Beijing National Day School International Department vs The International Montessori School of Beijing
Beijing National Day School International Department and The International Montessori School of Beijing are both in Beijing, about 27 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes. Beijing National Day School International Department also offers Cambridge A Levels and Advanced Placement (AP), and The International Montessori School of Beijing also offers Montessori and American. Published annual fees are RMB 100,000 - 120,000 at Beijing National Day School International Department and RMB 49,900 - 344,900 at The International Montessori School of Beijing, which puts The International Montessori School of Beijing roughly 79% higher. Beijing National Day School International Department takes pupils from 16 to 18, and The International Montessori School of Beijing from 0 to 18. Beijing National Day School International Department is the larger school, with around 4,600 pupils to The International Montessori School of Beijing's 400.
Cambridge A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP), IB (DP)
Curriculum
Montessori Curriculum, IB (MYP), American Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
4,600
Pupils
400
Typical class size
Typical class size
—
Typical class size
4
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English, Mandarin
Opened
Opened
1952
Opened
1990
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Beijing National Day School (北京市十一学校) is in Haidian District — main campus at No.66 Yuquan Road (玉泉路66号) with a second (north) campus at Huan Guyuan Road, Sujiatuo (苏家坨镇环谷园路8号). The site lists both addresses and the school's main contact details.
Location
MSB is located in Chaoyang District, Beijing at Building No. 8, 2A Xiang Jiang Bei Lu (Xiangjiang Beilu). The school site and campus pages note it sits in a villa/residential area on the edge of Chaoyang (near the Chaoyang–Shunyi junction), with standard road access and on-site campus facilities; families typically travel by car or school bus.
Stages
Stages
The school is a complete secondary school offering junior- and senior-secondary education (middle and high school) across two campuses. Its international department (the International Course section) runs upper‑secondary international programmes (A‑Level, AP, IB).
Stages
MSB runs a full-age programme from early years to secondary: Little Bees (6–24 months), toddler/infant and preschool (roughly 18 months–6 years), elementary (Grades 1–6 / ages ~6–12) and middle/high school through Year 12. The site lists specific pages for each stage and fee bands up to Grade 11–12.
School type
School type
北京市十一学校 is a public, co‑educational school (the site describes its founding history and later return to public status). The international department operates within the same school and delivers international curricula for senior grades.
School type
The International Montessori School of Beijing is a co-educational day school (no boarding is advertised on the school site). It is operated as an international school and appears under the Wisdom International Education Group umbrella.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school describes a diversified curriculum that includes layered, categorized, comprehensive and "special‑needs/particular‑need" (特需) components and says it uses multi‑modal, individualized implementation strategies. For concrete details on assessment, in‑school support staff or formal SEN provision you should contact the international department directly as the public pages give only a high‑level description.
Additional learning support
MSB publishes a student-support programme that includes EAL (English as an Additional Language), reading and library support, classroom-level differentiated support, one-to-one and small-group learning support, psychological/behavioural assessment and, where required, full-time shadowing; some supports (for example individualized IEP tutoring or additional staff) may carry extra fees. The admissions policy notes trial/assessment periods for applicants with additional needs.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school is a Chinese (Beijing municipal) public school; it does not have an affiliation to another country, though its international department delivers foreign curricula (A‑Level, AP, IB).
Country affiliation
MSB does not state an affiliation to a single national school system; it identifies as an international school in Beijing and is part of Wisdom International Education Group. In 2025 the school also announced a partnership to develop an American-style high school pathway with a California school district (Placentia‑Yorba Linda USD).
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
There is no indication of any religious affiliation on the school's official materials; the school's history and public profile present it as a secular state school.
Religious affiliation
The school website does not indicate any religious affiliation; programme and policy pages present MSB as a non‑religious, international institution.
School day structure
School day structure
Beijing public middle and high schools generally begin no earlier than about 08:00 for secondary students and typically include a midday lunch/break of around one hour; exact daily timetables vary by school and season. The school's public pages do not publish a specific daily timetable for the international department, so confirm exact start/end times, recess and any supervised study or evening sessions with the school.
School day structure
MSB publishes an academic calendar with term dates, school events and holiday periods but does not publish standard daily start/end times on its public pages; parents are directed to the admissions or contact team for operational details. Office/contact information and the calendar are available on the site.
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school's website posts procurement/vehicle notices (e.g., vehicle‑rental/vehicle procurement announcements), which indicates arrangements are made for vehicle services, but the site does not publish an explicit, public route/timetable for a student bus service. For routes, operators, pickup points, costs and eligibility for international‑department students, contact the school's admissions or logistics office; they can provide current routes and provider details.
Bus service details
MSB operates an optional school-bus service run in partnership with Beijing BAIC Taxi Group (北京北汽出租汽车集团). Routes and stops are set according to demand and are adjusted annually; the school warns it may not be able to serve addresses far outside regular routes and that mid‑year moves can affect continued eligibility. For route details and booking the site links a bus-service document and gives a bus email (busservices@msb.edu.cn) and a contact (Joseph) via the main switchboard.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Tuition (2025–2026 academic year) - A‑Level project: RMB 100,000 per academic year (charged on the school billing cycle; many sources report this annual figure). - AP project (中美合作): RMB 120,000 per academic year. - IB (IBDP) project: RMB 120,000 per academic year.
Application / registration fees - No separate application or admission fee for the international department is publicly listed in available admissions and school notices; published materials and school pages that describe the international projects list tuition but do not show a distinct application fee.
Per‑term / billing details and payment terms - The international programme is typically billed on the school's academic cycle; sources reference per‑semester figures in earlier notices (e.g., A‑Level RMB 40,000 per semester; AP RMB 45,000 per semester; IB RMB 50,000 per semester), and more recent summaries present the annual amounts above. Expect charges either per semester or as an annual invoice divided by term depending on the year's billing notice. - Standard practice is full payment by the start of the academic year or by the published semester payment deadline; the school issues billing notices through its parent/campus platforms.
Boarding / accommodation fees - Accommodation is arranged for eligible students; one source reporting details for the international department indicates a nominal boarding charge of RMB 444 per semester for students approved for school dormitory placement. Boarding availability is subject to distance/eligibility rules.
Other costs parents should budget for - Textbooks, examination fees, school uniform, meals, learning materials and optional activity or overseas study programme costs are not included in the reported tuition figures and are payable in addition.
Refunds and withdrawal - No publicly posted, detailed refund/withdrawal policy for the international department was found in accessible school notices; refund handling is normally processed through the school finance office per the school's internal rules. Parents should follow the school's official admission and finance instructions when they receive the enrolment/billing notice.
Fee payment channels - The school publishes a parent/campus cloud platform link (bnds.yunxiao.com) for school/parent services; specific accepted payment instruments (bank transfer, Alipay/WeChat, credit card) are not listed in public notices. Expect the school to provide exact payment methods and invoice details at registration or on issued billing statements.
Fee details
Tuition (annual; per-term shown as equal instalments across three academic terms — school publishes annual rates only)
- Infant & Toddler (0–36 months): RMB 49,999 per year. Per term (1/3 of annual, shown for billing reference): RMB 16,666.
- Toddler (Morning only, 18 months–3 years): RMB 167,900 per year. Per term (1/3): RMB 55,967.
- Toddler (Full‑day, 2–3 years): RMB 240,000 per year. Per term (1/3): RMB 80,000.
- Early Childhood 1 (ages 3–4): RMB 252,400 per year. Per term (1/3): RMB 84,133.
- Early Childhood 2 (ages 4–5): RMB 252,400 per year. Per term (1/3): RMB 84,133.
- Early Childhood 3 (ages 5–6): RMB 270,900 per year. Per term (1/3): RMB 90,300.
- Elementary (Grades 1–4): RMB 279,100 per year. Per term (1/3): RMB 93,033.
- Grade 5: RMB 294,600 per year. Per term (1/3): RMB 98,200.
- Middle (Grades 6–8): RMB 304,900 per year. Per term (1/3): RMB 101,633.
- Grade 9: RMB 329,000 per year. Per term (1/3): RMB 109,667.
- Senior Years (Grades 11–12 where published): RMB 344,900 per year. Per term (1/3): RMB 114,967.
Application fee, placement deposit and first‑year one‑off charges
- Application fee (one‑time): RMB 3,000.
- Placement / enrolment (seat) deposit (one‑time): RMB 20,000. This deposit is held by the school while the student is enrolled and is refundable subject to the school's withdrawal and refund policy and after deduction of any outstanding fees or unreturned school property. The school requires the deposit at acceptance to secure a place.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school publishes annual tuition rates and requires payment to secure enrollment; parents must provide written confirmation and pay the placement deposit within the timeframe stated in the offer (the school specifies a 10 working‑day deadline for deposit on acceptance). The school's admission documentation confirms the deposit requirement and refund treatment.
- General payment terms reported for MSB include: all fees payable in RMB; accepted payment channels include bank transfer, UnionPay card payments and domestic card options. International bank transfers are possible but funds must be credited in RMB; late payment surcharges (commonly reported) may apply — examples in public fee summaries cite a 2% per month surcharge on overdue fees. Specific invoice due dates, installment plans (if any), and banking details are provided on the school's billing/invoice documents.
Boarding / accommodation
- Boarding is not applicable. MSB describes campus buildings as infant/toddler, Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle/High teaching facilities and lists no dormitory or boarding accommodation. MSB operates as a day school with optional services (lunch, bus) for families.
Other costs and optional services
- Lunch services: available as an optional paid service; the school operates a staffed lunch programme and provides details/pricing through its lunch service documentation.
- School bus (transport): MSB offers contracted school‑bus services; published summaries and school profiles show annual bus fees in a range (examples reported around RMB 11,200 to RMB 16,900 per year depending on route). Exact route fees and invoicing are handled by the bus service administration.
- Materials, textbooks, devices and extracurriculars: these are additional to tuition. Parents should budget separately for items such as specific learning materials, optional clubs/activities, field‑trips, and any required devices for older students; the school lists extracurricular programmes and supplies requirements but does not publish a single combined charge for these items in the public fee summary.
- Uniforms: the school's public pages describe student life and routines; a standard uniform charge is not given in the public fee summary. Parents should budget for uniform purchase(s) and replacements as applicable.
Refund information
- The placement (seat) deposit of RMB 20,000 is refundable. Refunds of the deposit and any other paid fees are subject to the school's withdrawal and refund policy; the school states the deposit will be refunded (after deducting outstanding charges such as unpaid tuition, lunch, bus fees or unreturned school property) and that the deposit is not invoiced (receipt is issued and must be returned before refund processing). The school's admissions policy notes the school may withhold refunds where required by the withdrawal policy.
Fee payment options (methods commonly accepted)
- Bank transfer (domestic and international transfers allowed but funds must be credited in RMB; include student name and invoice number as payment reference).
- Card payments via UnionPay (debit/credit). Public fee information indicates card transactions may incur bank/processing fees.
- Cash or in‑person payment may be accepted per school billing instructions.
Please note: specific invoicing dates, available installment plans, exact bank account details and any transaction charges are provided on the school's invoices and billing communications; the items above summarise the school's published fee structure, deposit requirement and commonly reported payment methods and late‑payment terms.
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
Beijing National Day School's International Department offers three international pathways—A‑Level, AP and the IBDP—operating alongside the school's Chinese national curriculum. The A‑Level route is delivered as a one‑year foundation plus a two‑year core (a three‑year international sequence); students sit Cambridge (CAIE) examinations and may choose from subjects such as English language and literature, mathematics and further mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, economics, business, modern languages and arts. The AP pathway runs across upper‑secondary years, offering a wide range of AP and preparatory courses in languages, mathematics, sciences, social sciences and the arts; BNDS also notes a partnership that allows eligible AP students to earn both the BNDS high‑school diploma and a US partner school diploma. The IBDP is offered as the two‑year Diploma Programme for students aged 16–19, with the six IB subject groups (language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics and the arts) plus the core TOK, Extended Essay and CAS. Across all stages the school maintains its national curriculum framework—integrated, tiered and categorized courses, advanced science projects, language and arts electives, and extensive extracurricular and research‑based learning—so students experience both subject breadth and university preparation regardless of pathway.
Curriculum details
MSB delivers a Montessori‑based, individualized curriculum that spans early years through secondary education (ages 0–18). The school's age bands are infant/toddler 0–3, early childhood 3–6, primary 6–12 and secondary 12–18, with age‑appropriate Montessori and project‑based learning in each stage. The full curriculum covers core literacy and numeracy, cross‑disciplinary project work and specialist programmes in science, art, music and physical education (including weekly labs, exhibitions and performances). MSB operates dual streams (bilingual Chinese/English and a pure‑English stream); bilingual students learn subjects in an immersion model while every student receives a 40‑minute daily Chinese language class and EAL support is provided as needed. At secondary level the school integrates Montessori practice with a standards‑based academic middle programme and has announced the launch of a US‑style university‑preparatory high school in partnership with PYLUSD (announcement in 2025).
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
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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
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Initial enquiry and information gathering — Contact the school and read the international-program pages to decide which pathway (A‑Level, AP, or IBDP) you want your child to apply for. Each programme has different course structures and university destinations; the school's international-curriculum pages describe the three tracks and their academic focus. Parents should note the office phone numbers and the school's consultation events (the school posts specific consultation dates and contact numbers on its website).
2. Registration / formal application — When the school opens applications it usually requires formal registration (online or on‑site) and submission of documents such as the student's ID, recent transcripts/grades, and any certificates you want considered. For previous intake years the department published specific formal‑registration dates and an English qualification test window — parents should watch the school website and official WeChat for exact opening and required documents in the current year. Keep originals and scanned copies ready because some steps are handled in person.
3. Eligibility screen and English qualification test — BNDS International typically uses an English qualification check as an early eligibility filter for international programmes; this can be a short written test or an online screening to verify language readiness for AP/A‑Level/IB instruction. Parents should prepare their child for reading, short writing and speaking tasks; also confirm whether an external score (TOEFL/IELTS/SAT/SSAT) can be submitted in lieu of the internal test. The school has in earlier years explicitly referenced an "英语资格性测试" for international admission rounds.
4. Academic review and/or entrance exam — In addition to language screening, the school considers the student's academic record (for domestic applicants, usually the incoming year's 中考 results or equivalent) and may require subject tests or internal exams for academic placement. The international department and admissions notices indicate offers are made after combining academic scores with the department's professional test or interview results; parents should know mid‑year/previous school transcripts and recent exam reports are commonly required. If you have strong subject certificates (competitions, portfolios), upload or bring them to the application so they can be considered.
5. Interview / group activity — Shortlisted applicants typically take part in an interview (one‑to‑one and/or small‑group) to assess communication, motivation and critical thinking; some cohorts have a group English activity component. Parents should ensure the student can speak about academic interests, extracurriculars and why they want that particular international track. The school posts interview schedules and how results will be announced (SMS, WeChat, and official website), so keep contact details current.
6. Offer, deposit and enrolment paperwork — If the student is offered a place the school will publish the steps to accept the place: confirm acceptance within the stated deadline, pay any required deposit/first instalment and complete enrolment paperwork (health form, code of conduct, household registration where applicable). Because BNDS operates its programmes under local education regulation, the school notes that some aspects (timing, required documents, and final registration) follow municipal rules — parents should keep the acceptance deadline and payment instructions to avoid losing a seat.
7. Course placement and class allocation — After enrolment the department assigns students to classes and elective combinations (BNDS uses a course/"走班" system for the international programmes), so new students often receive a provisional timetable and may need to attend orientation and placement tests for specific subjects. Parents should plan logistics for commuting, boarding (if applicable), and any extra pre‑term courses the school recommends. The international curriculum pages explain the three‑year structure and the expectation that students complete required graduation credits alongside the international qualification.
Admissions
1. Initial enquiry and online application — Start by completing MSB's online application form (the site labels this “Apply Now”). Parents should prepare to upload the child's passport, both parents' passports and visas (or Chinese ID where applicable), school reports (if any), one teacher recommendation, any learning‑support documentation, and payment of the RMB 3,000 application fee. Only fully completed applications are reviewed, and MSB operates rolling admissions so earlier complete submissions increase the chance of timely consideration.
2. Admissions review and interview — After your complete application is received the Admissions Director will contact you to arrange an interview or meeting; if the family is overseas MSB accepts an additional teacher recommendation in place of an in‑person interview. Parents should expect the school to check documents and past records carefully and to ask clarifying questions about the child's learning needs and school history. If your family cannot attend an in‑person interview, plan to supply the extra recommendation promptly so the application can proceed.
3. Decision and formal offer — If the school offers a place you will receive written notification. MSB requires written confirmation of enrollment within 10 working days of the offer and expects payment of the Placement (security) Deposit to secure the place; if the deposit is not received by the invoice date MSB may reassign the place. Parents should watch the invoice deadline closely and understand the deposit rules before confirming acceptance.
4. Placement deposit and what it secures — The Placement Deposit is ¥20,000 per child (a one‑time, refundable, non‑interest deposit held while the student is enrolled). The deposit secures the student's place; MSB's website explains the deposit will be refunded (less any outstanding charges) when a student leaves, according to the school's withdrawal and refund policy. Note that, under local regulations, the school cannot issue an official fapiao for the refundable placement deposit—MSB will issue a deposit receipt instead.
5. Practical requirements and probationary period — For Early Childhood applicants MSB follows Beijing Municipal Education Commission rules: the student and at least one parent must hold foreign passports and the parent must have a valid work visa (permanent‑resident cases are handled via direct contact with admissions). All new students are subject to a 20 attended‑school‑day probationary period during which MSB may withdraw acceptance if the school cannot meet the child's needs; parents should therefore disclose any past assessments or support needs up front. Also, all Early Childhood applicants must be toilet trained before their first day, and class placement is based on educational background and the child's age as of October 1.
6. Fees, other optional services and next steps after acceptance — Before finalizing acceptance, review the published tuition rates for the relevant year (MSB lists year‑by‑year tuition bands on its Fees page) and check optional services (lunch, bus) for separate charges. After paying the placement deposit and completing enrollment paperwork you will receive guidance on payment schedules, optional service sign‑ups (lunch/bus), and the calendar.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
BNDS's official website and recent admissions notices do not publish a standard, public "waitlist" policy for the international department; however, the school's admissions communications and related municipal recruitment notices show that second‑round recruitment or "补录" (additional intake if places remain) has been used in some years. Practically, this means that if you are not offered a place in the first round you should: keep your registration active, maintain phone/WeChat contact with the admissions office, and monitor the school's official announcements (website and the department's WeChat account) for add‑on test or supplementary‑admission dates. If you want to be considered for any vacancies, ask the admissions office whether they keep a ranked waiting list and the precise conditions under which they invite candidates for later rounds — that is the most reliable way to confirm current‑year practice.
Waitlist
MSB maintains a waiting‑list system and gives priority to certain groups, including returning students, siblings, applicants for full‑day classes, those previously enrolled in Montessori, and applicants who were on the previous year's waiting list. The school operates rolling admissions, and places are secured only after written confirmation and payment of the ¥20,000 Placement Deposit; if the deposit is not received by the invoice deadline MSB may offer the place to another applicant. The website does not publish a public, detailed algorithm or expected waiting times for the waitlist (for example, it does not state how positions are ordered within the waiting list or the typical time a family will wait), so families who want clarity on their current position or the likelihood of an offer should contact Admissions directly.