Chinese International School is a IB Middle Years Programme / IB Diploma Programme / IB school in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Founded in 1983. It serves 1,479 students for students aged 4–18. Annual tuition ranges from $28,093 to $44,564 USD.
Location & Getting There
NanaSays Scorecard
Key Details
Scholarships Available
CIS offers financial aid from Year 8 onwards for new students demonstrating financial need who meet eligibility requirements. Aid applies to tuition fees. No merit-based scholarships are publicly listed. Families must apply through the admissions office.
Key facts
About
Chinese International School is a private day school in Hong Kong authorized by the International Baccalaureate since 1991. The school offers the IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme, with instruction in English serving a coeducational student body.
School data verified by NanaSays. Last updated: April 2026.
Why Families Choose
CIS is a bilingual English-Mandarin school from Reception through Year 13, offering equal instruction in both languages at Primary level. A distinctive feature is the mandatory Year 10 residential programme at CIS Hangzhou in mainland China, deepening language, cultural understanding, and service through experiential learning. The school follows an IB progression from MYP (Years 7–9) to a bespoke bridging curriculum (Years 10–11) and IB DP (Years 12–13). A 'Busing for All' policy for Years 3–11 reduces congestion and emissions. Wellbeing is embedded via the Visible Well-Being framework drawing on Chinese traditions and positive psychology.
Fees & Financials
| Grade / Year | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Reception | HKD 216,100~$ 27,634 |
| Years 1-6 | HKD 286,600~$ 36,650 |
| Years 7-11 | HKD 338,300~$ 43,261 |
| Years 12-13 | HKD 342,800~$ 43,836 |
Conversions to USD use exchange rates as of April 2026.
Original currency: HKD 216,100 - 342,800. Application fee: $260.
Admissions Process
- 1Determine eligibility and year level — Reception applicants must be 4 by 31 August of entry year; year placement is age- and schooling-based. 2. Submit online application and pay non-refundable HKD 2,000 application fee. 3. Attend assessments or observations — Reception attends observation sessions; Primary and Secondary complete entrance assessments with an additional assessment fee (HKD 2,500 Primary / HKD 2,000 Secondary); Secondary applicants may be invited for interviews. 4. Receive notification — Reception offers typically sent by mid-March; Secondary notified several weeks after assessments; some applicants placed on a reserve list. 5. Confirm acceptance by paying HKD 150,000 non-refundable reservation deposit (inclusive of first year's Annual Capital Levy).
Admissions Details
CIS maintains an unranked reserve list (pool system) for each year group. When a place becomes available, the school reviews the pool and selects the candidate who best complements the available space in that year group.
School Day
The school does not publish daily start and end times on its website.
Student Life
At CIS Hangzhou, students are organised into six houses named Ren (仁), Yi (義), Li (禮), Zhi (智), Xin (信), and Yong (勇). Each house is led by a Head of House and supervised by Coach Mentors as part of residential life.
Uniforms are billed separately; specific requirements are not publicly detailed on the page.
Meals are billed separately; no further details are publicly available.
Facilities & Programmes
Wellbeing & Safety
CIS promotes mental well-being through its Visible Well-Being framework, adapted from the SEARCH framework developed with Professor Lea Waters of the University of Melbourne. Secondary students can access Social-Emotional Counsellors through self-referral or via teachers and parents. Advisory programmes and homerooms provide daily well-being check-ins, and Flexi-time includes activities aimed at stress management and healthy lifestyles.
CIS has a formal Child Protection Programme outlined publicly on its website. A Child Protection Reporting Form is available for staff, students, or parents to raise concerns. Safeguarding is framed as a shared responsibility.
Student Demographics
School Background
private