Overview of Hong Kong’s Education System

If you're moving to Hong Kong with children, you'll likely have plenty of questions about the education system and the options available for your family.  Known for its rich cultural diversity, Hong Kong is a popular destination for international students seeking high-quality education. In fact, Hong Kong has participated in international studies such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) organised by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and has consistently achieved remarkable rankings.

It’s essential to understand the education system to ensure your children adapt to the local study environment smoothly. In a nutshell, the well-rounded education system in Hong Kong is designed in a 12-year structure, with 6 years of primary education, 3 years of junior secondary education, and 3 years of senior secondary education. Additionally, the Vocational Training Council offers full-time courses as an alternative free avenue for senior secondary students outside mainstream education.  Upon completing this 6-year secondary education, students who participated in the local curriculum will take the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) and join the scheme of the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) for local university admission.

Within Hong Kong’s highly-regarded education system, parents have a wide range of school types to choose from. The schools in Hong Kong are mainly publicly funded, comprising over 800 public schools and over 70 Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools. Among the public schools, there are over 700 Aided Schools fully subsidised by the Government and over 60 Government Schools directly operated by the Government. Most of these aided schools are run by religious bodies and charitable organisations and managed by their Incorporated Management Committees (IMCs) or School Management Committees (SMCs).

• Government and Aided Schools in Hong Kong are public-sector schools. They receive government funding to offer free education to local students who follow the Hong Kong curriculum. While some public schools in Hong Kong use English as the main medium of instruction, they generally emphasise Chinese language education more strongly. Public schools can be a good choice for students who want to immerse themselves in a Chinese-language environment and for families looking for an affordable school option.
• DSS Schools in Hong Kong are schools for which the Government provides subsidies based on student enrolment but allows them to charge tuition fees. Some DSS schools offer students a more flexible curriculum than the local curriculum.

In addition to publicly funded schools, Hong Kong has close to 100 private primary and secondary schools, including international schools, private independent schools, and others. These schools operate on a self-financing basis.

• International schools in Hong Kong are privately run. They are popular among non-local families as they follow non-local curricula designed for the needs of a particular cultural or linguistic group, or students who do not wish to sit for local examinations. Most international schools use English as the main teaching and learning language, while a number of them use other languages, depending on the curricula. The range of curricula being offered includes International Baccalaureate (IB), British, American, Canadian, German, Japanese, etc.. These schools offer a diverse student body and a multicultural learning environment. 
• Private independent schools, similar to international schools, are private schools. Most offer non-local curricula as they primarily serve the demand for school places from local families seeking an alternative to public sector schools.
• Other private schools enjoy a high level of autonomy in curriculum design and language use. They offer both local and international curricula. Their flexibility in classes allows students to explore a wide range of subjects and interests according to their progress and needs.

Once you have identified a suitable school, you will need to navigate the application procedures. For admission to Primary One (P1) and Secondary One (S1) of public sector primary and secondary schools, the process is relatively straightforward via the School Places Allocation Systems. The Government has recently introduced flexibility into the admission procedures for non-local children arriving in Hong Kong on a dependant visa granted under the various immigration schemes for talented migrants (their parents). Non-local children may now participate in ‘Discretionary Places Allocation’ Stage and ‘Central Allocation’ Stage of ‘Primary One Admission System’ to apply for a P1 place in public sector primary schools, and in ‘Discretionary Places’ Stage of ‘Secondary School Places Allocation’ (SSPA) to apply for an S1 place in public sector secondary schools and DSS secondary schools participating in SSPA, even while awaiting their visa approval. If your children require admission to other school class levels (non-P1 or S1), or if you miss the application deadlines or arrive after the commencement of the school term (usually in September), you could seek help from the Regional Education Office of the Education Bureau for placement assistance services or approach the targeted schools for admission application directly. If you have a preference for particular public schools, or if you aim to enrol in any DSS school, you may contact the school’s admission office directly.

If you wish to send your children to international schools, private independent schools, and other private schools, you should apply directly to the schools.  Usually, you’ll need to submit your application with supporting documents, such as student transcripts, recommendation letters, evidence of language proficiency and certificates of qualification, etc.. Some schools may additionally require proof of family financial status and residency before they can process your application.  Schools might also conduct in-person or online interviews as part of the admission assessment.  You should plan in advance by approaching the schools as early as possible to understand more about their admission requirements.

After you have completed all the necessary paperwork and your child's application has been accepted, it's important to allow some time for adjustment as you and your child adapt to the Hong Kong education system. Remember that adjusting to a new environment and culture can take time, so be open to invitations from new friends and encourage your child to have fun outside of the classroom.