Australian International School Hong Kong vs Discovery College
Australian International School Hong Kong and Discovery College are both in Hong Kong, about 17 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes. Australian International School Hong Kong also offers Australian, and Discovery College also offers IBCP. Published annual fees are close, at HK$148,800 - 252,800 for Australian International School Hong Kong and HK$162,100 - 215,300 for Discovery College. Australian International School Hong Kong takes pupils from 4 to 18, and Discovery College from 5 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 1,200 and 1,400 pupils. Typical class sizes are 24 at Australian International School Hong Kong and 30 at Discovery College.
Australian International School Hong Kong (AISHK) is situated in the residential district of Kowloon Tong. The campus is a short walk from Kowloon Tong MTR Station (Exit E) and is close to a major transport interchange with buses and taxis. The setting provides both accessibility and a quieter neighbourhood environment, making it convenient for families from across Hong Kong.
Location
Discovery College sits in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island, in a scenic residential area surrounded by hills and coastline. Many students live locally, but the school also runs bus routes from Tung Chung, Tsing Yi, South Lantau and parts of Kowloon to bring students in.
Stages
Stages
The school is divided into Early Years (Reception and Preparatory), Primary (Years 1–6), Secondary (Years 7–10), and Senior Secondary (Years 11–12). In the final two years, students choose either the NSW Higher School Certificate or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
Stages
Discovery College is a Year 1 to Year 13 through-school, meaning children typically join at age 5 and continue through until around age 18. It delivers the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP, CP) across those years.
School type
School type
AISHK is a co-educational, day school with around 1,200 students. The school does not offer boarding facilities.
School type
The school is a co-educational day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Support is provided through the Learning Enrichment Centre (LEC), which assists students across Primary and Secondary who can access mainstream classes with minimal support. The school also offers in-class English language support for students who have sufficient English to follow the curriculum.
Additional learning support
Discovery College runs a Learning Diversity Team that works with teachers to provide individualized planning, targeted support, curriculum adjustments, small-group work or short one-to-one withdrawal as needed. However, under ESF’s policy, Discovery College does not provide full Learning Support provisions; it only accommodates students up to Levels of Adjustment 1 and 2 per ESF’s framework.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school follows the Australian curriculum up to Year 10 and offers the NSW HSC alongside the IB Diploma in Senior Secondary. It also runs on the Australian academic year (January to December).
Country affiliation
The school is part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) in Hong Kong, and is not formally tied to any particular foreign country’s government or education system.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
AISHK is non-denominational and has no religious affiliation.
Religious affiliation
Discovery College is non-denominational and does not have a religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
The school day begins at 8:15am. For Primary, Reception ends at 2:45pm and Years 3–6 at 2:50pm. Secondary students finish at 3:30pm Monday–Thursday and 3:00pm on Friday, following extra-curricular activities.
School day structure
Buses deliver students typically between 7:30 am and 7:50 am (with adjustments for Tuesday) and the school’s refectory and café are open from 7:15 am to 3:30 pm.
In the afternoon, the last lessons finish at 3:10 pm for primary and 3:25 pm for secondary, with buses departing between 3:30 and 3:40 pm after students are escorted to the waiting areas.
Bus service details
Bus service details
AISHK provides a comprehensive bus service covering a wide range of routes across Hong Kong. Many students use the service daily, though families also make use of the convenient Kowloon Tong MTR and nearby transport hubs. The school notes that its community comes from diverse districts, not just Kowloon side.
Bus service details
The school provides a contracted bus service via Kwoon Chung Motors Co. Ltd. (KCM) for students who live outside Discovery Bay. Each bus has a bus supervisor who monitors student safety and behaviour.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application Fees A one-time Application Fee of HKD 1,500 is required for all new applications and is non-refundable. If an assessment is required, an additional Assessment Fee of HKD 500 per student applies. Families wishing to remain on the waitlist for another year must pay an Application Renewal Fee of HKD 500.
Reservation & Capital Levy A Reservation Deposit of HKD 25,000 is payable upon acceptance of an offer. This is credited to tuition on commencement and is refundable only if cancellation is made within seven days of payment. An annual Capital Levy of HKD 21,840 per student is billed at the start of each academic year.
Tuition Fees (Per Year) Reception: HKD 148,800 Preparatory – Year 6: HKD 173,800 Years 7 – 10: HKD 200,500 Years 11 – 12 (HSC): HKD 210,400 Years 11 – 12 (IBDP): HKD 252,800
Fees may also be paid by term: three equal instalments (e.g., HKD 37,200 per term in Reception) or by 10 monthly Autopay instalments (February–November).
Additional Fees The school notes costs such as uniforms and optional activities are charged separately. No information on textbook or examination fees is publicly provided.
Transportation Fees AISHK operates a school bus service with multiple routes across Hong Kong. Fees are invoiced directly by the provider, and arrangements vary by route.
Sibling Discount A 10% discount is applied to the third child and any subsequent siblings, calculated from the youngest child upwards.
Refund Policy One full term’s written notice (three months) is required for withdrawals. Without sufficient notice, one term’s fees are charged. For mid-year withdrawals, the full year’s capital levy remains payable.
Payment Options Credit card: accepted only for the Application Fee. Bank transfer / Autopay: required for tuition, capital levy, and other school fees.
Fee details
Application Fee A non-refundable Application Fee of HK$2,800 is charged per applicant for ESF and all-through schools. This fee covers the administrative cost of processing applications and must be paid online via credit card or PayPal at the time of submission. The fee payment does not guarantee an interview or a school placement.
Tuition Fees
* Years 1–6: HK$162,100 per year * Years 7–11: HK$213,600 per year * Years 12–13: HK$215,300 per year Tuition fees are billed in 10 equal monthly instalments from September to June each academic year. Payments are typically made through direct debit from a Hong Kong bank account.
Non-refundable Building Levy (NBL) Each student pays an NBL of HK$8,060 per year, billed across 10 instalments of HK$806 alongside tuition fees
Additional Costs
* Uniforms and learning materials are purchased separately through designated suppliers. * Optional school bus services are billed independently via the contracted provider (Kwoon Chung Motors). * There are no boarding fees, as Discovery College is a day school.
Refund Policy All fees, including the application fee and NBL, are non-refundable. Tuition fees are refundable only under ESF’s standard withdrawal policy, which requires written notice in advance of withdrawal.
Payment Methods Payments are accepted via direct debit, credit card, or PayPal, depending on the fee type.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Australian International School Hong Kong (AISHK) follows the Australian curriculum from Reception through Year 10. Teaching is organised into subject areas based on the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) Key Learning Areas, covering English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Technology, Creative Arts, and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. From Year 7 onwards, students also access a range of electives that prepare them for senior study. In Years 11 and 12, students may choose between two pathways: the New South Wales Higher School Certificate (HSC) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Mandarin is taught daily in Primary, with Chinese and French offered as language pathways in Secondary, leading to HSC or IB qualifications. The school year follows the Australian academic calendar, beginning in late January and ending in mid-December.
Curriculum details
Discovery College offers the full IB continuum from Year 1 to Year 13. For Years 1–6, students study the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), working through transdisciplinary units around six themes. For Years 7–11, the school offers the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), with a focus on connecting learning to real-world contexts, student inquiry, interdisciplinary units, and a Personal Project in Year 11. IBCP students combine at least two DP courses with a career-related study and complete a IBCP core (Reflective Project, Service Learning, Language Development, Personal & Professional Skills).
1. Application submission Families begin by completing the online application form on the AISHK website. Supporting documents include a copy of the child’s birth certificate, passport, visa documentation, school reports for the previous two years, and any specialist reports if relevant. Applications are accepted up to two years before entry. An Application Fee must be paid at this stage.
2. Application review The Admissions Office reviews submitted documents and may request additional information. Decisions at this stage are based on available places, school reports, and, if applicable, results of assessments. For Reception and Preparatory classes, the school also considers gender balance when allocating places. Priority is given to siblings, followed by Australian and New Zealand passport holders.
3. Assessment and interview Depending on year level and background, applicants may be required to sit an assessment or interview. Reception and Preparatory candidates participate in a play-based group assessment, while applicants from Years 1–11 complete written assessments aligned with the Australian curriculum. Students from non-English-speaking backgrounds may need to provide AEAS test results to demonstrate their English readiness.
4. Offer of place Successful applicants receive a formal Letter of Offer by email. To secure the place, families must pay the Reservation Deposit within the specified timeframe. The Reservation Deposit is credited to tuition upon commencement, subject to the school’s refund policy.
5. Confirmation and enrolment The Head of Primary or Head of Secondary formally approves the admission. At this stage, families are provided with joining information, orientation details, and school policies. Students then prepare to start in line with the Australian academic year (January–December).
Admissions
1. Online Application Submission Families submit an online application through the ESF / DC admissions portal, selecting up to four ESF school preferences. The application includes the non-refundable administration fee.
2. Assessment / Interview / Testing Applicants (for years other than entry levels) are invited to attend assessments or interviews to evaluate their readiness for the English-medium curriculum. Shortlisted candidates are notified with schedules for testing and interviews.
3. Offer of Place & Acceptance If successful and if a vacancy exists, the school issues an offer of place. The family must accept by a deadline, after which a deposit or building levy may be required.
4. Onboarding & Entry Requirements Once accepted, the student is integrated into the school system, including orientation, registration, and payment of fees per the school’s billing schedule. Families may also be asked to submit supporting documents (previous school records, medical records, etc.).
5. Waitlist Consideration If no immediate place is available, the candidate may be placed into a waitlist or pool. Offers from the waitlist may be made when places become available.
Scholarships
Scholarships
AISHK offers Academic Scholarships for senior students. These are competitive and based on demonstrated academic excellence, with details provided directly by the Admissions Office. Families interested in scholarships are encouraged to contact the school for eligibility requirements and application timelines. The website confirms availability but does not publish specific award amounts or duration.
Scholarships
* Discovery College offers merit-based scholarships for secondary students (Year 7 and above) in areas including academics, community engagement, sport, music, drama, visual arts, and design. * Scholarship applicants must also complete the standard admission process (assessment/interview) and meet Discovery College’s admission requirements. * For academic scholarships, candidates must meet certain grade thresholds (e.g. MYP score of 46 across eight subjects; DP score of 35 across six subjects), sit an external scholarship examination in math, language, writing and academic potential, and possibly attend an interview. * For athletics, arts or other domain scholarships, evaluation is based on evidence (e.g. portfolios, references, performance videos), auditions or interviews, and prior achievements. * Once awarded, scholarships are reviewed annually and typically expected to continue through to Year 13, assuming the student maintains academic and co-curricular commitments. If a student leaves early or transfers, the scholarship may be revoked or require repayment of awarded fees.
Waitlist
Waitlist
AISHK operates a date-based waitlist when year groups are full. Priority on the list is given to siblings of current students, followed by Australian and New Zealand passport holders, and then students of other nationalities. For Reception and Preparatory, the school also considers gender balance to ensure even class composition. Applications may be renewed annually with an Application Renewal Fee (HKD 500).
Waitlist
DC (via ESF) does maintain a waiting list / pool system for school places when demand exceeds vacancies. Applicants are placed on the waitlist in priority order, and if a vacancy arises, offers may be extended from the waitlist by date of application and priority group.
