Secondary Scholarships

Discovery College offers a limited number of scholarships for exceptional secondary students in the areas of academics, community engagement, sport, music, drama, visual arts and design. The level of these merit scholarship awards will be determined by the scholarship committee, and is reviewed annually. The number and level of all scholarships is reported to the School Council by the scholarship committee.

Internal Scholarship applications are accepted from 1 February – 1 March of each year, for scholarships beginning in the following academic year.  Students must submit their application online prior to the application deadline. Late applications are not accepted. External applicants may apply any time.

Please note: There is an expectation that students who receive a scholarship at Discovery College will remain at DC until graduation from Year 13.  Apart from family circumstances requiring the family’s relocation from Hong Kong, if a student leaves prior to graduation, the family may be asked to repay the scholarship fees awarded.

In addition, if during the scholarship student’s time at DC, he/she applies to attend another secondary school, the scholarship will cease at that point.

Discovery College proudly invests in its scholarship students and expects the same commitment from students to the College.

External Applicants (students not currently enrolled at Discovery College)

Scholarships are awarded to students entering Year 7 and above. External applicants may be considered for a full or partial scholarship. The level of scholarship award is reviewed annually.

In addition to the application requirements listed below, external applicants are also expected to meet the admission requirements of Discovery College. Once a scholarship has been offered, the student must also complete the online application through the ESF Website for admission to Discovery College, sit for an admissions assessment / interview and provide the following information:

  • student’s current and prior year’s school reports
  • student’s birth certificate
  • Student’s
    • Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or
    • Passport / PRC Exit Entry Permit pages showing personal details and Visa / Landing Slip (if issued at the time of application) and
    • Hong Kong Identity Card (if any at the time of application).
  • Both parents’
    • Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards or
    • Passports’ / PRC Exit Entry Permits’ pages showing personal details and Visas / Landing Slips (if issued at the time of application) and
    • Hong Kong Identity Cards (if issued at the time of application).

Internal Applicants (students currently enrolled at Discovery College)

Scholarships are awarded to DC students entering Year 10 and above. Internal applicants who are successful with their applications will be awarded up to a maximum of 25% of tuition costs as an initial offer. The level of the scholarship award is reviewed annually.

Before Completing the Application

Students should review the Scholarship Application Information and prepare their answers before completing the online form. Once submitted, changes cannot be made.

In addition, before completing the application, students should review the descriptions, qualifications and required documentation below for the type of scholarship for which they are applying, as some require additional materials to be submitted. Students may apply for only one type of scholarship each year.

Scholarship Descriptions and Requirements

Notes:
1) Discovery College will not offer scholarships where the College cannot provide adequate support to the student.
2) A maximum of two Principal’s Scholarships are awarded at any one time at the discretion of the principal and scholarship committee. A Principal’s Scholarship is awarded to an existing scholarship student who meets the criteria for an academic scholarship and also demonstrates exemplary overall contributions to the College. This scholarship cannot be applied for.

Online Scholarship Application

After reviewing the information above, interested applicants must complete the online scholarship application. External candidates may apply at any time for consideration.  Internal candidates may should apply between 1 February and the deadline of 1 March, for scholarships beginning in the following academic year.  The online scholarship applications are available below:

Scholarship Application Timeline and Review Process

For Academic Scholarship applications, students who submit complete applications and meet the academic grade requirements will be invited to sit an external scholarship examination. Based on the results of this examination and their curriculum grades, students may be invited to an interview with the scholarship committee. Following the interview, the scholarship committee will consider all components of the application and make a determination as to whether or not a scholarship will be awarded and the amount to be offered.

For all other types of scholarship applications, completed applications will be reviewed, in the first instance, by the head of the relevant department (Art, Drama, Music, Design or in the case of athletics, the Sports Coordinator). If the student’s application shows considerable merit, the department head will recommend the student proceed to an interview and/or audition with the scholarship committee. The details of these auditions/assessments are included in the respective description links above. Following the interview and/or audition, the scholarship committee will consider all components of the application and make a determination as to whether or not a scholarship will be awarded and the amount to be offered.

Application Requirements

Discovery College scholarship applicants:

  • are current full-time students
  • are able to be successful on the general admissions assessment
  • are committed to extra-curricular and community service activities, participation in school and or community clubs and projects
  • demonstrate leadership either in their academic, extra-curricular activities, or community activities
  • have the demonstrated or potential ability to act as a role model to peers
  • have NOT applied for a scholarship in any of the scholarship categories at Discovery College within the last 12 months

Please note the specific additional items and qualifications that may be required for each type of scholarship; these are listed in the description links above.

Discovery College seeks applications from globally minded young people who:

  • possess skills necessary to conduct purposeful, constructive research
  • are able to make sound decisions and to solve complex problems
  • can receive and express ideas confidently in English
  • demonstrate a commitment to learning languages other than English
  • approach unfamiliar situations without anxiety
  • have acquired a critical mass of significant knowledge
  • have integrity, honesty, and a sense of fairness and justice
  • show sensitivity towards the needs of others through service to the community
  • respect the views, values and traditions of other individuals and cultures
  • give thoughtful consideration to their own learning

International Baccalaureate Programme
Students should be informed about the International Baccalaureate Programme and its expectations. More information can be found at www.ibo.org.

In addition to satisfying general selection criteria, the committee will select students in accordance with selection criteria specific to the scholarship types for which the candidate has applied.

Offer Process and Notification

All scholarships are awarded based on the decision of the scholarship committee, and the details of the committee’s deliberations are confidential and the decision is final. Students and their families will be advised in writing of the outcome of their applications.

Successful applicants will be advised in writing of the terms and conditions of the scholarship. At the time of accepting the offer they must accept the conditions of the scholarship and agree to provide relevant personal information to enable the college to assess eligibility. Percentages of scholarships are not publicised and are kept confidential between the committee and the scholarship recipient and his/her family. The amount of the scholarship, combined with any current or future employer education allowances, cannot exceed the tuition amount.

Award Disbursement

A Discovery College Scholarship covers a percentage of tuition fees for over an academic year, subject to the student’s continuing eligibility to hold the scholarship unless otherwise agreed.

The Discovery College Scholarship Programme does not provide financial assistance to students and their families for expenses extraneous to tuition fees. These include expenses such as:

  • Textbooks
  • Stationery items
  • School uniforms
  • Field trips
  • Lunch programme
  • Miscellaneous Levy (including Non-Refundable Building Levy)
  • Deposit (held by the ESF) equivalent to one month’s school fees.

Continuing Requirements

Once awarded, scholarship recipients are expected to demonstrate the personal qualities outlined above. It is compulsory for recipients to be active participants in College activities and community service initiatives through the end of Year 13. Scholarship students are expected to follow the Discovery College code of conduct, as well as continue to demonstrate themselves as leaders within and outside the College community. There are also academic standards expected of scholarship students, which are outlined in the descriptions of each scholarship type above and provided to the family at time of offer.

All scholarship recipients will be allocated a staff mentor who will meet regularly with the student to ensure successful progress towards these goals, as well as completing the regular review cycle.

It is an expectation that students who receive a scholarship at Discovery College will remain at DC until graduation from Year 13. Apart from family circumstances requiring the family’s relocation from Hong Kong, if a student leaves prior to graduation, the family may be asked to repay the scholarship fees awarded. In addition, if during the scholarship student’s time at DC, he/she applies to attend another secondary school, the scholarship will cease at that point.

Scholarship Committee

The Discovery College Scholarship Committee consists of the Principal, Head of Secondary (or representative), the Deputy Head of College and a nominated parent representative approved by the School Council.

Current Scholarship Students

A list of current Scholarship Students is available HERE

Questions

Questions about the scholarship programme or application process can be directed to communications@dc.edu.hk.