Canadian International School of Beijing vs The British School of Beijing Shunyi

	C Canadian International School of Beijing Beijing, China	T The British School of Beijing Shunyi Beijing, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 135,500 - 336,800	Fees / year RMB 165,000 - 361,100
Age range	Age range 6 months - 18 years	Age range 1½ - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Canadian Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Montessori Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), German Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 1,400	Pupils 1,100
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 11
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, German
Opened	Opened 2005	Opened 2009
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	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.	Location The school is situated at No. 9 An Hua Street in the Shunyi District, a popular suburban area approximately 25 kilometers northeast of central Beijing. This neighbourhood is often described as an "expat oasis," known for its family-friendly residential compounds and proximity to the Capital International Airport.
Stages	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.	Stages The school is divided into Early Years (ages 18 months to 5 years), Primary School (ages 5 to 11), and Secondary School (ages 11 to 18). The Secondary stage culminates in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for students aged 16 to 18.
School type	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.	School type The British School of Beijing, Shunyi is a co-educational day school. It does not offer boarding facilities.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	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.	Additional learning support The school offers dedicated assistance through its Learning Support and English as an Additional Language (EAL) departments. The EAL programme helps students access the English-taught curriculum through personalised support, which can range from one-on-one tutoring to integrated in-class assistance.
Country affiliation	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).	Country affiliation The school is affiliated with the British education system, following the English National Curriculum and offering IGCSEs. Uniquely, it also provides a German Primary Programme for native German speakers to study core subjects in their home language.
Religious affiliation	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.	Religious affiliation The school does not have a religious affiliation and welcomes families from all cultural and religious backgrounds.
School day structure	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.	School day structure The school day typically begins with registration around 8:25 am, with lessons starting at 8:40 am. The day concludes at 3:30 pm, after which students may depart or attend optional co-curricular activities.
Bus service details	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.	Bus service details An optional bus service is available for students, covering major residential compounds in Shunyi and downtown Beijing. Regular buses depart the school at 3:40 pm, and a late bus service is available for Secondary students participating in after-school activities.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	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).	Fee details Application and Registration Application Fee: RMB 2,500. This is a non-refundable fee required with every application submitted. Security Deposit: RMB 16,000. This is payable to secure a school place once the student has been accepted. Tuition Fees The tuition fees are payable annually or split by term. The termly breakdown is as follows: Pre-Nursery (Mornings): Autumn Term: RMB 66,000 Spring Term: RMB 49,500 Summer Term: RMB 49,500 Full Year Total: RMB 165,000 Pre-Nursery (Full Day), Nursery and Reception Autumn Term: RMB 99,000 Spring Term: RMB 74,000 Summer Term: RMB 74,000 Full Year Total: RMB 247,000 Year 1 and Year 2 Autumn Term: RMB 117,600 Spring Term: RMB 88,000 Summer Term: RMB 88,000 Full Year Total: RMB 293,600 Year 3 Autumn Term: RMB 123,000 Spring Term: RMB 92,000 Summer Term: RMB 92,000 Full Year Total: RMB 307,000 Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 Autumn Term: RMB 124,600 Spring Term: RMB 93,400 Summer Term: RMB 93,400 Full Year Total: RMB 311,400 Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 Autumn Term: RMB 132,400 Spring Term: RMB 99,300 Summer Term: RMB 99,300 Full Year Total: RMB 331,000 Year 10 and Year 11 Autumn Term: RMB 141,400 Spring Term: RMB 105,900 Summer Term: RMB 105,900 Full Year Total: RMB 353,200 Year 12 and Year 13 Autumn Term: RMB 144,500 Spring Term: RMB 108,300 Summer Term: RMB 108,300 Full Year Total: RMB 361,100 Additional Costs EAL Charge: A one-off charge of RMB 20,000 applies to students required to join additional English support lessons. Bus Service: Optional service arranged on request. Annual fees range from RMB 17,000 to RMB 21,200 depending on distance. Uniform: All students must wear the uniform and P.E. kit, which can be purchased from the school uniform shop. Examinations: Fees for Year 10 and above include entrance fees for examinations in accordance with the curriculum. Billing Schedule and Payment Terms Due Dates: Tuition fees must be paid on or before the first day of the academic year or term. Early Bird Discount: A discount applies if the full year fees are paid by 6th June 2025. This discount becomes invalid if a student withdraws during the year. Payment Methods: Payments can be made via bank transfer to the school's Bank of China account. If paying in foreign currency, the exchange rate is based on the Bank of China middle rate at the time of payment, and all bank charges must be borne by the remitter. Refund Information Security Deposit: Fully refundable when the student leaves the school, provided all accounts are settled, school property is returned, and required written notice is submitted. Application Fee: Non-refundable.
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 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.	Curriculum details The school follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for its youngest students, moving into the English National Curriculum for Primary and Lower Secondary education. Uniquely, the school offers a German Primary Programme that allows native German speakers to study core subjects in their home language alongside the English curriculum. At the Upper Secondary level (ages 14-16), students prepare for and sit the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations. For the final two years in the Sixth Form (ages 16-18), the school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) as its pre-university qualification.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. 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).	Admissions 1. Make an Enquiry: Parents are encouraged to start the process by submitting an online enquiry form, sending an email, or calling the admissions team directly to express interest. 2. Discover Our School: Families are invited to visit the campus either in person or virtually to meet the academic team, ask questions, and share their specific educational needs. 3. Apply for a Place: Parents must submit an online application form along with supporting documents; depending on the child's age, the school may also request further references and an assessment to ensure the right class placement. 4. Application Review: The school Principal reviews the completed application, after which the admissions team contacts the family to confirm the admissions status and outline the next steps for enrolment.
Scholarships	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.	Scholarships The school does not explicitly list academic or talent-based scholarships for incoming students.
Waitlist	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.	Waitlist The school does not explicitly detail a specific "waitlist" or "pool" system policy. However, they do note that students are placed in year groups according to their date of birth, academic level, and language ability, and that they accept applications throughout the school year.
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