German Swiss International School - Peak Campus vs Lyc'ee Francais International French International School (Blue Pool Road Campus)
German Swiss International School - Peak Campus and Lyc'ee Francais International French International School (Blue Pool Road Campus) are both in Hong Kong, about 3 km apart. Both schools offer IB, British and Cambridge IGCSE programmes. German Swiss International School - Peak Campus also offers EYFS and German, and Lyc'ee Francais International French International School (Blue Pool Road Campus) also offers IMYC and French. Published annual fees are HK$197,000 - 256,700 at German Swiss International School - Peak Campus and HK$173,718 - 217,599 at Lyc'ee Francais International French International School (Blue Pool Road Campus), which puts German Swiss International School - Peak Campus roughly 16% higher. German Swiss International School - Peak Campus takes pupils from 5 to 18, and Lyc'ee Francais International French International School (Blue Pool Road Campus) from 11 to 18. German Swiss International School - Peak Campus is the larger school, with around 1,250 pupils to Lyc'ee Francais International French International School (Blue Pool Road Campus)'s 810. Both keep typical class sizes around 20.
IB (DP), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), German Curriculum
Curriculum
IB (DP), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, French Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
1,250
Pupils
810
Typical class size
Typical class size
20
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English, German
Instruction language
English, French
Opened
Opened
1969
Opened
1999
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
GSIS’s Peak Campus is located at 11 Guildford Road, The Peak, on Hong Kong Island. It is in a residential, hillside area with access by bus or taxi, and is close to popular attractions like the Peak Tram and Peak Galleria. The campus enjoys relatively tranquil surroundings above the city core.
Location
The Blue Pool Road campus is situated at 165 Blue Pool Road in the Happy Valley neighbourhood of Hong Kong Island, close to Wan Chai. It is reasonably accessible via bus and local transport, and lies in a residential area known for its hill-side views and easy access to central districts.
Stages
Stages
GSIS is an all-through school offering education from Kindergarten through Secondary (ages ~3 to 18). It is organized into early years, primary, and secondary levels across two streams (German and English).
Stages
This campus primarily serves secondary level students, covering Year 7 through Year 13 (International Stream) and 6ème through Terminale (French Stream).
School type
School type
The school is co-educational.
School type
The school is 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
GSIS provides holistic support, including social-emotional counselling, learning enhancement teachers, and interventions to assist students with learning or adjustment needs.
Additional learning support
The school offers Student Services and Health Services across its campuses, with counselling and well-being support, and individual assessments of student needs as part of its support framework.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
GSIS has affiliation with Germany / German Schools Abroad — it is part of a network of over 135 German Schools Abroad, and one of its two streams (the German International Stream) leads to the German International Abitur (DIA).
Country affiliation
The school has affiliation with France via the French national curriculum stream and is linked with the French education system.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school does not have a religious affiliation.
Religious affiliation
The school does not have a religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
GSIS’s typical school hours are 7:40 am to 3:20 pm, Monday to Friday with breaks in-between.
School day structure
Students arrive at 8:00 am, classes begin at 8:30 am, and courses end at 5:30 pm; the school buses depart about 10–15 minutes after classes finish.
Bus service details
Bus service details
GSIS uses external bus companies (not in-house) to provide bus service for students. The school works with providers to maintain standards.
Bus service details
The campus offers a bus service.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application and Assessment Fee A non-refundable HKD 4,300 per student applies for both Kindergarten and Primary/Secondary applications. Applications are processed within one to two business days, after which students are placed on the waiting list and scheduled for assessment as needed.
Registration Fee Upon acceptance, families pay a one-time registration fee of HKD 2,350 for Kindergarten or HKD 3,700 for Primary and Secondary students.
Tuition Fees (2024–2025) Tuition is billed in two instalments per year:
* Kindergarten (KG1–KG2): HKD 118,200 (first instalment) + HKD 78,800 (second instalment) = HKD 197,000 per year * Primary (Years 1–6): HKD 122,220 + HKD 81,480 = HKD 203,700 per year * Lower Secondary (Years 7–11): HKD 145,680 + HKD 97,120 = HKD 242,800 per year * Upper Secondary (Years 12–13): HKD 154,020 + HKD 102,680 = HKD 256,700 per year
Billing Schedule and Payment Terms Invoices are issued twice annually and must be settled before the start of each term. Payments are accepted in Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) via bank transfer or cheque; credit-card payments are not accepted.
Boarding Fees GSIS is a day school only; no boarding fees apply.
Other Costs Additional costs may include uniforms, school bus fees, extracurricular activities, and optional trips.
Refund Policy Tuition fees are non-refundable once a term has begun. Withdrawals before the term starts require written notice.
Payment Options Fees must be paid directly to the school’s designated bank account in Hong Kong Dollars.
Fee details
Application and Admission Fees
* Application fee: HK $ 2,200 per student (non-refundable, non-transferable). * Assessment fee: HK $ 1,000 per student (applies to both French and International streams). * Advance payment: HK $ 25,000 per student (non-refundable) to confirm a place. * Debenture: Required for all students before entry.
* *Corporate debenture (Category A):* HK $ 250,000. * *Private debenture (Category B):* HK $ 120,000 (refundable) + HK $ 5,000 admin fee.
Tuition Fees (Blue Pool Road Campus — Secondary Levels)
* International Stream (English-medium)
* *Years 7–11 (IGCSE):* HK $ 202,000 per year (Term 1 $ 80,800 | Term 2 $ 60,600 | Term 3 $ 60,600). Net Fee after grant: HK $ 198,190. * *Years 12–13 (IB Diploma):* HK $ 217,599 per year (Term 1 $ 87,039 | Term 2 $ 65,280 | Term 3 $ 65,280). Net Fee after grant: HK $ 213,410.
* French Stream (French-medium)
* *Collège (6ᵉ – 3ᵉ):* HK $ 173,718 per year (Term 1 $ 69,488 | Term 2 $ 52,115 | Term 3 $ 52,115). Net Fee after grant: HK $ 170,440. * *Lycée (2ⁿᵈ – Terminale):* HK $ 210,940 per year (Term 1 $ 84,376 | Term 2 $ 63,282 | Term 3 $ 63,282). Net Fee after grant: HK $ 206,930.
Tuition is invoiced at the start of each of the three terms. Payment is due within 30 days of invoice date.
Other Costs
* Uniforms: Ordered directly from independent suppliers (e.g. Uniform Station Ltd). PE uniform mandatory. * Examinations: e.g. IGCSE (subject-based), IB Diploma fees, and Brevet/Baccalauréat for French stream students. * Extra-Curricular Activities & Outings: Invoiced separately by the school. * Replacement access card: HK $ 100.
Refund & Withdrawal Policy Tuition fees are non-refundable once a term has commenced. Late withdrawal may incur a fee equivalent to one or two months of tuition. Withdrawals must be notified by 31 October, 31 January, or 31 March depending on the term.
Payment Methods Payments are primarily by direct debit; cheques or bank transfers may be accepted only at the school’s discretion. All bank charges must be borne by the payer. Interest of 1 % per month applies to overdue balances.
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
The English International Stream (EIS) at German Swiss International School follows a British-based curriculum leading to IGCSE and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme qualifications. In Primary School (Years 1–6), students follow a broad academic programme aligned with the UK National Curriculum, with a strong focus on literacy, numeracy, science, and languages. In Lower Secondary (Years 7–9), students continue with core and specialist subjects, preparing for the IGCSE courses taken in Years 10–11, examined mainly under Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel boards. In Upper Secondary (Years 12–13), students undertake the IB Diploma Programme, an internationally recognised qualification for university entry worldwide. Across all stages, the curriculum includes German and Mandarin language study and a range of co-curricular opportunities in arts, STEM, and service.
Curriculum details
Students in the International Stream follow the English National Curriculum in Years 7-9, then take the Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10-11, and complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Years 12-13.
In the French Stream, students follow the French national curriculum, preparing first for the Diplôme National du Brevet (DNB) in lower secondary, then the French Baccalauréat (including optional bilingual or international pathways) in upper secondary.
Across both streams, language acquisition, humanities, sciences, arts and physical education are integrated, with additional options such as Latin, Mandarin, German or Spanish depending on stream. The aim is that by the end of Year 13 / Terminale, students are ready either for higher education globally or in France.
1. Initial inquiry / Pre-Application Prospective families complete an online Pre-Application form (via GSIS’s Admissions portal) which grants access to the admissions pack and enables scheduling of a campus tour or visit.
2. Submission of Full Application / Waitlist Placement Once the application is complete (personal, academic, and residency documentation), GSIS sends an acknowledgement email and places the applicant on a waitlist (or shortlist) for their year group.
3. Entrance Assessment / Interview For many year levels (especially in the English International Stream), applicants are invited to an assessment (English, Mathematics, verbal comprehension etc.) and sometimes an interview, depending on year group.
4. Offer of Place and Debenture / Capital Levy If a place is available and the student passes assessment, GSIS issues an offer letter. The family must decide on and pay debenture (refundable or non-refundable) or capital levy (where applicable) by a deadline.
5. Enrollment and Orientation After acceptance and payment, parents complete enrollment formalities. Students may attend orientation, meet teachers, receive timetables, and integrate into their cohort before classes begin.
Admissions
1. Application Preparation Parents first determine whether their child will apply to the French Stream or International Stream, and to which year level. Required documents include the child’s passport or birth certificate, Hong Kong visa, and recent school reports (for applicants from Year 2 and above). The non-refundable application fee of HK $2,200 must be paid at this stage.
2. Online Application Submission Applications are completed and submitted online through the FIS admissions portal, where supporting documents are uploaded. Once submitted, parents receive confirmation of receipt and processing status.
3. Assessment and Interview Most applicants are invited for an assessment or interview appropriate to their age group and language stream. The evaluation considers academic readiness, previous school reports, and in some cases, language ability.
4. Offer of Admission When a place is available and the application successful, an offer letter is issued. To secure the place, parents must pay a non-refundable advance payment of HK $25,000 and acquire a debenture (either corporate or private).
5. Enrolment and Orientation Following confirmation, parents receive joining details, including guidance on uniforms, school transport, medical forms, and orientation sessions for new families.
Scholarships
Scholarships
GSIS does not publicly offer traditional, broad-based scholarships (such as merit scholarships) on its website. However, the school does have a financial aid / fee reduction program, considered on a case-by-case basis, thereby reducing school fees for certain students whose families demonstrate need.
Scholarships
FIS offers a limited number of scholarships and grants:
* IB Academic Excellence Scholarship: Covers the two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for outstanding students entering Year 12. Selection is based on academic merit, school reports, and a personal statement.
* French Government Scholarships (AEFE): Available to eligible students in the French Stream, administered through the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong.
* Thierry Dubois Family Debentures: Provide limited financial relief and priority admission for selected students through corporate sponsorship.
Waitlist
Waitlist
GSIS operates a waitlist (or shortlist) system rather than immediate acceptance. After a full application is submitted, the applicant is placed on a waitlist in the appropriate year group. When a vacancy arises, GSIS contacts the next student on the waitlist to check continued interest, and may arrange a new assessment or interview before confirming the place.
Waitlist
The school uses a waiting-pool system rather than guaranteeing immediate placement. When an assessment is successful but no place is available, applicants are placed in the waiting pool and contacted once a vacancy opens.
