Hong Kong has nine years of compulsory education and no dedicated homeschooling law, so home education sits in a legal grey area under Education Bureau oversight. It is not a criminal offence, and a small, established community exists, but the EDB reviews each case and expects evidence of suitable education. In practice, families notify the EDB, follow a recognised curriculum through an accredited online school, and sit Cambridge or Pearson Edexcel exams as private candidates through the HKEAA or the British Council. This guide covers the legal position, the EDB process, curriculum options, exam routes, university pathways and costs.
Hong Kong provides nine years of free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 15, and it has no dedicated homeschooling law. Home education is not provided for by a statutory framework, and there is no formal application or approval process. It is not a criminal offence, and a small, established home-education community exists, but it sits in a legal grey area under the oversight of the Education Bureau (EDB).
Under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279), sections 74 and 78, parents have a legal duty to ensure their children attend school regularly. Where it appears that a child is not attending school without reasonable excuse, the Permanent Secretary for Education may, after making inquiries, serve an attendance order requiring the parent to send the child to a named school. Failing to comply with an attendance order is an offence. The Ordinance does not set out how parents may lawfully home-educate, which is why home education is handled case by case rather than through a defined procedure.
The EDB does not actively encourage homeschooling, but it does not treat a well-supported home education as a breach in itself. In practice, families notify the EDB of their intention, and the case is registered and reviewed individually. EDB officers typically carry out home visits, commonly around twice a year, to check that the child is receiving suitable education, looking at the curriculum, timetable, learning resources, progress and socialisation. The EDB does not issue a formal approval, though families receive a record of each visit. It applies the same approach to expatriate and local families, and its oversight generally ends when the child turns 15.
Because there is no statutory framework and the EDB wants clear evidence of adequate, structured learning, families are in a much stronger position when a child follows a recognised curriculum with qualified teachers, a timetable, assessment and formal records. Unstructured approaches are viewed less favourably. This is where an accredited online school fits: it provides exactly the documented, structured education the EDB looks for, while the family remains responsible for notifying and engaging with the EDB.
No school licence is required to enrol with CambriLearn. CambriLearn is an internationally accredited school based outside Hong Kong. It holds Cognia accreditation and accredited Pearson Edexcel examination centre status (Centre No. 94888). Enrolling your child does not require EDB approval, and it gives your family the recognised curriculum, qualified teaching and formal records that support a home-education case. Families remain responsible for meeting their obligations under the Education Ordinance and for engaging with the EDB.
There are three practical routes. The right one depends on the qualification you want your child to hold, how much you want to teach yourself, and where you expect them to go to university.
The route most internationally minded families take. You enrol your child with an accredited online school that teaches an international curriculum through live timetabled lessons with qualified specialist teachers. Your child studies from home and sits examinations as a private candidate in Hong Kong. CambriLearn students sit International GCSE, AS Level and A Level examinations through the HKEAA or the British Council, or earn a Cognia-accredited US high school diploma. This route also provides the curriculum, timetable, assessment and records that support a home-education case with the EDB.
Some parents teach their children directly, sourcing their own curriculum, materials and assessment. You notify the EDB and keep clear evidence of the curriculum, timetable, resources and progress for the home visits. This route gives full control but places the teaching, planning and record-keeping on the parent, and the EDB expects a structured, curriculum-based approach rather than an informal one.
Families who want a campus enrol at one of Hong Kong's international day schools, run by the English Schools Foundation (ESF) or private groups such as HKIS, Harrow, Kellett, CIS and Nord Anglia. These schools teach British, American or IB curricula and issue the same qualifications, at a considerably higher cost and often with a debenture or capital levy. Some families combine an accredited online school with tutoring or activity groups to keep a campus-style structure without the campus price.
Where students sit exams. The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA), the city's official public examinations body, administers Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel examinations for private candidates, who register through the HKEAA online system. The British Council in Hong Kong also runs these examinations and accepts private candidates. Cambridge sessions run in May/June and October/November; Pearson Edexcel adds a January session. Fees are billed in Hong Kong Dollars. See the exam centres page for details.
Families in Hong Kong can access every major international curriculum. The table covers the main options available through CambriLearn.
| Curriculum | Qualification | Exam Body | HK University Admission | International Recognition | Via CambriLearn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International British* | International GCSE, AS & A Level | Cambridge Assessment | Accepted via non-JUPAS | 160+ countries | Yes, private candidate exams |
| Pearson Edexcel | Int. GCSE, Int. A Level | Pearson | Accepted via non-JUPAS | 80+ countries | Yes, accredited centre (No. 94888) |
| US K-12 | US High School Diploma | Cognia | Accepted via non-JUPAS | US, NCAA approved | Yes, Cognia accredited |
| Local (HKDSE) | HK Diploma of Secondary Education | HKEAA | Direct, via JUPAS | Mainly Hong Kong | No |
Where do Hong Kong homeschool students sit exams? CambriLearn students in Hong Kong sit International British Curriculum and Pearson Edexcel examinations as private candidates through the HKEAA or the British Council. US curriculum students earn their diploma through CambriLearn's Cognia-accredited programme without a separate exam sitting. For centre details, see the exam centres page.
The International British Curriculum is the most common choice for internationally minded families in Hong Kong. International GCSEs and A Levels are recognised in 160+ countries and accepted by Hong Kong universities through the non-JUPAS route. The university section below explains how that works.
