Hangzhou Chinese International School

1. Confirm programme and eligibility
Decide whether you are applying to the CIS Year 10 Hangzhou programme (a year-long, residential Year 10 placement on the Greentown Yuhua School campus) or to a Year 7–13 place at CIS in Hong Kong that includes the required Year 10 Hangzhou year. Parents should note that the Hangzhou placement is an integral part of CIS Year 10 and that for students applying only for the one‑year Hangzhou programme the application route and timing differ — contact the Admissions Office for one‑year placements. Check language expectations: secondary applicants must have a solid command of English; Chinese (Mandarin) is a required subject offered at different proficiency levels.

2. Start the online application (timing and fees)
Open the online application (CIS accepts secondary applications from 1 September) and upload required documents (identity documents, photos, recent school reports). For Year 7–13 applicants CIS recommends submitting ideally by late October because assessments begin in November; late applications are accepted but places and course choices may already be limited. Be prepared to pay the non‑refundable application fee (HK$2,000) and the non‑refundable assessment fee (HK$2,500) at the time you submit.

3. Attend an Information Session and (optional) tour
Information Sessions (strongly encouraged for Years 7–13) explain CIS's mission, curriculum and practical details for families and usually run during the academic year immediately before entry (November–December). If you apply, you will receive registration details by email; attending helps you understand expectations for Year 10 Hangzhou (residential, experiential learning) and clarifies logistics such as travel, medical and visa matters. Virtual or in‑person campus tours are available — if you cannot visit in person use the virtual tour link the school provides.

4. Entrance assessment and interviews
All Year 7–13 applicants are required to sit an entrance assessment (November–May window). The written assessment typically includes English, Chinese (Mandarin), Mathematics and logic and lasts about three hours; oral interviews (English and/or Mandarin where applicable) are about 15 minutes. Parents should arrange any necessary translation of school reports and prepare to share prior-school records; results and teacher references are used in a holistic admissions decision.

5. Placement offers and conditional/visa considerations
Decisions are usually communicated 3–4 weeks after assessment sessions. Some offers may be conditional (for example, pending receipt of a valid visa for overseas students); if space is unavailable after a successful assessment you may be placed on the school's internal reserve pool (see below). If you need a conditional offer for visas, notify Admissions early so they can advise on timing.

6. Accepting an offer and paying the reservation deposit
To accept a place the family confirms and pays the non‑refundable reservation deposit immediately (CIS currently requests a reservation deposit of HK$150,000) — the deposit is credited toward the Annual Capital Levy and tuition. Note that the Annual Capital Levy amount was adjusted for the 2025–26 academic year on the CIS fees page, so confirm how the deposit will be allocated for your child's entry year with the Business Office before finalising payment. Parents should also be ready for additional charges (annual fees, capital levy, materials, meals, bus, and — for Hangzhou Year 10 residents — residential and meal charges).

7. If applying for financial assistance
If you require financial assistance, indicate interest during the online application so the Admissions Office can provide the financial aid application steps. Financial Aid at CIS is targeted at new students entering Year 8 and above (students should be aged 12+ at enrolment); the process is competitive and involves submission of financial documentation and a holistic review of merit and need. For the 2026 cycle the financial aid application deadline listed by the school is 1 March with notifications in May or June — check the Financial Aid page for current deadlines and join the school's information session (usually held in January/February).

8. Practical follow‑up (documentation and communication)
After acceptance, complete required administrative steps promptly: submit final transcripts, identity documents, health/medical forms, and any visa paperwork; failure to provide paperwork promptly can delay enrolment or boarding arrangements for Hangzhou. If you have specific questions about the one‑year Hangzhou-only application path, contact the Admissions Office directly for the separate guidance they provide.

CIS uses a small "reserve list" (a pool) for some year groups rather than a strictly ordered public waitlist. According to the school FAQ, a small number of candidates for each year group may be placed on a reserve list; that reserve list is not ranked — it functions as a pool from which the candidate who best complements an available space will be chosen. For Year 1–6 and Reception the site explains that applications not invited to assessment are kept open and families are contacted later to confirm continued interest; for Secondary, places are offered on a rolling basis after each assessment session, and applicants who have been assessed but not admitted may be asked to reapply for a later year. Parents should therefore: keep their application file complete and up to date, respond to Admissions' periodic emails when asked if you remain interested, and be prepared to reapply if necessary for a different academic year. If you want a clearer reading of your child's position, contact the Admissions Office directly — the school does not publish an ordered waitlist position.

CIS does not use the term "scholarship" on its public pages in the way some schools do; instead it operates a Financial Aid programme (means‑tested support) for new students entering Year 8 and above. The Financial Aid programme requires applicants to be aged 12+ at enrolment and is awarded after a holistic review of merit and family need (factors include academic and co‑curricular achievements, household income, number of dependents, assets/liabilities and expenses). Families indicate interest during the online application and submit supporting financial documentation; the school states there is no fixed salary cutoff and each application is assessed individually. Financial Aid may help cover tuition and families should raise any anticipated non‑tuition expenses (for example residential or meal charges for Hangzhou, materials, or transport) early in the process so those needs can be considered. The Financial Aid page also lists an application deadline (for the 2026 cycle the deadline shown is 1 March with notifications in May/June) and recommends attending the school's financial aid information session (usually held in January or February). For students already enrolled who encounter financial difficulty, the school asks families to contact the Director of Finance and Business Administration confidentially. If you need an exact, current schedule of deadlines, ranges of award amounts or application forms, request that information directly from Admissions/Business Office since award availability and deadlines can change year to year.