Primary and Secondary Schools in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's school system combines local schools, which follow a curriculum recommended by the government and lead to a local public examination, with a large international school sector for families from overseas. For an international family, the key choices are the type of school, the curriculum and the language of instruction, and whether the child needs a study visa.

Our directory lists one example in this category: Norwegian International School (NIS), a Christian international school in Tai Po for children from kindergarten to Year 6.

How the school system works

Kindergartens serve children aged three to six. Primary school starts at around age six and lasts six years. Most primary schools now run a whole-day timetable, encouraged by the government, although some still use separate morning (AM) and afternoon (PM) sessions. Chinese is the language of instruction in most primary schools, with English as the second teaching language. Government policy aims to make students biliterate in Chinese and English and trilingual in Cantonese, Putonghua and English.

Secondary education lasts six years. The three-year new senior secondary curriculum was introduced in 2009, and at the end of Secondary 6 students take one public examination, the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE). The HKDSE replaced the former certificate and A-level examinations and was first held in 2012. According to the Education Bureau's Study in Hong Kong portal, over 300 overseas tertiary institutions accept it for admission.

There are three main types of local secondary school:

• government schools, run by the government
• aided schools, fully subvented by the government but run by voluntary bodies
• private schools, some of which receive financial assistance from the government

International schools offer non-local curricula and serve mainly non-Chinese-speaking students and foreign nationals. The government aims to keep the sector strong to meet demand from overseas families living in Hong Kong or moving there for work or investment.

Admission for international students

Children without the right of abode in Hong Kong who come only to study need a study visa or entry permit. The Immigration Department can consider an application for a child admitted to a private school registered under the Education Ordinance. Study visas for public or aided schools are not permitted, except for English Schools Foundation (ESF) schools and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools. Age limits apply: from 5 years and 8 months to 11 for primary education, and under 20 for secondary education. The family must show that it can pay the fees and living costs without working and without public funds.

International schools set their own admission procedures, and places can be limited. At NIS, for example, admission is rolling throughout the year, applicants attend an interview, and priority categories include families from overseas who want an international education for their children. Children who are not offered a place immediately go into a waiting pool.

Costs

Local government and aided schools follow the government curriculum and are publicly funded, while international schools charge tuition fees, often with an annual capital levy and an application fee. As an example of fees in 2026-27, NIS charges HK$84,900 a year for kindergarten plus a capital levy of HK$7,310, and HK$139,900 a year for primary (Year 1 to Year 6) plus a capital levy of HK$14,620. The application fee is HK$900.

An example: Norwegian International School

NIS was founded by the Norwegian Lutheran Mission and the Norwegian Mission Society as a non-profit school for the children of Norwegian missionaries. In 1994 it began to admit students from international backgrounds and changed to English as its medium of instruction. Today it is run by Generations Christian Education. The kindergarten uses the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC), and the primary school is accredited for the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). Primary students have daily Chinese classes taught by Putonghua-speaking teachers. NIS takes children from 2 years 8 months (K1) to 11 years (Year 6), so families need a separate secondary school afterwards.

How to choose a school

• Curriculum: local curriculum leading to the HKDSE, or a non-local curriculum at an international school
• Language: Chinese-medium, English-medium or bilingual teaching, and how much Putonghua or Cantonese is taught
• Visa status: whether the school can accept a student on a study visa
• Age range: whether the school continues to secondary level or ends at primary
• Fees: tuition, capital levy, application fee and waiting lists
• Location: the daily journey to school, for example to a campus in a New Territories town such as Tai Po

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign child study at a local public school in Hong Kong?

A child who comes to Hong Kong on a study visa cannot attend a public or aided school, except ESF and DSS schools. A study visa can be granted for a registered private school, including international schools.

What language are schools in Hong Kong taught in?

Most local primary schools teach in Chinese, with English as the second teaching language. International schools such as NIS teach mainly in English; NIS also has daily Chinese classes in Putonghua.

How much does an international primary school cost in Hong Kong?

Fees vary by school. At Norwegian International School, primary tuition in 2026-27 is HK$139,900 a year plus an annual capital levy of HK$14,620.

Which exam do students take at the end of secondary school?

Students in local schools take the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) at the end of Secondary 6. International schools prepare students for the qualifications of their own curriculum.