Applying to AIS
- Applicant’s Identification Documents
- Recent photo
- Birth certificate
- Hong Kong Identification Card 一 Must provide if available
- Passport Photo Page
- Permit to study in Hong Kong (Valid “Visa / Permit Page”) *
- Application’s Academic Reports
- Current school year reports
- Last school year reports
- Parent’s Passport Photo Page or Hong Kong Identification Card
- A non-refundable, non-transferrable application fee payment of HK$1,500 (Hong Kong Dollar)
For Grade 1 to 12 Applicants: Please provide a Student Reference Form or Recommendation Letter;
| Grade Level | Student Reference Form | To Be Completed By Applicant’s |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 – Grade 4 | G1-4 Student Reference Form | Current Homeroom teacher, English/Mathematics or Social Studies teacher, Principal or School Counselor |
| Grade 5 – Grade 8 | G5-8 Student Reference Form | Current Homeroom teacher, English/Mathematics or Social Studies teacher, Principal or School Counselor |
| Grade 9 – Grade 12 | G9-12 Student Reference Form | Current English/Mathematics teacher, Principal or School Counselor |
- An application with insufficient supporting documents or without payment will not be processed.
- * Applicants in the process of applying for Hong Kong residential status are welcome to apply. Proof for the right of abode or a visa/entry permit to study in the HKSAR issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department must be presented prior to be admitted to AIS.
- AIS does not have any support programs for English as a Second Language or for students with special learning needs. Therefore, all applicants must disclose any and all additional documentation or reports relating to the applicant’s ability to successfully learn in a regular English academic school environment.
- Any supplementary documents may be submitted by uploading to the online application account or via electronic mail as a single PDF attachment to admissions@ais.edu.hk.
| Grade Level | Entrance Assessment | Interview * |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood 1 – Grade 1 Junior | X | 30 minutes |
| Grade 1 | 45 minutes | If granted, 30 minutes |
| Grade 2 – Grade 3 | 1 hour | If granted, 30 minutes |
| Grade 4 – Grade 5 | 1 hour 30 minutes | If granted, 30 minutes |
| Grade 6 – Grade 7 | 2 hours | If granted, 30 minutes |
| Grade 8 | 2 hours 30 minutes | If granted, 30 minutes |
| Grade 9 – Grade 12 | 3 hours | If granted, 1 hour |
Upon review of the entrance assessment results and Student Reference Forms (for G1 to 12 applicants) by the principal, the admissions procedure * may include a personal interview with the student and their family on a separate day. Students and families seeking admission to AIS are expected to support the school’s mission and contribute positively to the AIS community. The personal interview provides the school and prospective family an opportunity to review the applicant’s previous school records and their performance on the AIS placement tests.
Based on the applicant’s previous school records, performance on the AIS entrance assessment, and the personal interview (if granted), a decision to offer a place to the applicant will be made by the Admissions Committee.
- Early Childhood to Grade 1 Junior applicants will need to have the ability to speak in simple sentences, understand and respond to a teacher’s general instructions and questions in English. Written tests are not administered to children seeking enrollment for these grade levels.
- Grade 1 to 12 applicants will take an entrance assessment based upon a US standardised test to determine competency in English and Mathematics. The test includes vocabulary, writing, reading, comprehension, mathematics, and speaking skills. Applicants may also be required to write a short piece about a prescribed topic.
- Grade 1 to 12 applicant(s) from overseas have the option of scheduling an online assessment with our Admissions Office.
| ✅️ Accepted | ⏳ Waitlisted | ❌ Declined |
|---|---|---|
| If a student is accepted, a formal acceptance letter, signed by the appropriate school principal, will be sent via email with important enrollment and orientation information provided. In some cases, students may be admitted conditionally or on a probationary basis. To confirm enrollment, families must submit the required school fees by the deadline indicated in the offer letter. A place is guaranteed only after the school receives both the tuition fee and the capital levy in full. If a family does not respond by the stated deadline, the offer of admission will be automatically withdrawn. | If an applicant is qualified but no space is available, they may be placed on a waitlist. To hold a place on the waitlist, families are required to submit a non-refundable deposit within seven days of the waitlist offer. This deposit will be applied toward the first tuition fee should a space become available. If no space is available within three months, families may request a full refund of the deposit. If a place is offered within that period and declined by the family, the deposit will not be refunded. The admissions team will make every effort to keep families informed of space availability so they can plan accordingly. The waitlist is dissolved once third-semester enrollment is finalized in late March. Students who remain on the waitlist at that time may reapply for the following school year. | Applicants may be declined based on their academic or behavioral records, insufficient English language proficiency for grade-level expectations, or when AIS does not offer programs to meet a student’s individual needs. The school is not obligated to release admissions test results. Declined applicants may reapply after six months. |
- AIS has a clear set of practices that we use for gathering, disseminating, and maintaining a prospective student’s information. We respect the privacy of our students and our families; we keep the confidentiality of personal documents, beginning with the admissions process.
- AIS does not discriminate on the basis of gender or race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of our admissions policies.
- The admissions procedures of the American International School of Hong Kong have been developed in line with the National Association of Independent Schools’ (NAIS) Principles of Good Practice. These principles of good practice define high standards and ethical behavior in key areas of school operations to guide schools in becoming the best education communities they can be.
