Admissions Journey
Welcome to DSC!
Admissions Journey
School Tour
We strongly encourage all of our prospective families to join a private school tour where you can see firsthand the amazing school culture, dedicated teaching staff, and incredible students we have at DSC International School.
Application
Following a private school tour or virtual consultation, each family can submit an application form along with the required supporting documents. Once an application is submitted, our dedicated Admission team will review each file independently and will contact the family within one week. The application process at DSC International School is a three-step process followed by a student orientation process. We will contact you directly in order to arrange the admissions assessment and interview.
Interview
An interview will be arranged for successful applicants who pass the initial review process. The evaluation and assessment process may take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes. This will include a discussion of the School’s philosophy, culture, curriculum, and overall expectations. The latter part of the interview will help to establish if DSC is the right choice for your family. Your child will have an English Language Proficiency Assessment that will include an oral, reading, and writing assessment to ensure your child is placed in the appropriate class. The English Language Assessment allows DSC to determine the most suitable placement for your child, provide a starting point for instruction for our teachers, and allows for support programming at the best possible level for each and every applicant.
The interview process will vary depending on the age of the child applying and the level of English proficiency. Please note that your child’s current English proficiency level will not affect the results of the interview as DSC International School offers an excellent ESL (English as a Second Language) Program for students in Grade 1 to Grade 12.
Student Orientation
All students at DSC International School will have the opportunity to attend a student orientation program. This program will cover school life, expectations, school rules, digital citizenship with ICT equipment usage and usernames and passwords. All students joining Grades 9 through 12 will also have the opportunity to have a private meeting with a member of our Guidance Team where they will have the chance to discuss career and life planning which includes course selection.
Comparative Education Chart
DSC International School adheres to our age-placement guidelines of the year of birth-grade placement policy as outlined by the Ontario Ministry of Education. DSC follows the year of birth for applicants born from January to December. Each applicant is reviewed and assessed carefully to ensure that they are placed in the appropriate grade level to meet their learning needs.
| Section | Division | Age | Grade at DSC | Canada/ USA | Australia | UK (Year) | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Primary | 4 (2021) | PGB | JK | Kindergarten | Reception | K2 |
| 5 (2020) | PGA | SK | Prep | 1 | K3 | ||
| 6 (2019) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | P1 | ||
| 7 (2018) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | P2 | ||
| 8 (2017) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | P3 | ||
| Junior | 9 (2016) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | P4 | |
| 10 (2015) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | P5 | ||
| 11 (2014) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | P6 | ||
| Secondary | Intermediate | 12 (2013) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | F1 |
| 13 (2012) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | F2 | ||
| 14 (2011) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | F3 | ||
| 15 (2010) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | F4 | ||
| Senior | 16 (2009) | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | F5 | |
| 17 (2008) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | F6 |
Fast Track Application
Students are welcome to apply at any point throughout the academic year and students are accepted on a rolling basis regardless of what month, week or day of the academic calendar you would like to join us. Our Application process usually takes less than a week.
Admissions Criteria
- Parents/ guardians and students align with our educational philosophy where everyone agrees to be a part of the DSC learning community,
Parents/ guardians agree to support their child’s learning and development while adhering to DSC’s policies, procedures and regulations.
DSC International School has developed a non-discrimination strategy for applicants applying to our School. The School admits students of any national or ethnic origin and does not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, race, colour, and/or national or ethnic origin in regards to admission to the School, access to programming, extra-curricular activities, and/or services available at the School. DSC also supports students with varying degrees of English proficiency.
Priorities
DSC International School offers priority to siblings while also offering a first come, first serve basis. Each applicant must submit a complete application form along with the required supporting documentation. You can download our application form here or complete the application process through our online application form.
Application Documents
- One (1) complete application form
One (1) copy of each report card or official transcript of the last two (2) grades completed {Applicants seeking a placement in Secondary (Grade 9 to 12) must submit a grading scale along with an official transcript}
A copy of the Applicant’s Permanent HKID card or HK birth certificate with “Established” status. A copy of the Applicant’s Dependent Visa/Student Visa or Diplomatic Visa with authorized residency status indicated.
A copy of both the Parent’s and/or Guardian’s Permanent HKID card or valid passport with a valid immigration visa issued from the Hong Kong Government.
One passport size photograph
English translation for all documents is required
Payment of $1,000 Application Fee (non-refundable) payable by Paypal, or cheque (not post-dated) payable to DSC International School
Completed confidential Student Reference Form (email directly to admissions@dsc.edu.hk)
Other important information
Applications may be submitted to the Head Office in person, by post, online, or by email.
In the case of an applicant who requires a Student Visa/Dependent Visa, the admissions process cannot be finalized until the proper documentation has been submitted. Conditional enrollment may be granted pending visa approval. In accordance with regulations of the Hong Kong Education Bureau and the Hong Kong Immigration Department, all applicants must present a valid Hong Kong ID card and/or valid visa in order to attend classes at DSC International School.
Students entering our Secondary Section after having completed the equivalent of Grade 9, 10 and/or 11 at another school will be assigned a homeroom. The student’s past educational history is assessed to establish:
the number of equivalent credits to be granted (to a maximum of 23)
the number of credits to be taken at DSC (30 are required in total)
the number of community service hours required (40 in total)
if the student is required to write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or if it has already been successfully completed