Australian International School Hong Kong vs West Island School
Australian International School Hong Kong and West Island School are both in Hong Kong, about 9 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes. Australian International School Hong Kong also offers Australian, and West Island School also offers IBCP, BTEC Qualification and Cambridge IGCSE. Published annual fees are HK$148,800 - 252,800 at Australian International School Hong Kong and HK$167,600 - 181,100 at West Island School, which puts Australian International School Hong Kong roughly 15% higher. Australian International School Hong Kong takes pupils from 4 to 18, and West Island School from 11 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 1,200 and 1,200 pupils. Typical class sizes are 24 at Australian International School Hong Kong and 10 at West Island School.
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
West Island School is located at 250 Victoria Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong. The area is on the western side of Hong Kong Island, with access via Kennedy Town MTR and multiple bus and minibus routes serving Central, Island South, Aberdeen, Kowloon, and the Airport
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
WIS serves Years 7–13, covering secondary and post-16 education. Years 7–9 follow the IB Middle Years Programme, Years 10–11 prepare for I/GCSE, and Years 12–13 offer IB Diploma, IB Career-related Programme, BTEC, and the International Diploma.
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 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
The school has an Inclusive Education programme, with specialist staff and tailored support to meet individual needs, including learning support and wellbeing services.
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 not affiliated with any country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
AISHK is non-denominational and has no religious affiliation.
Religious affiliation
The school has no 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
The school does not publicly disclose daily start and finish times or break schedules.
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
WIS provides a school bus service through Kwoon Chung Motors Company Limited, with more than 10 routes serving different districts.
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 one-time, non-refundable application fee of HKD 2,800 per applicant. * This covers admissions administration and must be paid at the time of application.
Tuition Fees (per year, payable over 10 months)
* Years 7–10: HKD 181,100 * Year 11: HKD 159,400 * Years 12–13: HKD 167,600
Billing and Payment Schedule
* Tuition fees are paid in ten monthly instalments (August to May) by mandatory direct debit. * Payments are due on the first day of each month.
Deposit
* A deposit equivalent to two months of school fees must be paid when a place is accepted. * Half of this deposit is offset against the first month’s fee, while the remainder is credited against the last month’s fee (if withdrawal notice conditions are met).
Other Charges
* Non-Refundable Capital Levy (NCL): A one-off, sliding-scale fee, ranging from HKD 26,000 for Year 7 to HKD 3,800 for Year 13, payable when joining ESF schools. * Families may also choose Individual Nomination Rights (INR) or Corporate Nomination Rights (CNR) for interview priority.
Refund Policy
* Deposits are only offset against tuition (not refunded as cash). * Fees remain payable if a student goes on leave during term.
Payment Options
* Payments are made by direct debit for tuition. * Application fees are paid via credit card or PayPal.
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
West Island School offers a broad curriculum structured around international qualifications at different stages. In Years 7 to 9, students follow the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), covering subjects such as Arts, Design, Languages, Individuals & Societies, Mathematics, Physical & Health Education, and Sciences. In Years 10 and 11, the school provides a combination of IGCSE and BTEC courses, with core studies in English, Mathematics, Sciences, and Physical & Health Education, alongside electives such as Business, Psychology, Theatre, and Music. Post-16 students in Years 12 and 13 can pursue multiple pathways: the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP), BTEC, or an International Diploma. The IBCP blends BTEC qualifications with selected IB Diploma courses and a core programme that includes personal and professional skills, community engagement, and a community project. Throughout all years, the curriculum is complemented by wellbeing education, including areas such as digital citizenship, emotional intelligence, and personal relationships.
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 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.). (No explicit public detail on every onboarding step is given beyond the above, so some of this is inferred from standard practice and the admissions overview.)
5. Waitlist Consideration If no immediate place is available, the candidate may be placed into a waitlist or pool (see below). 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
West Island school does not provide information about any financial assistance via scholarships or aid.
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
WIS (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.
