# Planning a UK boarding school application from Hong Kong

Source: https://www.eltschool.org/hk/en/guides/admissions/planning-a-uk-boarding-school-application

A UK boarding school application is planned backwards: from the year of entry, to each school's registration deadline, to the tests and interviews before it. This article sets out the steps in order for families in Hong Kong.

Updated 30 October 2026 · Written by (to be confirmed) · Reviewed by (to be confirmed) · (to be confirmed)

## In order.

1. **Find the UK year group**: UK school years start in September. Match your child's Hong Kong year to the UK year group of entry.
2. **Shortlist schools**: Check each school's entry years, registration deadline and the tests it asks for.
3. **Register**: Registration often closes well before the tests. (to be confirmed)
4. **Tests and interviews**: Many schools ask for UKiset or the ISEB Pre-Test, then hold their own exams or interviews.
5. **Offers**: Schools make offers on their own timetable. Always check with each school.

Start from each school's registration deadline, not from the test date. Our [application timeline](https://www.eltschool.org/hk/en/resources/application-timeline) lays the dates out by country.

## Sources

- [Independent Schools Council — find a school](https://www.isc.co.uk/)

## Related

- **Boarding school preparation** (Course): Tests, interviews and the application, planned with one coordinator.
- **What UKiset** (Column · Exams): Reasoning, English and a short piece of writing: the parts of the test and how schools use the results.
- **Matching your child** (Column · Parents' guides): Why to check the UK year group first, and how it changes the application timeline.

## Questions about your plans?

Tell us your child's year and the schools you are considering, and we will suggest where to start.

- [Book a consultation](https://www.eltschool.org/hk/en/trial)

Updated: 2026-10-30

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