The German Swiss International School (GSIS) is one of the oldest international schools in Hong Kong, opened in 1969 by German and Swiss families who wanted a bilingual education with a clear academic spine. What makes it unusual is the choice it offers from the start: an English International Stream that ends in the IB Diploma, and a parallel German International Stream that follows the German national curriculum. Because its English stream is an authorised IB World School route, GSIS appears on our IB schools in Hong Kong hub.
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At a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | English stream: IGCSE then the IB Diploma. German stream: German curriculum to the Deutsches Internationales Abitur |
| Stage range | Kindergarten to sixth form, roughly ages 4 to 18 |
| Founded | 1969, by German and Swiss families |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School for the Diploma in the English stream; German curriculum recognition in the German stream |
| Fee band | Premium, upper band for Hong Kong |
| Campus area | The Peak (11 Guildford Road) and Pok Fu Lam (162 Pok Fu Lam Road) |
Curriculum and academics
The defining feature of GSIS is its two streams running side by side. The English International Stream takes pupils through IGCSE in the middle years and then the IB Diploma in the sixth form, an English medium route familiar to families arriving from the UK or other international schools. The German International Stream follows the German national curriculum and leads to the Deutsches Internationales Abitur, which keeps a child inside the German system and on track for German speaking universities.
The practical question for most parents is not whether GSIS is academic, it clearly is, but which stream fits their child and their longer plan. The IB Diploma suits families who want a broad, internationally portable qualification, while the Abitur route suits those returning to Germany, Austria or Switzerland. To weigh the Diploma against A Levels and national alternatives, read our IB curriculum guide, and see how GSIS sits against the wider field in our best IB schools in Hong Kong guide.
Budgeting for a premium Hong Kong school?
GSIS sits near the top of the city fee table once levies are counted. Use our fee calculator to model tuition plus the usual extras before you apply.
German Swiss International School (GSIS) fees
GSIS sits in the premium band of the Hong Kong market, alongside the city's other long established internationals. Our Hong Kong international school fees guide places premium tuition broadly in the HKD 240,000 to 310,000 a year range, and GSIS falls inside that picture, with rates that differ between the English and German streams and by year group.
Treat any single figure as indicative and confirm the current schedule with the school. Expect extras on top of tuition, including a registration or application fee, a refundable caution deposit, and a capital levy or debenture that can carry priority in admissions. The fees guide explains how each line item works so you can compare like with like.
Admissions
GSIS admits into each stream separately, with assessment matched to the year group and stream of entry. Language sits at the centre of the decision, since the two streams teach in different languages from the earliest years, so families are asked to choose a stream before applying rather than after.
Popular year groups fill early, and a capital certificate or debenture can bring priority. Register interest in good time, confirm the current criteria for your chosen stream, and arrange a campus visit so your child can see both sites before you commit.
Location and who goes there
GSIS teaches across two sites. The upper campus at 11 Guildford Road sits on The Peak and houses the secondary years for both streams, while a second campus at 162 Pok Fu Lam Road has held the kindergarten and lower primary since 2010. That places the school within reach of The Peak, the Mid Levels and Pok Fu Lam, where many of its families live.
The community is genuinely international, with German and Swiss families at its heart alongside British, other European and local families. To weigh GSIS against the other Diploma options nearby, start with the Hong Kong city hub and our best IB schools in Hong Kong guide.
German Swiss International School (GSIS) reviews
We do not yet hold verified parent reviews for the German Swiss International School. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we can confirm reviews come from real families.
If your child attends or has attended GSIS in either stream, your first hand account of the teaching, communication and value for money would help the next family decide. Share it through our school reviews hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much are German Swiss International School fees?
GSIS sits in the premium band for Hong Kong, broadly in line with the HKD 240,000 to 310,000 range our fees guide records for premium internationals. Rates differ by stream and year group, and there are extras such as a registration fee, a refundable deposit and a capital levy. Confirm current rates with the school.
What curriculum does GSIS follow?
Two parallel streams. The English International Stream leads to IGCSE and the IB Diploma, and the German International Stream follows the German national curriculum toward the Deutsches Internationales Abitur.
Is GSIS an IB school?
Yes. The English International Stream is an authorised IB World School route, offering the IB Diploma in the sixth form.
When do German Swiss International School applications open?
GSIS admits into each stream separately, with assessment by year and stream. Contact the school early to confirm the current window and criteria for your chosen stream.
Where is GSIS located?
GSIS teaches across two campuses, the upper campus at 11 Guildford Road on The Peak and a second campus at 162 Pok Fu Lam Road for kindergarten and lower primary.
