

2) Waitlist/Pool The Montessori School of Tokyo does not publish a formal waitlist. Spaces open up on occasion at most age levels, reflecting the school's capacity and student distribution. Current students' siblings may receive priority, and the school aims to balance age, gender, language, and Montessori experience when admitting new students. If openings are not available, families may remain in the admissions database while updates occur. Please note that even after documentation screening, some families may not be invited to a Student Visit in the short term due to capacity constraints.

3) Scholarships The Montessori School of Tokyo offers need-based scholarships to support a diverse student body. Scholarships are intended to cover a portion of annual tuition and are not awarded for the total cost of tuition. Awards are granted for up to three years from initial admission, with annual reviews of financial circumstances and participation in the MST community. The scholarship program is currently funded for an initial three-year period (academic years 2026-2027 through 2029-2030), with priority given to students entering the Middle and High School programmes, though students of any age may apply.

How to apply and deadlines
- To apply, families should email scholarship@montessorijapan.com to indicate which child is applying and why, then complete the online scholarship application form. Supporting financial documentation in English or Japanese must be provided. Examples of acceptable documents include tax statements and employer income letters. The Scholarship Committee will determine award amounts based on funds available, family financial needs, enrollment patterns, and other factors; there is no appeal process for the decision. Current-year deadlines included: for current MST students, applications were due by Friday, December 5, 2025; for new applicants, deadlines are described in the program materials and are issued by the committee. Awards are applied to tuition in equal installments according to the payment frequency.