Some of these schools are still boasting long waiting lists and getting a steady stream of enquiries about enrolment. To meet the demand, the United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA) is building a new campus at Tampines.

The project broke ground on Wednesday and is slated to open in parts from next August, with the rest of the rest of the campus ready by 2011.

Head of the college Julian Whiteley said there is still a 'significant demand for places in the school, and the waiting period is up to four years.

UWCSEA's campus in Dover currently has close to 3,000 students. The new Tampines campus, which will add 2,500 more places, will raise the number of UWCSEA students to 5,500 by 2015.

Set on 5.5 hectares of land, the Tampines site also aims to go green - for instance, the campus will serve as a classroom to teach students about the efficient use of energy and conservation, with features such as electrical meters placed around the school so that students can analyse the use of power.

Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education S. Iswaran, speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, said: 'The significant long-term commitment made by UWCSEA to move forward with the development of this second campus reflects its confidence that Singapore will continue to provide a stable and attractive business environment in the long run.

'Even as we tackle the pressing economic issues of today, we are also building the infrastructure and capabilities needed to realise our vision of a global city. International schools are an essential part of that architecture.'

Mr Charles Ormiston, a member of the Board of Governors of UWCSEA, said the building cost of the new campus is 'extremely low' compared to the peak in the construction market due to the downturn.

Final figures, he added, will be about 15 per cent lower than what was estimated earlier when the school signed the project Memorandum of Understanding with the Economic Development Board.