International School of Dongguan vs Utahloy International School Guangzhou

	I International School of Dongguan Guangzhou, China	U Utahloy International School Guangzhou Guangzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 126,000 - 233,600	Fees / year RMB 132,300 - 290,800
Age range	Age range 3 - 17 years	Age range 6 months - 17 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), IB (MYP), IB (PYP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 400	Pupils 700
Typical class size	Typical class size 5	Typical class size 18
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2012	Opened 1998
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location ISD is located at 11 Jin Feng Nan Road in Nancheng District, Dongguan — roughly midway between Shenzhen and Guangzhou, in the city centre area of Dongguan. The campus is a purpose-built international campus with sports and arts facilities; public buses and the Dongguan Metro (Line 2) serve the area nearby.	Location Utahloy International School Guangzhou is at 800 Sha Tai Bei Road in Baiyun District, Guangzhou — a lakeside campus in the north of the city. The school provides pick-up zones across major districts (Tianhe, Zhujiang New Town, Haizhu, Yuexiu, Liwan, Panyu and Zengcheng) via its bus service, which can be useful if you are relocating from those neighbourhoods. For the exact campus address and to arrange a visit, contact the admissions office.
Stages	Stages ISD serves Early Childhood (Pre‑K through Senior Kindergarten), Elementary (Grade 1–5) and Secondary (Grade 6–12). The school offers the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12.	Stages UISG delivers the full IB continuum: Early Years (nursery/early years), Primary (PYP), and Secondary (MYP and IB Diploma). Program pages on the school site outline age-group provision from early childhood through Year 12.
School type	School type ISD is a co‑educational day school; the campus and public materials describe it as a day school rather than a boarding school. The school was established in 2012 and presents itself as an international school operating in China.	School type UISG is a co-educational, secular international day school serving expatriate and eligible Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan families; it does not offer boarding. The school is operated under the Utahloy Education Foundation (UEF) umbrella.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support ISD runs an English Language Learners (ELL) program to support students for whom English is not a first language, and core classes include English language goals alongside content goals. Secondary‑school pages note differentiated instruction and co‑teaching models; the counseling team provides academic, social and emotional support for students. For specifics about individual education plans or intensive SEN provision, the admissions office is the best contact.	Additional learning support The school runs a whole-school English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme (using WIDA frameworks and tiered support) and offers targeted small-group and in-class support. Admissions notes and application forms state that families must provide reports if a child has diagnosed learning needs; UISG aims to support English-language learners and students with mild learning support needs while assessing the school's capacity to meet more significant needs.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school does not list an affiliation to a particular country; it operates as an international school in China and references an American Core Standards curriculum alongside its IB Diploma Programme authorization.	Country affiliation The school is not affiliated with a single foreign country; it is an international school in China operated by the Utahloy Education Foundation (UEF).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation There is no religious affiliation stated on the school website; ISD presents itself as a secular international school.	Religious affiliation UISG is secular and does not have a religious affiliation.
School day structure	School day structure ISD publishes an annual school calendar (term dates, holidays and PD days) but the public site does not publish a detailed, level‑by‑level daily timetable for student start/end times and break/lunch periods. The school does schedule campus visits and tours Monday–Friday (noted as 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for tour appointments); contact admissions for the current daily schedule for each age group.	School day structure Buses are scheduled to arrive at school between about 7:50–8:15am and regular afternoon buses depart around 3:30–3:40pm; a late bus for after-school activities typically leaves at about 5:15pm. Office hours and admissions availability are listed as Monday–Friday 8:00am–5:00pm; for exact daily bell times, break and lunch schedules for specific year groups, check with Admissions or the division offices.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school website does not publish a clear school‑run bus/shuttle schedule. There are public bus routes and nearby stops within walking distance and Metro Line 2 stations serving the area (local transit apps list routes such as 12, 219, X11, 快线16 and 79 near the campus). For any school‑arranged transport (school buses or private shuttles), contact the admissions office — they can confirm available routes, pickup points and safety arrangements.	Bus service details UISG operates an optional two-way school bus service using licensed, government-authorised yellow school buses with licensed drivers and assistants; parents register during the admissions process or by contacting the Busing Office. Routes cover two main zones (Zone 1: Tianhe, Zhujiang New Town, Haizhu, Baiyun, Yuexiu, Liwan; Zone 2: Panyu, Zengcheng); route management and daily changes are handled through the SchoolsBuddy app and the school provides WeChat groups and QR codes for route communication. If your area is not currently covered the school asks families to contact the transportation team to investigate feasibility.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - Non-refundable application fee: RMB 2,000 for Pre‑K to SK; RMB 3,000 for Grades 1–12. Paid in cash to complete the application. Tuition fees (payment options shown per grade band) - Grade 9–12: Per semester RMB 122,600; Single (annual) payment RMB 233,600. - Grade 6–8: Per semester RMB 117,200; Single (annual) payment RMB 223,300. - SK–Grade 5: Per semester RMB 110,800; Single (annual) payment RMB 211,000. - Pre‑K–JK: Per semester RMB 66,000; Single (annual) payment RMB 126,000. - Tuition includes: all text and resource materials, library/database memberships, high‑speed/wireless internet access, one PE uniform set, teacher‑led after‑school activities, sports/fitness facility access and annual maintenance. Billing schedule and payment terms - School issues tuition billing by email at least one week before each tuition payment due date. Fees may be paid by wire transfer or bank card. Wire transfer details and invoice information are handled by ISD Accounting (accounting@i‑s‑d.org). All bank charges are borne by the payer. Parents must include student name and grade on transfer instructions and email proof of transfer to the Accounting Office. - Payment plans offered: Annual single payment or two‑installment semester plan. Invoices specify the exact due dates. Late payment administrative charge of RMB 100 per day applies from the first day after the invoice due date; records are held after 20 days and the student may be suspended after 30 days of non‑payment. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable: ISD operates as a day school. (No boarding program/boarding fees.) Other costs and fees - English Language Learner assessment: initial test included in application fee; each additional retake RMB 500. - School bus (transportation) fee and lunch/meal plan are charged separately; specific rates are announced each year. Additional uniform items are available via the ISD uniform online store (tuition includes one PE set). Refund and withdrawal - Withdrawal must be submitted in writing to Admissions. A Withdrawal Administration Fee of RMB 20,000 applies. The policy uses a decreasing‑refund rule (a 10% reduction of refundable tuition for each successive month of enrollment after the school year begins) and provides specific examples of refund timing and amounts in the school's tuition and fees policy. Note: some time‑period examples and percentages are set out in the fees document; parents should follow the written withdrawal procedure to trigger refund calculations. Payment options summary - Accepted: Wire transfer (bank transfer) and bank card. Bank transfer fees charged to the payer; proof of payment must be emailed to ISD Accounting.	Fee details Application fees - Application fee: RMB 2,000. Non-refundable, non-transferable, one-time payment submitted with the application (valid for one school year). Tuition fees (per semester and per year group) - K (Half day): RMB 66,150 per semester; Total RMB 132,300 (2 semesters); Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 127,008. - K (Full day): RMB 94,500 per semester; Total RMB 189,000; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 181,440. - K1 (Half day): RMB 68,250 per semester; Total RMB 136,500; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 131,040. - K1 (Full day): RMB 97,500 per semester; Total RMB 195,000; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 187,200. - K2: RMB 102,500 per semester; Total RMB 205,000; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 196,800. - K3: RMB 111,000 per semester; Total RMB 222,000; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 213,120. - G1: RMB 118,400 per semester; Total RMB 236,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 227,328. - G2: RMB 117,400 per semester; Total RMB 234,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 225,408. - G3: RMB 117,400 per semester; Total RMB 234,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 225,408. - G4: RMB 117,400 per semester; Total RMB 234,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 225,408. - G5: RMB 117,400 per semester; Total RMB 234,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 225,408. - G6: RMB 125,900 per semester; Total RMB 251,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 241,728. - G7: RMB 126,400 per semester; Total RMB 252,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 242,688. - G8: RMB 126,400 per semester; Total RMB 252,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 242,688. - G9: RMB 139,900 per semester; Total RMB 279,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 268,608. - G10: RMB 139,900 per semester; Total RMB 279,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 268,608. - G11: RMB 145,400 per semester; Total RMB 290,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 279,168. - G12: RMB 145,400 per semester; Total RMB 290,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 279,168. (Per-semester and annual figures as published by the school.) Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition may be paid by semester or annually; an annual payment attracts the stated 4% discount on tuition. The school issues an enrollment letter and a debit note with payment deadlines required to secure a place. Payments must meet the stipulated due dates to qualify for sibling bursaries and other conditional discounts. Mid-term admissions (after the first two weeks of the school year) are adjusted pro rata, weekly. Boarding fees - UISG is a day school and does not offer boarding facilities; there are no boarding fees at this campus. (A separate Utahloy campus offers boarding.) Other costs and fees - School and P.E. uniforms are compulsory for K to Year 10; uniform items are purchased through the school uniform shop (prices for individual items are listed in the uniform price list). Examination fees for external standard tests (IB, SAT, TOEFL, etc.) are additional and are not covered by tuition. The school notes an LSA fee and optional bus fees; bus fees are optional, partially subsidised by the school, and payable by semester or annually. Canteen/cafeteria meals have been included in the semester and annual fee structure for the published year. Refund information - Application fee: non-refundable. - ECAs and externally run activities: published ECA terms include limited refund rules (e.g., one-week grace period per term, refunds of missed lessons only in specified prolonged closure scenarios). The school's public pages do not publish a single, detailed general tuition refund/withdrawal policy; the enrollment letter/debit note and the school's Admissions Procedures and Policies brochure reference payment deadlines and conditions. For specific withdrawal or refund cases, the school's finance or admissions office provides the governing details. Fee payment options - Application fee: WeChat Pay is presented as the simplest option; bank transfer is available on request and the school requests a copy of remittance to admissions@uisgz.org and finance@uisgz.org. For scheduled tuition and other school fees, the school issues a debit note with payment instructions (finance contact available for bank details and queries). No public page lists credit-card acceptance as a standard method. Notes: the figures above are taken from the school's published 2025–2026 tuition and fees materials. Where the school's public pages give conditional or procedural statements (for example, sibling bursary conditions, bus fees, LSA charges, and ECA refund rules), those statements are reflected above; a general tuition withdrawal/refund schedule was not located on the publicly available pages cited.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details ISD serves Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 as a coeducational day school. English is the language of instruction. The curriculum combines an American Core Standard Curriculum with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12. ISD is an IB World School authorized to deliver the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The teacher–student ratio is 1:5 and the school offers 90+ extracurricular options. ISD graduates have progressed to universities around the world.	Curriculum details Utahloy International School Guangzhou delivers the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum across its Early Years, Primary and Secondary stages. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) runs from Early Years through Year/Grade 6 and is an inquiry‑based, transdisciplinary curriculum integrating language (English and Chinese), mathematics, science, social studies, arts, design and specialist PE/music, with a PYP exhibition at the upper primary level. The Middle Years Programme (MYP) covers Grades/Years 6–10; students take eight subject groups (Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals & Societies, Science, Mathematics, The Arts, Physical & Health Education, and Design), complete a Personal Project, and may sit Grade 10 eAssessments leading to an IB MYP certificate. The Diploma Programme (DP) is offered in the final two years (typically Years 11–12) and requires study across six subject groups (three Higher Level, three Standard Level) plus the core components—Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service—culminating in the IB Diploma. Across the school there is whole‑school EAL support, a Mother Tongue programme (Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese, French, German, Spanish), and provision for technology, arts and extensive extracurricular activities.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio The teacher–student ratio is 1:5.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results ISD graduates study at some of the world's most prestigious colleges and universities. The first cohort of IB graduates completed in 2017. ISD is an IB World School.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression ISD graduates pursue higher education at universities around the world. The first IB graduates were in 2017. ISD is an IB World School with authorization to deliver the Diploma Programme. ISD prepares students for higher education through an American core curriculum and the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented ISD offers 90+ extracurricular options. The campus supports House League, After School Activities, Athletics, Creativities and Week Without Walls. The Maker Space includes robotics, a laser cutter and a 3D printer.	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Schedule a campus tour. ISD invites prospective families to schedule a campus tour to learn about the curriculum, facilities, and community. Campus tours run Monday to Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., and an appointment is encouraged before you visit. 2. Start your application. Submit your application through our paperless admissions system using the Apply link. The admissions page directs you to start the online application and provides contact details for questions. 3. Admissions support. The admissions team provides guidance during the application process and can arrange campus tours as needed. 4. Transfer options and trial classes. For the 2025-2026 admissions season, ISD offers trial classes; prospective students can start the online application by scanning the QR code. Transfer students are welcome for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, and ISD invites families to visit the campus for a closer look. Ready to get started? Contact ISD admissions for more information.	Admissions 1. Check eligibility and read placement guidance. Before you start an application, confirm your child is eligible: UISG only admits students holding a valid foreign passport or those from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan — children with a People's Republic of China passport are not eligible. Review the school's Year Level Placement guide so you apply for the correct year level; applying for the wrong year level can delay review or change placement outcomes. If you are unsure about eligibility or the right year level, contact the Admissions Office first. 2. Prepare required documents. UISG asks that you gather and prepare the Required Documents before submitting an application: these commonly include parents' and student passport copies and any Chinese residency/visa documentation, the student's birth certificate, a passport-sized photo, at least two years of official school reports plus a Certificate of Attendance/Enrollment, an up-to-date vaccination record, and (for Grade 1–12 applicants) a confidential reference requested through the online portal. If your child has a diagnosed learning need or has previously received learning support, you must provide detailed reports and history of support as part of the application. Documents should be in English or provided with an official translation to avoid processing delays. 3. Submit the application through the online portal and pay the application fee. Complete the online application via UISG's OpenApply admissions portal and upload the required supporting documents; the school will not process an application without the application fee. The application fee is RMB 2,000 (non-refundable and non-transferable) — parents are asked to include the student's full name on remittance and may remit via WeChat Pay or bank transfer (contact admissions for bank details). 4. Assessments and interview. Depending on age and prior English-medium schooling, applicants (especially Grades 4–12 without at least three years in an English-language school) may be asked to complete an English assessment or other subject/language assessments; these can be on campus or proctored online. The school requests a student and family interview (usually with the relevant Head of Division); the interview is used to understand the child and family, answer questions, and assess fit rather than to ‘‘test'' the child on the spot. Heads of Division may also request a trial class or additional assessments in some cases; budget time for these steps when planning a mid-year move. 5. Admissions review and decision. Admissions decisions are made after the Admissions Office, Heads of Division, and Head of School review the file, assessment results, references, and interview feedback; the school evaluates both the potential for the student to benefit from UISG and the school's capacity to meet the student's needs. After the process is complete you should receive a formal admissions response: an official enrollment letter (if accepted) plus a debit note listing payment deadlines required to secure the place. UISG aims to issue a decision quickly (the FAQ notes a typical decision within five working days after all steps are complete), though processing can be slower during holidays. If your child is denied, the school will issue a letter explaining the reasons. 6. If accepted — secure the place and note fee/payment policies. To secure an offered place you will be given payment instructions and deadlines; UISG offers an annual-payment 4% discount (shown on the published fee schedule) and applies sibling bursaries for second and subsequent concurrently enrolled children (bursary applies to basic tuition only). The school accepts mid-year enrollments when space is available; note the tuition policy: no basic tuition reduction is given for students admitted during the first two weeks of term, and students admitted after the first two weeks will have tuition adjusted pro rata by week. For transport, bus fees are optional and payable by semester or annually; meals are included in the 2025–26 fee structure. Keep the tuition & fees page and the Admissions Procedures & Policies brochure handy for the detailed financial terms referenced in your debit note.
Scholarships	Scholarships ISD offers a Merit-Based Scholarship Program. Details on eligibility and the application process are published by ISD. For inquiries, contact the admissions office.	Scholarships UISG does offer scholarship opportunities and runs specific scholarship programmes with published criteria and application procedures. Recent school announcements (April–May 2025) describe a RMB 1,000,000 scholarship programme for the 2025–26 year that is open to new students (Years 1–12) and existing students (Years 6–12), with awards ranging from full tuition to tiered cash awards; categories include academic, artistic, athletic, creativity, community service, and multilingual/cultural diversity scholarships. The school also runs targeted scholarships for specific year groups (for example Year 10 and Year 12 awards and UEF recognition awards) with stated application criteria and deadlines. Scholarship applications typically require completion of the admissions process first (payment of the non-refundable application fee where applicable), a completed scholarship application form, supporting documents (PDFs), required essays, and submission by the published deadline; for at least some internal scholarships the school asks applicants to email materials to secondaryoffice@uisgz.org. Deadlines and exact award amounts vary by programme and year — consult the UISG Scholarships page and the specific scholarship news posts for the current application windows and instructions, and contact admissions or the Secondary Office for clarifications.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist UISG operates a wait pool (waitlist) system when a requested year level has reached capacity. If a year level is full at the time of application, the school will notify you that your child has been placed in the wait pool and will contact you if and when an appropriate space becomes available. Offers are generally made on a first-come, first-served basis for available places, and the Admissions Office will follow up with an enrollment timeline and next steps if a space opens. The FAQ and Admissions Procedures both explicitly describe this wait-pool arrangement and advise families to apply early if they need a place at the start of a semester.
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