Alcanta International College vs Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake

	A Alcanta International College Guangzhou, China	M Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake Guangzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 158,000 - 182,000	Fees / year RMB 40,000 - 178,000
Age range	Age range 12 - 18 years	Age range 14 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Chinese National Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2011	Opened 2021
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Alcanta International College is in Nansha District, Guangzhou — listed at No. 14 Guangsheng Road (Nansha), in the southern part of the city's Greater Bay Area. The Nansha area is served by Guangzhou Metro Line 4 and other regional links, so public-transport connections to central Guangzhou and neighbouring cities are available; confirm exact travel times from your location.	Location Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake is located in the Songshan Lake industrial park, Dongguan, Guangdong — the campus sits next to Huawei European Village and Songshan Lake Park. Address given on the school site is C4 CIMC Yi-Ning-Xi-Lu Road, Dongguan City, Guangdong, China. The site notes the campus is tranquil and has easy access to local transport links.
Stages	Stages The school offers a Pre‑Diploma pathway and Cambridge IGCSE courses for junior students, followed by the two‑year International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma for senior students (typical ages mid‑teens to 18). AIC describes a four‑year Pre‑Diploma plus the IB Diploma for graduation preparation.	Stages The school offers IGCSE and A‑level programmes and international preparatory (pre‑A level) options, with two‑year IGCSE and two‑year A‑level patterns and a one‑year pre‑A route described on the curriculum pages. The programmes are aimed at secondary / senior‑school students preparing for university.
School type	School type AIC is a private, co‑educational international school; it is an IB World School and also lists Cambridge IGCSE and external accreditation (MSA‑CESS). The school operates boarding provision alongside day places.	School type MAS is a co‑educational school and operates boarding provision; students are placed in age‑appropriate boarding houses with houseparents and resident tutors on site. The Songshan Lake campus is part of the wider Merchiston group (links with Merchiston Castle School and other Merchiston campuses) and shares resources across those campuses.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support AIC's publicly available pages and directory listings do not publish a detailed Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Additional Learning Needs policy online. Prospective parents should contact admissions directly to ask about specific learning‑support services, EAL support, diagnostic assessment or individual learning plans available for their child.	Additional learning support The website describes a three‑teacher guidance model that includes academic mentors, pastoral care and a psychological counsellor as part of student support. The school does not publish a detailed Special Educational Needs (SEN) or specific learning‑support list on its public pages; parents are advised to contact admissions for case‑specific information.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is based in the People's Republic of China (Guangzhou) and is not presented as being affiliated to another country's school system.	Country affiliation MAS presents itself as part of the Merchiston family and cites an affiliation with Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, Scotland (UK).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is listed in the school's public profiles; AIC is presented as a secular international school in its directory entries.	Religious affiliation The school website does not state any religious affiliation.
School day structure	School day structure Public listings note the school year runs on a roughly August–June cycle, but AIC does not publish a detailed daily start/end timetable or break schedule on its public pages. If you need exact school‑day hours, class period lengths or boarding daily routines (for example supervised evening study), request the current daily timetable from admissions.	School day structure The site publishes an Academic Calendar and a timetable page (作息表) where the school timetable is made available; exact start and finish times are shown on that calendar/timetable rather than in prominent text. The boarding page notes that boarders follow the same working day as day students and have a structured evening homework period and supervised weekend activities.
Bus service details	Bus service details Directory information indicates the school provides transport (school bus) options, but public pages do not specify the provider, routes, stops or fees. For route maps, pickup/dropoff times, and costs you should request the school's transport brochure or speak with the admissions office.	Bus service details The school refers to school buses in its uniform guidance (students must wear uniform on school buses), which indicates a bus service is used, but the website does not publish detailed route, provider or booking information. For pickup/drop‑off routes, costs and registration, the site directs parents to contact Admissions (admissions@merchistonacademy.cn / 400 999 0978).
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fee - One-time application/registration fee: RMB 300. Tuition fees (by year group) - Grade 7: RMB 158,000 per year (day student). - Grade 8: RMB 158,000 per year (day student). - Grade 9: RMB 182,000 per year (day student). - Grade 10: RMB 182,000 per year (day student). - Grade 11: RMB 182,000 per year (day student). - Grade 12: RMB 182,000 per year (day student). Tuition per term (billing note and calculation) - Public information lists tuition as an annual amount. The school's published practice is to collect tuition/meal/accommodation in advance prior to each semester; using that practice, a simple per-semester figure can be calculated by dividing the annual tuition by two (example: Grade 7/8 ≈ RMB 79,000 per semester; Grade 9–12 ≈ RMB 91,000 per semester). This per‑semester amount is a derived value (annual ÷ 2) based on the school's semester-advance billing practice. Boarding, meals and ancillary fees - Seven‑day boarding (typical option): RMB 10,300 per year (example reported). - Five‑day (weekly) boarding option: RMB 8,800 per year (where offered). - Student meal plan (boarding/non‑boarding catering charge examples): RMB 13,860 per year (reported meal fee). - Textbooks/learning materials: example published estimate RMB 3,000 per year. - Activity/programme fee example: RMB 3,500 per year. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees (tuition, meals, accommodation) are collected in advance prior to the start of the relevant semester/study period; annual invoicing is used for published tuition amounts and schools typically require payment by the commencement date or specified deadline. Parents are expected to settle billed amounts before the semester begins. Refund information - The school's publicly available materials and corporate filings indicate that partial refunds may be offered if a student withdraws during a semester; a formal School Fees Refund Policy is referenced in offer documentation. Specific refund percentages and conditions are established in the school's fee/refund policy. Fee payment options (published example) - Bank transfer / international wire: published offer documents show payment instructions for payments to a China Merchants Bank account (domestic RMB account and SWIFT details for USD wire transfers) and request that payment receipts be emailed to the admissions contact. This is the payment method explicitly shown in the school's offer materials. Other notes on costs - Some published school materials and third‑party listings show refundable deposits, printing/ICT fees, insurance and occasional one‑off charges (these vary by intake). Parents should treat the listed items above as the principal recurring charges (application, tuition, boarding/meals, textbooks, activities).	Fee details Application / Seat‑reservation fees - Seat reservation (placement) deposit: RMB 18,000 (payable on offer/booking; treated as a seat deposit). Tuition fees (current academic year — listed as annual amounts by programme) - QingTeng programme (national curriculum + AP): RMB 178,000 per year. - Songshan Lake programme (national curriculum + A‑Level): RMB 158,000 per year. - ZiJing programme (national curriculum + DSE): RMB 98,000 per year. - DeQin (domestic curriculum + Xingzhi特色): RMB 40,000 per year. Per‑term / billing equivalents - The school has previously published semester figures (two semesters per academic year) for international and domestic directions; older published semester examples include RMB 75,000 per semester for international direction and RMB 30,000 per semester for domestic direction. Where an annual fee is published, treat it as the full academic‑year charge unless a semester breakdown is specified. Boarding (annual) - Boarding (6‑person room): RMB 18,000 per year. - Boarding (3‑person room): RMB 30,000 per year. Other charges (paid separately) - Insurance, optional paid CCAs, school bus, bedding/room setup, meals, uniforms, textbooks, international examination registration fees and occasional field‑trip or practical course fees. These items are charged in addition to tuition/boarding. Billing schedule and payment terms / refunds - Tuition is charged according to the published fee schedule for the relevant programme/year. If a student enrolls after a term begins, fees may be charged on a pro‑rata basis. Students are required to settle outstanding fees to receive school reports. If a registered student pays but does not commence, 90% of fees may be refundable; mid‑term withdrawals are calculated pro‑rata by actual days in attendance (school example formula: refund = paid/184 * (184 − days attended), with a minimum month unit). One‑term written notice of withdrawal is normally required; failure to give notice can result in charges for remaining fees. Fee payment options - Publicly available materials do not list a definitive set of accepted payment channels for MAS Songshan Lake. Common channels for campuses in this group include bank transfer and electronic payments; for admissions or payment instructions, use the school admissions contact (admissions@merchistonacademy.cn).
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Alcanta International College runs a four‑year pre‑IB/preparatory programme (Grades 7–10) followed by the two‑year IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12. The school is an authorised IB World School offering the full IB Diploma as its senior qualification. Diploma students at AIC complete the DP core—Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service—alongside six subject‑group courses required for the diploma. The IB registry for AIC lists available DP subjects including English A (Language & Literature), English B, Mandarin (ab initio), Chinese A/B, Mathematics (Analysis & Approaches and Applications & Interpretation), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Business Management, Psychology, Computer Science, Environmental Systems & Societies and Visual Arts (May examinations). The preparatory years are structured to ready students for DP subject choices and assessments and instruction is delivered in English.	Curriculum details Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake delivers UK‑style 14–19 provision with IGCSE, a Pre‑A‑level year where applicable, two‑year A‑levels and vocational BTEC pathways in partnership with Edexcel. Programmes run on three entry models — 0+2 (two‑year A‑level for G11–G13), 1+2 (one year Pre‑A‑level then two years A‑level for G10–G11 entrants) and 2+2 (two years IGCSE then two years A‑level) — with staged academic targets for each cohort. Core and elective subjects include Mathematics and Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Economics (students typically choose three at A‑level), with IGCSE equivalents and wider options such as Biology, Geography, Accounting, Computer Science, ICT, Drama and Art & Design. Language provision includes IGCSE English plus A‑level and Chinese pathways (including Chinese A‑level and HSK for international students), and the school offers extension and admissions‑test preparation (STEP/MAT/PAT) and competition training. The wider scope comprises vocational/internship modules (BTEC, finance, e‑commerce, data analysis), phase‑assessed general education credits (software, media, Mandarin, arts, performance) and a broad co‑curricular activities programme.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and information-gathering. Parents should confirm which academic year/term they are applying for (AIC lists a first application deadline of 30 April on directory pages) and whether the student is applying as day or boarding, since fees and deadlines can differ. 2. Complete and submit the application form and pay the application fee. AIC's published application charge is shown as roughly RMB 300 (around USD 43) on school directories; make sure you submit the signed form plus payment by the stated deadline and retain the payment receipt. Parents should check whether the application is submitted via the school website, the school's own application portal, or a third‑party system (some directories link AIC to OpenApply) and upload required documents in the requested format. 3. Prepare and send required supporting documents. Typically this will include the student's current academic transcripts/grade reports, passport copy (for international students), recent school reports, teacher recommendation(s) and any previous exam records; confirm the exact document list with admissions. If English is not the student's first language, expect to provide evidence of English proficiency or to arrange an English assessment—directories note that AIC teaches in English and provides ELL support. Parents should arrange official translations where required and allow time for notarisation if the documents are needed for visas or scholarship applications. 4. Entrance assessment and interview. Public information about AIC indicates scholarships and admissions decisions are linked to an entrance examination and review of academic records, so expect a written/online assessment (academic and/or English) and an interview with admissions or a senior teacher. Parents should verify the format (onsite, online, timed test) and, if travelling from overseas, ask whether remote assessment options are available and whether any preparatory materials are provided. Keep copies of past schoolwork or samples the school requests for the assessment. 5. Scholarship consideration (if applying). AIC directories state that applicants who perform strongly in the entrance exam and have strong academic records may be considered for scholarships; for international students AIC has historically offered full-tuition awards to selected applicants. If you want to be considered, follow the school's specific scholarship application instructions and submit any additional documents or essays by the scholarship deadline; note that directories indicate scholarships typically cover tuition only, not living costs. Parents should ask whether the scholarship decision is made at offer stage or separately and whether scholarship recipients must meet ongoing academic or behavioural conditions. 6. Offer, acceptance and deposit. Successful applicants will receive a formal offer (conditional or unconditional). The offer will set out any conditions (e.g., final transcripts, visa paperwork, English standard) and the deadline for accepting the place and paying any tuition deposit or enrolment fee; check the offer letter carefully for exact amounts and payment instructions. Parents should confirm refund and withdrawal policies for deposits, and whether the deposit counts toward the first year's fees. 7. Final paperwork: contracts, visas and boarding arrangements. After acceptance, complete the school contract and provide final documentation the school requires for registration; international families should start the visa process promptly because visa timelines vary. If the student will board, confirm the boarding contract, boarding fees and the school's published meal/room charge schedule (boarding and meal fees are listed separately in directory fee summaries). Parents should check arrival dates, orientation schedules, health insurance/medical forms and any immunisation requirements. 8. Fee payment schedule and orientation. AIC directories list annual tuition ranges (day tuition figures published between approximately RMB 158,000 and RMB 182,000 depending on grade) and additional boarding/meal charges for boarders; confirm the exact fee schedule and whether the school accepts instalments, bank transfer instructions and the currency required. Parents should also check for one‑time enrolment charges (directories reference a first‑year one‑time fee such as an application or administration charge) and request an itemised fee breakdown (tuition, boarding, meals, activity fees, textbooks). Finally, attend the school's orientation and keep a copy of the signed enrolment agreement and the school's contact details for ongoing questions.	Admissions 1. Follow the school's official WeChat and make initial contact. Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake (MAS) asks families to follow its official WeChat account as the first step; the Applications Process page on the school website lists this as Step 1 and this is also where open days, application links and contact details are announced. Parents should follow the account so they receive updates (assessment dates, open-day slots and application-link notices) rather than relying on third‑party summaries. 2. Pay the non‑refundable application fee (RMB 1,000). MAS requires a non‑refundable application fee of RMB 1,000 to progress an application; the Applications Process page shows this as Step 2. Keep the payment receipt and proof of payment — the school asks you to submit proof of payment with the application form and will not proceed with assessment without it. 3. Complete and submit the school application form. Parents should complete every section, including declarations about medical conditions and support needs — incomplete forms slow processing and the school uses the information to plan assessments and pastoral support. 4. Attend the interview and complete entry assessments (or arrange online if necessary). Both parents and the student are normally expected on campus for a face‑to‑face interview; an online interview is an alternative when required (for example, COVID‑related restrictions). Students take the entry assessments (the school specifically lists CAT4 and WIDA among the assessments); prepare copies of recent school reports and expect English proficiency testing (WIDA) and cognitive/ability screening (CAT4). 5. Provide required supporting documents at application or assessment. MAS lists the documents they require: mainland candidates should bring ID cards (international/HK/Macau applicants should provide passports), a recent frontal colour digital photo (two‑inch, white background), the application form, and academic transcripts for the last two years; CVs and certificates of awards are optional but recommended where relevant. The Application Information page also notes the school usually requests a confidential report from the applicant's current school and requires disclosure of any special learning needs so the Head of Section can assess reasonable adjustments. 6. Receiving an outcome, accepting an offer and next administrative steps. The school states parents will receive an offer letter by email within five working days after assessments, and offers should be accepted within five working days; if a candidate is declined they may reapply after six months once recommendations (if any) have been completed. After accepting a place, expect follow‑up steps such as fee‑payment instructions, a medical check on entry and placement decisions (year placement is determined by birth date and assessed ability); consult the school fee policy and the admissions team for payment deadlines and refund/withdrawal rules.
Scholarships	Scholarships Directories indicate that Alcanta International College offers scholarships and that applicants showing exceptional ability and potential may be awarded tuition scholarships; for international students, full‑tuition awards have been offered in past cycles. Scholarship awards are reported to be based on the applicant's performance in the school's entrance examination and on previous academic records; directories also note that scholarships typically cover tuition only and not living or boarding costs. Historical notes on some directory pages reference specific award numbers in particular years (for example, a past cycle listing 15 full scholarships in 2020–21), but these are examples rather than guarantees for future years—confirm current availability, selection criteria, application deadlines and whether there are scholarship renewal conditions with admissions. For authoritative, up‑to‑date details about scholarship types, amounts and application steps, contact the admissions office directly and ask for the current scholarship policy and deadlines.	Scholarships MAS publishes a specific scholarship page describing a range of awards and eligibility rules for 2024. The school runs targeted scholarships for different entry points and programmes: (a) A‑Level and DSE one‑year ‘crash‑course' scholarships (full or half tuition) using gaokao/DSE thresholds and interview performance — thresholds on the page show Guangdong candidates with higher listed score cutoffs (for example, A‑Level full scholarship considered at gaokao 500+ with interview; half scholarship at 470+). (b) Middle‑school/new‑student scholarships ("优才新生奖学金") tied to Dongguan Zhongkao scores (examples on the page show full award at a pure culture score of 700, half award at 650) and renewal conditions requiring the student to remain in the top percentage of the year. (c) Awards for outstanding graduates ("优秀毕业生奖学金") and academic/excellence awards (e.g., 20,000–50,000 RMB and other ranges) for students who achieve high university placements or sustained in‑school performance. Each scholarship page links to the application form and a WeChat/MikeCRM application URL; the page also sets renewal conditions (for multi‑year awards) and clarifies that scholarship value usually applies to tuition rather than extras such as boarding, uniform or activity fees — read the scholarship terms closely and contact admissions to confirm current availability and exact amounts.
Waitlist	Waitlist Public directory listings and the school's available admissions summaries do not explicitly describe a formal waitlist or pool process for Alcanta International College; the school's admissions pages linked in directories focus on application, examination and offer stages rather than an online waitlist. Because many schools operate informal or formal waiting lists (and policies vary year to year), if you want to know whether a waiting list will be used for the grade you are applying to, ask admissions directly (AIC's admissions contact details appear on OpenApply's school entry). If you are placed on any waitlist, confirm whether you must re‑affirm interest periodically to keep the application active, whether siblings or other priorities are applied, and how the school notifies families when a place becomes available.	Waitlist MAS's published Applications Process states that where there are more candidates than available places, applications will be placed on a waiting list. The site gives no further public detail about waiting‑list ordering, typical wait times, or whether priority is given by application date, assessment score, sibling link or other factors; parents on the waiting list should contact admissions directly (admissions@merchistonacademy.cn or phone 400 999 0978) to ask about their position and any expected timeline. If an application is declined, the school's page also notes a candidate may reapply after six months, provided any recommendations have been followed.
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