Compare International Schools in Hsinchu, Taiwan

Address: No. 215, Aikou 2nd Rd., Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, Taiwan. The campus is located in Zhubei City, which is in northern Taiwan. The site sits in a suburban area that serves both local and international families.

Hsinchu International Academy serves students in Grades 7–12. The school delivers a US-based curriculum in English and offers AP courses; admissions currently enroll Grade 7–10 for the 2026-27 school year.

Private international day school that welcomes both local Taiwanese and expatriate students. There is no publicly listed boarding facility.

EAL Support program helps students develop English language proficiency. It uses small-group instruction, EAL teaching staff shadowing content-area classes, and maintains an EAL portfolio; students are evaluated at the end of each semester to determine ongoing need.

No formal country affiliation is stated. The curriculum is US-based and the school is fully accredited by WASC.

Religious affiliation is not publicly indicated.

Start and end times for the school day are not published in public materials.

Public information about a school bus service is not listed in public materials.

All students are required to wear HIA uniforms and to follow the HIA Dress Code.

HIA operates as an Experimental Institute licensed by the Hsinchu County Bureau of Education and is part of the STAR Korrnell Education Group. It was co-founded in 2022 by Dr. Jack Huang and Dr. Jase Lau under the STAR Korrnell Education Foundation, and the STAR Korrnell Education Group, founded by Dr. Johnson Huang in 2007, now includes STAR Academy, Korrnell Kindergarten, Korrnell Academy, Hsinchu County American School, STAR Korrnell Institute, and HIA.

HIA offers a US-based international curriculum taught in English for Grades 7–12 and is fully accredited by WASC; it is a College Board AP and SAT test center (CEEB code 158680) with on-site IELTS testing. The Middle School curriculum includes core subjects—Chinese Language and Culture, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies—plus Digital Literacy, World Language, Life Education, Physical Education/Health, Visual Arts, and a range of electives. In High School, courses cover the core areas with Electives and access to AP courses, and College Counseling supports post-secondary planning. AP courses offered include AP Computer Science Principles, AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, AP Microeconomics, AP Psychology, AP Statistics, AP Calculus A and B, AP Chinese, and AP Precalculus, with AP exams administered on site. EAL Support helps English learners with a program aligned to WIDA and California ELD standards, featuring dedicated EAL teachers, an EAL portfolio, and regular end-of-semester evaluations. Admissions for 2026-27 currently enroll Grades 7–10.

HIA integrates Social and Emotional Learning through Life Education, embedded across the curriculum. The program comprises PRIDE Time Advisory, Character and Community, Public Speaking, and Life Education, which together help students build self-awareness, confidence, empathy, and leadership. These elements are designed to foster a student-centered climate and to support a diverse, inclusive community where students feel safe, seen, and supported. The school also emphasizes Lion PRIDE values: Positivity, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence as guiding behaviours. Life Education aims to develop essential soft skills for life beyond school, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and responsibility. WASC accreditation notes the school's student-centered approach and ongoing focus on holistic growth.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, types of SEN supported, or whether it is a specialist SEN institution. EAL support is explicitly described, indicating a focus on language support rather than a dedicated SEN program.

HIA provides an EAL Support Program that accelerates English language development through small-group instruction and a customized curriculum for academic purposes. The program targets reading, writing, listening, and speaking, and uses both the WIDA and California ELD standards. EAL teaching staff shadow subject-area classes, collaborating with content teachers to support EAL students and document an EAL portfolio for each student. Students are evaluated at the end of each semester to determine ongoing need for EAL support.

Mental wellbeing is supported through Life Education, which aims to develop self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The Life Education curriculum connects local and global issues with the United Nations SDGs, encouraging students to act positively in their communities. The Life Education approach is embedded across the curriculum and accompanied by advisory structures such as PRIDE Time. Public-facing content and school events also reflect attention to adolescent wellbeing, for example a health education lecture on gender and adolescent well-being.

The school does not publicly disclose information about safeguarding or child protection policies on the pages consulted. Public posts show a focus on wellbeing topics and safety-related activities (e.g., a health education lecture on adolescent well-being and campus safety initiatives such as Basic Life Support training). These items demonstrate attention to student safety and wellbeing, but no formal safeguarding policy is published publicly. WASC accreditation is in place, indicating external review of school quality and student welfare practices.

Admissions for the SY2026-27 cycle are organized around a formal prospectus and an in-person information session. The SY2026-27 Admission Prospectus confirms eligible grades (Grade 7 to Grade 10) and is linked from the Admissions page; it also notes the information session details and how to access the online application. An Information Session is held at HIA (No. 215, Aikou 2nd Rd, Zhubei City) and sign-up is done through an online form linked on the Admissions page. The Information Session covers program specifics, entry requirements, and the overall application process.

Step 2: Submit the HIA online registration form via the Admissions page. The page lists the online registration form as the method to apply and indicates that applications submitted after the initial window are reviewed on an individual basis based on seat availability. The application form for the SY2026-27 cycle is available through links labeled HIA Application Form on the Admissions page, and the sign-up for the Information Session is also accessible there.

Step 3: International Aptitude Diagnostic Test (IAD). The IAD is scheduled on an individual basis by HIA and is held at HIA

Step 4: Admission decision. Admission decisions are sent to the primary contact's email, generally following the IAD; the policy states that decisions are issued within two weeks of the IAD. In the 2025-26 cycle, admission decisions were communicated via email after the IAD, with a concrete release date published for that cycle.

Step 5: Waitlist/Pool. Admissions operate on a seat-availability basis rather than a formal waitlist. After the initial window, applications are reviewed according to available seats, and there is no separate waitlist pool.

Step 6: Post-decision enrollment notes. The Admissions page does not specify enrollment steps beyond the decision notification, so families should await further enrollment instructions from HIA if an offer is extended.

HIA offers two scholarships: the HIA Academic Excellence Scholarship (awarded to students with outstanding academic achievement across multiple disciplines) and the HIA Lion PRIDE Values Scholarship (awarded to students who demonstrate leadership and commitment to community service and embody the school's core values).

The school operates on a seat-availability basis rather than a formal waitlist.

HCAS is located in Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, Taiwan. The campus sits in central Zhubei with convenient access to local amenities and transportation. It is about a five-minute walk from the Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) Zhubei station. The address is No. 189, Gaotie 2nd Rd., Zhubei City, 302.

HCAS provides education from Pre-K through Grade 12 on a single campus.

Independent, co-educational, college-preparatory international day school.

The school has a Student Support Services (SST) framework. An English as an Additional Language (EAL) program supports students from non-English-speaking backgrounds (grades 1–10) with push-in and pull-out support. A social-emotional counselor assists with well-being and works with staff, parents, and government, and the SST develops individualized education plans under an RtI approach when needed.

The school follows an American-based curriculum and is accredited by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC); it is licensed by the Taiwan MOE and Hsinchu Education Bureau.

No religious affiliation is stated.

School days run Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 17:00.

HCAS provides a school bus transportation service; arrangements are coordinated through the bus transportation contact (Nunu Sun) and the appropriate transportation channels.

The school requires a uniform; uniform purchases are handled by the Parent Services team.

The school provides daily lunch prepared by a culinary team led by Chef Huang. Meals include meat, vegetables, soup, fruit, and a protein such as tofu or egg, with allergen information provided. Kindergarten through grade 4 receive snacks in the afternoon. A monthly lunch menu is published and parents can submit lunch suggestions via a form.

The school uses a four-house system: Green Dragons, White Tigers, Red Phoenixes, and Black Turtles. Students in grades 1–12 are assigned to a house; teachers are matched with groups of seven to nine student mentees in grades 5–12, while grades 1–4 are mentored by the homeroom teacher or another staff mentor. The house curriculum supports the Seven Cs—Compassion, Collaboration, Community, Contribution, Creativity, Critical-thinking, and Communication—and houses compete in academics, sports, service projects, and other events.

The school is governed by a Board of Directors and a Board Advisor. The Governing Board provides overall governance and strategic oversight and collaborates with the Principal to support the school and ensure fiscal sustainability. The founder is Dr. Jing Wang; the Board Chair is Peter Huang, the Vice Chair is Vivien Lin, and other Board Members include Shawn Shen, Josh Fan, Jay Fang, and Sonam Tashi; a Board Advisor, Min Yeh, also serves the school.

HCAS is an independent, college-preparatory, co-educational day school in Zhubei City, Taiwan serving grades K–12 on one campus with a capacity of 360 students. The Dalton Plan guides instruction to educate the whole person and develop lifelong learners who are healthy, creative, social, and globally minded, able to think independently and critically. The curriculum is balanced across core disciplines, the Arts, and technology and is organized around the Seven Cs: Compassion, Collaboration, Community, Contribution, Creativity, Critical thinking, and Communication. In the Upper School, English, History, Languages, Math, and Science are core subjects; a full course load yields 26 credits, graduation requires a minimum of 22 credits, and students complete Arts, Health, PE, and Service Learning requirements over about 180 school days per year. AP courses are offered with prerequisites; the 2020–2021 list includes AP Biology, AP Calculus AB/BC, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology, AP Spanish, AP Statistics, AP Music Theory, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C (E&M and Mechanics), AP Drawing, AP 2-D Art and Design, and AP United States Government and Politics.

The school prepares students for higher education through a college-preparatory program and college counseling; graduates pursue higher education at universities and pursue opportunities aligned with their AP coursework and academic interests.

1. Campus Tour. Campus tours are offered year-round. The tour provides an opportunity to see classrooms and facilities and to meet staff. The admissions process seeks families who fit the school's Seven Cs values on and off campus. 2. Online Application. An online application form must be received before a student can be considered for admission. Applications are processed in the order they are received, and acceptance decisions are communicated in a timely manner. The admissions process includes reviewing submitted information and space availability. 3. Documents Submission. Submit official report cards or transcripts from previous schools. Grade-by-grade documentation: Grade 1 needs no prior records; Grade 2-4 require the previous year and current year; Grade 5-8 require the previous two years and the current year; Grade 9-12 require the previous three years and the current year. A copy of the student's passport is required; Taiwanese students must hold a second passport. For faster processing, submit records in English; records in another language can be accepted. 4. Admissions Test. The Admissions Department will schedule the admissions test(s). The appointment is confirmed once the test fee has been paid (K3 – 2,000 NTD; Grades 1-3 – 3,000 NTD; Grades 4-12 – 5,000 NTD). 5. Internal Review. An internal review of the application, documents, and admissions test results will be conducted. A staff member may contact the family for additional information or clarification; timely responses are needed to move the review forward. 6. Admissions Result and Enrollment. If admitted, the family will receive a date to collect the new student folder. Once enrollment documents are completed and the tuition payment is made, a tuition slip will be issued with a due date. The admissions team will confirm with internal departments and issue a start date; onboarding takes place on the working day before the start date. 7. Entry Times. Entry times are year-round with campus tours and applications accepted continuously. Kindergarten 1 and 2 use rolling enrollment; Kindergarten 3 (typically 5) is preferred by Oct 1 or start of Semester 2, but rolling enrollment is possible. Grades 1-8 are preferred by Oct 1 or start of Semester 2; Grades 9-12 prefer the end of the first week of school or start of Semester 2, with rolling enrollment as needed.

The school reports that graduates receive scholarships; the Class of 2025 (28 students) has been awarded scholarships totaling over NT$58.4 million.