7. Fees

As KIST is not eligible to receive funding from the Japanese government, we rely entirely on annual school fees to cover operating expenses. In order to cover personnel expenses for annual staff salary increases and rising operational costs, tuition fees are adjusted annually. Where further unforeseen adjustments are necessary due to sudden cost changes, significant changes to educational policies and the like, notification is given as far in advance as possible.

As KIST is recognized as an ‘educational foundation’ (gakkou houjin) by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, consumption tax is not applied to school tuition fees and general school fees (excluding specific school services such as the school lunch and bus services).

Information on other miscellaneous fees (documentation fees etc.) is available to families after enrollment.

Students in Grades 7 through 12 who make significant contributions to the school according to its mission, vision and guiding beliefs, and who demonstrate qualities that truly represent the spirit of the school through both academic excellence and by acting as role models for other students, are eligible to apply for a KIST Scholars’ Award from their second year of enrollment. Information on the awards is distributed to all families annually.

School fees may be paid in full as a lump sum payment (annual payment option) or in three installments (installment payment option) by bank transfer. For applicants interviewed and tested in January for enrollment from April or August, payment is due by the date shown in Section 3.02. For other admissions periods, payment is usually due within one week of the issue date of the offer of enrollment.

The tables below summarize the annual payment option for new enrollments.

• ^*1The enrollment fee is non-refundable.
• ^*2The CA fee is charged per family.

For this option, payment of the tuition fee only is divided into installments. Full payment of all other general fees (i.e. enrollment fee, capital fee, building maintenance fee and CA fee) is required with the first installment. For new enrollments, this is summarized in the tables below.

• ^*1The enrollment fee is non-refundable.
• ^*2The CA fee is charged per family.

For children applying after the January interview period, payment of the initial installment is due within one week of the issue date of the offer of enrollment. The second and third installments are then due as indicated above.

From the second year of enrollment, payment dates for the installment payment option are as indicated below. The tuition fee is divided across the three installments. All other general fees are required with the first installment on May 15. Details of payments required are distributed to all enrolled families in March. If the 15th falls on a weekend or national holiday, payment is due on the next business day.

Optional school bus and school lunch services, textbooks (where appropriate) and the like are invoiced separately.

At KIST, students at all grade levels are required to wear a school uniform. There are separate formal uniforms for summer and winter, and also a PE uniform.

¥110,000–¥440,000/year

KIST provides a bus service to assist families in transporting Elementary children to and from school. Bus routes and bus stops are reviewed annually and may change from year to year. Families planning to move closer to a particular bus stop should consider this carefully before making definite commitments. The locations of bus stops are determined by the school and cannot be adjusted for individual families. Secondary students are not eligible to use the school bus service.

Seats on buses are limited. We cannot guarantee that seats will be available for all children who apply. If seats are not available, your child will be added to the waiting list. If seats become available, children will be added in order of receipt of application. Bus fees are invoiced three times per year and are available in round-trip or one-way options. Prices below in parentheses include 10% consumption tax.

The school café, NK Café, is an independent, privately-owned and operated company that provides an optional school lunch service for children. Lunches are made with organic or near-organic produce and are nutritious and well balanced; however, the café is unable to cater for students with allergies or other special dietary requirements. Lunches may be ordered every day or for certain days only. Prices per meal are shown below. Prices in parentheses include 10% consumption tax.

In the Secondary School, some textbooks and other learning materials must be purchased by individual families. Titles and prices vary according to your child’s subject choices and may change from year to year.

Before care and after care services are available on weekdays for parents with work or other commitments who need their children to be at school earlier or later than the regular school day. Places in before care and after care are limited and are allocated according to a pre-determined priority system.

• ^*After care may be extended up to 6: 00 p. m. at the latest (with prior consultation).

Parents who are more than 10 minutes late to pick up their child after school are charged an overtime fee at the rate of ¥2,500 per hour. This applies to parents of K1 to K3 students and any other students required to be picked up by their parents. It also applies to parents of school bus users who are late to pick up their child.

##Student laptop computers and devices

For all students enrolling in Grades 9 through 12, it is compulsory to purchase a Windows laptop computer to bring to school fully charged each day. The laptop should be installed with the Windows 10 or 11 operating system. Students are provided with a free Microsoft 365 license while enrolled at KIST.

In addition to, but not in place of, their laptop, students in Grades 9 through 12 may also bring an optional supplementary tablet device (i.e. an iPad or Android tablet), along with a stylus pen, to use for notetaking during lessons. The use of smartphones for notetaking is not permitted. All laptop computers and tablet devices must be registered through the school’s IT office before use.

For DP students who study an online subject offered by the IB in Grades 11 and 12, in principle, families are expected to cover all costs involved.

In-class language support is provided to students requiring additional assistance in developing appropriate English language skills.

Supervised sessions held after school three or four times per week for students who wish to study on their own at school according to particular standards as determined by the school.

Supplementary classes are provided for students who require additional support in particular subjects.

For students in Grades 1 and above, the school offers a variety of semester-based extracurricular club activities during the year. No additional fees are charged for participating in general club activities. In the Secondary School, students may also have the opportunity to participate in competitive school sporting teams. This incurs a session fee which is collected to cover costs associated with league participation (referee fees, coaching gratuity, tournament fees, league membership fees etc.).

A handling fee of ¥3,000 per invoice is incurred for overdue payments. If the school Accounts Department has been informed in advance by e-mail (accounts@kist.ed.jp) of any expected delays, the handling fee is not required.

The enrollment fee and capital fee are one-time fees paid only when a student is first accepted into the school;
however, they are only valid for the time a student is continuously enrolled. Students who leave the school and then re-apply at a later date are required to pay both fees again; however, a reduced rate is offered to students re-applying within three years of the previous date of withdrawal.

For mid-year enrollments, the first tuition fee installment to be paid is discounted according to a predetermined calculation method. Tuition is required from the beginning of the month of enrollment regardless of the date of first attendance. For students enrolling between April and June only, the building maintenance fee is reduced.

The application fee and enrollment fee are non-refundable. The tuition fee and other general fees paid at the time of initial enrollment (i.e. capital fee, building maintenance fee, CA fee) are refunded in full if enrollment is cancelled by e-mail prior to the first day of school (Japan Standard Time). Information on refunds for other school fees is available to families after enrollment.