Canadian International School of Hong Kong vs Victoria Shanghai Academy
Canadian International School of Hong Kong and Victoria Shanghai Academy are both in Hong Kong, about 1 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes, and Canadian International School of Hong Kong also offers Canadian. Published annual fees are close, at HK$156,300 - 254,300 for Canadian International School of Hong Kong and HK$181,200 - 255,600 for Victoria Shanghai Academy. Canadian International School of Hong Kong takes pupils from 2 to 18, and Victoria Shanghai Academy from 5 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 2,100 and 2,000 pupils. Typical class sizes are 18 at Canadian International School of Hong Kong and 21 at Victoria Shanghai Academy.
Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS) is situated on the south side of Hong Kong Island, in the Aberdeen area. The campus is within walking distance of Wong Chuk Hang MTR station and is also served by local bus routes. It sits in a mixed residential and commercial neighbourhood close to Aberdeen Harbour.
Location
Victoria Shanghai Academy (VSA) is located at 19 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, adjacent to Aberdeen Harbour. The campus lies in the southern part of Hong Kong Island, roughly a 15‑minute walk from MTR Wong Chuk Hang Station (Exit B). Buses and minibuses stop nearby at a public transport terminus about five minutes’ walk from the school.
Stages
Stages
CDNIS educates children from age 2 through Grade 12. The school is divided into the Lower School (Early Years and Grades 1–5) and the Upper School (Grades 6–12, split into Transition Years, Grades 9–10, and Grades 11–12).
Stages
The school offers curriculum from Primary (PYP) through Middle Years (MYP) to Diploma Programme (DP).
School type
School type
The school is private and co-educational. It operates as a day school only, and students must live with a parent or legal guardian in Hong Kong. Boarding is not offered.
School type
VSA is a day school with no boarding facilities.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
CDNIS provides guidance counselling services in both the Lower and Upper Schools, supporting students academically and socially. However, the school website does not publish detailed information about specialised SEN facilities or provisions.
Additional learning support
VSA states that it is “sensitive to students’ individual needs” and provides support for those with language or learning needs, physical or medical conditions, or social, emotional, and behavioural issues.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school integrates elements of the Ontario (Canada) curriculum and awards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) alongside the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP).
Country affiliation
The school does not have any country affiliation.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any religion.
Religious affiliation
The school does not have any religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
The school website does not publish its standard daily start and end times or detailed schedules.
School day structure
School hours are Monday to Friday, 8:25 am to 3:40 pm.
Bus service details
Bus service details
CDNIS provides a school bus service operated by Kwoon Chung Motors (KCM). All full-day students are required to use the bus service, with routes across Hong Kong. The school allows options for one-way ridership and installment payments for bus fees.
Bus service details
VSA provides a school bus service.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application Fees An application fee of HKD 2,350 is required for EY1–Grade 11 applicants, with an assessment fee of HKD 1,650 if shortlisted. Nursery applications carry a combined application and assessment fee of HKD 1,800. These fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Entry & Reservation Fees A one-time Entry Fee of HKD 12,500 is charged to all new students. In addition, an HKD 80,000 Reservation Deposit is required to secure enrollment. This is credited toward the first term’s tuition and levy but is non-refundable for new students.
Fees for EY1–Grade 12 are billed in two instalments per year. Nursery tuition is billed in 11 instalments.
Additional Fees
* Annual Capital Levy: HKD 38,000 per student (unless covered by a debenture) * Uniforms, extracurricular activities, and some resources are billed separately. * Grades 4 and above include a technology fee, and Grades 11–12 include IB Diploma exam and textbook fees in tuition.
Debenture Scheme Debentures are not compulsory, but holders receive admissions priority if other requirements are met. Debentures can be transferred on the second-hand market.
Transportation Fees The school bus service is operated by Kwoon Chung Motors (KCM). Fees vary by route and are billed directly by the provider. Options for one-way ridership and installment payments are available.
Boarding Fees The school does not offer boarding facilities.
Refund Policy Tuition (EY1–G12) may be refunded on a pro-rata 10-month basis if three months’ written notice is provided. Reservation deposits for new students are non-refundable. Most other fees are non-refundable.
Payment Options Payments can be made via bank transfer, PPS, e-banking bill payment, or direct debit. Cash and cheque are not accepted.
Fee details
Primary Years Programme (Years 1–5) The annual tuition fee for Year 1 is HK$181,200, payable in 10 installments.
Middle Years Programme (Years 6–10) Year 6 tuition fee is HK$200,700, payable in 10 installments. Year 7 tuition fee is HK$203,700, payable in 10 installments. Year 8 tuition fee is HK$203,700, payable in 10 installments. Year 9 tuition fee is HK$205,400, payable in 10 installments. Year 10 tuition fee is HK$205,400, payable in 10 installments.
Diploma Programme (Years 11–12) Year 11 tuition fee is HK$255,600, payable in 10 installments. Year 12 tuition fee is HK$255,600, payable in 9 installments.
Other Fees Refundable Capital Levy: A one-off payment required from all parents of newly admitted students (Years 1–11), unless holding a debenture.
Miscellaneous Fees: May include costs for field trips, online learning licenses, and learning materials.
CAS Trips: Fees apply for compulsory local or overseas Creativity, Activity, Service trips.
Technology Requirement: Students from Years 7 to 12 must purchase their own Apple MacBook through an authorised reseller or the school’s partnered vendor.
Refund Policy For the Capital Levy (the one-off payment by non-debenture holders), the Capital Levy Agreement states that if a parent withdraws the student before school starts or the student does not attend, no refund of the Capital Levy will be made.
Partial refunds are possible under certain conditions: after the student completes the first term, HK$30,000 of the Capital Levy is refunded; the remaining HK$30,000 is refunded either at graduation from secondary school or upon early withdrawal with at least 45 school days’ notice.
Payment Method The school does not have their payment method publicly available.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
—
Boarding arrangements
—
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
—
Uniform requirement
—
Food options
Food options
—
Food options
—
House system
House system
—
House system
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
—
Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
CDNIS delivers the full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum, beginning with the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Lower School from Early Years through Grade 5. Students in Grades 6–10 follow the Middle Years Programme (MYP), which provides a broad foundation across subject areas. In Grades 11–12, students pursue the IB Diploma Programme (DP), with courses designed to prepare them for university study worldwide. Alongside the IB, CDNIS integrates the Ontario curriculum, and graduates earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) in addition to the IB Diploma. The school also offers a bilingual English–Chinese track in the Early Years, with Mandarin taught as a subject throughout the school.
Curriculum details
Victoria Shanghai Academy delivers a through‑train IB curriculum offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP).
In primary years (Years 1–5), the curriculum is inquiry‑based around six transdisciplinary themes (e.g. Who We Are, How the World Works, etc.). Teachers design units of inquiry that cross subject boundaries, integrating literacy, mathematics, science, social studies and expressive arts.
In secondary school, the MYP is organised around global contexts and concept‑based learning, with eight subject groups and “Approaches to Learning” that develop skills across disciplines. Students engage in inquiry, reflection, and connection of traditional subjects to real‑world contexts.
For IB Diploma (Years 11–12), VSA students take the full IB programme recognised by universities globally. The school also emphasises bilingualism: primary is bilingual in English and Putonghua; secondary instruction is primarily English complemented by a strong Chinese programme.
1. Application submission Families begin by completing an online application form via the CDNIS Admissions Portal. Required documents typically include a copy of the child’s passport or Hong Kong ID, recent school reports, and a current photo. An application fee (and, where relevant, an assessment fee) must be paid at this stage.
2. Supporting documents and references Depending on grade level, families may need to submit a Student Reference Form completed by a current teacher. These references are used to better understand the applicant’s academic and social readiness for CDNIS.
3. Assessment and interview Applicants who progress are invited for an assessment or interview. Early Years students participate in play-based assessments, while older students complete literacy, numeracy, or group activities. Upper School applicants may also attend a personal interview. The school explains that the assessment format differs by grade.
4. Selection and review Applications are reviewed holistically, combining assessment results, references, and past reports. Students are then ranked as Excellent, Good, Marginal, or Not Suitable. Offers depend on meeting academic expectations and the availability of places.
5. Offer and enrolment Successful candidates receive a conditional offer, which must be confirmed by paying the reservation deposit and completing enrollment forms. If no space is available in the grade, eligible students are placed into the waitpool until a place opens.
Admissions
1. Online Application Submission Parents can apply through the VSA online application portal, uploading photo ID, birth certificate or passport, and previous two years’ academic reports of their children.
2. Payment of Application Fee A non‑refundable and non‑transferable application fee of HKD 2,000 is required upon submission to initiate the review process.
3. Document Verification and Review Applications with missing documents will be held pending complete submission. If documents are not submitted within one month, the application is considered withdrawn.
4. Assessment / Interview Candidates undergo assessments (e.g. for English, mathematics) and possibly interviews depending on the grade level applied for.
5. Admission Results Notification The school shares results within about one month after the assessment, or after interview. Accepted, waitlist, or declining outcomes are communicated.
6. Enrollment Procedures Once accepted, families complete enrollment formalities (sign contracts, pay fees) within the deadlines specified in the offer letter.
Scholarships
Scholarships
CDNIS has a scholarship programme listed under its Admissions section. Scholarships are intended to recognise student achievement and potential, but the school does not publish detailed information about specific eligibility criteria or award amounts on its main website. Families interested in scholarships are directed to the Scholarships section of the Admissions pages for current opportunities.
Scholarships
VSA has a scholarship programme for both internal and external students. These scholarships cover categories including academic excellence, leadership, performance, and improvement.
Waitlist
Waitlist
CDNIS operates a waiting pool system when grades are full. Placement into the waitpool occurs after a student is deemed admissible, but no seat is available. Importantly, a student’s status in the pool does not roll over to the following academic year; families must reapply if they wish to be considered again.
