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Filter FAQs:
An applicant’s priority status may change, for example, through making a Nomination Rights application or as a result of a sibling gaining entry to an ESF school. In such cases, the applicant will be placed on the waiting list in their newly acquired priority group according to the date the priority change occurred.
Parents may submit one online application for admission for the current academic year or for the following academic year for ESF primary or secondary, Discovery College or Renaissance College. There are waiting lists at each of our schools and the offer of a place is dependent on vacancy being available.
Central Applications for K1 for ESF Kindergartens , Year 1 for ESF primary schools, Discovery College and Renaissance College and Year 7 will open in September. Those who are applying for years other than Year 1 and Year 7 need to apply through General Applications.
For General Applications, parents may submit an online general application for admission for the current academic year or the following academic year for an ESF primary or secondary school or Discovery College or Renaissance College. There are waiting lists at each of our schools and the offer of a place is dependent on vacancy being available.
Each applicant may choose up to 4 ESF kindergartens or 4 ESF primary or secondary schools, including Discovery College and Renaissance College, in the order of preference. It is mandatory to choose one school.
Applicants on the current waitlist will be sent a system email in February or March inviting them to reapply. (No reapplication fee is required.) If no reapplication is received, the application will be considered withdrawn.
Please consider your choices carefully before submitting your application. Changes to choices may be done in February during the annual re-application exercise if the application is still on the waiting list.
Please refer to the email acknowledgement slip for the link of the online payment.
You may send an email to ESF admissions at kindergarten.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk stating the fields which have to be corrected.
The automatic system email acknowledgement / application slip is sufficient to replace the online application form. We are able to track down your application with the application number.
Please email to ESF admissions at kindergarten.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk quoting your application number. We will check it from the system and send back an acknowledgement. If it did not go through please refer to Q1 to settle the payment.
Please email ESF admissions at kindergarten.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk quoting your application number. We will check it from the system and send back an acknowledgement. If it did not go through please refer to Q1 to settle the payment.
If you need the form as supporting document, please refer to Q3. Unfortunately we are not able to provide a copy of the application form for your reference. Please save a copy before closing the window.
Please email the applicant’s name to ESF admissions at kindergarten.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk to check if an application is submitted.
Please email ESF admissions at kindergarten.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk quoting all reference numbers that you received. We will delete the duplicates accordingly. Application fee paid for duplicate applications will not be refunded.
If you experience technical difficulties, please try on other computers or update your internet browser to the latest version. The supported browsers are the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Firefox and Chrome on Windows and Mac OS with the browser’s security settings at or below default levels to access this online system.
We would strongly encourage parents to apply for and pay the application fee using the Online Admissions System.
Saves Time – The student application form is received immediately on the school database. No delays in posting the application form.
Immediate Acknowledgement Receipt – Parents will receive an automatic acknowledgement with a 12-digit unique application reference number once application has been submitted through the admissions system.
No Missing Application – No worries of the application being lost in the post.
Please refer to the email acknowledgement slip for the link of the online payment.
You may send an email to ESF admissions at primary.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk or secondary.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk stating the fields which need corrections.
The automatic system email acknowledgement/application slip is sufficient to replace the online application form. We are able to track down your application with the application number.
Please email to ESF admissions at admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk quoting your application number. We will check it from the system and send back an acknowledgement. If it did not go through please refer to Q1 to settle the payment.
If you need the form as supporting document, please refer to Q3. Unfortunately we are not able to provide a copy of the application form for your reference. Please save a copy before closing the window.
Please email the applicant’s name to ESF admissions at primary.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk or secondary.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk to check if an application is submitted.
Please email ESF admissions at primary.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk or secondary.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk quoting all reference numbers that you received. We will delete the duplicates accordingly. Application fee paid for duplicate applications will not be refunded.
You may refer to the e-mail acknowledgement slip for the link to access to your online application for upload. We require a proper passport/student photo in JPEG measuring 4cm (W) x 5cm (H).
Yes. You may click on the link on the e-mail acknowledgement slip to access to your child’s application.
If you experience technical difficulties, please try on other computers or update your internet browser to the latest version. The supported browsers are the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Firefox and Chrome on Windows and Mac OS with the browser’s security settings at or below default levels to access this online system.
We would strongly encourage parents to apply for and pay the application fee using the Online Admissions System.
Saves Time – The student application form is received immediately on the school database. No delays in posting the application form.
Immediate Acknowledgement Receipt – Parents will receive an automatic acknowledgement with a 12-digit unique application reference number once application has been submitted through the admissions system.
No Missing Application – No worries of the application being lost in the post.
Yes. Applicants will need to complete an online application form and also an Individual Nomination Rights (INR) application form, which is available for download from the ESF website. The INR application and cheque are submitted in hard copy to ESF Centre.
INR applications may be made at any time, with the exception of Year 1 and Year 7 entry in August, which can only be made from 1 to 30 September. Applications should be submitted to ESF Centre, 25/F, 1063 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. All Nomination Rights applications will be handled by the ESF Centre.
INR applications registered today before midnight will be processed before the applications are received on the next day. INR applications with cheque received will be processed accordingly by online date order and time received.
Applications received within the same day will be processed in random order and will NOT be processed on a first come first served basis.
INR nominees are the fifth priority after Corporate Nomination Right nominees, ESF staff’s children and siblings of ESF students.
No. The nominee has to be a named individual on the application form. The INR holder must be a parent of the nominee. However, a company can apply for a Corporate Nomination Right. If you are interested to obtain further information, please email us at primary.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk or secondary.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk .
In any academic year, the number of places offered to INR applicants will be limited to 150 across all ESF schools from Years 1 to 13.
The HK$50,000 deposit is refundable only if the child fails the admissions assessment.
If the child passes the assessment, the HK$450,000 must be paid when the place is accepted.
No, the HK$500,000 is for a named individual and is non-transferable and non-refundable once paid for a confirmed place
Placement is subject to success at interview/assessment and place availability. Priority is accorded to waitlist placement and consequent timing of consideration for interview/assessment.
Yes, placement is subject to availability at the school and a commitment to remain at the school for a defined period. INR applicants may indicate up to four schools in order of preference at which the Nominee can be considered. Waitlist placement will be considered for each school listed in turn. Nominees must be prepared to attend any of the schools indicated. A transfer is possible after a period of time, but it is applicable only if the family resides in the school one.
Like all other applicants, the INR Nominees will go through the standard interview assessment procedures. Overseas families may be assessed when they arrive in Hong Kong.
ESF Kindergartens has the Kindergarten Class A Debenture scheme which parents may gain a priority for admissions. Please click here for more information.
No. The INR scheme is not applicable to applicants for Learning Support and Jockey Club Sarah Roe School.
After confirmation of a school place, INR applicants will have to pay the INR balance of HK$450,000, the admissions deposit and the non-refundable capital levy of HK$38,000 (for Year 1) and will be reduced, on a sliding scale, for students who join the system in later years.
The cost is HK$500,000. Parents must pay a deposit of HK$50,000 with the Debenture Application Form. The HK$450,000 balance is due seven days following your child being offered a place at the Kindergarten.
A child applying for K1 central admissions may purchase the Class A Debenture. It will give the child a priority fast track for a Play Visit for a kindergarten place.
No. The Kindergarten Class A Debenture is optional. If parents do not purchase a Class A Debenture, the Class B Debenture HK$7,000 is paid upon joining the kindergarten. This is refundable when the child graduates from K2.
The deposit of HK$50,000 for the Debenture is refundable if the child is not successful in gaining a place at Kindergarten. If the student is suggested for placement within the learning support provision or Jockey Club Sarah Roe School and is processed through the Admissions and Review Process (ARP) for placement, the Debenture will be refunded if there is no immediate available Year 1 placement. It will not be converted into an Individual Nomination Rights.
All outstanding fees or other amounts owing to the Kindergarten must be settled before the Class A Debenture can be redeemed.
The Class A Debenture is non-redeemable once the acceptance of a Year 1 place at an ESF primary school or college is confirmed by the parent.
The Class A Debenture is non-transferrable.
The Debenture is redeemed in full upon graduation from Kindergarten. All outstanding fees or other amounts owing to the Kindergarten must be settled before the Class A Debenture can be redeemed.
The deposit of HK$50,000 is refunded and the application process is completed and removed from the Kindergarten list. It will not be considered for an alternative ESF Kindergarten.
Yes. The Kindergarten Class A Debenture will be fully and immediately converted into an Individual Nomination Rights for Year 1 and parents will have a choice of school based on quota availability for a ESF School or College. The child is guaranteed an ESF School or College subject to be able to benefit from a mainstream English education.
In the case of taking a Year 1 place at one of the Colleges, only HK$400,000 out of the HK$500,000 will be applied to convert into an Individual Nomination Right. The difference of HK$100,000 will be refunded to the Debenture Holder.
The Pre-K programme applications are made from 1 to 30 April in the year your child turns two.
Students must turn 2 upon entry to the Pre-Kindergarten.
Children not reaching two years old by the start of school may waitlist until they reach two. The place will be offered based on availability.
There are no interviews for Pre-Kindergarten admissions.
All of our Pre-Kindergartens have no zoning restrictions.
School bus service is not available for Pre-Kindergarten students.
Children enrolled in the Pre-Kindergarten class at ESF Language and Learning Centre (Wan Chai) who are under 3 years old will need to have an adult caregiver accompanying them on site. A waiting room will be available for caregivers at the centre.
Priority for K1 is contingent upon children completing the Pre-K course at the Kindergarten or the ESF Language & Learning Centre.
Pre-Kindergarten students do not have guaranteed placement in ESF Kindergarten. Admission for K1 central applications is made in the month of September for entry to kindergarten the following academic year. All Pre-K priority children will need to attend a Play Visit to secure a K1 place.
Priority for K1 is contingent upon children completing the Pre-K course at the Kindergarten or the ESF Language & Learning Centre. Withdrawal from the ESF Pre-K programme is considered as withdrawal from ESF and any offer of a kindergarten place.
Admission for K1 central applications is made in the month of September for entry to kindergarten the following academic year. All Pre-K priority children will need to apply for the K1 central application and attend a Play Visit to secure a K1 place.
No, the Class A Debenture is only available for the children applying for K1 central admissions.
It will be released in mid-May.
Applications received during the month of April will have a computer-generated random number. Applications will be ranked by priority category and assigned a random number for a Pre-K place.
AM/PM allocation will be assigned firstly according to priority and random number order until all AM places are filled first.
Non-refundable Capital Levy is introduced to replace the existing Refundable Capital Levy (RCL) to build up a sufficient capital funding stream to finance major capital projects of ESF schools, including but not limited to redevelopment projects.
Parents of students who are enrolling into ESF schools from August 2015 will be required to pay NCL, alongside with admission deposit, when they accept an offer of a school place.
NCL will be charged in full, as per the sliding scale table, for the first two children of a family. For the third and subsequent children of a family, parents will only be required to pay 40% of the sliding scale provided that the first two children of the family have already paid full NCL and they are still in ESF schools when their sibling enrols.
If a family has more than two children enrolling in ESF schools within the same school year, the concession will apply to the third and subsequent children attending the highest year group.
For students who are eligible for sibling concession, they are required to pay the full NCL upfront upon enrolment. After the information regarding NCL payment history or sibling concession as declared on the enrolment form has been validated, the refund will be arranged within three months after the school start day.
All students who have Refundable Capital Levy (RCL) on account are not required to pay NCL. When a student in primary school reaches Year 7, the student will not be required to pay NCL as long as RCL is still on account.
No. NCL is a one-off levy.
Yes. Students studying in private independent or ESF kindergartens are required to pay NCL if they join ESF schools from 2015/16 onwards.
No. Internal transfer within ESF schools will not require additional NCL.
No. NCL is non-refundable.
Yes, all students will have to pay NCL on enrolment. As NCL is a one-off levy, once it is paid, the student will be exempted for the rest of his time with ESF schools. Parents have to indicate this information in the enrolment form upon re-enrolment for verification. Once the information is verified, ESF will arrange a refund within 3 months after the commencing of school. This arrangement is also applicable to the leavers who have paid NCL before and re-enrol in ESF schools again.
Yes. The student has already left the ESF system and never paid NCL before. You will be required to pay NCL when he re-enrols in the system.
For students newly enrolled in ESF schools, advance fees are already paid by means of an admission deposit. They will not be required to pay advance fees. For the rest of the students without RCL on account, they will be required to pay advance fees, regardless of NCL is paid or not.
ESF Financial Assistance Scheme is the scheme for eligible students who are already in the ESF system. NCL is the levy charged to new students only. Financial assistance on NCL is not applicable.
Each applicant may choose up to four primary or secondary schools including private independent schools in the order of preference. It is mandatory to choose one school.
The zone-free policy is effective from 1 August 2023.
No. All applicants will be given the option to update their choice of schools. Each application will retain the original date of submission.
ESF K2 students transferring to primary school may also enjoy the zone-free policy. Students will have four choices of primary schools.
Allocation to a preferred school is not guaranteed and is dependent on the availability of places. Allocation based on priority categories and non-local vs local passport holders percentages remains in effect to meet EDB requirements. All parents should indicate more choices as high-demand primary schools are oversubscribed every year. We will direct K2 students where there are available Year 1 primary places if your chosen schools are full.
An applicant will waitlist for the first choice school. If you want to wait on the second choice, please place that school as the first choice school. The second choice will be considered if there is availability of a place and there are no applications on that school’s list. The same with a third or fourth-choice school.
Please consider your choices carefully before submitting your application. Changes to choices may be done in February during the annual re-application exercise if the application is still on the waiting list.
The zone-free policy does not apply to Y6 primary students transferring to secondary school. Allocation is according to the ‘associated secondary school’ which remains unchanged. Please see the ESF website here for more information.
School bus routes will remain unchanged unless there are viable numbers for new routes to be arranged. There are currently some routes that cross the harbour from Kowloon to Hong Kong. Please contact the school for information.
Yes, address documents are still required to confirm the applicant’s residential address for the records.
The zone-free policy applies. The student may request to transfer to any ESF primary or secondary school including the private independent schools.
