Korean International School

KIS is located at 55 Lei King Road in Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong, adjacent to Sai Wan Ho Pier and the Island East Sports Centre. It’s about a 5-minute walk from Sai Wan Ho MTR Station (Exit A) and is served by multiple bus routes along Lei King Road.

KIS operates as an “all-through” school: Early Years (Reception) through Primary (Years 1–6) and Secondary (Years 7–13).

It is co-educational and operates as a day school.

KIS runs a Springboard SEN Programme designed for students with mild to moderate learning disabilities; classes are personalized based on learning profiles. Additionally, the school provides English Language Support (ELS) in Primary to small groups of students needing extra help in English.

The school does not have a formal country affiliation; it is an independent international school.

KIS does not have a religious affiliation.

The school day begins at 8:00 am. For Primary students, the day ends at 3:00 pm; for Secondary, at 3:15 pm.

The school contracts EMJ International Co. Ltd. to provide school bus service (one-way and round-trip) across Hong Kong.

Korean International School (English Section) follows the National Curriculum for England, providing a structured yet adaptable British-style education from Reception to Year 13. In the Primary years (Reception to Year 6), students study a broad curriculum integrating English, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities, with elements of the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) to promote thematic and inquiry-based learning. The Lower Secondary stage (Years 7–9) builds on this foundation through Cambridge and UK National Curriculum frameworks, concluding with Cambridge Checkpoint assessments at the end of Year 9. In Upper Secondary (Years 10–11), students prepare for the Cambridge IGCSE examinations across a wide range of subjects. The Sixth Form (Years 12–13) offers pathways leading to Cambridge AS and A Levels or Pearson BTEC qualifications in areas such as Performing Arts and Creative Media. Alongside mainstream programmes, the school’s Springboard SEN Programme provides tailored support for students with mild to moderate learning needs.

KIS uses its counselling team not only for reactive support but also to embed social-emotional learning across the school. The counsellors collaborate with classroom teachers to help students develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Group counselling sessions and thematic workshops are organized to strengthen peer relationships and social competence.

The school runs a Springboard SEN Programme for students with mild to moderate learning disabilities, with a curriculum personalized to each student’s learning profile and academic levels. The Springboard classes are offered at Primary, Secondary and Post-16 levels, and include opportunities for social and extra-curricular integration with the mainstream student body. KIS is not a specialist SEN institution (i.e. it does not serve severe or complex special education needs), but supports students whose requirements can be accommodated within its Springboard and mainstream setup.

KIS provides English Language Support (ELS) in Primary and English Second Language (ESL) programmes in Secondary to support students whose first language is not English. The ELS/ESL functions as small group remediation to help with language acquisition alongside the regular curriculum.

KIS emphasizes developmental guidance through its counselling team, promoting emotional awareness and resilience in students. Students can approach the counselling team for confidential support any time, and the team is involved in preventive and developmental work. The school does not publicly disclose a detailed mental health programme beyond its counselling services.

KIS maintains a Child Protection Programme with appointed Child Protection Officers (CPOs) and a dedicated safeguarding team that includes counsellors, vice principals, and the school nurse. All staff undergo training in child protection, and the school publishes formal procedures for reporting concerns, visitor screening, and staff responsibility.

1. Pre-Application / Inquiry
Prospective parents first complete a Pre-Application Form, submitting basic details (student name, date of birth, intended year) to generate interest. Once submitted, the admissions office sends login credentials for the school’s Admissions Portal for further application steps.

2. Complete the Admissions Portal Application
In the portal, parents must complete all required sections (Parts A–G) including personal, medical, academic, and parent questionnaires. Payment of the HK$2,000 admissions fee is required to validate the application.

3. Assessment & Interview
After reviewing a completed application, KIS contacts the family to schedule an intake assessment and interview. The assessment usually takes about an hour and includes English proficiency testing and age-appropriate subject evaluation.

4. Decision & Offer / Wait Pool Placement
The Admissions Committee reviews the assessment, interview, and full application to make a decision. Successful applicants receive an offer via the Admissions Portal, which must be accepted or declined. Applicants for whom no place is available are placed into the wait pool (waiting list) for up to six months.

5. Enrolment Contract & Final Steps
Once the offer is accepted, parents complete the enrolment contract online (within five working days), submit the student reference form from the previous school, and agree to school policies. Failure to complete enrolment in time may result in forfeiture of the offered place.

KIS offers several scholarships to existing or incoming students, evaluated by a Scholarship Committee comprising senior leadership and accounts staff. The types include:

Academic Scholarships (e.g. Park Byung Won, Park Hee Bong) — awarded to students in Years 7–11 or 11–12 based on strong performance in internal or external exams.
Talent Scholarships (Harm Young Sil Scholarship) — awarded for exceptional ability in arts, sports, or leadership among year groups 7–13.
University Scholarships (Lee Nae Kun Scholarship) — granted to Year 13 students who have studied at KIS for at least two years and are accepted into certain Hong Kong universities (HKU, HKUST, CUHK, PolyU).

Scholarships are applied toward tuition (or university first-term payment) depending on scheme, and recipients must meet conditions (e.g. maintain academic standards, participate in school community).

KIS maintains a wait pool (waiting list) process. After all application steps (documents, fee, assessment) are completed, if the target year group has no available place, the student is placed in the wait pool for up to six months. When a vacancy arises, the school may invite a waitlisted student to reassess and offer placement based on fit, not strictly by waitlist order. Priority is sometimes given based on defined criteria such as sibling status or foreign passport holders.