The Costs Of Getting Into International Schools

How much does it cost to apply to an international school in Hong Kong? Parents are paying from HKD 11,000 up to as much as HKD 500,000 to secure a primary or secondary place at one of Hong Kong’s 70-plus international schools. This includes an average cost of HKD 2,000 just to complete the school’s application form.

What you'll find inside:

- What do I need to pay when applying to an international school in Hong Kong? Go
- Will I need to pay a Capital Levy or Debenture during the admissions process? Go
- What are the costs of applying to an ESF school? Go
- How do I know if places are available before I apply to a school? Go
- How can I get priority admission for the school of my choice? Go
- Table of admission fees at international schools Go

Apply to any international or private school worldwide, and you can expect to pay a non-refundable and non-transferable application fee followed by a down payment to secure your child’s place. Whether you’re in Hong Kong or Singapore, the UAE or the UK, international schools are charging non-refundable upfront fees to ensure that parents commit to school places before the start of the school year.

In Hong Kong, application fees range from less than HKD 1,000 at American School Hong Kong (ASHK) and HKCA Po Leung Kuk School to HKD 4,000-plus at the Canadian International School of Hong Kong and the German Swiss International School. Once a place is offered, parents can expect to pay a deposit, a registration fee, a capital levy or a compulsory debenture – and sometimes a combination of two or more – to secure their child’s place. And this is all before counting the cost of tuition, development levies and other fees covering technology, field trips, lunch, uniform etc.

How to apply to an international or local school in Hong Kong. Click here to find out.

Parents might want to be 100% sure of the school they choose to enrol their child in before paying these fees – and fully understand the school’s fee structure – to avoid losing considerable amounts of money. But, with international schools in Hong Kong varying so much in what they charge, admissions becomes a confusing system.

To ensure you don't make costly mistakes, it is really important to speak with someone in the admissions office at the schools you are considering, and ensure that you fully understand their costs and refund policy. Be aware that while one school may appear to have a lower application fee than another, it may charge a high capital levy or compulsory debenture – or vice versa. And always take into account the annual tuition fees, as well as other fees covering technology, field trips, lunch, uniform to understand the true cost of an education at any particular school.

To help you understand the cost of applying to an international school in Hong Kong, we look at what you need to pay and why; when to apply; and how to increase your chances of securing a school place.

Next: What do I need to pay when applying to an international school in Hong Kong?