Change in Admissions Policy

Please be aware that the UNIS Board of Directors has approved a change to the age placement policy which may affect your child as a new applicant.

In the past, UNIS accepted students for a particularl grade if they had been born before October 31st of their given birth year.  This cut off date has changed to be more in-line with other international schools and is now August 31st.  The change in this policy will be managed as follows:

1. Current UNIS students will remain in their current grade and will not be affected by this change
2. Hanoi residents whose child/ren already attend another school in Hanoi will use the October 31st cut off date for the 2008-2009 enrolment cycle
3. Hanoi residents who contact UNIS before March 1st will use the October 31st cut off date for the 2008-2009 academic year
4. Overseas applicants who contact the Admissions Office before March 1st  will also use the October 31st cut off date for the 2008-2009 academic year
5. Any students currently on the waitlist will be admitted under the October 31st cut-off date

All inquiries which take place after March 1st will be considered using the new August 31st cutoff date.  Please remember that the deadline for submitting applications by anyone living in Hanoi is March 14, 2008.  Overseas applicants do not have a deadline as assignments can take place at any time.

Efforts will be made to contact each family who has applied for their child/ren and who is affected by this change to discuss their options.  UNIS understands that some families may wish to apply the August 31st date.  Admissions will discuss these cases with each and every family and remain as flexible as possible.  We want to do what is best for each child.

Admissions Criteria

UNIS will accept students who can be successful in the daily academic programme, provided there is space available in the class. If there is no space, students will be placed on a waiting list on a first come, first serve basis, the date of which a complete application is submitted. (please see below for definition of a complete application).  UNIS does it’s best to assist students applying from overseas, but must operate according to policy as described above.  The Admissions Policy is subject to change at any time with approval from the Board of Directors.

An application review will only begin after a complete application is submitted to the UNIS Admissions Office by post, email or fax. Even still, further review may require direct contact with the current or previous school of the child and an EAL test may be required to establish the level of English proficiency.

UNIS uses a North American grade and/or age placement scale for class admission. A student needs to have turned three years old by 31st of August to be accepted into the Discovery Programme of that academic year, for example. This has changed from October 31st for previous academic years.

As the IB Diploma programme is run over two years, UNIS does not accept students into grade 12 unless they have come from another IB school and can continue with their subject choices.

Admission to UNIS may be denied for any of the following reasons:

1. Lack of preparation for an age appropriate grade level
2. Insufficient English proficiency if our EAL program is at capacity
3. Class size has reached capacity
4. School history of discipline problems
5. Involvement with drugs
6. Other reasons which may be in the best interest of the school and the student as determined by the Head of School, or

Application Procedures

The application is complete when all of the following documents, contained in the UNIS Application Package, are received by the UNIS admissions office for the 2008-2009 academic year:

1. Application Form
2. Application Fee Contractual Agreement
3. Language Profile & Assessment Form
4. Student Evaluation Form (to be completed by current school)
5. Clear Photocopy of Student’s Birth Certificate, Passport , or National ID Card
6. Proof of payment for $250 USD Application Fee
7. Digital photos of the mother, father and applicant to be used in ID card production
8. An EAL test may be required before entry

Please note that if your child holds dual or triple citizenship and you wish him/her to be registered under more than one, you must provide proof of this citizenship for each nation claimed.

All forms MUST be signed by both parents/ legal guardians of the student.
The following forms and payments are expected before a student can attend school and are included in the UNIS Enrolment Package.  This package will only be provided when a student is offered a position at UNIS.

1. Proof of payment of the $750USD enrolment fee
2. Medical Form and Immunization Records (completed and stamped by a physician)
3. Emergency Medical Form
4. Field Trip and Publicity Release Permission Form
5. Computer Use Agreement Form (For Grades 6-12)
6. School Bus Form (if necessary)

When to Apply

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible, as UNIS is at capacity in most grade levels and in some cases, have very long waitlists. Applicants who cannot be enroled due to lack of space in a grade shall be placed on a waiting list until a place becomes available. If you are posted to Hanoi, it is strongly advised that you contact the Admissions Office before you move to Hanoi to ensure that space is available for your child(ren).

The deadline for all Hanoi residents who have been invited to apply is March 14, 2008.  Applications received after this time will be processed only when the Admissions office has the time to do so and it will affect your child’s place in queue as a result.

Withdrawal

If a student is to withdraw from UNIS, a notification must be sent to the Admissions Manager, Mrs. Jessica Pidgeon at admissions@unishanoi.org as soon as possible to commence exit procedures.

Every student leaving UNIS at any time must receive clearance from all their teachers, the Library, the Accountant, and the Principal’s Secretary. These clearances must be obtained before the leaving certificate, school records and transcripts can be released.  UNIS will not withdraw a student until the Admissions Office receives written confirmation directly from the parent via email or letter, indicating the date of a student’s last day.  If you are aware that you will be leaving, but do not yet know the official date, please contact Admissions immediately.  Again, your child’s seat will not be given away until the departure date is clearly confirmed in writing.  The early notification of withdrawal helps the processing of another child off the waitlist.