Chatteris Educational Foundation

Chatteris International Graduate Programme - Frequently Asked Questions

1) I am a graduate, but not a recent graduate. Am I still eligible to apply?
The Chatteris International Programme is primarily tailored to meet the personal and professional development needs of recent graduates. Ideally, applicants should be final year students or should have graduated within the past 3 years. However, those that graduated over three years ago but display similar qualities, enthusiasm and flexibility needed to meet our requirements and can illustrate their ability to work in a young and dynamic team may be considered for a place.

2) Will my salary cover the cost of living in Hong Kong?
In short, yes! Hong Kong is a city where you can spend as much or as little as you want. Rent is the biggest outlay, but transport and utility costs are much lower than at home. Food can be very cheap or very expensive- if you’re happy to eat in local restaurants rather than the Peninsula Hotel, you’ll be fine!

3) Will I be able to find reasonable priced accommodation within the 2 week orientation?
Every year everyone finds a home. There are plenty of available apartments in Hong Kong, most commonly with 2 or 3 bedrooms, it’s a case of finding the right one for you. It is hard work looking at lots of apartments, but it’s worth making sure you’re getting what you want for your money. Nearly all apartments require a down payment of 3 months rent- one month up front, and a deposit.

4) How much will I be taxed while I’m working in Hong Kong?
The good news is you probably won’t be taxed anything. You won’t earn enough in one financial year from the Chatteris contract to exceed the tax exemption boundary. However, taking part in Chatteris extra programmes may increase your earning enough to affect your tax bracket. Tax is much lower in Hong Kong than in the UK, Canada and the US though, so shouldn’t be too devastating!

5) Are travel expenses, both from my home country and while in Hong Kong, covered by Chatteris?
No. As Chatteris is a non-profit organisation, we cannot afford to pay for flights to and from Hong Kong. You will be told your school placement early during orientation, and it’s your responsibility to make sure that transportation costs to and from school are within your budget. Transport in Hong Kong is very efficient and much cheaper than in most big cities though, so this shouldn’t be a big problem.

6) Will I be able to save any money while living in Hong Kong?
If you can live on a budget, then yes. Plenty of people cut down on their spending a bit to send money home or for travelling. It’s difficult in the first few months after the initial costs and not knowing where to find good bargains, but it can be done!

7) Where are the schools located?
Chatteris works with schools all over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. We try as far as possible to accommodate preferences, but obviously this is not always feasible.

8) I am a qualified teacher; do I have to attend the orientation period?
Yes! Yes! Yes! The Orientation period is not just about teaching. It is an introduction to the Chatteris Approach rather than a teaching course. It includes some hands-on teaching and is a good opportunity to meet and start familiarising yourself with Hong Kong students. In addition, Chatteris focuses on the team as a whole and the orientation period is the best time to get to know everyone and learn to work together.

9) Will I be paid extra if I am a qualified teacher/ have a TEFL qualification?
No. Every CNET is paid the same. If you choose to apply to Chatteris, you are not applying to be a teacher in a ‘traditional’ sense. Imagination, hard work and enthusiasm are more valuable to us than TEFL or teaching qualifications. Although such qualifications can be quite helpful in the classroom!

10) Are there opportunities to work for Chatteris after the completion of my 9 month contract?
Yes, but only for those people that have proved themselves to be exceptional during the course of their contract. At the request of schools, Chatteris also runs summer programmes. CNETs wanting to stay on for a second year need to meet and discuss with the Project Director.

11) How do I get my visa to work in Hong Kong?
Provided you send all of your documents on time, Chatteris will arrange for your visa to be sent to your home country. If documents are delayed, the process can take a little longer and your employment visa may have to be given to you once in Hong Kong (and you will need to come to Hong Kong as a tourist first and validate the visa by leaving the region, for example, going to Macau and re-entering Hong Kong) Please note that if your visa is delayed, you will not be able to travel to Hong Kong on a one-way flight.

12) Health Insurance
For the purpose of the Employees' Compensation Ordinance of Hong Kong, Chatteris has an Insurance policy for all its employees while at work. However, we strongly recommend you to take out fully comprehensive travel insurance for the duration of your stay.

13) How much will I be paid?
CNETs will earn a monthly salary of $13000 HKD (approx $1650 USD, Other rates are subject to inflation). As mentioned in point 2, this is enough to cover your cost of living in Hong Kong (subject to spending habits!).

14) How can I obtain a police clearance certificate?
You may go to your local police station for exact details on how to obtain this or click here to see how some of our previous CNETs got their Police Clearance form.

15) Why is a deposit of 2000HKD required?
Our request for a deposit of 2000 Hong Kong Dollars is a deposit that will be given back to individual CNETs upon the completion of their contract and the Chatteris check out procedure. The request of a deposit is a standard procedure that takes place through organizations working on an international level. It is not something that is singularly exclusive to Chatteris. Chatteris requires a deposit of 2000 Hong Kong Dollars in the form of a Bankers Draft. This is used as payment for the processing of a CNETs individual working visa in Hong Kong. As previously mentioned, this deposit is reimbursed fully on completion of The Chatteris International Graduate Programme.

16) Can I take leave outside of school holidays?
It is Chatteris policy to insist that all participants of the Chatteris International Graduate Programme are available for the entire programme period. Working in a professional education environment means that to miss any term dates would affect the students and school. It is important that people who join the programme come for the students and are understanding about this requirement concerning attendance.

Whilst working in Hong Kong it is individual CNETs responsibility to maintain their health to ensure that excessive sick leave is not taken. Chatteris follows the Hong Kong government labor laws regarding sick leave.

If a CNET has good attendance, punctuality and performance then a CNET will enjoy all school holidays like the students. If not, CNETs will only enjoy public holidays similar to teaching assistants and other office workers in Hong Kong. CNETs will have to work in the Chatteris office or school to make up for the work or receive extra training. To view sample school calendars please click here and here .

Requests for special leave outside of school holiday periods requires great justification and will not normally be approved. Should CNETs be unable to attend the entire programme period then they will be placed on the Chatteris waiting list. This means that should a place become available in a school during the academic year we would contact the CNET and offer the opportunity to take part in the programme. If this occurs it most often takes place in November or January, but it is impossible to confirm this.

17) I want to come to Hong Kong using a one way plane ticket, is this possible?
Chatteris strongly advises accepted CNETs to purchase a return ticket.
However, if a CNET possesses a valid work visa in their passport prior to leaving their home country then a single ticket can be used.
If you decide to purchase a one way ticket without possessing a valid work visa then you might encounter problems when leaving your home country. Purchasing a one way ticket without a work visa is therefore done so at the CNETs’ own risk.
There have been cases in the past where CNETs have been allowed to leave their home country using a one way ticket and without a valid work visa. This is a risk though that Chatteris advises should not b

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