Beijing Royal School vs Harrow International School Beijing
Beijing Royal School and Harrow International School Beijing are both in Beijing, about 12 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge IGCSE programmes. Beijing Royal School also offers Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge A Levels, IB and Canadian, and Harrow International School Beijing also offers British, IPC and Australian. Published annual fees are RMB 66,000 - 240,000 at Beijing Royal School and RMB 228,600 - 356,600 at Harrow International School Beijing, which puts Harrow International School Beijing roughly 91% higher. Both take pupils from 2 to 18. Beijing Royal School is the larger school, with around 2,500 pupils to Harrow International School Beijing's 1,500. Typical class sizes are 25 at Beijing Royal School and 20 at Harrow International School Beijing.
Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Canadian Curriculum
Curriculum
British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, Australian Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
2,500
Pupils
1,500
Typical class size
Typical class size
25
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English, Mandarin
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
1996
Opened
2005
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Beijing Royal School (BRS) is on a large campus in Changping District at No.11 Wangfu Street (postcode 102209). The school is north of the Olympic Village and reachable by Beijing Metro Line 5 (Tiantongyuan North) with a transfer to the rapid bus line 3; the school provides driving directions from the North Fifth Ring and the G6 expressway.
Location
Harrow Beijing's main (Hegezhuang) campus is in Hegezhuang Village, Cuigezhuang, Chaoyang District, Beijing (No. 287 Hegezhuang Village). The school publishes a separate City Campus for very early years; admissions materials list campus addresses and practical travel information.
Stages
Stages
BRS is a K–12 school with four divisions: kindergarten, primary (including an IB PYP stream), middle/junior high and senior/high school; each division runs its own programmes and admissions. The school offers multiple international pathways at the upper levels (A-Level, IB Diploma, AP/OSSD and similar options).
Stages
The school accepts students aged about 2–18 and is organised into Kindergarten/Lower School (Pre‑Prep), Prep (Years 2–6) and Upper School (Prep, Senior and Sixth Form / Years 7–13).
School type
School type
BRS is a co-educational private school that operates as a boarding school while also accommodating day students. Lower grades can be day students (with boarding available if needed) and senior grades are generally expected or encouraged to board; the school publishes dormitory facilities and boarding routines.
School type
Harrow Beijing is an international, co‑educational school for Chinese and foreign pupils (ages 2–18). The school's public pages describe day programmes across the phases; boarding is not described on the Harrow Beijing site (note: some other AISL Harrow schools do offer boarding). For confirmation about boarding options contact admissions.
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 publishes an inclusion (融合/‘Inclusion') department for primary years and an Inclusion Policy, and describes differentiated and layered teaching, bilingual support and personalised learning pathways; parents are advised to contact Student Services/Admissions for specifics and assessment arrangements.
Additional learning support
Harrow Beijing has a Learning Support Department with a full‑time Learning Support Coordinator in both Lower and Upper School, dedicated intervention teachers, and access‑arrangement support for external exams; the team works with families, teachers and external specialists including an educational psychologist.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
BRS is a Beijing-based (China) private school; it is part of the Fazheng Group and delivers international curricula rather than being formally affiliated to a foreign government or embassy.
Country affiliation
Harrow Beijing is part of the Harrow family and the AISL Harrow Schools network; it traces its heritage to Harrow School in London.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school does not list any religious affiliation on its public information pages; its materials present a secular, international curriculum focus.
Religious affiliation
The school's public information does not identify a religious affiliation; pastoral provision is presented as non‑denominational and focused on wellbeing and safeguarding.
School day structure
School day structure
Daily schedules vary by division; the primary division reports an 8:20 start for lessons (adjusted under recent national ‘double reduction' guidance), with a one-hour lunch/nap period and structured boarding routines (boarding students commonly wake around 07:00 and have a lights-out time around 21:00). Exact start/end times and after-school services differ by year group and are provided in division-specific timetables.
School day structure
Morning care (Breakfast Club) is available; a parent newsletter notes breakfast‑club drop‑off from about 07:05 with students heading to class shortly before 08:00. Typical published school‑day times used in school listings are roughly 08:00 to mid/late afternoon (around 16:30), but exact start/finish times and after‑school activity schedules vary by year group and are given in the school handbook.
Bus service details
Bus service details
BRS operates organised student bus services and partners with certified school-transport providers; the primary division publishes multiple dedicated routes, safety specifications for the vehicles, and an assigned staff member on each bus. The school also runs scheduled boarding-student shuttle lines (detailed pick-up/drop-off times and routes are listed on the primary/boarding pages). Parents should contact the primary office for current route maps, daily times and registration.
Bus service details
The school offers a school‑bus service; route maps, timings, fees and the transport provider are described in the Admissions Information Centre and the school handbook (the admissions team handles route allocation). For current routes, pick‑up points or to register for transport contact admissions by phone or email.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application / registration fees
- The school's published admissions pages do not list a universal application or registration fee amount for general applicants; no formal application fee is published on the school's online application or admissions Q&A pages.
Tuition fees by year group (breakdown available from the school)
- High School (Senior High): RMB 232,000 per year to RMB 252,000 per year (range varies by curriculum stream). Annual amounts are published; a per-term (semester) breakdown is not published on the school pages.
- Middle School (Junior High): RMB 203,000 per year. A per-term breakdown is not published on the school pages.
- Primary School (Elementary): RMB 119,000 per year to RMB 155,000 per year (varies by class/type). Per-term amounts are not listed on the school pages.
- Kindergarten: RMB 6,800 per month to RMB 11,000 per month (some Montessori/international classes listed at higher monthly rates). Tuition is presented on a monthly basis for kindergarten; no official per-term kindergarten schedule is published on the admissions pages.
Boarding fees and boarding arrangements
- The school operates as a boarding-capable campus and recommends boarding for senior grades. The school's public pages describe boarding practice (weekend leave arrangements and that lower grades may commute) but do not publish a standard boarding-fee figure on the admissions or fee pages. Any specific boarding-rate schedule (weekly/monthly/annual boarding fee) is not shown on the publicly available admissions materials.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school's published materials present tuition as annual (or monthly for kindergarten) figures but do not publish a full billing schedule or standard payment-term table (for example: number of instalments, due dates, or late-payment penalties) on the admissions or online-application pages. Families should note that only annual/monthly fee amounts are listed publicly.
Other costs and typical additional fees (from published school-directory summaries and admissions notes)
- Uniforms and school materials: third-party school-directory summaries list typical uniform costs in ranges (examples published externally indicate roughly RMB 880–2,500 for uniforms), but a specific official uniform-price list is not provided on the school's public admissions pages.
- Transport (school bus): third-party listings show annual or termly bus fees as an additional cost (examples published externally include ranges such as RMB 1,400–8,500 depending on route/type). The school's public admissions pages note campus transport options but do not publish a standard transport-fee schedule.
- Examination, testing and external exam fees: the school is a test centre for many external exams (AP, A‑Level, IB, TOEFL/IELTS, etc.). Candidates should expect exam-registration and external marking fees for these qualifications in addition to tuition. Specific exam fees are set by the exam bodies and are not shown as part of the tuition figures on the school's admissions pages.
Refunds and deposits
- The school's publicly available admissions pages and online application form do not publish a standard refund policy, deposit amounts, or how refunds are processed (for example deposit refund terms or prorated refunds on withdrawal). No formal refund schedule is shown in the public admissions materials.
Accepted payment methods and practical payment information
- The school's public admissions pages and the online application form provide contact details for admissions and finance enquiries but do not list specific accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, credit card, or other channels) or bank details on the public pages.
Notes on what is and is not published
- Published, load-bearing fee figures available from the school are the annual (or kindergarten monthly) tuition rates listed above. The school's public admissions and brochure pages do not publish a full itemised fee schedule covering application/registration fees, per-term billing tables, boarding fee amounts, deposit/refund rules, uniform price lists, or explicit payment-method instructions. Third-party school directories reproduce the tuition figures and list additional typical costs (uniforms, bus) in ranges; those third-party figures are summarized above where available.
Summary (practical points for a parent)
- Tuition is published by division as annual amounts (high school, middle school, primary) or monthly for kindergarten; use RMB figures shown above for budgeting. - The school does not publish per-term billing breakdowns, a standard application fee, boarding-price schedule, refund policy, or payment methods in its publicly available admissions materials; these items are therefore to be confirmed directly with the school's admissions/finance office.
Fee details
Application fee - Registration (application) fee: RMB 3,500, payable once at the point of application.
Tuition fees (annual and per term, by year group) - Pre-Nursery (Pre-N): Tuition RMB 228,600 per year — approximately RMB 76,200 per term (if split equally into three terms). - Nursery: Tuition RMB 228,600 per year — approximately RMB 76,200 per term. - Reception: Tuition RMB 259,600 per year — approximately RMB 86,533 per term. - Year 1: Tuition RMB 282,600 per year — approximately RMB 94,200 per term. - Year 2: Tuition RMB 295,800 per year — approximately RMB 98,600 per term. - Year 3 & Year 4: Tuition RMB 305,800 per year — approximately RMB 101,933 per term. - Year 5: Tuition RMB 306,800 per year — approximately RMB 102,267 per term. - Year 6: Tuition RMB 309,800 per year — approximately RMB 103,267 per term. - Year 7 & Year 8: Tuition RMB 321,600 per year — approximately RMB 107,200 per term. - Year 9, Year 10 & Year 11: Tuition RMB 336,000 per year — approximately RMB 112,000 per term. - Year 12 & Year 13: Tuition RMB 356,600 per year — approximately RMB 118,867 per term.
Note: the per-term figures above are simple equal one‑third divisions of the published annual tuition and are provided for planning purposes; check the school's billing schedule for exact instalment amounts and due dates.
Billing schedule and payment terms - The registration fee is payable at application. An Acceptance Form must be returned and a small advance payment of tuition is required to secure a place after an offer is made. Payments are to be made to the school's bank account (Hang Seng Bank Beijing — account: Harrow International School Beijing; Account Number: 531031680020).
Boarding fees - Harrow Beijing operates as a day school (no boarding provision listed); there are no boarding fees for this campus.
Other costs and fees - English Intensive class: some year groups offer an English Intensive class that incurs additional fees. - School uniform: all students must wear school uniform; uniforms are purchased by parents according to the school's uniform guide. - School bus: a school bus network is available; parents should contact Admissions for bus routes and fees. - Canteen (lunch): the school provides a canteen service; separate meal charges apply (sample lunch menu published by the school).
Refund information - The registration fee is charged at application and is stated as payable once; the admissions materials do not specify a general refund of the registration fee. The school's formal fee and refund terms appear in the full fee or parent handbook documents.
Fee payment options - Bank transfer to the school's Hang Seng Bank Beijing account is provided (bank details published). The school uses an online admissions portal (OpenApply) for applications and enrolment procedures. For other accepted payment methods and any applicable bank/transaction charges, follow the school's payment instructions.
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
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Beijing Royal School operates several international pathways by school stage: the primary section uses the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) delivered in a bilingual immersion model. The middle school follows the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and also prepares students for Cambridge IGCSE within the school's Cambridge K‑12 framework. Upper secondary students have multiple qualification routes: the school is authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) and also runs Cambridge AS/A‑Level and a large AP programme, so students may follow IBDP, A‑Level or AP tracks. The BRS AP page lists many specific AP subjects (for example Calculus AB/BC, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, English, economics and Chinese) and states the school is an early AP adopter and an AP teaching demonstration school. Across all stages the school describes a blend of national curriculum content with international programmes (IB, Cambridge, AP and AQA), publishes subject‑level lists and assessment policies, and emphasises bilingual delivery and age‑appropriate assessment.
Curriculum details
Harrow Beijing runs a values‑led programme from Early Years to Sixth Form: Early Years (ages 3–5) follow the AISL Harrow Early Years Curriculum (AHEYC) / Little Lions kindergarten framework. In Primary (Years 1–6) the school teaches the English National Curriculum integrated with the International Primary Curriculum, with daily Mandarin, Expressive Arts and a specialist emphasis on PE and outdoor education. The Prep phase (Years 7–8) provides a broad foundation across subjects to prepare students for Upper School. In the Senior Phase (Years 9–11) students consolidate learning and are prepared to sit GCSE/IGCSE examinations in Year 11. The Sixth Form (Years 12–13) follows a two‑year A‑Level programme (with options for a three‑year pathway) and Harrow Beijing lists A‑Level subjects including Art, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design Technology, Economics, Mandarin, Further Mathematics, English Literature, Geography, History, Mathematics, Media Studies, Music, Physics, Psychology and Theatre Studies, plus EPQ and other enrichment awards.
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. Inquiry & first contact — Start by submitting the school's online application or contacting the admissions office to request a campus visit, counseling session or Open Day. The school's English online application form is available on the BRS website; it also lists upcoming events (campus tours, 1:1 counselling) that parents can book. Parents should note the application form asks for current school, current grade and the grade the student is applying for, so have those details ready when you start.
2. Submit an application and request a document checklist — After the online form, the admissions office will confirm next steps and the documents required for the student's year/grade. BRS does not publish one universal printable checklist for every grade on the public pages, so parents should ask admissions for the exact document list (typical items schools request include recent school reports/transcripts, passport or ID, proof of residence, and health/immunization records). Requesting the checklist early avoids delays and lets you prepare certified translations if needed.
3. Entrance assessment and interview — BRS arranges written assessments (English and mathematics are mentioned as core tests) and an interview that evaluates oral English, independent thinking and subject-level readiness; scores are used as a reference alongside the whole-application review. The school runs its own entrance examinations and schedules interviews; for some international-program pathways there may also be oral interviews or program-specific tasks. Parents should prepare the child for short subject tests and an in-person or online interview, and confirm whether a local test centre or remote option is available.
4. Program placement, pathway options and scholarship screening — Admissions places students into the appropriate division and curriculum track (kindergarten, primary, junior high, senior high with AP/A-Level/IB/OSSD tracks). Some programs (for example the Canada pathway) advertise early admissions if a student passes the school's examinations and also list merit scholarship awards for qualifying candidates; BRS also advertises “excellent new-student” and “outstanding graduate” scholarships with separate application or selection rules. Parents should clarify which curriculum track the student is being assessed for and whether any scholarship application forms or deadlines apply to their child's cohort.
5. Offer, deposit and fee schedule — If the application is successful the school issues an offer letter that will state the tuition amount, any conditional scholarships, and the deposit or payment schedule required to secure the place. BRS publishes tuition bands by division (examples: senior high ~RMB 220,000–240,000 per year depending on curriculum; junior high ~RMB 191,000 per year; primary ~RMB 119,000–155,000 per year; kindergarten by-class monthly rates). Parents should check the offer for whether the quoted amount is tuition-only (additional items such as insurance, uniform, meals, trips, exam/registration fees and refundable deposits can apply) and confirm payment deadlines and refund rules.
6. Enrollment logistics (boarding, visa and health requirements) — The school is a boarding-capable campus and recommends boarding for senior grades; junior grades can commute. Non-Beijing-resident students are accepted, and international families should ask admissions about the school's support for visa paperwork, health checks, vaccination records and weekend boarding arrangements. Confirm arrival dates, orientation schedules and whether the school requires specific medical forms or local guardianship arrangements for overseas students.
7. Transfers, late entry and ongoing communication — BRS accepts transfer/inserted students year-round subject to available places; the admissions office schedules transfer testing and will place students according to seat availability. If you are applying mid-year, ask for current seat availability in the target grade, the expected timeline for testing and results, and whether the student's prior curriculum requires bridging support. Maintain contact with the admissions or international programs office so you receive any grade-specific instructions (timetables, exam registrations, uniform lists) before your child starts.
Admissions
1. Initial enquiry and visit. During a visit or Open Day you will be shown the facilities, meet admissions/academic staff and have an opportunity to ask about year-group availability and programme detail. Parents who cannot visit can use the school's online resources (virtual tour, prospectus, videos) before applying.
2. Submit the online application and pay the registration fee. Applications are made through the school's online portal (harrowbeijing.openapply.cn) and the school charges a one‑time registration fee of 3,500 RMB payable at the point of application; the application should include required documents such as passport pages, recent school reports (two years), a teacher reference and photos. The Admissions Quick Guide lists exactly which documents are required and confirms the registration fee and online submission URL. Early application is recommended because demand is high and waiting-list priority is based on submission date.
3. School review, consultation and age placement. After you submit the application the Admissions team will review the documents and confirm the appropriate year group using the school's age-placement guide (placements follow dates of birth). Depending on the child's age and the year group applied for, the school may arrange a consultation, assessment or interview with academic staff; details and timing are set by the Admissions Office after they receive a completed application. Note that Harrow Beijing describes itself as academically selective; where academic requirements are not met or spaces are limited, this will affect the decision or placement offered.
4. Specific entry rules for older year groups. The school does not permit direct entry to Year 11 or Year 13 and does not permit entry to Year 10 or Year 12 after the October half‑term for that academic year—parents should plan timing accordingly if applying for those year groups. For applicants seeking direct entry into Year 12 (A Level), the school specifies academic prerequisites (a minimum of five GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above and Grade B or above in any intended A‑Level subject). If you are applying for a senior place, confirm the exact subject and examination equivalency requirements with Admissions.
5. Offer, acceptance and deposit timeline. If a place is offered the school will send a formal Offer and an Acceptance Form; parents are asked to sign and return the Acceptance Form and to make the advance payment of tuition fees by the deadline. The school typically guarantees a place for two weeks after an offer is made to allow return of the Acceptance Form and payment; if the acceptance and payment are not completed by the deadline the place may be offered to another applicant. For payment the Admissions Quick Guide gives bank details and requests clear name/year‑group references on transfers.
6. Fees, sibling discounts and other cost notes. Harrow Beijing publishes year‑by‑year tuition for the academic year (example: Pre‑Nursery and Nursery 228,600 RMB; Reception 259,600 RMB; Year 1 282,600 RMB; Year 9–11 336,000 RMB; Year 12–13 356,600 RMB for 2025–2026); the school also notes that certain year groups offer an English Intensive class that incurs additional fees. Sibling discounts are applied to the youngest child in order of birth (2nd child 5%, 3rd child 10%, 4th and subsequent 15%). Check the Tuition Fees document and the Admissions Quick Guide for the currently published year, and ask Admissions about any additional charges (bus, meals, uniforms, optional programmes).
7. Final preparation and start. Once the Acceptance Form is returned and the advance payment is processed, the school will confirm the enrolment and provide practical information (timetables, uniform, bus routes, canteen). Ensure that visas/permits (for international applicants) and any medical or other documentation requested are ready well before the start date. If no space is immediately available but your child meets entry requirements, the school will place them on a waiting list (see below).
Scholarships
Scholarships
BRS publishes several scholarship options and program-specific merit awards. The school's public pages refer to “excellent new-student” scholarships (noting that the new-student scholarship is specifically limited to Grade 10 applicants in some program materials) and an “outstanding graduate” scholarship that can be substantial; program pages (for example the Canada pathway) list merit scholarships ranging from RMB 10,000 up to RMB 150,000 for outstanding applicants. Scholarship awards are generally merit-based and tied to either entrance examination results, academic records (including results such as Zhongkao where applicable) or other program-specific selection criteria; parents should confirm whether scholarships are one-off tuition discounts, percentage reductions, or multi-year awards and whether there are renewal conditions (minimum GPA or conduct standards). Because the school's descriptions include program-specific language and amounts, ask admissions for the current scholarship rules, the application window, required supporting documents, and the deadline for accepting an offer once a scholarship is awarded.
Scholarships
Harrow Beijing runs scholarship programmes and also participates in larger AISL Harrow scholarship initiatives. The school's admissions pages and the Harrow Scholarship information note that Harrow Beijing has offered scholarships such as the AISL Scholarship, a 20th Anniversary Scholarship, and the 450 Scholarship in recent cycles; the AISL Harrow scholarship rounds have included fully funded (tuition‑free) two‑year A‑Level awards targeted at outstanding Sixth‑Form applicants. Scholarship programmes change from year to year (eligibility criteria, application windows, assessment dates and whether full or partial funding is offered), and the school's announcements give the specific application deadline and assessment/interview timetable for each competition (for example, an AISL Harrow scholarship round listed application and assessment dates for the 2025–27 cycle). For current scholarship offerings, eligibility rules and how to apply, contact the Admissions Office or refer to the Harrow Scholarship pages and the AISL Harrow scholarship portal linked from the school website.
Waitlist
Waitlist
BRS's public materials do not describe a formal, published waitlist or central ‘pool' process; instead the school states it accepts transfer or additional students throughout the year and that final admission depends on remaining grade capacity. In practice this means that if a grade is full parents should contact the admissions office to ask whether there is a short-notice opening or whether the school keeps inquiries on file for future vacancies. For the most reliable information, parents should ask admissions whether the school will (a) place an applicant on an internal waiting list; (b) hold completed applications pending a vacancy; or (c) recommend re-applying for the next intake — the public site asks families to contact admissions directly for placement and timing details.
Waitlist
Harrow Beijing operates a waiting‑list system. If an applicant meets the school's academic and social entry requirements but no places are available at the time of application, the student will be placed on a waiting list until a space becomes available. The Admissions Quick Guide states that priority on the waiting lists is determined by the date the completed application was submitted, which is why the school recommends early application. If you are placed on the list, contact Admissions to confirm your child's position and to update any changed circumstances or documents; Admissions can advise typical wait times for the specific year group.