Dulwich College Shanghai vs Shanghai American School

	Dulwich College Shanghai Shanghai, China	S Shanghai American School Shanghai, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 141,900 - 399,750	Fees / year RMB 246,000 - 304,100
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)	Curriculum Reggio Emilia Approach, IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP)
Pupils	Pupils 1,466	Pupils 2,900
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 18
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2003	Opened 1912
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Dulwich College Shanghai operates two campuses: the Pudong campus is in the Jinqiao area (main site at 266 Lan An Road; DUCKS Early Years nearby at 425 Lan An Road) and is roughly a 15‑minute walk from Lantian Road (Line 9) metro station; the Puxi campus is in Maqiao, Minhang District (2000 Qian Pu Jing Road). Both campus pages list site coordinates and travel guidance; car travel times to the Puxi campus typically range 25–45 minutes from central and popular residential districts and about 40–45 minutes from Hongqiao airport depending on traffic.	Location Two purpose-built campuses: Pudong (1600 Lingbai Road, Pudong) and Puxi (258 Jinfeng Road, Minhang). Both campuses are in residential parts of Shanghai with car- and taxi-access; Pudong campus is inside The Links community and has controlled vehicle access. For precise directions, campus maps and gate procedures see the school's campus access/contact pages.
Stages	Stages The College educates children from Toddlers (around age 2) through Year 13 and is organised as DUCKS (Early Years and the lower years), Junior School and Senior School. DUCKS covers the early‑years phase (approximately ages 2–7); Junior School covers the primary years (approximately ages 7–11 / Years 3–6) and Senior School covers secondary (approximately ages 11–18 / Years 7–13). Admissions and assessment procedures are published by year group on the school's admissions pages. Senior students follow IGCSEs and the IB Diploma Programme.	Stages SAS is a Pre‑K through Grade 12 school with Early Childhood (Pre‑K), Elementary, Middle and High School divisions. The high school offers pathways including Advanced Placement (AP) and the International Baccalaureate (IB).
School type	School type Dulwich College Shanghai is a co‑educational international day school for foreign‑passport families, part of the Dulwich College International network. Instruction is in English with Mandarin taught from the early years. Both campuses operate as day schools (no routine on‑site boarding); the College runs a separate short‑term residential programme (Ignite: Switzerland) for a specific year group.	School type Independent, non‑profit, co‑educational day school operating two PreK–12 campuses (no boarding provision listed). The school describes itself as an American‑style international school serving expatriate families.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The College provides English as an Additional Language (EAL) support and learning‑support provision and states it will enrol only students whose documented needs it can meet. Support includes in‑class and small‑group provision and named Learning Support staff; the school assesses previous reports as part of admissions. The Puxi campus describes its learning support as limited to pupils who can access the mainstream curriculum and does not offer a separate specialised additional curriculum.	Additional learning support SAS provides English language support/EAL and has dedicated Learning Support staff and student‑support roles across divisions; non‑native English speakers may be assessed (WIDA screener) and limited EAL places are available. The school and external reviews note support for mild-to-moderate needs but say admission and provision for severe or complex special educational needs (SEN) are handled case‑by‑case and may be limited. Families with specific SEN requirements are advised to discuss needs with Admissions before applying.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The College is part of the Dulwich College International family, founded in partnership with Dulwich College (London) and reflecting British origins and governance links to Dulwich College London. DCI schools are operated within the Education in Motion / EiM group (recent ownership changes are noted on DCI pages).	Country affiliation The school follows an American/international curriculum model (AP and American high‑school pathways) but is an independent international school rather than being officially affiliated with a single country's government.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The College is non‑denominational and does not have a religious affiliation.	Religious affiliation SAS is non‑sectarian and does not have a religious affiliation.
School day structure	School day structure Timings vary by age group. Published typical hours for the Pudong campus are: DUCKS 08:00–15:00; Junior School 08:00–15:30; Senior School 08:15–15:30. Puxi timing information shows early‑years sessions and a typical finish around mid‑to‑late afternoon (many year groups use a 15:30 finish); lunch times are staggered by age. The College runs after‑school co‑curricular activities and on some days offers a later bus for students staying for activities. Full daily routines and the school calendar are published on the campuses' routine and admissions pages.	School day structure Daily timings vary by division; the school handbook (elementary example) shows campuses open around 7:55 a.m. with student dismissal near 3:00 p.m., and division‑specific start/end times and break/lunch periods are used. Exact start/end times and any staggered schedules are confirmed by the school for each division and year.
Bus service details	Bus service details The College operates an optional, paid school bus service. Route maps, stop listings and enrolment details are published to parents; the Pudong pages list Main Campus and DUCKS routes and the Admissions team handles route enrolment. The Puxi campus operates its service via an in‑school Bus Service Team, makes routes available from around age 3 upwards, publishes pick‑up/drop‑off and contact details to registered families ahead of term start, and notes government safety certification and at least one bus monitor per vehicle; routes cover much of western Shanghai and new routes are added each year. The fleet has been described as increasingly electric. Example published bus fees and refunds follow the College’s general refund rules; specific route fees and stop information are provided to registered families.	Bus service details The school operates an optional student transport system: younger students are escorted by bus monitors to/from classrooms and parents must register for routes and seats. Route coverage, contracted bus providers, fees and pick‑up/drop‑off arrangements are managed by the school and can change year to year, so Admissions or the Transport office should be contacted for current operators, routes and costs.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and one‑time fees: Application Fee RMB 3,500 (non‑refundable). Resource Fee (deposit) RMB 15,000 — payable on acceptance, held by the College and refundable after return and satisfactory condition of College property subject to deductions. Capital Development Fee for new students RMB 15,000 (one‑time charge). Tuition (annual amounts published across the College): Toddlers (half‑days) RMB 141,900; Toddlers (full‑day) RMB 274,000; Nursery / Reception / Kindergarten (early years) RMB 305,000; Kindergarten 3 / Year 1 RMB 338,500; Years 2–6 / Years 3–6 RMB 342,000 (Years 2–5 shown in some schedules as RMB 342,000); Years 6–9 / Years 6–9 RMB 366,250 (Years 9 listed at higher bands where published); Years 9–11 / Years 10–11 RMB 390,500; Years 11–13 / Year 12–13 RMB 399,750 (Year 13 listed with no termly payment option in one campus schedule). The Pudong fee information describes the College’s term‑payment surcharge policy: families may pay annually or by term and a 5% annual surcharge applies to term payments (Pudong materials show equalised three‑term instalments calculated with the 5% surcharge). The Puxi pages publish specific term splits and invoice timing (Term 1 invoices around end of May; Term 2 around end of November; Term 3 around end of February) and show some uneven term instalment amounts for the academic year. Additional costs not included in tuition: school lunches, school bus service, school uniform, EAL and additional educational support, technology charges, optional trips, some co‑curricular/external provider activities and specialist external CCAs or private lessons. Example published bus fee: annual RMB 18,900 (term splits published on the site) — the College invoices and publishes exact route fees to registered families. Examination fees for IGCSE/IB and some compulsory in‑school trips are included in published tuition; optional trips and extra services are charged separately. Billing, refunds and payment terms: invoices are issued for acceptance and subsequent instalments; the Resource Fee is refundable as above and the Application Fee is non‑refundable. A full term’s tuition is payable for any term in which the student attends; withdrawal notice deadlines and refund illustrations are set out in the College’s Terms and Conditions. The Pudong pages note possible administration charges for late‑payment reminders (for example RMB 1,000 per reminder). The Ignite: Switzerland residential programme is charged separately (published fee CHF 25,000 per term for that programme). For exact current term amounts, payment methods and campus‑specific billing details families should consult the campus finance contacts and the College’s published fee schedules.	Fee details Application and One‑time Entry Fees - Application fee: RMB 2,800 (non‑refundable). - One‑time entry fee for new entrants: Pre‑Kindergarten & Elementary: RMB 28,000; Middle & High School: RMB 33,000. This applies once at first enrollment (re‑entry after two years non‑enrollment normally requires payment again). Enrollment Fee - Non‑refundable Enrollment Fee: RMB 32,000 (applies to secure a place; due by April 1 for returning students; for new entrants due within five working days of invoice). Annual Tuition and Per‑term (installment) Amounts - Pre‑Kindergarten: Annual tuition RMB 246,000 — two equal installments of RMB 123,000 (due June 1 and November 1). Enrollment fee is additional. - Elementary (K–5): Annual tuition RMB 279,400 — two equal installments of RMB 139,700 (due June 1 and November 1). Enrollment fee is additional. - Middle School (6–8): Annual tuition RMB 287,200 — two equal installments of RMB 143,600 (due June 1 and November 1). Enrollment fee is additional. - High School (9–12): Annual tuition RMB 304,100 — two equal installments of RMB 152,050 (due June 1 and November 1). Enrollment fee is additional. - Prepayment discount: 1% discount if tuition installments are prepaid in advance under stated conditions (details apply). Billing Schedule and Payment Terms - Annual tuition billed as two equal installments due June 1 and November 1. Enrollment and entry fees billed according to invoice and timelines described above. All bank charges are the payer's responsibility. Other Fees and Typical Additional Costs - Transportation (optional): RMB 11,400 per semester (payable per semester). - Lunch: hot‑meal program available; cost varies by selection and is billed separately. PE uniforms (Grades 6–10) are purchased from the school shop. External exam fees (AP/IB) and school trip costs are invoiced separately. Students in Grades 6–12 must provide their own MacBook and backup drive (BYOM requirement). Refunds - Application Fee and Enrollment Fee are non‑refundable. Tuition refunds follow a structured schedule tied to written withdrawal dates (specific refund percentages and conditions apply for withdrawals on or before August 1, between August 1 and the first semester start, on or before December 1, and after December 1). Transportation refunds are prorated minus a handling charge. Outstanding obligations may be deducted from refunds. Accepted Payment Methods - By RMB or USD wire transfer to the school bank account; by RMB or USD debit/credit card direct to the school bank account; or by RMB cash deposit to the school bank account. Payments under RMB 5,000 may be paid in RMB cash at the Finance Office. All fees are set in RMB but may be paid in USD by wire using the Bank of China exchange rate on the school's published date. All bank/processing charges are the payer's responsibility.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement All students wear a school uniform. In Reception and above students are assigned to a House. At the Pudong campus IB students (Years 12–13) may select their own clothing within the uniform guidelines, and gender-neutral ties were introduced to promote inclusivity. Summer/winter transition periods differ by campus: the Pudong campus uses summer uniform April–November and winter uniform November–April; the Puxi campus uses summer uniform April–October and winter uniform November–March, with reminders issued before transitions. At the Puxi campus, toddlers wear their own clothes but must wear a school hat. Uniforms can be ordered online for home delivery via the Online Uniform Shop (opened for new families 1 August 2023) using a student ID to set up accounts; uniform items must be clearly labelled with the student's full name and class. The Uniform Shop can be reached at 021 3329 9330.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options Meals are provided by a catering service. At the Pudong campus catering is provided by Sodexo and a set lunch is offered in DUCKS for 33 RMB per day; Junior School lunch is 34 RMB and Senior School dishes are priced 35–45 RMB. The school is nut-free: the Puxi campus states its catering provider does not use nuts and nuts are not allowed in school, and the Pudong campus also enforces a no-nuts policy and labels meals for allergens. Policies on home-packed lunch differ by campus: bringing lunch from home is permitted at the Pudong campus but home-packed lunches are not permitted at the Puxi campus. Lunch timing depends on the student's age.	Food options —
House system	House system The school operates a House system. The Pudong campus has four Houses—Maathai, Curie, Shackleton and Wing—which provide belonging and leadership opportunities; House Captains, Ambassadors and Prefects lead across DUCKS, Junior School and Senior School and House activities include events such as Got Talent. The Puxi campus sorts students on entry into four Houses—Song, Moussa, Yung and Shackleton.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The Dulwich Colleges in China are operated by Education in Motion (EiM) under an agreement with Dulwich College London. Governance includes a Board of Management and a Board of Trustees: the Board of Management oversees strategic development and meets four times a year; the Board of Trustees comprises EiM representatives, four parent representatives and one Dulwich College London representative. The Head of College and the Director of Business Administration are ex officio members of the Board of Trustees but do not have voting rights. In 2024 Hillhouse Investment Group acquired Dulwich College International's Asia schools from EiM.	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Dulwich College Shanghai offers a continuous international curriculum from DUCKS Early Years through Senior School, with specialist programmes in STEAM, Mandarin, visual and performing arts, sports and extensive co‑curricular activities. DUCKS follows the UK Early Years Foundation Stage and is delivered with a dual‑language English–Mandarin approach; the Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong campus also offers a Mandarin immersion pathway from the start, while the Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi DUCKS provision explicitly covers Toddler, Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 (ages 2–7). From Year 1 through Year 9 the school delivers a modified English National / British national curriculum with topic‑based, cross‑curricular learning and specialist lessons or teachers for Mandarin, PE, art, design technology and music, alongside expanding STEAM and technology provision and structured wellbeing and physical‑literacy support. In Years 10–11 students follow a two‑year IGCSE programme (with Edexcel and Cambridge options available on the Puxi campus). Years 12–13 study the two‑year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP); the Pudong campus description explicitly notes inclusion of the IB core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS) and options for a bilingual diploma. Across all stages the College embeds Mandarin pathways (native, second and foreign language strands), an extensive co‑curricular programme, service and awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh, and university and careers guidance as part of its holistic model.	Curriculum details Shanghai American School's early childhood program (Pre‑K) follows a play‑based, Reggio Emilia–influenced model with on‑site ateliers for hands‑on exploration. The elementary program (K–5) is an American‑style curriculum emphasizing literacy across the curriculum, a conceptual approach to mathematics, science, social studies, arts, physical education and languages. Middle school (Grades 6–8) uses inquiry‑based and conceptual learning in core subjects while offering exploratory courses (design technology, theater, global languages, etc.) to prepare students for high school. High school (Grades 9–12) culminates in a U.S. high‑school diploma (minimum 24 credits with specified credit requirements by subject) and offers multiple qualification pathways: Advanced Placement (including AP Capstone), the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, or a hybrid combination of AP and IB courses. Detailed grade‑level course lists, graduation requirements, and the IB policy manual are published in the school's course catalogs and resources on the SAS website.
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 Dulwich College Shanghai presents wellbeing as a whole‑school culture underpinned by a Student Wellbeing Framework used across Dulwich schools and by a curriculum that embeds social and emotional learning from Early Years through to the Senior School. Early years provision (DUCKS) explicitly includes Personal, Social and Emotional Development and, at the Pudong campus, begins with a self‑care framework; Junior and Senior curricula cover age‑appropriate topics such as relationships, body and mind, mental health, digital intelligence and growth mindset. Students engage through surveys, peer support, formal leadership opportunities and co‑creation of wellbeing initiatives (for example Prefect and Ambassador programmes at the Pudong campus), and the school emphasises student voice, agency and partnership. Parents are treated as partners via regular communication, workshops and involvement in wellbeing planning. The programme explicitly links safeguarding policy to wellbeing provision and the College uses external digital‑citizenship resources (for example Common Sense Education at Puxi) as part of its digital‑wellbeing teaching.	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) Admission to Dulwich College Shanghai is conditional on the College being able to meet a child’s needs; the admissions process consults families, reviews prior records and may include assessments. The school operates on‑site Learning Support/Additional Educational Needs (AEN) functions that work with classroom teachers, parents and students to provide targeted support; named staff are listed on campus pages (for example Learning Support staff in DUCKS at Pudong and an AEN teacher and a Director of Student Services/Child Protection Officer at Puxi). The College’s definition of AEN explicitly includes EAL and gifted/talented learners. The public pages do not publish a definitive catalogue of specific diagnoses or categories the school will or will not support, and Dulwich College Shanghai is not described as a specialist SEN institution.	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Dulwich College Shanghai operates EAL provision and assesses applicants’ English as part of admissions (senior‑school applicants whose first language is not English sit an EAL assessment). The College names EAL staff on its site and describes an EAL programme to develop fluency; campuses indicate EAL support availability is limited according to the level and intensity of support required and that the number of students needing EAL in a single class may be managed to ensure appropriate provision. Parents are asked to provide prior language records, EAL is listed among additional services/fees on campus information, and families are directed to Admissions for detailed, individual placement or intensity‑of‑support questions.	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The College embeds mental health and healthy living across curriculum and pastoral provision and uses a Student Wellbeing Framework/Wellbeing Programme to deliver age‑appropriate lessons, peer initiatives and whole‑school pastoral systems. Both campuses run parent workshops and involve student leadership in wellbeing work; the Pudong campus highlights nutritional/food committees, physical literacy programmes, a Digital Wellbeing focus, a partnership with National Online Safety and a student Digital Safety Leader programme. The Puxi campus operates a Student Services/Well Families approach that offers family support, links to external mental‑health services in Shanghai, publishes workshops and names a Student Services lead and a social & emotional counsellor; it also uses pastoral data tools (for example AS STEER and iSAMS) to identify and personalise support pathways. Private clinical referrals are handled case‑by‑case via Student Services, and safeguarding policy underpins the College’s mental‑wellbeing work.	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding Safeguarding and child protection are described as of paramount importance across Dulwich College Shanghai, with a child‑centred approach informed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and a Dulwich College International Safeguarding Policy. The College operates mandatory safeguarding training including induction for new staff, safer‑recruitment procedures, regular refresher training, age‑appropriate safeguarding lessons for students and annual safeguarding audits; safeguarding is also a component of external accreditation. The school publishes safeguarding policy documents on its website and directs enquiries to the College for further detail; the Puxi campus names a Child Protection Officer/Director of Student Services as part of its safeguarding leadership.	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview Dulwich College Shanghai operates as one school across multiple campuses, comprising DUCKS, Junior School and Senior School settings with a broad range of shared and campus-specific facilities. The school’s performance and creative spaces include a fully refurbished theatre with two drama black boxes (Pudong), and a 500-seat theatre with additional black-box theatre spaces, an orchestra room and an outdoor amphitheatre (Puxi). Music provision across the school includes music classrooms, a recording studio and five music practice rooms (Pudong). The Puxi campus sits on 40,000 square metres of green land in South Minhang and offers light-filled classrooms and outdoor spaces for play and exploration. Across the campuses students have access to a variety of sports facilities (see sports facilities), outdoor classrooms and shaded play areas, and campus buildings dedicated to early years, junior and senior phases.	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The school’s sports provision spans multiple campus facilities. Pudong offers a 25-metre, six-lane FINA swimming pool plus a separate training pool, two gymnasiums, a dance studio, a 14,000 square metre grass lawn, basketball courts, large sports fields, shaded external areas and, at DUCKS, a running track and multiple tennis courts. Puxi’s indoor sporting complex is a three-storey stadium with an 8-lane, 50-metre pool on the first floor and a 10m x 10m training pool for younger learners; its 2000 square metre indoor gymnasium is fully air-filtered and can be configured for basketball, volleyball or badminton. Outdoor recreation at Puxi includes all-grass football and rugby pitches, basketball courts and playground features such as climbing nets, climbing walls, slides and swings.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Across Dulwich College Shanghai the school supports STEAM, sciences, media, design and library provision with some campus-specific specialisms. The Senior School’s SE21 facility (opened in 2017 at the Pudong campus) is a state-of-the-art centre to support STEAM and entrepreneurship; the Senior School also houses the University Counselling service based in the renovated IB Common room (Pudong). Science provision at Puxi includes labs equipped for biology, chemistry, physics and integrated science. Both campuses feature media and maker resources: Junior School provision includes a film studio with an editing suite (Pudong) and the Puxi campus also offers a film studio with an editing suite and green room; Junior School facilities further include a Maker Space, The Lab (science laboratory), an art room and a fully stocked library (Pudong). Puxi additionally provides IT and design technology facilities, robotics and Lego spaces, and three libraries. DUCKS at Pudong has its own building with a music classroom and library.	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Co-curricular and after-school programmes run from preschool through senior school and are supported by the school’s performance, music, maker and sports facilities. Arts and performance are supported by theatre spaces (a refurbished theatre with two drama black boxes at Pudong and a 500-seat theatre plus black-box spaces, orchestra room and outdoor amphitheatre at Puxi), music classrooms, a recording studio and five music practice rooms (Pudong). Junior School creative projects are supported by a film studio with editing suite, Maker Space, The Lab and an art room (Pudong). The Senior School’s SE21 facility fosters STEAM and entrepreneurship (Pudong). The school’s CCA programme covers drama, music, sport and art and operates across age ranges; Reception CCA examples include origami, yoga, drama and dance, and DUCKS (Kindergarten) CCAs include chess (Puxi). The CCA programme is supported by a programme booklet (Puxi).	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Dulwich College Shanghai comprises two campuses. The Pudong campus opened in 2003 as the first Dulwich College International school, launched through a partnership between parents Fraser White and Karen Yung and Dulwich College London; it began with 23 students and has since expanded within the Dulwich network. The Puxi campus opened in August 2016 on a purpose‑built site in Minhang. The college is part of the Dulwich College International family and is operated by Education in Motion (EiM) under an agreement with Dulwich College London; local oversight is provided through a Board of Management and a Board of Trustees that includes parent representatives. At group level in 2024 the operator that develops the Dulwich schools in Asia received new backing from Hillhouse Investment Group.	History —
Community	Community Dulwich College Shanghai serves an active, broadly international community across its two campuses. The Pudong campus reports over 1,600 students from more than forty nationalities and uses a House system (Wangari Maathai, Marie Curie, Ernest Shackleton and Yung Wing) to build cross‑year connections; the campus highlights coordinated pastoral support, student leadership through Houses, and a wide range of co‑curricular activities (sport, music, drama and more). The Puxi campus describes regular assemblies, performances and calendar events such as a Winter Fair and community soirées, and seasonal traditions including a House Sorting ceremony and a Christmas tree lighting. Families are expected to be partners in school life: the college runs parent workshops, curriculum evenings and opportunities to participate in House and charity activities. Both campuses work with the wider Dulwich network and schedule campus and parent‑facing events to strengthen ties between families, staff and the local community.	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association Across Dulwich College Shanghai the parent organisation is called Friends of Dulwich (FoD); all enrolled families are members and many parents volunteer as Class Parent Representatives or serve on a Friends of Dulwich Committee that coordinates social and charitable activities and supports school events. FoD runs newcomer and parent‑connection programmes—welcome coffees, monthly coffee mornings, luncheons and an Ambassador programme that pairs new families with established ones—and organises major community events and fundraising activities. The Pudong campus lists specific FoD events including the Winter Fair, the World Expo (a cultural celebration), a Daddy‑Daughter Ball, Dads & Lads sports activities, a walk‑a‑thon and an end‑of‑year art auction, and ongoing initiatives such as community markets, used‑uniform and used‑book sales and committees that support class reps and year‑level communication; FoD's leadership is organised through a core committee (Chair, Treasurer, parent representatives by school phase and other officers) who typically serve one academic year and produce practical resources for new families (for example a regular "Shanghai Secrets" guide). The Puxi campus works closely with parents through a structured Parents as Partners programme that offers age‑appropriate workshops (for example on managing behaviour, exam stress, puberty and digital safety) and frequent touchpoints such as Parent‑Teacher Conferences and curriculum information evenings; parents at Puxi commonly volunteer for fundraising and event logistics.	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Dulwich College Shanghai combines campus-level academic structure with a rich co-curricular offer. The Puxi campus has DUCKS (ages 2 to 7), Junior School (ages 7 to 11) and Senior School (ages 11 to 18); Senior School follows the IGCSE syllabus and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The school takes a holistic, experiential approach designed to help students discover their unique potential, and provides university counselling alongside reporting IGCSE and IB results and university placements. The Pudong campus runs CCAs in Technology, Journalism and Media and supports media engagement beyond the classroom through Dulwich TV (Senior School), the Dulwich Reporter (Junior School) and an Upper School Yearbook editorial committee. Robotics and coding are taught in the classroom at Pudong, with CCAs offering further opportunities to develop those technology skills. Pudong also offers Academic Enrichment and Learn Through Play CCAs—examples include cup stacking, Rubik's Cube and retro-gaming—to nurture independent learning and curiosity.	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative The school places strong emphasis on the arts across its curriculum and CCAs. Visual & Performing Arts are embedded in the Holistic Curriculum at the Puxi campus alongside STEAM/SE21, supporting creativity and performance within the Dulwich framework. At the Pudong campus CCAs emphasise music and drama alongside visual arts, supporting high-level ensemble performances and student-led initiatives such as rock bands. Drama CCAs at Pudong cover acting, stage management and technical roles including AV and costume design.	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Dulwich College Shanghai promotes an international outlook and cross-cultural understanding. The Puxi campus teaches Mandarin as a language offering within its Holistic Curriculum. The Pudong campus CCA programme includes a Global Citizenship category and a Cultural Enrichment category focused on cultural understanding; the Global Citizenship framework emphasizes respect for other cultures and students are encouraged to participate in at least one GC CCA per year as part of the Value Every Voice ethos.	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies Co-curricular activities at Dulwich College Shanghai provide enrichment and support students in following paths that reflect their choices, abilities and personality, integrating wellbeing, academics and broader development. The Pudong campus runs a wide mix of CCAs—sports (for fun or competition), music, drama and hobby groups—with a majority run by staff. Pudong examples include staff-led programmes such as the Dulwich Football Academy and the Dulwich Swimming Academy and external providers offering tennis, golf, chess and coding. The programme also supports student-led interest clubs such as rock bands and drama crews; past CCA examples include cup stacking, Rubik's Cube and retro-gaming.	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service Service and Sustainability is a CCA category addressing care for animals, people and the planet. Students volunteer with community partners in Shanghai, across China, and globally; activities include gardening CCAs, selling domestically sourced coffee beans, raising awareness for animal shelters, and volunteering with partner organizations.	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional Upper School CCAs are framed around Leadership: Make a Difference, Creativity – Activity - Service, with emphasis on developing decision-making and leadership skills. The CCA pathway supports independent growth across age groups, leading to leadership opportunities in the 15–18 age range. Students may initiate and lead CCAs under staff supervision to develop professional and collaborative skills.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Wellbeing is treated as a whole-school culture across Dulwich College Shanghai, developing physical, mental and emotional health and helping students participate in the wider community. Sports and wellbeing are central to the CCA offer at the Pudong campus: CCAs promote physical activity for fun and competition and include internal programmes (Dulwich Football Academy, Dulwich Swimming Academy) as well as external providers for tennis, golf and chess to broaden sporting opportunities.	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision Mandarin is taught through three pathways: Mandarin A (Chinese as a Native Language/CNL), Mandarin B (Mandarin as a Second Language/MSL), and Mandarin C (Mandarin as a Foreign Language/MFL). Wohui (Wo Hui) Mandarin supports Year 1–2 Mandarin as a foreign language, and from Year 3 onwards the A/B/C Mandarin pathways are available under the Wo Hui/Wohui Mandarin model. Dual Language Learning in DUCKS integrates English and Mandarin in daily classroom activities: at the Pudong campus this integration uses two teachers (one for English and one for Mandarin), while at the Puxi campus English teachers lead the classroom with a Mandarin-speaking Assistant Teacher and the DUCKS environment and print are in both languages. At the Puxi campus the primary classroom language is English; non-native speakers there are assessed for English proficiency and supported through English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision. At the Puxi campus, in Senior School Modern Foreign Languages such as French, Spanish and German are offered.	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching Dual Language Learning in DUCKS (Toddler to Year 2) is a fundamental part of student development and values English and Mandarin equally, enabling concurrent language development. In DUCKS the learning environment and print are in both English and Mandarin. At the Pudong campus learning occurs with one teacher focusing on English and another on Mandarin in the same classroom; at the Puxi campus English teachers lead the curriculum with a Mandarin-speaking Assistant Teacher supporting learning. By the end of Year 2, students at the Puxi campus are expected to be fluent speakers of English and Mandarin and able to switch between languages.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs Mandarin learning pathways provide immersive, technology-enhanced environments. There are three pathways: Mandarin A (CNL), Mandarin B (MSL), and Mandarin C (MFL). Wohui Mandarin supports early Mandarin learning for MFL students. DUCKS provides bilingual immersion through dual-language classrooms; at the Puxi campus the aim is to develop fluent speakers in English and Mandarin by the end of Year 2.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards Awards and institutional recognitions reported on the two campus websites (each item shows the award name, the date reported on the campus site, and a short note of significance): - China Schools Awards 2025 — Students for Sustainability (Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong; reported Mar 7, 2025): national recognition from the British Chamber of Commerce in China for school‑led sustainability practice linked to the College’s Waste to Wonder social‑enterprise project. - Sustainability & Innovation Award for Social Impact (Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong; reported Apr 29, 2025): a British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai award (Social Impact category) recognising the school’s Global Citizenship programme and social‑impact initiatives. - Holistic Education Award (Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong; reported Mar 5, 2024): a British Chamber of Commerce in China award recognising the school’s whole‑school approach to academic, social and wellbeing development. - Top position in the China IB Schools League Table (Education Advisers Ltd) — 2024 (Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong; reported Nov 25, 2024): the campus reports a top place in the 2024 China IB Schools list published by Education Advisers Ltd, presented as a national recognition of its IB results. - China Schools Awards 2025 — Pastoral Care Award (Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi; reported Mar 12, 2025): national award recognising the school’s pastoral/wellbeing provision. - China Schools Awards 2025 — Science & Technology Award (Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi; reported Mar 12, 2025): award recognising excellence in STEM/EdTech integration. - Tes Awards for International Schools 2024 — Best Use of Technology (Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi; reported Apr 30, 2024): international sector award recognising notable and practical use of educational technology across the curriculum. - China Schools Awards 2024 — Diversity & Inclusion Award (Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi; reported Aug 14, 2024): recognition for school‑wide initiatives to create an inclusive environment. - China Schools Awards 2024 — Students for Sustainability Award (Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi; reported Aug 14, 2024): recognition for sustainability education and student/community environmental action. - Australia–New Zealand Community Gala Awards 2022 — Sustainability Impact Award (Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi; reported Apr 4, 2022; award dated Mar 31, 2022): community award recognising sustainability programmes and community impact. - British Schools Awards 2021 — Diversity & Inclusion Award (Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi; reported Jan 11, 2022; award year 2021): winner of the inaugural British Schools Awards Diversity & Inclusion category, as reported by the campus. Notes: all items above are drawn from the respective campus websites and are awards given to the institution or its programmes (student‑specific honours were excluded).	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations Accreditations, memberships and test‑centre authorisations listed across the Dulwich College Shanghai campus websites (each note explains what the listing indicates): - Council of International Schools (CIS): global membership and accreditation body for international schools, indicating participation in an external, international quality‑assurance community. - International Baccalaureate (IB / IB World School): authorised to offer IB programmes; this is a formal programme authorisation showing the school meets IB Organisation requirements. - Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC): recognised US‑region accrediting body; WASC accreditation indicates the school meets specified academic and institutional standards. - Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE): authorised centre/provider for Cambridge international qualifications (e.g., IGCSE); denotes approval to enter students for Cambridge examinations. - FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia): regional membership supporting British‑style education in Asia and providing access to festivals, competitions and collaboration. - ACAMIS (Association of China and Mongolia International Schools): regional membership organising inter‑school activities and professional development in eastern Asia. - Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award: the school runs the Duke of Edinburgh programme for eligible students (programme offering, not an institutional accreditation). Additional campus‑specific listings and authorisations: - The Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong campus page notes membership of The Heads’ Conference (HMC) — accredited in February 2025 — aligning that campus with a network of British independent schools and subject to HMC inspection and standards. The Pudong page also lists a SAPERE Bronze Award in recognition of its work in Philosophy for Children (P4C). - The Pudong page further states the school is certified to administer external examinations on site (authorisations shown include IB, ACT, pre‑ACT, PSAT and SAT) and to act as a certified test centre for ABRSM (music) and LAMDA (drama); the Pudong page also notes that the school’s Beijing and Shanghai campuses are audition centres for Berklee College. - The Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi campus page lists partnerships/approaches used at that campus: Common Sense School (use of Common Sense resources for digital citizenship) and The Curiosity Approach (an Early Childhood approach). The Puxi page also notes regular external inspection by Dulwich College (Deputy Master (External)) as a network assurance process. Note: some items above are formal accreditations/authorisations (for example CIS, IB, WASC, CAIE), while others are memberships, programme approvals or pedagogical recognitions that the campuses list as part of their affiliations.	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Start by submitting an online enquiry or application via Dulwich College Shanghai's admissions portal (the site directs families to the OpenApply portal). The College operates rolling admissions and opens applications for the next academic year on published dates (for example, applications for 2026/27 open from 1 September 2025). Include supporting documents at the time of application so the Admissions team can check eligibility against Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (SMEC) rules: passport pages or birth certificate, parents' work and residence/visa documents, and recent school reports or Confidential Teacher Comments where relevant. If you can, book a campus visit or open morning (a virtual tour is available if you cannot visit in person). Bring original documents to Admissions on the day of assessment so the school can verify them in person.	Admissions 1. Submit the application online. Create or sign in to an OpenApply account, complete the student and parent sections, and submit the form. The “Grade Applying for” is automatically filled from your child's date of birth; if you want a different grade, use the “Requested Grade Level” field and explain why. After submission you'll receive an automated confirmation email and an Admissions team member will contact you within five business days. 2. Upload required documents and pay the application fee. After applying you'll get a checklist in your OpenApply account showing required documents (school reports, government documents and confidential recommendations) and instructions for how to submit them. The application invoice is usually raised within three to five business days; the non‑refundable application fee is listed on the school's fees page and must be paid before the Admission Committee evaluates the file. The Admissions team will let you know if any documents are missing or don't meet the requirements. 3. Application marked complete once paperwork and fee are received. When all required documents and the application fee are received the school marks the application as complete and the Admissions team will confirm the status and outline next steps. Keep copies of submitted school reports and the confidential recommendation contacts—SAS sends recommendation requests directly to the current school for grades and teachers specified in the checklist. Applications are not considered complete until all eligibility documents (including government/visa paperwork where required) are on file. 4. Interview and academic/English assessments (as required). Selected applicants (and parents) are invited to assessments and/or interviews; the exact format depends on grade level and the candidate's background. For families in Shanghai assessments are on campus and must take place during school hours (sessions can take up to four hours); overseas applicants may be assessed online. Non‑native English speakers (Grade 1 and up) may be given a WIDA screener to assess English proficiency—spaces for language support are limited, so strong English results influence placement. 5. Admissions review and placement in the wait pool. The Admissions Committee reviews applications holistically—considering academic potential, English proficiency, social/emotional development and family alignment with SAS's mission. Qualified applications are placed into a wait pool rather than being offered on a strict first‑come, first‑served basis; qualified applicants are then considered in rounds when seats become available. If the school determines it cannot support a student's individual needs or if the applicant pool is unusually strong relative to seats, the application may be closed. 6. Decision rounds and updates. SAS uses scheduled decision rounds (and rolling/adhoc updates) for each admissions cycle; the Admissions site lists the round dates and when families can expect an update for the 2026–27 cycle. Possible outcomes include an enrollment offer, placement in or continuation in the wait pool, remaining under consideration for further evaluation, or application closure. Because seat availability and applicant volumes vary by grade and campus, timelines can shift; the Admissions team will inform families if processing is delayed. 7. If offered: accept and complete enrollment requirements (deadlines and fees). If you accept an offer you'll be invoiced for the one‑time entry fee (for new entrants), the non‑refundable enrollment fee to secure the place, and the annual tuition per the published Schedule of Fees. Enrollment fees and payment deadlines are specific: returning students' enrollment fee is due by April 1 of the year prior to the school year; for newly admitted students the enrollment fee is due within five working days of the invoice due date. Read the tuition and refund policy carefully (refund rules vary depending on withdrawal date) and follow the stated methods of payment. 8. Campus selection, transfers and practical notes. Families choose Pudong, Puxi, or Two‑Campus consideration on the application; if you request Two‑Campus consideration you may be offered a place at either campus depending on seat availability. If an offered seat is at one campus and you request a campus change after an offer is made, your child may be returned to the wait pool (placement not guaranteed). Once enrolled, students are expected to attend their original campus for two years before a campus transfer is considered, and transfers are not guaranteed—factor commuting, housing and sibling/transport arrangements into your campus choice.
Scholarships	Scholarships Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi runs a Scholarship Programme that awards competitive scholarships (open to internal and external applicants for specified year groups) and, for successful candidates, may provide up to a 50% reduction in tuition fees for two academic years. Selection involves application materials, testing (the standard Admissions assessment is used for initial screening), a personal statement and an interview or Scholarship Assessment Day; the programme is time‑bound with published application deadlines and Assessment Days each cycle. The College also offers a limited number of means‑tested bursaries decided annually. Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong's public admissions and fees pages do not list an active scholarship programme for the Pudong campus; parents interested in financial support or merit awards should contact Admissions (specify the Pudong or Puxi campus as appropriate) to confirm current availability, eligibility rules, application deadlines and whether any cross‑campus schemes apply.	Scholarships Shanghai American School's public materials (admissions and tuition pages) do not advertise a general student scholarship or means‑tested financial aid program for external applicants. The school's published benefit information does show an internal tuition assistance benefit (Eagle Assistance Tuition Assistance) available to employees (one tuition assistance benefit per employed teacher/administrator as part of staff benefit packages). If you are seeking fee‑reduction, special considerations, or exceptions, SAS advises contacting the Admissions or Finance offices directly—these are handled case‑by‑case and are not described as an open scholarship program on the website. If you'd like, I can draft an email template you can send to admissions or finance to ask about any available assistance or special arrangements.
Waitlist	Waitlist Dulwich College Shanghai operates waiting lists for year groups where demand exceeds places. Applicants who meet entry requirements are placed on a waiting list and offered places as they become available; the school gives priority to siblings of currently enrolled students and returning Dulwich students. The College also manages offers in line with its Language Support Policy (for example, limits on numbers of students requiring high levels of EAL support) and will consider whether it can meet a child's additional educational needs when offering places. Availability varies by year and term, so apply early for popular year groups and keep in contact with Admissions for updates.	Waitlist Shanghai American School does not operate a simple first‑come, first‑served waitlist; instead it uses a qualitative “wait pool.” Qualified applicants who are not immediately offered a seat are placed into this wait pool and considered alongside other qualified candidates in scheduled decision rounds and on a rolling basis. The Admissions Committee reviews the pool in rounds (round dates and expected update windows are published for each admissions cycle) and issues outcomes that include offers, continued wait‑pool placement, requests for additional evaluation, or application closure. The school notes that priority consideration (not automatic placement) may be given in cases such as U.S. and other foreign citizens, applicants with international schooling backgrounds, stronger English proficiency, siblings already at SAS, and returning students in good standing; admissions also balance multilingual learner needs and cohort diversity when filling seats. For current seat availability and advice about applying outside the main cycle, SAS asks families to contact admissions directly because seats are often very limited.
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