Quick answer: how much are international school fees in Hong Kong? For 2026-27, ESF charges HK$145,000 a year in primary and HK$188,300 for Years 7 to 11, while CDNIS asks HK$200,000 to 261,500 from Grade 1 and AISHK up to HK$265,400 for the IB years in 2026. Capital levies add a lot: ICHK Hong Lok Yuen charges a one-off HK$75,000.
Last reviewed: November 2026 by Catherine from ISA. Fees are those published by each school for 2026-27 or the 2026 calendar year; always confirm with the school.
Key takeaways
- ESF's 2026/27 tuition is HK$145,000 for Years 1 to 6 and HK$188,300 for Years 7 to 11, paid over ten months by autopay, according to ESF.
- In 2026/27, Year 11 at ESF secondary schools becomes non-subvented, while Years 12 and 13 stay subvented at HK$174,200, ESF says.
- New ESF students pay a one-off non-refundable capital levy of HK$38,000 in Year 1, falling on a sliding scale to HK$3,800 in Year 13.
- ICHK Hong Lok Yuen's proposed 2026/27 fee for Nursery to Year 6 is HK$152,400, with a HK$75,000 one-off capital levy and a HK$20,500 annual levy.
- Under Regulation 65 of the Education Regulations (Cap. 279A), no Hong Kong school may change its fees without the Education Bureau's prior written approval; AISHK reviews and publishes its fees each November.
Families comparing international school fees in Hong Kong quickly learn that tuition is only half the bill. Debentures, one-off and annual capital levies, nomination rights and application charges can add tens of thousands of dollars in the first year, and they differ far more between schools than tuition does.
This guide sets out the published fees of four schools and the English Schools Foundation for 2026-27, explains the capital charges, and works through what the first year really costs.
How much do international schools in Hong Kong cost in 2026-27?
From Year 1 upwards, annual tuition at the schools below runs from HK$145,000 in ESF primary schools to HK$265,400 for the IB Diploma at AISHK, before any levy or debenture.
| School | Primary (HK$) | Secondary (HK$) | Final two years (HK$) | Capital charges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESF primary and secondary schools | 145,000 | 188,300 | 174,200 | One-off levy 38,000 (Year 1) to 3,800 (Year 13) |
| ICHK Hong Lok Yuen | 152,400 (Nursery to Year 6) | Via ICHK Secondary | Via ICHK Secondary | 75,000 one-off plus 20,500 a year |
| Canadian International School of Hong Kong | 200,000 to 217,200 | 223,100 to 244,800 | 261,500 | Capital levy 43,000 unless covered by a debenture |
| Australian International School Hong Kong (2026 calendar year) | 182,500 | 210,500 | 220,900 HSC; 265,400 IB | Annual capital levy or depreciating debenture |
Figures come from each school's fee page. ICHK Hong Lok Yuen publishes proposed 2026/27 fees subject to Education Bureau approval, and AISHK follows the Australian calendar year, so its 2026 fees run from January to December.
Why do ESF fees differ between Year 11 and the sixth form?
Because of the government subvention, which ESF is phasing out year by year. ESF's 2026/27 fee page states that Year 11 becomes non-subvented in 2026/27, so Years 7 to 11 pay HK$188,300, while Years 12 and 13 remain subvented at HK$174,200. Primary schools charge HK$145,000 and all-through schools more: ESF Discovery College asks HK$169,900 in primary and HK$225,600 in Years 12 and 13. Tuition is paid over ten months by autopay, and the application fee is HK$2,800 per applicant.
What four schools charge, and what is on top
ICHK Hong Lok Yuen
ICHK Hong Lok Yuen, in the New Territories, takes children from Pre-Nursery, as early as two years and eight months, to Year 6, with Year 7 onwards at ICHK Secondary School. Its proposed 2026/27 fees are HK$26,400 for Pre-Nursery three afternoons a week, HK$87,700 for part-time Nursery and HK$152,400 from full-time Nursery to Year 6. The capital charges are the larger decision: a HK$1,850 application charge, a HK$800 assessment interview charge, a HK$75,000 one-off capital levy payable on the offer of a place and a HK$20,500 annual levy. Stationery and textbooks are included; intensive EAL costs HK$4,725 a month if needed, and a third child gets 10% off tuition.
South Island School (ESF)
South Island School in Aberdeen is one of ESF's secondary schools, so it charges the standard ESF fees: HK$188,300 for Years 7 to 11 and HK$174,200 for Years 12 and 13 in 2026/27. A student joining in Year 7 pays a HK$26,000 one-off non-refundable capital levy, or nothing if it was already paid at an ESF primary school. ESF also sells Individual Nomination Rights, which give interview priority, and Corporate Nomination Rights for employers.
Canadian International School of Hong Kong
CDNIS, a not-for-profit school in Aberdeen, publishes 2026/2027 tuition from HK$142,800 for half-day bilingual Nursery to HK$217,200 for Grades 1 and 2, HK$200,000 for Grades 3 to 5, HK$223,100 for Grades 6 to 8, HK$244,800 for Grades 9 and 10 and HK$261,500 for Grades 11 and 12. A HK$43,000 capital levy applies unless the place is covered by a debenture; uniforms, devices and some programmes are extra.
Australian International School Hong Kong
AISHK in Kowloon Tong charges by calendar year. For 2026 it lists HK$156,200 for Reception, HK$182,500 from Preparatory to Year 6, HK$210,500 for Years 7 to 10, HK$220,900 for the HSC years and HK$265,400 for the IB Diploma; for 2027 the figures rise to HK$191,200 in primary and HK$270,000 for the IB. Fees include textbooks, local excursions and the yearbook, and are paid in ten monthly instalments from February to November. On top, AISHK charges an annual capital levy or offers a depreciating debenture instead. The application fee is HK$1,500, plus HK$500 if an assessment is needed.
What does the first year cost? A worked example
Take a child starting Year 1 in August 2026, using each school's published figures:
- ESF primary school: HK$145,000 tuition, HK$38,000 one-off capital levy and HK$2,800 application fee make HK$185,800.
- ICHK Hong Lok Yuen: HK$152,400 tuition, HK$75,000 one-off levy, HK$20,500 annual levy, HK$1,850 application and HK$800 interview charge make HK$250,550.
The tuition gap is HK$7,400; the first-year gap is about HK$65,000. ESF also takes a deposit of two months' fees when a place is accepted, credited half against the first month and half against the last, provided two months' notice of withdrawal is given. From the second year the difference narrows to the annual levy plus tuition. Ask your employer whether the education allowance covers levies and whether the company holds debentures or nomination rights, because that can decide which schools are realistic.
How are fees approved and paid?
Under Regulation 65 of the Education Regulations (Cap. 279A), no school in Hong Kong, international schools included, may change its fees without the Education Bureau's prior written approval, the government told the Legislative Council in July 2024, and capital levies, debentures and nomination rights go through a separate EDB approval mechanism. ICHK Hong Lok Yuen marks its 2026/27 fees as proposed on that basis, and AISHK says it reviews and publishes fees each November. Most schools let families pay monthly, by autopay at ESF and AISHK or on application at ICHK, and withdrawal terms are strict: ICHK requires a term's notice, and ESF keeps advance fees paid in July if a student does not return. For the application timeline, see our guide to international school admissions in Hong Kong.
Compare Hong Kong schools before you apply
Fees only make sense next to curriculum, location and waiting lists. To shortlist, see our ranking of the best international schools in Hong Kong.
Sources: Hong Kong Government, reply to Legislative Council question LCQ16 of 10 July 2024; Education Bureau, implementation details of the approval mechanism for other charges; English Schools Foundation, school fees 2026/27 and advance fees pages; ICHK Hong Lok Yuen, dates, fees and more 2026/27; Canadian International School of Hong Kong, tuition fees 2026/2027; Australian International School Hong Kong, admissions, tuition and fees 2026 and 2027.
More guides to schools in Hong Kong
- Best international schools in Hong Kong
- How to choose an international school in Hong Kong
- International school admissions in Hong Kong
- Bilingual schools in Hong Kong
- best international schools in Hong Kong
Frequently asked questions
How much are ESF school fees in 2026/27?
ESF charges HK$145,000 a year in its primary schools, HK$188,300 for Years 7 to 11 and HK$174,200 for Years 12 and 13, which are still subvented. All-through schools cost more, up to HK$225,600 in the sixth form at Discovery College. New students also pay a one-off capital levy, HK$38,000 in Year 1, and a HK$2,800 application fee.
What is a capital levy or debenture in Hong Kong?
It is a charge for school buildings on top of tuition. Some schools take a one-off levy, such as HK$75,000 at ICHK Hong Lok Yuen or HK$38,000 for a Year 1 place at ESF; CDNIS charges HK$43,000 unless a debenture covers the place, and AISHK pairs an annual levy with a depreciating debenture option. Ask whether it is refundable and who in your family or company can buy it.
When are Hong Kong international school fees announced?
Each school sets its own timetable, and fee changes need the Education Bureau's prior written approval. AISHK, which follows the calendar year, reviews and publishes its fees each November and has already listed 2027 fees of HK$191,200 for primary. ICHK Hong Lok Yuen shows its 2026/27 fees as proposed, pending approval, while ESF already publishes its fees for 2026/27.