Beijing New Talent Academy vs Canadian International School of Beijing
Beijing New Talent Academy and Canadian International School of Beijing are both in Beijing, about 15 km apart. Both schools offer Montessori programmes. Beijing New Talent Academy also offers Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP) and Chinese National, and Canadian International School of Beijing also offers Canadian and IB. Published annual fees are close, at RMB 168,000 - 318,000 for Beijing New Talent Academy and RMB 135,500 - 336,800 for Canadian International School of Beijing. Beijing New Talent Academy takes pupils from 0.67 to 18, and Canadian International School of Beijing from 0.5 to 18. Beijing New Talent Academy is the larger school, with around 2,300 pupils to Canadian International School of Beijing's 1,400.
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP), Chinese National Curriculum, Montessori Curriculum
Curriculum
Canadian Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Montessori Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
2,300
Pupils
1,400
Typical class size
Typical class size
25
Typical class size
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Instruction language
Instruction language
English, Mandarin
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2008
Opened
2005
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Beijing New Talent Academy is in the Tianzhu Development Zone (No.9 Anhua Street), Shunyi District — on the west side of Beijing Capital International Airport and close to the China International Exhibition Center. The campus is in suburban Shunyi with road links to the airport and nearby exhibition and villa districts.
Location
CIS Beijing is on a single downtown campus at 38 Liangmaqiao Road in Chaoyang District (the Liangmaqiao/3rd Embassy area of central Beijing), within easy reach of the embassy and Sanlitun neighbourhoods. The school describes itself as a downtown campus and gives the full address and admissions contact on its website.
Stages
Stages
The school describes itself as a 15‑year continuous school covering kindergarten through senior high (approximately ages 3–18) and hosts a Kindergarten, Primary School, Secondary School plus specialised units such as a Cambridge Centre and an AP Centre. International and Chinese‑language programmes are offered within those divisions.
Stages
CISB covers Early Years through Grade 12: Early Years (from around 6 months to 5 years), Elementary (Grades 1–5), Middle School (Grades 6–8) and High School (Grades 9–12). The site also notes the school delivers the IB PYP, MYP and DP within a Canadian (New Brunswick) curriculum framework.
School type
School type
Beijing New Talent Academy is a private, co‑educational K–12 school that operates both day and boarding options; the school's public materials and term fee descriptions note workday boarding and meals are provided for boarding and some day pupils.
School type
CISB is a co‑educational, private day school; the school's public materials describe a single downtown day campus. External summaries list it as a private day school; the official site does not describe on‑site boarding.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school's public webpages do not publish a detailed Special Educational Needs (SEN) programme. Its website does emphasise small classes and a mentor/tutor system, which may offer additional pastoral support, but parents seeking formal SEN provision, assessments or external‑therapy arrangements should contact Admissions for current details.
Additional learning support
The school operates a Student Support/Student Support Services structure and states in its admissions information that it accepts students with mild learning disabilities and certain physical disabilities, with placements considered case‑by‑case. Elementary facilities listed on the site (for example a sensory room) indicate specific resources used in support and inclusion.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school is a Chinese school based in Beijing and is not presented as affiliated to another country.
Country affiliation
CISB follows a Canadian curriculum in partnership with the New Brunswick provincial system and presents itself as a Canadian international school on its website. The school combines that Canadian curriculum with the IB continuum (PYP/MYP/DP).
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is indicated on the school's public materials.
Religious affiliation
The school does not list any religious affiliation on its public materials and presents itself as a secular international school. No faith or religious denomination is indicated on the official site.
School day structure
School day structure
The school runs a full‑day programme; specific start and finish times are not published on the main site. The school's recent notices show after‑school elective/club sessions commonly run around 15:50–17:00, and admissions information notes workday boarding and meals are included for boarding pupils. For precise daily times by age group, contact Admissions.
School day structure
Division‑specific schedules are published for families (for example through the Parent Portal and the Student/Parent handbooks), and the school calendar shows regular school days plus occasional early dismissals. School transport timings on the site indicate buses arrive around 8:00–8:10 a.m. and regular dismissal is mid/late afternoon (see bus times below); for exact start/end times by division check the school's Student Handbook or contact Admissions.
Bus service details
Bus service details
There is no clear school‑bus timetable or provider information published on the public website. Prospective parents should ask Admissions about whether a dedicated school bus route is available for their neighbourhood, how routes and stops are organised, and whether bus supervision or third‑party providers are used. Contact details are available on the school's admissions pages.
Bus service details
CISB operates an on‑site school bus service; the school says its fleet typically arrives at campus each morning around 8:00–8:10 a.m. and departs after school at about 3:45 p.m. (Mon–Thurs) and 2:45 p.m. (Friday). A later bus for after‑school activities is available (about 4:45 p.m. Mon–Thurs and 3:45 p.m. Friday); most stops serve north‑east Beijing and the school will consider new stops when there is sufficient demand. The school lists a dedicated bus email and phone extension for enquiries and publishes a bus policy and stop/fee details.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application fees - One‑time application fee: RMB 800 (listed on registration pages). - Some agent listings show an application fee of USD 150; that agent page also labels the application fee as non‑refundable.
Tuition fees by year group (per term and per year) - Elementary (per term): RMB 45,000. Annual equivalent: RMB 90,000. - Junior & Senior High (per term): RMB 48,000. Annual equivalent: RMB 96,000. - Fees are presented both on a per‑term basis (per the school/registration listing) and as annual totals in agent/school fee summaries.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Published fee lines show per‑term charges and annual totals; the application fee is a one‑time charge at application. Specific due‑date calendar, installment deadlines, late‑payment penalties, and automatic billing terms are not specified on the public fee listings consulted.
Boarding fees (if applicable) - Accommodation is listed as on‑campus; the published school fees state they include workday boarding and meals for day and boarding pupils. No separate line item for a mandatory weekly or full‑boarding surcharge is shown in the cited fee information.
Other costs and fees - Textbooks, campus clinic services, and basic accident & medical insurance are included in the listed school fees. - Some agent pages show an additional service/processing fee (example: USD 50). Costs for uniforms, transport (bus), extra‑curricular program fees, deposits, or equipment fees are not itemized in the fee summaries reviewed.
Refund information - A school‑level refund policy or detailed refund schedule is not published in the fee summaries and registration material reviewed; the agent listing notes the application fee as non‑refundable. No other refund terms were located in the referenced fee pages.
Fee payment options - Fees are quoted in RMB (and shown in USD on some agent pages). Public pages reviewed do not specify exact accepted payment methods (bank transfer, credit card, online portal). Agent listings indicate payments can be handled in USD for international applicants but do not list precise payment channels on the fee summary pages.
Fee details
*Application fees* - The school operates an online application process; the publicly available pages do not list a fixed application fee amount for new applicants. Parents will be required to submit an application through the school's admissions system.
*Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)* - A detailed grade-by-grade tuition table for the current academic year is not published on the public School Fees page. CISB publishes a formal Tuition Fee Schedule and individual invoices to families (the public site indicates fee schedules are issued as part of re-enrolment/package information). Exact per-term and per-year tuition figures are provided to enrolled families and on official fee documents.
*Billing schedule and payment terms* - The school uses an invoicing and re-enrolment timetable; historical re-enrolment notices show an early-bird deadline and fixed withdrawal deadlines by term (examples cited for 2023–24: early-bird deadline and term withdrawal cut-off dates). Formal payment dates, discounts and the term-by-term billing schedule are issued on the school's fee/invoice documents to families.
*Boarding fees (if applicable)* - CISB's public programme listings (Early Years through High School, plus student life pages) do not include a boarding/residential programme; no boarding fees are published because boarding is not presented as an offered option.
*Other costs and typical additional fees* - Uniforms and sports wear are sold via the CISB School Shop (online purchases via the school's Yoopay link); uniform costs are charged to families through that shop. Summer-camp, after‑school activities, enrichment courses and special programmes carry separate fees (examples and rates for summer programmes are published on the site). Additional common charges include student bus service, meals and trip/excursion fees; amounts are detailed in the school's fee documents.
*Refund information* - The school's re‑enrolment materials reference withdrawal deadlines and a formal refund/withdrawal policy included with invoices and re-enrolment packages; refund rules and any applicable penalties are set out in those official documents provided to families. A sample set of term withdrawal dates and early-bird arrangements are shown in re-enrolment notices.
*Fee payment options* - The website and school shop reference online payment through Yoopay and the Parent Portal; the school issues invoices to families and uses its payment platforms for transactions. Bank transfer or local electronic payment methods are commonly used via those systems (Yoopay/Parent Portal are referenced).
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Beijing New Talent Academy (北京市新英才学校) is a 15‑year continuous school offering kindergarten through high school; its programme blends China's national curriculum with school‑based and integrated courses and multiple international pathways. The kindergarten runs an “爱与创造” thematic bilingual programme with English led by foreign teachers alongside character, physical and exploratory courses. The primary years follow the national curriculum while adding personalised elective tracks in STEM, arts, language and sports. The junior secondary (grades 7–9) retains the national curriculum as core and uses a “必修+选修+社团” model to strengthen subject foundations, study skills and preparation for international competitions. In senior secondary the school keeps domestic high‑school (高考) courses as the core and offers multiple international qualification routes — IGCSE and A‑Level, AP, Canadian (BC) courses, Hong Kong DSE and specialised international art pathways — giving students both domestic and overseas university exit options.
Curriculum details
Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) delivers a New Brunswick (Canadian) curriculum taught within the International Baccalaureate framework and is authorized to offer the PYP, MYP and DP. Early Years (6 months–5 years) includes a Montessori nursery and early-years programming that prepares children for the Primary Years Programme. Elementary School (Grades 1–5) follows the IB Primary Years Programme. Middle School (Grades 6–8) comprises the first three years of the five-year MYP (MYP covers Grades 6–10) and teaches the eight MYP subject groups, including Language & Literature, Language Acquisition (Mandarin or French), Mathematics, Sciences, Individuals & Societies, Design, The Arts and Physical & Health Education. High School (Grades 9–12) provides senior secondary courses with the two-year IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12, and students who complete the IB Diploma at CISB also qualify for the New Brunswick High School Diploma.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Prepare and submit the application form and required documents. Parents should complete the school's international application form (available from the school's admissions office or website) and include a recent passport photo. The school requires the applicant's passport (original for inspection and a photocopy), current visa or residence permit, and the previous school's transcript and conduct report in Chinese or English (sealed or signed). These document requirements and the application timelines are described on the school's admissions pages; check the latest version before you apply.
2. Note application timing and fees. The school's published windows for external intake have historically included a fall and a spring intake (examples cited: April 15–Aug 25 for fall and Nov 15–Feb 20 for spring), and there is a one‑time application fee (sources show either RMB ¥800 or an equivalent USD application charge listed by third‑party agents — confirm the current amount with the school). Parents should plan to submit materials early in the window because testing and interviews are arranged in application order.
3. Testing and interview / placement. After documents are received, students are normally scheduled for a written test and an interview; the school evaluates language level and academic knowledge to place students into the appropriate track (domestic class, Cambridge/IGCSE–A Level, or AP pathways). Parents should expect the school to use test results plus transcripts and interview performance to determine grade placement and whether additional language support or bridging is required. If you have recent standardized test scores or school reports in English or Chinese, bring them to the interview to help placement.
4. Admissions decision and seat reservation. The school issues an offer after review of tests and materials; offers commonly require a timely reply and payment of a deposit or registration fee to hold the place. Parents should ask at the time of the offer about the amount and refund conditions of any deposit, the full tuition payment schedule, and what is included in the tuition package (for example, published information states tuition usually covers textbooks, campus clinic, basic accident/medical insurance, and weekday boarding/meals). Keep written confirmation of dates and amounts.
5. Visa, residence permit and health checks. For non‑Chinese nationals, the school will need copies of the student's passport and visa/residence permit; parents should start visa procedures early and confirm any school‑issued documents needed for a student X‑ or S‑type visa or residence permit. Also check China's current entry, medical check, and vaccination requirements for school enrollment — some elements (health checks or medical records) are typically part of registration. Ask the admissions office which documents they will return and which they will retain for records.
6. Boarding, daily logistics and orientation. If the student will board, parents should confirm boarding fees (if separate), rooming policy, what meals are included, and the school's weekend/holiday procedures. The school publishes that tuition packages for boarding students have covered weekday boarding and meals in prior descriptions, but boarding rules, curfew, laundry, and supervision details change — request a boarding handbook and sample weekly timetable. Attend the orientation meeting so you and your child understand the school routines, health services, and disciplinary code.
7. Curriculum track selection and internal priorities. The school operates multiple curricular tracks (Chinese domestic curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE/A Level and AP pathways); in some centers the school gives priority to internal students for places in specific centers and then opens remaining places to external applicants. Parents should ask which track the offer refers to, whether the student will “join a domestic class” or an international center class, and what the expectations are for language and exam preparation. If your child aims for a particular program (IGCSE/A Level or AP), request the program start date and any preparatory course recommendations.
8. Final enrollment and annual re‑registration. After payment and registration, expect an annual re‑registration process (schools with scholarship programmes and competitive tracks often require reapplication for scholarships and revalidation of status each year). Keep copies of receipts and the school's enrollment agreement, and confirm refund and withdrawal deadlines in writing in case your family circumstances change. For anything not clearly stated online, contact the admissions office directly for a written clarification before you sign.
Admissions
1. Once you inquire, the school assigns a dedicated Admissions Officer who will guide you through paperwork, tours, and next steps; keep that officer's contact details for follow-up. Parents should be ready to explain the child's current school placement, intended start date, and any learning-support needs during this stage.
2. Visit — The Admissions Officer will offer an on-campus visit or a virtual meeting so your family can view facilities and meet staff. During the visit you can ask specifically about how CISB integrates the IB programmes with the New Brunswick (Canada) curriculum and how the school supports transitions from other curricula. If you cannot visit in person, request a virtual tour and ask for sample timetables, examples of student work, and a description of typical class sizes (average 18–20; maximum 25).
3. Application — Complete the OpenApply application and upload all required documents listed on CISB's Application Checklist (two full years of school reports notarized and translated into English, confidential school reference for Grade 1+, passport and visa copies for student and parents, birth certificate, medical insurance proof, completed Enrollment Agreement and Health Questionnaire). A non-refundable application fee of RMB 2,000 is required when you submit the application; keep receipts and record the OpenApply application ID. Parents should ensure transcripts are full (all terms/semesters), officially notarized and translated where necessary — incomplete or non-notarized records delay review.
4. Assessment & Interview — After documents are reviewed, CISB schedules the appropriate assessment(s), observation and an interview (often a Principal interview) for the student and family. English language ability is measured with the WIDA assessment across Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing (levels 1–6); there are minimum English proficiency requirements from Grade 5 upward, so check FAQs for grade-specific thresholds. Be prepared to provide recent school reports and, where relevant, samples of work or teacher references; if your child needs additional language support, discuss available EAL/learning-support options during the interview.
5. Decision & Enrollment — CISB reviews each application holistically (academic records, assessments, interview and references) and aims to notify families within 1–3 working days after assessment completion (allow 5–7 working days in peak periods). The school operates rolling admissions and class placement depends on seat availability; note that applications received in March or later for Pre‑School and Elementary may require Principal approval and could be deferred to the next academic year. Once accepted you will be asked to return the signed Enrollment Agreement and follow the school's payment and registration instructions — confirm deadlines and refund/withdrawal dates with Admissions to avoid losing a place.
Note on tuition/fees: CISB's full tuition schedule is published on the School Fees / Tuition page; the application fee of RMB 2,000 is specifically listed in the application checklist. Independent fee aggregators (which mirror published school figures) list per-grade annual tuition ranges for 2025–26 (for example, total first‑year costs and annual tuition by grade). Tuition amounts can change year to year — contact admissions to request the official current fee schedule, payment options, and details about extras (bus, meals, ASA, uniform).
Scholarships
Scholarships
The school operates several scholarship mechanisms and a formal internal scholarship application process. The school's published scholarship page describes academic scholarships for current students (awarded in grades 9–11 to offset the next academic year's tuition) and a graduate scholarship that, for qualifying 12th‑grade students who receive formal offers from specified universities, refunds the 12th‑grade tuition for that year. Scholarship awards are administered by a scholarship review committee; applications require supporting documents (official test scores or language exam results, school transcripts, a personal statement, recommendation letters, and certificates of awards) and must be submitted by the stated deadline (the school page lists June 30 for some internal applications). Scholarships granted by the school are applied as reductions against tuition and normally require annual reapplication or review to continue.
There are also merit‑based entrance and enrolment scholarships reported in education outlets and school admission summaries (examples include tiered fee waivers tied to specific exam score cutoffs reported for some intake years). These third‑party reports indicate the school has, at times, offered full or partial fee waivers to very high‑scoring applicants, but the exact score bands, amount of fee waiver, and whether such schemes apply to a given intake year vary and are not always formalized on the main English admissions pages — treat those reports as indicative and verify the current policy directly with admissions. For the clearest, up‑to‑date information about available awards, the review committee's criteria, application deadlines and required documents, contact the school's scholarship or admissions office (emails and phone contacts are listed on the school site and admissions listings).
Scholarships
CISB runs an internal Scholarship and Bobcat Grants programme that is intended primarily for current CISB students (awards are credited to tuition for the stated academic year). For 2025–2026 the school has allocated up to RMB 3,000,000 across Scholarships and Bobcat Grants; Scholarship categories include Academic Scholarships (examples published include up to RMB 200,000 for IB/NB Diploma students and RMB 100,000 for Grades 9–12), CISB Excellence Scholarships (for Leadership, STEM and the Arts) and Bobcat Grants (up to RMB 5,000 per student per trip for extracurricular team support). All awards require a formal application to the CISB Scholarship Committee with the documentation specified for each award; decisions are internal, final and applied as tuition credit for the stated year, so families should check deadlines, eligibility criteria, and whether new applicants (incoming students) may apply for particular scholarships.
Waitlist
Waitlist
Publicly available information does not show a formal, published “waitlist” process with a public queue number; instead, the school's external materials indicate that written tests and interviews are scheduled in the order applications arrive and that some internal students are given priority for places in particular centers. That phrasing implies offers are made by availability and merit rather than via a standardized online waitlist that publishes rank or wait time. If a grade or program is full, families should ask admissions whether the school keeps an internal pool of alternates, how long that pool typically lasts, and whether a deposit or reply deadline would convert an alternate status into a confirmed place. Because practices can change from year to year, I recommend contacting the admissions office directly to learn the school's current policy for the cohort and grade you are applying to.
Waitlist
CISB does operate a waiting‑list system when a grade level is full. Accepted students for whom no place is immediately available are placed on the waiting list in strict chronological order based on the date their application was completed. The school applies priority criteria when offering places from the waiting list; priority groups explicitly include Canadian Embassy staff, CISB alumni/returning students and siblings of current students — if you think you may fit a priority category, notify Admissions and supply supporting documentation. When a space becomes available CISB will offer it according to that order; parents should confirm with Admissions how long waitlist offers remain open and whether any deposit or re-confirmation is required.