Transferring schools is quite common in Hong Kong.   Admissions to Hong Kong international schools and ESF schools nowadays are relatively more competitive compared to the past. Applications for entry are submitted a year before matriculation.  Some international schools require a refundable reservation fee – as much as 50% of the annual tuition – and smaller non-refundable application fees.

The lack of transparency in acceptance criteria can make the application process especially difficult — some schools judge on academics, others look at family background and still others look from an all rounded perspective.  Almost all schools request a face-to-face interview,  particularly at the primary education level.

The most competitive schools often sell monetary debentures that provide priority in the admissions process. Debentures can be issued to an individual or to a corporation to help secure spots for its rotating roster of expat managers.  High demand has spurred a secondary market that trades debentures legally, with costs rising into the millions in Hong Kong dollars.

The debentures are used as capital to fund school maintenance and are reimbursed, without interest, after the child leaves the school. However, there is no guarantee that the child will be accepted.  Schools in most cases cap the number of debentures they issue a year, but it varies with each school.

Here are some tips on getting your child accepted into the school of your choice

-  Apply the schools that you think with higher possibilities, do not apply as much schools as you can, it will only waste your time and money.

-  Many families enroll many schools at the same time,  waiting lists may look longer than they actually are.

– Apply early. Start doing your research, or seek advice from the specialist educational advisor like Education Ladder, as soon as possible and try to enroll a year in advance.

– Conduct some research.  Some schools give priority to certain nationalities or family backgrounds. Apply to the schools that fit you.

– Visit the campuses.  Start planning a trip for your child to see the schools and participate in face-to-face interviews as early as possible.

– Be assertive.  Schools want to see involved, enthusiastic and proactive parents. Call the school to find out more.

 The majority of international schools in Hong Kong are on the IB system. 

Many schools identify with a particular country and offer separate English and foreign-language sections. There are also an increasing number of schools that emphasize a compulsory Mandarin Chinese component, reflecting the importance of Mandarin Hong Kong.   English is certainly an important langauge and as a basic pre-requisite for majority of the international schools. 

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