Dulwich College Suzhou vs Suzhou Innovation Academy

	Dulwich College Suzhou Suzhou, China	S Suzhou Innovation Academy Suzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 160,800 - 278,500	Fees / year RMB 210,000
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 15 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 900	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2007	Opened 2019
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Dulwich College Suzhou is on Gangtian Road in Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP); the campus address is 360 Gangtian Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215021. SIP is a modern, family-oriented district with residential areas and amenities; the school notes it is about a 30-minute train ride from Shanghai, making rail links convenient for families based in the region.	Location No. 100 Xiangcheng Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. The campus is located in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.
Stages	Stages The college serves ages 2–18 across three sections: DUCKS (Nursery to Year 2, ages 2–7), Junior School (Years 3–6, ages 7–11) and Senior School (Years 7–13, ages 11–18). Each section has age-appropriate programmes and facilities.	Stages Three-year residential IB World School offering the IB Diploma Programme.
School type	School type Dulwich College Suzhou is a co-educational day school for international students aged 2–18 and follows an enhanced British curriculum (IGCSE and the IB Diploma in the senior years). The school is described as a day school rather than a boarding school.	School type International boarding school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The admissions information says the school admits students only when it can meet their learning needs; the team reviews previous reports, conducts assessments and consults with parents to decide appropriate support. There is also an English Acceleration Programme for Years 3–5 to support academically able students whose English proficiency limits classroom access.	Additional learning support Inclusion policy and learning support for diverse learning needs, with accommodations such as extended time on examinations.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Dulwich College Suzhou is part of the Dulwich College International family and lists Dulwich College (the founding school in the UK) and the Education in Motion (EiM) group among its affiliations. This reflects a British-origin network rather than formal affiliation to a single country's government.	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school's public information does not list a religious affiliation; its materials present the college as an international, secular school.	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Students are expected to register at 8:10 am and the school day finishes at 3:30 pm; lunch is provided on campus (catered service). The school publishes term dates and the annual calendar on its site for specific term start/end days and holiday breaks.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details A paid school bus service operates with pick‑up locations across Suzhou; families register via a Transportation Request Form and routes are subject to local government approval (routes cannot be changed once set). A late-bus option is provided for students staying for after‑school activities; the school advises checking route availability before choosing a residence because popular routes can fill quickly. Bus fees are charged separately from tuition and details appear in the school's fees information.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and one‑off fees - Application fee: RMB 2,000 (one‑off, non‑refundable). - Placement deposit on acceptance: RMB 10,000 (refundable subject to the school's terms and deductions for unreturned or damaged school property). - Capital development fee for new students: RMB 15,000 (one‑time, non‑refundable). Tuition fees (annual and per‑term by year group) - Nursery / Reception: Annual RMB 160,800; per term RMB 56,280. - Year 1–2: Annual RMB 231,300; per term RMB 80,955. - Years 3–6: Annual RMB 233,630; per term RMB 81,770.50. - Years 7–9: Annual RMB 251,130; per term RMB 87,895.50. - Years 10–11: Annual RMB 259,800; per term RMB 90,930. - Years 12–13: Annual RMB 278,500; per term RMB 97,475. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees may be paid annually or by term; annual payment attracts a favourable rate compared with termly payments. Each term's fees and any other sums due must be paid before the start of that term. Late or incomplete payments are subject to the school's standard remedies. - Families with three or more children enrolled in full‑day programmes may receive a sibling discount (as stated in the school's fee policy). Boarding fees (where boarding provision applies) - The college offers boarding provision; published annual boarding fee ranges reported by independent school directories put weekly/full boarding substantially higher than day fees (examples from third‑party fee listings). Exact boarding fee bands and boarding deposit requirements are set by the school and shown on invoices. Other costs and typical exclusions - Additional costs commonly payable by families include uniforms, optional private music tuition, educational visits and residential trips, some personal equipment and incidental items, and any external examination extras not included in tuition. School lunches, bus services and some co‑curricular activities may be charged separately or on request. Refunds and cancellation - The placement deposit is refundable subject to the school's terms (for example, after return of school property and deduction for damages or outstanding fees). The capital development fee for new students is non‑refundable. Cancellation less than a term before the agreed entry date may incur a term's fees in lieu of notice per the school's terms. Fee payment options - Accepted methods include RMB cash (subject to the school's cash policy) and wire transfer in RMB or US dollars to the school's bank account (bank details appear on invoices). When paying in US dollars by wire transfer, the school requires use of the prevailing PBOC exchange rate and any shortfall is payable by the payer. Invoices state the school's bank details and payment instructions. The school's finance office can confirm other accepted methods.	Fee details Fees overview (academic year referenced): - The following figures are reported for the 2025–26 / 2026 admissions cycle and are used where no explicit 2026–27 schedule is publicly available. Application fee - No published, fixed application or non-refundable registration fee amount is listed in the school's application materials or admissions documentation. (No specific application-fee amount is publicly posted.) Tuition fees by programme and year group (annual amounts) - Foundation Programme (Grade 10): RMB 210,000 per year. Per-term amounts are not published; the school reports an annual tuition figure for the Foundation/DP pathways. - Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12, IB DP): RMB 210,000 per year. Per-term amounts are not published. - A‑Level programme (where offered): RMB 120,000 per year. Per-term amounts are not published. - VCE programme (where offered): RMB 120,000 per year. Per-term amounts are not published. - Lower grades (primary / lower secondary): no detailed, grade-by-grade published tuition schedule for each year is available. The broader affiliated school fee range reported across local school listings and admissions summaries is approximately RMB 51,000–210,000 per year depending on programme and year group; specific year-by-year figures for every grade are not published. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school does not publish a detailed public billing schedule (for example, a published per-term invoice schedule or installment breakdown). The published information provides annual tuition figures for programmes but does not specify exactly how the annual tuition is broken into terms or installments. Boarding and meals (residential costs) - Boarding (rooming) is reported in some sources as in the range RMB 10,000–20,000 per year. Meals / catering are commonly reported separately in local listings at about RMB 20,000 per year; some admissions summaries present total board-and-meals costs around RMB 20,000 per year for senior programmes. Exact room-type pricing, meal plans, and whether laundry or utilities are included are not published in a full breakdown. Other costs and typical additional fees - Expected additional items that are commonly charged (amounts not published as fixed figures) include: uniforms, textbooks and learning materials not covered by tuition, off-campus trips and international competitions, exam fees or external-assessment fees (where applicable), and optional co-curricular programme charges. Exact charges for these items are not listed in a consolidated public fee schedule. Scholarships and tuition waivers - The school operates a scholarship scheme. A “full scholarship” level is reported as RMB 200,000 per year; second- and third-class scholarships are reported at one-half and one-third of the full scholarship value; special scholarships and one-time awards are also reported (for example, a one-time RMB 100,000 special award). Exceptional award totals up to RMB 700,000 over multi-year packages have been described in admissions material. These scholarship categories are applied against published tuition charges. Refund information - No consolidated, publicly posted refund or withdrawal policy with fixed refund amounts or deadlines was found in the school's published admissions materials and application form. No specific standard refund schedule (for example, pro‑rata refunds by withdrawal date) is published in the materials available online. Fee payment options - No specific, published list of accepted payment methods (for example, credit card, specific online payment provider, or named bank transfer instructions) is provided in the publicly available admissions documents. Parents are advised to request the school's invoice and bank/payment instructions directly for the accepted payment channels and any wire-transfer details. Summary of findings and data limitations (brief) - Published, programme-level annual tuition figures were located for the IB Foundation/Diploma pathway (RMB 210,000/year) and for A‑Level/VCE pathways (RMB 120,000/year). Boarding/meals estimates in the order of RMB 10,000–20,000 (boarding) and ~RMB 20,000 (meals) appear in admissions summaries and local school listings. Scholarship amounts and categories are published in the school's admissions material. - The school's public materials do not contain a full, grade-by-grade per-term fee schedule, a published application fee amount, a detailed billing calendar, a formal refund table, or a detailed list of accepted payment methods. These items were not found in the available admissions PDF and application materials. For database use, the figures above reflect the programme-level annual charges that are publicly reported; line‑item, per‑term, and per‑grade breakdowns are not published and therefore are not provided here. Contact for confirmation (administrative contact shown in admissions materials) - Admissions email and phone are listed for administrative enquiries: admissions@sia-edu.cn; 0512-65490316 / 0512-65490317. Use these contacts to request an official, itemised 2026–27 fee schedule, payment instructions, and the school's refund policy in writing.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements The school offers full-time and flexible boarding for students aged over 15.	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement All students (excluding Year 12 and 13) wear the school uniform. The uniform is seasonally adjusted for warm and cold weather. The Uniform Shop is on campus, and there is an Online Uniform Shop; Second-hand uniforms are collected and resold by Friends of Dulwich.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options The school serves a wide variety of healthy dishes with Western and Asian options. Packed lunches are allowed but must be nut-free.	Food options —
House system	House system The school has four Houses named Anand, Howard, Shackleton, and Yung. The House system supports pastoral care, fosters community, and includes inter-house activities and competitions.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The College is governed by a Board of Management and a Board of Trustees. The Board of Management sets goals and policies and assesses the Head of College; the Board of Trustees acts as an advisory body with oversight and handles certain appeals.	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Dulwich College Suzhou operates a British‑rooted, stage‑based curriculum across DUCKS (Nursery–Year 2, ages 2–7), Junior School (Years 3–6, ages 7–11) and Senior School (Years 7–13, ages 11–18). The DUCKS early‑years programme is inquiry‑based and play‑focused, emphasising communication, problem‑solving and social development rather than external qualifications. Junior School uses a topic‑based, cross‑curricular approach with dedicated English and mathematics lessons and specialist teaching in Mandarin, PE, art, design technology and music. Senior School follows the National Curriculum for England and progresses to formal external qualifications—Cambridge IGCSE examinations and, in the upper years, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Across all stages the college also integrates Mandarin, STEAM/SE21, visual and performing arts, sports and a broad co‑curricular programme to provide academic breadth and enrichment.	Curriculum details Suzhou Innovation Academy delivers an entrepreneurially-focused Foundation Programme for grade 10 and the IB Diploma Programme for grades 11 and 12. The focus is on deep learning and exploring knowledge through a transdisciplinary approach that links between subjects, to encourage interdisciplinary exploration and in finding ways to relate learning to real-life. The school offers subjects that are less common in Chinese schools, such as psychology, film, and drama. The school strives for a dynamic, engaging, insightful and fulfilling learning experience owned and driven by learners.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression The University Guidance team, led by the IB Diploma Coordinator and Academic Vice-Principal, works with students and families to identify excellent universities around the world that best fit their aspirations. The University Guidance team also works to develop close partnerships with universities and colleges around the world, ensuring that these institutions are familiar with SIA and recognize the high standard of our students. The data-driven process helps students and families identify the best-fit opportunities available to them and work towards their dream schools throughout the university guidance process.
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 Suzhou states that SEL is delivered through the Dulwich College International Wellbeing Framework, which the school says is adapted from the IB's Approaches to Learning (ATL) and embeds character strengths and skills across the taught curriculum and co‑curricular programmes. The site describes wellbeing as a “whole school culture” with integrated support systems so all staff contribute to students' social and emotional development. The College also references age‑appropriate PSHE provision coordinated across year groups and a pastoral House system to build community and peer support. These descriptions are published on the school's Wellbeing and School Heritage pages.	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school's admissions and learning‑support information says Dulwich College Suzhou will enrol students with learning challenges only when available information indicates the school can meet the student's needs, and that the admissions team consults parents and reviews previous reports and assessments as part of decisions. The website also lists named AEN/learning‑support staff on its community/teachers pages. The school does not publish a public, detailed list of specific categories of Special Educational Needs it will or will not support, nor does it present itself as a specialist SEN institution. For admissions and learning‑support policy details see the school's Admissions pages and staff listings.	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language The College publishes an English Acceleration Programme (EAP) for Years 3–5: a 10‑month, mixed‑age programme for academically able students whose English proficiency limits access to lessons; applicants undergo academic and home‑language assessment and a WIDA test. The Admissions pages also note that the school can support a percentage of non‑native English speakers and may assess language ability during entry. Beyond the EAP and general language‑support statement, the school does not set out a wider, detailed EAL curriculum or staffing structure on the public site.	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The College names a Director of Counselling and a counselling team and describes university/careers counselling provision on its site, indicating an established counselling function for students. The school runs specific mental‑health initiatives such as “Minding Me Day” and a Mental Health Warriors programme in which students are trained in Mental Health First Aid to recognise and respond to concerns. Pastoral staff and form tutors are described as part of the pastoral support system that contributes to mental wellbeing across year groups. These programmes and team details are described in recent school news and the counselling pages.	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding Dulwich College Suzhou publishes a full Student Safeguarding Policy (EiM Student Safeguarding Policy, revised May 2025) and a Safeguarding webpage explaining its child‑centred approach, safer‑recruitment procedures, mandatory staff training and annual safeguarding audits. The published policy names key safeguarding roles and contacts (for example the School DSL and deputies) and describes the ‘Speak Out Stay Safe' programme, trusted‑adult arrangements, and an audit/action plan cycle. The school's safeguarding policy PDF and webpage are available from the College site for full procedural detail.	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The campus features modern, age-appropriate facilities including age-appropriate libraries and media centres. There are 700- and 360-seat theatres, two black box theatres, and two dance studios. The school provides fully equipped science laboratories, a competition-ready aquatics centre, a 1000m² indoor gym, music rooms, and art & design technology workshops. The sports facilities include a top-of-the-range playground, 50,000 square metres of sports fields, the best all-grass rugby field in Suzhou, games pitches, a FIFA2 professional quality all-weather surface, a 400-metre running track, and a large multi-purpose gymnasium, plus outdoor tennis and basketball courts. A campus video tour is available, and visits can be arranged.	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The sports facilities include a top-of-the-range playground, 50,000 square metres of sports fields, and the best all-grass rugby field in Suzhou. There are games pitches and a FIFA2 professional quality all-weather surface, a 400-metre running track, and a large multi-purpose gymnasium. Outdoor tennis and basketball courts are available for student use. The facility design supports physical development and wellbeing through a broad activities program.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Classrooms are modern and equipped with the latest technology. The campus includes age-appropriate libraries and media centres. Fully equipped science laboratories support science learning. Music rooms and art & design technology workshops are available for practical creative work. Libraries provide resources to develop reading and independent learning skills.	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities The co-curricular activity (CCA) programme covers Enrichment, The Arts and Sport, offering activities such as football, swimming, sailing, basketball, music, arts, dance, drama, debating, cooking, yoga, and Korean literature. Junior School students can participate in additional Special Interest Clubs and Enrichment Societies. Dulwich College Suzhou is an International Award Centre delivering the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, with year-long commitments in the Senior School. The CCA programme aims to extend learning beyond the classroom and promote student health and wellbeing.	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Dulwich College Suzhou opened in 2007 as the third school to join the Dulwich College International family. The College maintains formal links with its founding school, Dulwich College (UK), and operates within the Dulwich College Management International structure alongside partners such as Education in Motion. Since opening it has grown to serve roughly 800 students aged 2–18 and includes a multinational student body with more than 30 nationalities represented. While drawing on traditions from the founding school, the College has developed local customs and a house and pastoral system suited to its international community.	History —
Community	Community The school community includes students, families, teaching staff, alumni and volunteers, and school life and activities are regularly reported through the Dulwich Life news feed. The College runs recurring community events (for example, Founder's Day and open days) and takes part in network-wide initiatives and themed ‘Worldwise' activities that bring together arts, sustainability and sports programmes. Parent volunteers and the Friends of Dulwich group provide additional social and cultural events that help new and established families connect.	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The school's parent body is organised as Friends of Dulwich (FoD); all parents become members on joining and may volunteer to serve on the FoD Committee or act as Class Parent Representatives. FoD runs informal parent get-togethers and Coffee Mornings and organises fundraising and social activities such as Family Fun Days, Quiz Nights and Christmas shopping trips. In previous years the group has sponsored sports days, organised an annual FoD Ball and helped with the planning of the College's Founder's Day. FoD also focuses on welcoming and supporting families as they settle into life at the school and in Suzhou. Parents who want to join the committee or find out about volunteering can contact Friends of Dulwich by email at [email protected].	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Enrichment CCAs include Science Society, Debating Society and Technology Society. Junior School offers Special Interest Clubs that extend beyond the taught curriculum. Enrichment follows a progression: Experiment (DUCKS) in the early years, Development (Junior School), and Extension (Senior School), with increasing commitments. Enrichment is one of the three pillars of the CCA programme, alongside The Arts and Sport.	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative The Arts are a core component of the CCA programme, including Music, Art, Dance and Drama. A Music CCA requires a full-year commitment. The Arts complement sport and enrichment within the CCA framework.	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Korean literature is offered as a co-curricular activity. Mandarin is taught through three pathways—Mandarin A (Chinese as a native language), Mandarin B (Mandarin as a second language) and Mandarin C (Mandarin as a foreign language)—with the Wo Hui Mandarin approach to language teaching.	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies The CCA programme covers Enrichment, The Arts and Sport with activities such as Football, Swimming, Sailing, Basketball, Music, Arts, Dance, Drama, Debating, Cooking, Yoga, and Korean literature. Activities are designed with learning intentions and outcomes to actively develop students. The programme includes events and trips linked to CCAs.	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service The school is an International Award Centre delivering the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (DofE). Green Tigers is an environmental initiative within the CCA programme.	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional Enrichment Societies (Science Society, Debating Society, Technology Society) provide opportunities to develop leadership and collaboration. Senior School adopts a year-long Extension in Enrichment CCAs to deepen commitment and leadership. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is delivered through the programme.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing The CCA programme is designed to develop student health and wellbeing as part of the learning journey. Wellbeing is a whole-school focus, promoting physical, mental and emotional health and participation in the wider community.	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The primary language of instruction is English, with Mandarin taught through three pathways: Mandarin A (Mandarin as native language), Mandarin B (Mandarin as a second language), and Mandarin C (Mandarin as a foreign language). Mandarin A uses Mandarin as the classroom language; Mandarin B involves about 90% Mandarin in classroom instruction; Mandarin C uses the Wo Hui Mandarin approach to support learning. The school provides English language support for non-native speakers, and an English proficiency assessment is administered as part of admissions.	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching The primary language of instruction is English. In the early years (ages 2 to 7), there is a dual-language approach combining Mandarin and English. The Mandarin programme is streamed and caters to all abilities. An English language assessment is administered for non-native speakers as part of admissions.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs Dual language immersion is provided through the DUCKS program in China and Singapore, exposing young learners to English and Mandarin throughout the day. In the classroom, one teacher focuses on English and a second on Mandarin to support language use in authentic contexts. The program aims to help students gain confidence to communicate in both languages.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards Below are awards and externally issued recognitions for Dulwich College Suzhou that appear on the school's website from the past five years (2021–2025). Each entry includes the date shown on the school site and a one-line explanation of the award and its significance. All items are taken from the school's publicly posted news pages. - "The Top IB School in China" — Apr 11, 2025: the school reports receiving this award from IB-Schools.com, presented in recognition of the school's national average IB Diploma score for the reporting year. - Hurun: "No. 1 School in Jiangsu" and listed among "Top Schools in China" — Apr 2, 2024: the school reports being recognised by the Hurun organisation in a set of regional/national school awards; the citation on the site presents this as an institutional ranking/award. - Ranked third overall in the IB table for China (acknowledged as Top 3 in IB scores for 2023) — Jan 12, 2024: the school's site records a national-level ranking (third overall) in IB results for the 2023 cohort; this is presented as an institutional recognition. - KingLead China International School Innovative Competitiveness Top 100 — "No.1 in Suzhou and No.6 in China" — Feb 13, 2023: the school's news item records its position in KingLead's Top 100 list, a national ranking of schools' innovation and competitiveness. Notes and scope limits: - I checked only the Dulwich College Suzhou website and included recognitions that the school presents there as awards or external rankings given to the school (not awards to individual students). Each award entry above links to the school's news post where it appears. - I excluded recognitions described on the site that are explicitly to individual staff or students (for example, individual staff grants or counselling awards) because your request asked that awards be those given to the school as an institution. If you'd like, I can (a) extract the exact sentences and publication dates from each news post into a short table, or (b) search the school site again for any additional institutional awards between 2021 and 2025 and double-check there are no further award posts I missed.	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations Below are the accreditations and formal memberships listed on the Dulwich College Suzhou website, with a short explanation of what each is and why it matters: - Council of International Schools (CIS): a global not-for-profit membership and accreditation organisation for international schools; CIS accreditation indicates the school has met internationally benchmarked standards for governance, teaching and learning, and student support. - Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC): one of the regional U.S.-based accrediting bodies; WASC accreditation confirms the school meets standards used by U.S. and many international institutions and can support credit transfer and higher-education recognition. - NCCT (listed on the school site as NCCT): the school lists NCCT among its accreditations; NCCT (National Center for School Curriculum and Textbook Development) is the Chinese agency used in joint accreditation processes and indicates alignment with Chinese Ministry of Education curriculum/authorization processes. - International Baccalaureate (IB World School status): authorised to deliver the IB Diploma Programme; IB authorisation means the school meets IB standards for curriculum and assessment for the Diploma Programme. - Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE): an international exam board that provides IGCSEs and other qualifications; CAIE accreditation/authorization means the school is approved to register students for Cambridge examinations. - Edexcel (Pearson): an international awarding body for IGCSE/A-level style qualifications; listing Edexcel indicates the school can offer Edexcel examinations and qualifications. - Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection (reported result: "excellent" in all areas, Oct 2016): ISI is a UK government‑approved inspector for British schools overseas; the ISI outcome reported on the school site confirms the school met the ISI standards at the time of inspection and met the Standards for British Schools Overseas. - Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA): a regional network promoting British-style education in Asia; membership provides access to regional events (sports, music, festivals) and collaborative opportunities. - Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS): a regional association of international schools in eastern Asia; membership supports inter-school competitions and professional development. - Boarding Schools' Association (BSA): a UK association that supports and represents boarding schools; the school's membership indicates engagement with recognised boarding-school practice and standards. - Academy for International School Heads: a professional network for school leaders; membership signals participation in an international leadership community and peer professional development. - Certified to offer SAT examinations: the school states it is certified to administer SATs, which facilitates U.S. college-entry testing on campus. (These items are taken from the school's Affiliation & Accreditations information as published on the Dulwich College Suzhou website.)	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and online application. Start by using the Apply / Enquire links on the College website (the school uses an online application portal) or contact the Admissions office by email or phone to request next steps; once you complete the online application an admissions officer will contact you to guide the rest of the process. Parents should save the confirmation and note any application deadlines — the school explicitly directs applicants to the online portal for the first step. 2. Check eligibility and prepare documents. Dulwich College Suzhou requires that students hold a foreign passport and that at least one parent also holds a foreign passport, and both parent and child must have a valid residence visa — if you are unsure about eligibility you should confirm with Admissions before submitting documents. Be prepared to provide passports, valid residence visa paperwork, birth certificate, and previous school reports; the site also refers to an age-placement guide (children should meet the age requirement before 1 September of the year of application). Parents should gather translated/attested copies in advance to avoid delays. 3. Assessments and onsite observation. Entry assessments vary by age: Foundation Stage (DUCKS) applicants are typically observed in a class or asked to attend an onsite observation; Years 3–6 and Years 7–11 take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT) and an English-as-an-Additional-Language (EAL) assessment where required. The Admissions Office arranges assessment times and you should allow at least half a day for the CAT-based assessments; bring recent school reports and any assessment accommodations your child requires. Note that Nursery/Reception applicants may be offered provisional places if they cannot be assessed in person at the time of application. 4. Senior school interviews and Year 12/13 entry. Candidates for Years 12 and 13 will be interviewed by the Head of IB or Senior Studies and that recommendation informs the final admission decision; Senior School candidates also have CAT and written English assessments reviewed by the Senior School EAL lead. If your child is applying for the IB years, expect subject-level discussion about prior qualifications and intended university pathways during the interview. Parents should bring transcripts, predicted grades (if available), and any university guidance materials they want considered. 5. Arrangements for overseas or remote applicants. The College can administer entrance assessments remotely for families who are not able to visit Suzhou; contact the Admissions team to arrange a remote assessment and clarify timing, time zones and required supervision. Make sure you understand the remote testing platform, what ID is required for the session, and whether a proctor (parent or school) must be present. The site gives a specific admissions contact for remote arrangements — use that contact to avoid delays. 6. Learning support and language considerations. The College enrolls students only when it is confident it can meet their learning needs; you must provide all previous reports and assessments so the admissions review team can make an informed decision. If your child requires learning support, expect follow-up assessments and consultation with the school's learning-support staff before a final offer is made. For non-native English speakers the school may require additional EAL assessment to determine whether language support is needed and available. 7. Offer, starting place and practical costs to expect. If a place is offered you will be sent offer/acceptance instructions; the Suzhou admissions pages make clear that tuition may be paid annually or by term and that fees do not include certain items (school lunches, bus service, uniforms, trips and private lessons), so plan for those additional costs. The College issues a detailed statement of account monthly and notes a 5% sibling discount for families with three or more children in full‑day programmes; confirm payment deadlines and preferred payment methods with Finance to avoid late penalties. Because detailed fee amounts are not presented on the public admissions overview, ask Admissions for the current fee schedule and the school's refund/withdrawal policy before accepting. 8. Acceptance timing, waiting and start-date logistics. If no place is available for the requested term your child's application will be transferred to the waiting list for the next term or moved to the appropriate year level for the following academic year; waiting‑list positions are not disclosed and the school advises early application. Confirm the expected start date (term start dates are published in the College calendar) and any orientation or induction events, and check what documents you must bring on the first day (ID, medical forms, uniforms). Be aware that school bus routes, lunch accounts and uniform ordering can take time — arrange these as early as possible after you accept a place.	Admissions Admission Plan: Independent admissions exams. The first session is scheduled for late October by appointment. The tests include English and Mathematics (written) and a principal interview conducted entirely in English. Entry Criteria: The school recruits students for Grade 9, Grade 10 (FP), and Grade 11 (DP). Applicants for FP (Grade 10) should be in Grade 9 or Grade 10 at the time of application. Applicants for DP (Grade 11) should be in Grade 10 or Grade 11 at the time of application. Results: The first graduating class received 67 offers for 13 students. Xu received an offer from University College London (UCL) for Education, with UCL ranked No. 7 globally in the QS rankings and No. 1 in the world for Education. Zhu received an offer from Babson College for Entrepreneurship. Wu received an offer from the University of the Arts London for Art and Design. Admission events: In September, online/offline admissions information sessions. On October 16, an online Education Expo. On October 22, an Open Day. On October 30, an International School Education Expo. On November 26, an Open Day. In December, a Suzhou local education expo. Contact: Admissions Office phone: 0512-65490316 / 0512-65490317; Address: No. 100 Xiangcheng Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; Email: arissa.miao@sia-edu.cn.
Scholarships	Scholarships The public admissions information for Dulwich College Suzhou does not advertise internal tuition scholarships or means‑tested bursaries on its admissions overview; the site instead highlights that graduates have earned significant university scholarships at the next stage of study. Dulwich schools in other parts of the network (for example the Dulwich College UK and some other Dulwich campuses) have formal scholarship or bursary programmes and, in other campuses, specific one‑off or programmatic awards are listed on those local admissions pages — so scholarship practice varies across the Dulwich network. If you are specifically seeking fee assistance, talent (music / art /sport) scholarships, or staff/employee discounts, ask Suzhou's Admissions and Finance teams directly for the current policy and any application forms: the College's public page does not provide details of an internal scholarship scheme and recommends contacting Admissions for precise, up‑to‑date information. For context, Dulwich College (UK) and other Dulwich campuses publish separate scholarship/bursary pages describing merit and means‑tested awards, so Suzhou's local policy may be similar or different — the safest route is to request written confirmation from Suzhou Admissions.	Scholarships Scholarships: The school offers a Scholarship policy program. The SIA Special Scholarship is a one-time award of RMB 100,000, and recipients are recorded in the school's major milestones. First, Second, and Third Prize Scholarships are also offered and run for three years; the exact terms are provided by the Admissions Office, and final interpretation rests with the Academic Committee.
Waitlist	Waitlist Dulwich College Suzhou operates waiting lists. Placement on a waiting list is determined by the date the application and (where applicable) any required application fee are received; the school sets a clear priority order: (1) children of full‑time faculty, (2) qualified siblings of current students who have completed the application process, and (3) children transferring from another Dulwich College International school. If an applicant does not obtain a place for the term applied for, their name is automatically transferred to the waiting list for the following term, and at the end of the academic year applicants are moved forward into the appropriate year level for the next academic year. The College does not disclose individual waiting‑list positions to parents, so the admissions team's guidance is to apply early and to keep contact details up to date so you receive any offer promptly.	Waitlist —
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