Yew Chung International School

Rolling Admissions, But Plan Ahead

YCIS operates a rolling admissions process — there is no single annual deadline. Applications are accepted throughout the year for all grade levels from Early Childhood to Upper Secondary. However, because popular grade levels can be oversubscribed, early application is strongly advised. The school maintains a waitlist pool for candidates who have successfully passed assessment but for whom a place is not yet available.

Eligibility

To apply to YCIS Hong Kong, a student must hold a valid Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) or an appropriate visa permitting study in Hong Kong.

The Assessment Process

Admission involves multiple components:

• Review of previous academic records (school reports, transcripts)
• English written assessment — evaluating age-appropriate English language proficiency
• Student interview — conducted in English
• Parent interview — an important part of the YCIS admissions process, reflecting the school's commitment to family partnership

Learning Support and Admissions

YCIS states that it admits students it believes can thrive in its bilingual programme. The school has a Learning Support department but notes that it cannot guarantee services for students requiring extensive intervention beyond its Learning Support capacity. Families are encouraged to discuss any specific learning needs directly with the Admissions Office.

Financial Support

YCIS offers a tuition assistance programme for Christian missionary families, making the school accessible to a wider range of families in this specific group. No broadly advertised merit scholarship scheme for general applicants was identified in the research.

Contact

• Phone: +852 2338 7106
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: 3 To Fuk Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

A Community Built on Diversity

YCIS Hong Kong brings together students from more than 30 nationalities, creating a genuinely international learning environment in the heart of one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities. Unlike some international schools that cater predominantly to a single national group, YCIS's student body reflects Hong Kong's character as a global crossroads.

Chinese Culture as a Pillar, Not an Add-On

What sets the YCIS community apart is that Chinese language and culture are woven into the fabric of every day, not offered as an elective or after-school programme. Through the co-teaching model, students regularly engage with Chinese language, literature, history, and cultural practice as core parts of their education. This is reflected in the extracurricular programme, which includes:

• Chinese Dance
• Traditional Chinese Musical Instruments
• Chinese Cultural Crafts
• Mandarin language enrichment

Active Co-Curricular Life

The co-curricular programme at YCIS is broad and inclusive, spanning:

• Music: Choirs, orchestra, band, and traditional Chinese instruments
• Drama: Productions, musicals
• Sports: Basketball, soccer, touch rugby, swimming, volleyball, tennis, martial arts, hiking
• STEM & Academic: Science club, robotics/technology, debate club, chess club
• Arts: Photography, art classes
• Service: Model UN, environment club, community service, charity activities

This breadth ensures that students of varying interests and talents find their place within the community.

Wellbeing and Safety

YCIS holds a 'Child-Safe School' certification and has comprehensive child protection policies, signalling a serious institutional commitment to student safety. Full-time nurses on campus and a learning support team further reinforce the pastoral care framework.

Parent Partnership

Parent engagement is built into the admissions process itself — parent interviews are a formal part of joining YCIS, reflecting the school's belief that family partnership is essential to a student's success in the bilingual, bicultural programme.

A Philosophy Rooted in 1932

Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong was established more than 90 years ago with a founding conviction that a truly international education must honour both Eastern and Western intellectual traditions. This is not a cosmetic bilingualism — it is structural and pedagogical.

The Co-Teaching Model

At the heart of YCIS is its signature co-teaching model: every classroom from Early Childhood through Secondary has two lead teachers working side by side — one English-speaking and one Chinese-speaking. This means students hear, think, and work in both languages simultaneously, rather than switching between two separate language tracks.

In Early Childhood, this goes even further: three teachers are assigned per class, reflecting the school's commitment to intensive, personalised development at the youngest ages.

Why It Matters for Learners

The co-teaching model produces measurable outcomes:

• In 2023, 70% of IB Diploma graduates earned a bilingual diploma, one of the highest rates among international schools in Hong Kong
• In 2022, 65% achieved the bilingual IB Diploma, with an average score of 37.3 points (well above the global average of ~30)
• Students develop fluency in both English and Mandarin Chinese, equipping them for academic and professional life across East and West

Holistic and Character-Centred

Beyond language, YCIS's mission emphasises holistic education — developing character, compassion, and intercultural awareness alongside academic rigour. The school holds a 'Child-Safe School' certification and embeds student wellbeing into its operational DNA, from full-time school nurses on every campus to a robust learning support framework.

The Bigger Picture

In a city like Hong Kong — itself a meeting point of Chinese and Western cultures — YCIS's philosophy is not just educationally sound, it is uniquely contextually relevant. The school serves students from over 30 nationalities, and its graduates leave prepared to navigate a world where cultural intelligence is as valuable as academic credentials.

IB Diploma at YCIS

YCIS Hong Kong has been an authorised IB World School since 2000, and the IB Diploma Programme sits at the apex of its academic pathway. Students follow the UK National Curriculum in lower years, progress through Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10–11, and complete the IB Diploma in Years 12–13.

Recent IB Results

2022 Cohort (81 candidates):

• Average score: 37.3 / 45 (global average ~30)
• Perfect scores of 45: 2 students
• Bilingual IB Diploma: 65% of graduates

2023 Cohort:

• Bilingual IB Diploma: 70% of graduates
• 100% of graduates received at least one university offer

These figures place YCIS comfortably above global IB averages and reflect the sustained quality of instruction and student preparation.

University Destinations

Graduates from recent cohorts have been accepted to:

• University of Cambridge (including physics)
• University of Oxford
• London School of Economics (LSE)
• Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
• The University of Hong Kong (HKU) / Tsinghua University joint degree programme
• Medical schools in Hong Kong

The Bilingual Diploma Advantage

One of YCIS's most distinctive academic achievements is the high rate of IB Bilingual Diplomas — awarded to students who complete IB Language A courses in two languages. At 70% in 2023, this is a direct result of the school's co-teaching model and demonstrates that bilingualism at YCIS is academically rigorous, not merely conversational.

Curriculum Pathway

• Early Childhood & Primary: UK National Curriculum framework, bilingual delivery
• Secondary (Years 7–9): Continued national curriculum with IGCSE preparation
• Years 10–11: Cambridge IGCSE examinations
• Years 12–13: IB Diploma Programme

This clear, progressive pathway means students are well-prepared for international university applications in the UK, US, Hong Kong, and beyond.

A School System, Not Just a School

Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong is not a single campus — it is a network of nine campuses spanning Kowloon Tong and Tseung Kwan O, serving students from Early Childhood through Upper Secondary. This scale gives YCIS the resources of a larger institution while maintaining community-sized campuses for individual students.

Kowloon Tong Hub

The primary campus cluster is in Kowloon Tong, one of Hong Kong's most established residential and educational districts. The main Secondary campus at 3 To Fuk Road is a short walk from Kowloon Tong MTR station (~5 minutes), making it highly accessible. The concentration of campuses in this district creates a recognisable YCIS community presence in the neighbourhood.

Consistent Experience Across Campuses

Despite operating multiple sites, YCIS maintains consistency through:

• The same co-teaching model deployed at every campus
• Shared academic standards and IB/IGCSE curricula
• Common school services including school bus routes covering Kowloon districts and parts of Hong Kong Island, certified catering, and full-time nursing staff
• A unified school calendar and community events

Campus Facilities

Facilities vary by campus but collectively the network includes:

• Science laboratories (10 labs in the Secondary campus)
• Indoor gymnasiums and swimming pools
• Music rooms for orchestra, band, and ensemble practice
• Art, Design & Technology workshops
• Libraries at each campus
• Outdoor playgrounds and sports courts
• Performing arts auditoriums / multi-purpose halls

Community Feel

With approximately 2,500 students from 30+ nationalities across nine campuses, YCIS balances genuine international diversity with intimate campus communities. The co-curricular programme — spanning music, drama, sports, STEM, service, and Chinese cultural arts — further binds the community together through shared activities and performances.