Alcanta International College vs NAS Guangzhou Panyu

	A Alcanta International College Guangzhou, China	N NAS Guangzhou Panyu Guangzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 158,000 - 182,000	Fees / year RMB 158,000 - 176,000
Age range	Age range 12 - 18 years	Age range 6 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Chinese National Curriculum	Curriculum Chinese National Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP)
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 8
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language Mandarin, English
Opened	Opened 2011	Opened —
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 The school is in Panyu District (Nancun / Xihe Road area) of Guangzhou — address listed as Xihe Road No. 88. The website describes the campus as close to the local CBD and with convenient transport links; for exact commute times from a specific neighbourhood, contact admissions.
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 website describes Primary and Middle/Secondary phases. One page lists Primary (6–12) and Secondary (13–18), while another page refers to an intake range of about 6–15, so the published upper age varies between pages — confirm the precise age/grade ranges with admissions.
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 NAS Guangzhou Panyu is a bilingual, co‑educational school that offers both day places and boarding. The site explicitly states it provides day (走读) and boarding (寄宿) options and describes separate accommodation arrangements for boys and girls.
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 site highlights personalised learning, small classes and bilingual support (including programmes for students who arrive with limited English) and says teachers use assessment data to tailor learning. The website does not show a clearly labelled public page describing a formal SEN/ALN team or exact referral/IEP procedures; the parent handbook (download) or the admissions team are the recommended sources for detailed SEN/ALN provisions.
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 The school is part of the Nord Anglia Education global group (an international school network headquartered in the UK) rather than being affiliated to a particular national curriculum authority.
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 No religious affiliation is stated on the school website. The school presents itself as a secular bilingual international school.
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 campus page lists general opening hours of Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; the boarding pages note a structured daily routine for boarders and 24‑hour on‑site medical care. For precise start/end times by year group (and break / lunch timings), ask admissions or consult the parent handbook.
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 Admissions notices and school documents reference school‑bus (校车) costs being charged as part of fees, which indicates a school bus service is available; the website does not publish detailed routes, providers or pickup times publicly. Parents should request route maps, stops and fee details from the admissions office or in the parent handbook.
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 fees - The school's public admissions pages list the online application process and application portal but do not publish a separate application or non‑refundable application fee amount. Parents complete an online application form to begin the process. Tuition fees (2025/2026 academic year) — amounts per year and per term - Primary (小学): Annual tuition ¥158,000. Billed as two equal term payments of ¥79,000 (first term ¥79,000; second term ¥79,000). - Middle / Junior Secondary (初中): Annual tuition ¥176,000. Billed as two equal term payments of ¥88,000 (first term ¥88,000; second term ¥88,000). - Third‑party fee listings that break down annual fees by grade show the same two‑tier structure (grades commonly in the lower/primary tier and upper/middle tier at the listed amounts). Miscellaneous items such as boarding, catering, school bus and uniforms are noted separately by external fee databases. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition for the 2025/2026 school year is presented by the school as two term instalments (first term / second term) with the term amounts shown above. The published 2025/2026 first‑term dates are Monday 1 September 2025 to Saturday 31 January 2026; the school presents its academic calendar alongside the term billing split. The school's public pages do not publish a detailed list of payment‑deadline dates or step‑by‑step invoicing timings beyond the term structure. Boarding fees (where applicable) - The school provides boarding (walk‑in description and full boarding programme available). A Nord Anglia group listing indicates boarding charges for NAS Guangzhou Panyu shown as “from ¥24,412 per annum” for boarding services; the school's boarding pages describe boarding arrangements and pastoral care but do not present a detailed numeric boarding tariff on the public boarding page. Other costs and typical additional fees - School bus (校车), school uniform (校服), school meals/catering, and occasional programme or trip charges are listed as separate additional costs and are charged in addition to tuition — the school's admissions notices and news items explicitly note that bus, uniform and meal costs are charged according to actual use/arrangements. The school also publishes a parent handbook (downloadable) that covers uniform details and other day‑to‑day costs. External school fee databases similarly list transport, catering and other extras as chargeable items. Typical additional items mentioned in public sources include: - School bus (annual cost varies by route) - School uniform (summer/winter and sports kit; procurement details in parent handbook) - Meals / catering (charged separately) - Extracurricular trips and activities (charged as applicable) - Equipment or device purchases (e.g., laptop requirements for older students may be an extra cost) These items are not given single fixed prices on the school's public admissions pages. Refund information - The school's public admissions and terms pages do not publish a detailed fee‑refund schedule or specific refund percentages/conditions on the pages reviewed. The parent handbook and formal terms and conditions are referenced for school policies; a specific fee‑refund policy was not located on the admissions page itself. Parents should expect that formal refund terms (for deposits, enrollment confirmations and tuition) are set out in the school's full enrolment documentation / terms. Fee payment options - The school's public admissions and parent‑essentials pages do not list specific accepted payment channels (for example, named bank account, credit card, Alipay or WeChat Pay) on the pages reviewed. No payment method details were found on the publicly visible admissions pages or in the downloadable parent‑essentials area. Short practical summary for parents - Tuition (2025/2026): Primary ¥158,000/year (¥79,000 per term); Middle ¥176,000/year (¥88,000 per term). - Boarding: boarding is available; a group listing shows boarding costs starting from ¥24,412 per year and the school describes boarding provision on its site. - Extra charges: bus, uniforms, meals and trips are charged in addition to tuition. - Application fee, detailed refund schedule and specific payment channels are not published on the admissions pages that list tuition and term information; these items are handled in the school's enrolment documentation/parent handbook or via the school's admissions office. If you require the figures above presented in a specific format for your database, the key numeric items to import are: Primary annual ¥158,000 (term ¥79,000); Middle annual ¥176,000 (term ¥88,000); boarding starting from ¥24,412 p.a.; additional charges for bus, uniform and meals applied separately.
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 NAS Guangzhou, Panyu delivers a bilingual programme built around the Chinese National Curriculum: primary (approx. ages 6–12) follows the national primary syllabus (moral education, Chinese language, mathematics, English, music, art, PE, science, humanities etc.). The middle‑school phase (approx. ages 13–15) continues the Chinese national secondary curriculum delivered in both Chinese and English using cross‑disciplinary, project‑based approaches to develop inquiry and critical thinking. The school reports that its senior students progress into internationally recognised upper‑secondary pathways via “three major senior programmes,” and NAS Guangzhou is an approved Oxford AQA examination centre (enabling on‑campus administration of OxfordAQA international exams such as IGCSE/A‑level). NAS Guangzhou is also a candidate school for the IB Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes (PYP and MYP), signalling an institutional move to align primary and lower‑secondary pedagogy with IB frameworks. Throughout all stages the curriculum is supplemented by Nord Anglia global partnerships (Juilliard, MIT, UNICEF), STEAM and co‑curricular programmes and personalised assessment to prepare students for national assessments and international qualifications.
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. Initial enquiry and advice (what to do first). Contact the Admissions team by completing the online enquiry or by email/phone to start the process; the school says the team will respond and help with next steps. Parents should be ready to ask about preferred intake month, day vs boarding, and any time-sensitive requirements (local classification/分批招生 rules may apply). 2. School visit / information sessions. Parents are encouraged to attend a campus tour, parent briefing or an organised open day to see the campus and ask detailed questions about curriculum and boarding; the site lists regular visit/experience events and a “校长面对面” option. Bring a list of practical questions (transport, boarding routines, ECA, language support) and confirm the dates of published experience days before you travel. 3. Submit the online application and upload documents. Complete the school's online application form (you must create an account) and upload the required documents: parents' passport/ID and household book, and for each child a passport/ID or birth certificate, recent photo, copy of last school report, vaccination and recent medical report. The form specifies file types and size limits and allows up to five children per account; make sure scanned copies are clear and that you select the correct preferred enrolment month and day/boarding preference. 4. School assessment and family interview. After the application is reviewed the admissions team will contact you to arrange a family interview and any age-appropriate assessments (the site advertises English assessment days and school-arranged meetings). Parents should prepare copies of recent school reports and any information on additional educational needs (AEN/SEND) or medical requirements—these are explicitly requested on the application form. Ask in advance what the assessment format will be for your child's year group so you can prepare (dates for public assessment or assessment days are posted in the Parent Essentials area). 5. Offer of place. If the school decides to offer a place, you will receive a formal offer/acceptance letter by email; the admissions page explains offers are issued by email as the next formal step. Read the offer carefully for the deadline to accept, any conditions (e.g., required documentation, medical clearance), and the payment terms required to secure the place. If you need more time or have questions about the offer conditions (start date, year placement), contact Admissions immediately using the contact details on the site. 6. Confirm acceptance and pay required fees to secure the place. To confirm a place you must follow the offer instructions, which normally include signing paperwork and paying the stated fees or deposits; the admissions page notes that acceptance and payment secure the enrolment. Be aware of the published annual fees for the relevant year (the site lists 2025/2026 tuition figures by phase), and that additional charges (boarding, meals, uniform, transport, exams or activity costs) may be charged separately—check the Parent Handbook or ask Admissions for the full breakdown and refund/withdrawal terms before you pay. Keep receipts and confirm the date by which the fee must be paid to avoid losing the place.
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 The school website does not publish any general scholarship or means-tested financial-aid programme. Public pages (admissions, parent essentials and news) include tuition, references to staff/employee priority for some classified enrolment rounds and standard additional charges (bus, uniform, catering), but no advertised scholarship awards or application process for fee assistance. If you are seeking fee support, sibling or staff discounts, or any case-by-case concessions, the admissions office is the appropriate contact — ask them for the current policy and any required paperwork, because such arrangements (if available) are not described on the public site.
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 The school's public admissions pages do not describe a formal, published waitlist process. The admissions page explains the application → assessment → offer workflow but does not set out an explicit waiting-list policy for oversubscription; when intake is regulated the school has in the past followed municipal classification and, if numbers exceed places, a computerised allocation (派位) for certain cohorts. If you need to know whether a waiting list will be kept for a particular year group or whether the school can hold a place pending payment, contact Admissions directly (the site provides phone numbers and an email for the Guangzhou admissions team).
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