Gyeonggi Suwon International School

Gyeonggi Suwon International School (GSIS) is located at 451 YeongTong-Ro, YeongTong-Gu, Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea 16706. The campus sits in the Yeongtong district of Suwon within the Seoul metropolitan area and is served by GSIS's own bus network. The school runs a bus service to Seoul, Bundang, Yongin, Suwon, and Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, using 12 buses.

GSIS offers Pre-K through Grade 12. The Primary Years Program (PYP) covers Pre-K to Grade 5, the Middle Years Program (MYP) covers Grade 6 to Grade 10, and the Diploma Program (DP) covers Grade 11 to 12.

GSIS is a coeducational day school that began with a boarding program in its early years but now operates as a day school.

The school offers an English language support program (ELL) as part of admissions (Special Criteria I) and has processes for students with special needs (Special Criteria II). Learning Support is provided, and counseling services address academic and emotional needs.

GSIS has no formal country affiliation; it identifies as a Christian faith-based international school.

Christian.

The school day runs from 8:00 AM to 3:15 PM for students. The cafeteria serves lunch daily as part of the school day.

GSIS operates a bus service with routes to Seoul, Bundang, Yongin, Suwon, and Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, using a fleet of 12 buses.

GSIS offers the IB continuum from Pre-K to Grade 12: PYP for Pre-K–Grade 5, MYP for Grades 6–10, and DP for Grades 11–12. The PYP uses inquiry-based, transdisciplinary units across six subject areas and emphasizes globally minded learners, with Service as Action integrated. The MYP is a five-year framework (Grades 6–10) with English, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish as language options, and includes Service as Action as a core component. The DP provides a broad catalog of subjects across groups, including English A Language and Literature, Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations), and language options such as Mandarin AB Initio, Spanish AB Initio/B, Korean A LAL, Korean B, Japanese A LAL, and Chinese language options. Instruction is in English, with IB pedagogy designed to develop academic rigor, research skills, and international mindedness through the IB learner profile and university preparation.

GSIS provides counseling for each student, with an expert team including counselors, Bible teachers, the Chaplain, and staff who develop resilience, adaptability, and emotional intelligence, while promoting a balanced lifestyle that supports emotional well-being.

Special Criteria II states that children with mild-to-moderate special needs are considered for admission; they are served in mainstream classrooms with accommodations and their progress is monitored by the School Resource Team, with placement potentially requiring an Individual Education Plan (IEP) if applicable.

Special Criteria I (ELL Program) describes the ESL program with Elementary pull-out or inclusionary instruction, Middle School with six levels (A–F) and Language B sheltered courses, and a High School sheltered ESL program, with placement decisions made by an ESL specialist after diagnostic assessments.

Emotional Support is provided by a dedicated counseling team for all students, with a focus on ensuring students feel happy and safe so they can thrive academically, alongside university guidance and other counseling services as part of the broader wellbeing program.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding and child protection policies.

1. Admissions Process
GSIS presents a clearly staged admissions path. Official application opening for the 2026–2027 school year is January 12, 2026 at 9:00 a.m., and seat availability by grade will be announced earlier (December 8, 2025). After you submit the application, you will be notified whether a seat is available for the grade you requested or if you have been placed on the waiting list. This first communication sets the tone for the next steps and clarifies whether your child has an immediate seat or remains in consideration for the upcoming year.

Step 2) Prepare Required Documents
Gather and prepare the forms and documents GSIS requires, including language survey forms, reference forms, and a medical form, so the admissions team can assess your application fully. You should download the necessary forms, fill them out, and ensure all information is accurate and complete before submission. Having these documents ready helps avoid delays and keeps your timeline on track.

Step 3) Apply Online
Complete the online application using scanned copies of the filled forms. Upload the required documents as part of the application package and ensure the submission confirms successfully. This step initiates the formal review and determines whether supplemental documents will be requested.

Step 4) Submit Application Fee
Pay the application processing fee as part of the application, and submit the bank receipt along with your application. The fee is non-refundable and must be paid to the designated GSIS bank account. Including the receipt with the online submission helps the Admissions team verify your file quickly.

Step 5) Admissions Review and Documentation Requests
Once the application and supporting documents are received, GSIS will review them and may request supplemental documents if needed. The review considers grade level suitability, readiness for the IB program, and alignment with GSIS's admission criteria. Prompt responses to any additional requests help avoid delays in the decision process.

Step 6) Admissions Test and Interview
The admissions office will arrange an entrance test and/or interview. If you would like the test conducted from overseas, the admissions officer can send the test paper via FedEx. The test and interview assess academic readiness and language proficiency as part of the overall evaluation.

Step 7) English Proficiency and Special Criteria
The school may review test results and request additional English-language assessments (ELL or other English acquisition tests) as needed to determine placement. This step helps GSIS determine whether supports are required for language development. Clear communication about any language support needs is important at this stage.

Step 8) Admission Decision and Offer/Waitlist Communication
The principals and teachers will make a final admission decision, and acceptance or rejection letters will be sent by the Admissions office. If a seat is not available, you will be placed on the waiting list and notified of any changes in status. You will receive guidance on next steps if a seat becomes available.

Step 9) Enrollment and Orientation
If admitted, you will receive an invoice with the tuition and related fees. Payment of the invoiced amount within the specified period is required to secure the seat. The student then participates in New Student Orientation as part of joining GSIS.

2. Waitlist/Pool
GSIS communicates seat availability after an application is reviewed and may place applicants on a waiting list when no immediate seat is available. You are notified if you are placed on the waiting list and provided with any subsequent steps or timelines. For the 2025–2026 cycle, some grade levels may have no available seats for the second semester, with seat availability for 2026–2027 determined by current students' reenrollment status. Overall, seat allocation is grade-specific and contingent on current enrollment and reenrollment.

3. Scholarships
GSIS does not publish a formal merit-based scholarship program on its admissions pages. Instead, the school lists several financial arrangements that affect tuition costs:
- There is a 2% discount for lump-sum tuition payments, offered under certain conditions and deadlines for the current year cycle. Returning students' first-semester and second-semester payments have targeted due dates to secure seats and class schedules.
- Families with two or more GSIS students receive a 20% tuition discount starting with the second child; the policy notes that the discount amount can be transferred to an older sibling who is not receiving the discount, and that this applies from the 2026–2027 school year. Returning students are exempt from paying the entrance fee, and the same tuition schedule applies to both new and returning students, with other fees remaining the same.

If you're seeking traditional need-based or merit-based scholarships, GSIS does not list these on its official tuition resources; instead, the school highlights tuition-related discounts and payment options described above. The school's tuition and fees page also outlines specific fees and their refundable status, which are important for budgeting and planning.

Fees and Admissions Details and Dates (Key points)
- Official Application Opening Date for 2026–2027: January 12, 2026, 9:00 a.m. (local time). Seat availability is announced by grade level on December 8, 2025. After submission, applicants are notified of seat availability or waitlist status.
- Admissions Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for admissions; school day hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
- Requirements and documents: Language survey, reference letters, medical forms, and other forms are part of the required materials.

Fees (2025–2026 Tuition & Fees; 2026–2027 adjustments noted)
- Tuition (per year, by division): Junior-Kindergarten: KRW 15,820,000 (+ USD 6,360); Pre-Kindergarten: KRW 17,800,000 (+ USD 7,160); Kindergarten–Grade 5: KRW 19,780,000 (+ USD 7,950); Lower Secondary (Grade 6–8): KRW 21,420,000 (+ USD 9,250); Upper Secondary (Grade 9–12): KRW 25,840,000 (+ USD 9,820).
- New student fees (non-refundable): Application Processing 300,000 KRW; Registration 500,000 KRW; Entrance Fee 4,500,000 KRW.
- Other fees: Senior Fee 250,000 KRW; Lunch JK-5 1,260,000 KRW; Lunch 6-12 1,350,000 KRW; School Bus Fee 3,400,000 KRW (standard) or 3,200,000 KRW (less than 1 km radius); NEW STUDENTS ONLY: 300,000 KRW Application Fee; 500,000 KRW Registration; 4,500,000 KRW Entrance Fee.
- Payment options and deadlines: Tuition can be paid in full or in installments; a 2% discount applies for lump-sum payment if paid by the specified date; first- and second-semester payment deadlines exist for returning students to secure seats and class scheduling. 20% second-child discount applies starting with the 2026–2027 school year, and the discount can be transferred to an older sibling under specified terms. Returning students are exempt from the entrance fee; all other fees apply to both new and returning students. Bank transfer details are provided for KRW and USD payments.

Notes: The above reflects GSIS's published 2025–2026 tuition/fee information, with explicit reference to the 2026–2027 second-child discount policy and how it interacts with returning students. If you need a plain-language summary tailored to a specific grade and currency (KRW or USD), I can provide a concise quote sheet.

GSIS does not publish formal merit-based scholarships on its official pages. The school does offer a 2% early payment discount and a 20% tuition discount for the second child of a family with two GSIS students (applicable from the 2026–2027 school year, and potentially transferable to an older sibling under policy). Returning students are exempt from the entrance fee, and tuition remains subject to the standard fee schedule. These policies are described in the Tuition and Fees section.

- The school notes that after submitting the application, applicants are informed whether a seat is available or whether they have been placed on the waiting list. Seat availability is grade-specific and depends on current enrollment and reenrollment status. For some grades in the 2025–2026 cycle, there are no available seats for the second semester, and seat availability for 2026–2027 is determined by reenrollment. This indicates a formal waitlist/pool process rather than ad-hoc seat offers.