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Hong Kong
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
1. Online Application Submission
Families submit an online application through the ESF / DC 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.).
5. Waitlist Consideration
If no immediate place is available, the candidate may be placed into a waitlist or pool. Offers from the waitlist may be made when places become available.
DC (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.
Discovery College offers merit-based scholarships for secondary students (Year 7 and above) in areas including academics, community engagement, sport, music, drama, visual arts, and design.
Scholarship applicants must also complete the standard admission process (assessment/interview) and meet Discovery College’s admission requirements.
For academic scholarships, candidates must meet certain grade thresholds (e.g. MYP score of 46 across eight subjects; DP score of 35 across six subjects), sit an external scholarship examination in math, language, writing and academic potential, and possibly attend an interview.
For athletics, arts or other domain scholarships, evaluation is based on evidence (e.g. portfolios, references, performance videos), auditions or interviews, and prior achievements.
Once awarded, scholarships are reviewed annually and typically expected to continue through to Year 13, assuming the student maintains academic and co-curricular commitments. If a student leaves early or transfers, the scholarship may be revoked or require repayment of awarded fees.
Discovery College (ESF) is an all-through IB school in Discovery Bay, Hong Kong, serving ages 5 to 18 (Years 1 to 13). Its campus opened in August 2008, located at 38 Siena Avenue on scenic Lantau Island. The school follows the IB continuum: PYP (Years 1-6), MYP (Years 7-11), and offers both the Diploma Programme (DP) and the Career-related Programme (CP) in the senior years. With around 1,400 students, Discovery College emphasises consistency in learning across levels. The language of instruction is English, and students also study Chinese (Putonghua) and may receive support in their mother tongue. The school operates bus services from Tung Chung, Tsing Yi, Kowloon and other parts of Hong Kong to cater to those living off-campus. Among its notable features are a compulsory Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) programme involving camps, regional trips, and “No Boundaries” initiatives. The arts are strongly supported through drama, music, and visual arts facilities and programs. Discovery College encourages parent involvement in learning partnerships and celebrates the diversity of student backgrounds through its mother tongue support.
