How to Apply

We are delighted that you are exploring Haile-Manas Academy as an option for your family!  

Haile-Manas Academy is a co-ed boarding school for high-achieving students in Grades 9 through 12. Through our outstanding academic program, co-curricular activities, and caring community, our students thrive in their learning and grow in self-confidence.

Students typically join HMA in Grade 9. We accept applications from students who are currently in Grade 8 for entry into Grade 9, and intend to admit approximately 90 students to Grade 9 this year. 

We also have a small number of places available in Grade 10 and Grade 11 and will be accepting applications from students who are currently in Grade 9 and Grade 10 for these places. We intend to accept approximately 10 students to Grade 10 and up to 5 students to Grade 11. 

Tuition and Fees  

Tuition for the 2027-2028 school year is $15,000 USD. There is a yearly technology user fee of $150USD.

Tuition is payable in EtB at the exchange rate applicable on the date of payment. Tuition is paid in three installments, with the final installment due in December 2027.

Application process. Admissions to HMA is merit-based, holistic and competitive. We admit high-achieving students of promise who embrace HMA’s values and pedagogical approach and will thrive in a vibrant boarding school community. We strive for gender balance, geographic diversity, and a variety of student backgrounds, talents and interests. 

There are several steps to our application process.  

  • Step One - online application. Interested applicants start the process by completing the application below that requires you to upload a copy of your two most recent past years of report cards, and to submit two short written responses. Please do not use AI (ChatGPT or similar) to write your statements. Applicants for Grade 9 must also upload a copy of their Grade 6 Ministry Exam.

  • Step Two - HMA admissions assessment. HMA will invite a limited number of applicants (contacted by phone or email) to take the HMA Mathematics and English assessment. The assessment focuses on aptitude, creative problem-solving and reading/writing/mathematical skills.The assessment cannot be studied for.

Assessments in Addis Ababa will begin in late January 2027. Assessments in Arba Minch, Assosa, Bahir Dar, Debre Birhan, Dire Dawa and Hawassa will take place starting in February 2027. Specific dates and testing locations will be shared with qualifying applicants. Please note:  we currently intend to conduct assessments at locations outside Addis Ababa and Debre Birhan on one date only, after which regional applicants who qualify and are invited to take the assessment will be required to travel to Addis Ababa or Debre Birhan to be assessed. We therefore encourage interested students to submit their applications immediately.

Please note that HMA does NOT publish or share students’ assessment results. 

  • Step Three - financial aid. We recognize that some families may not be able to afford (or fully afford) the school fees. To the extent our resources permit, we offer need-based financial aid to a limited number of high-achieving students who demonstrate a clear, documented need. If you need financial aid, you must indicate how much aid you need when you apply. If you advance in our process, you will be required to complete our Financial Aid Form and provide supporting documentation. If you require financial aid, your application cannot advance to Step Four without a completed Financial Aid Form and supporting documentation. Completed forms and documents must be submitted promptly. Note: we do not offer financial aid to Grade 11 applicants. 

  • Step Four - interview. HMA will invite a limited number of students for interviews. Most interviews take place online, using Zoom. The purpose of the interview is to learn more about the student as an individual, and to confirm that HMA is a good fit for the student and family. Students are required to have at least one parent/guardian present during the interview.

  • Step Five. Following the interviews, we will extend offers of admission as appropriate. If a family has requested financial aid, we will communicate the financial aid award, if any, with the offer of admission. In almost all cases, financial aid awards are for partial support and every family will be expected to contribute as much as they can towards their child’s fees.

Students admitted to Grade 9 will be expected to perform well on the 8th Grade Ministry Exam as a condition of formal acceptance.

Please note that we receive a large number of applications and can invite only a small number of applicants to take the HMA admissions assessment and/or for interviews, taking into account all our admissions goals. The decision to not advance an applicant in the process does not mean an applicant is not a strong student or did not do well on the assessment.  

Timeline. We will extend offers of admission starting February 2027. We will stop accepting applicants for the 2027-2028 school year as soon as we have met our enrollment capacity. Financial aid funds are limited and may be unavailable to applicants who apply late in the process. We therefore encourage interested students to submit their applications immediately.

Start the Application Process. If you are ready to apply to HMA, please start your application below. If you are in Grade 8 applying for entry into Grade 9, you will need a clear scan (or digital photo) of your Grade 6 Ministry exam result, and the front and back of your Grade 6 and Grade 7 report cards. If you are in Grade 9 applying for entry into Grade 10, you will need a clear scan (or digital photo) of the front and back of your Grade 7 and Grade 8 report cards. If you are in Grade 10 applying for entry into Grade 11, you will need a clear scan (or digital photo) of the front and back of your Grade 8 and Grade 9 report cards. Any students applying after February 2027 will also be required to upload a clear scan of their current Grade, semester one report card.

We look forward to receiving your application! 

Questions? Please visit our FAQ page which contains answers to many frequently asked questions.