Nanjing International School vs The British School of Nanjing

	N Nanjing International School Nanjing, China	T The British School of Nanjing Nanjing, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 191,500 - 286,100	Fees / year RMB 121,919 - 286,640
Age range	Age range 3 - 17 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils 620	Pupils 450
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 18
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1992	Opened 2007
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Nanjing International School is located at Xue Heng Lu 8, Xian Lin University City, in the Qi Xia District of Nanjing, PRC 210023. The campus sits in Xianlin University City, across from international restaurants and nearby residential areas. The school occupies a large, purpose-built site of about 80,620 square metres and holds LEED Silver certification.	Location The British School of Nanjing, 16 Han Fu Lu, Jiangning, Nanjing 211106, Jiangsu, China
Stages	Stages NIS offers Pre-K to 12 education within an IB Continuum. The Primary School covers Pre-K to Grade 5 and the Secondary School covers Grades 6 to 12.	Stages Early Years (ages 2-5); Primary (ages 5-10); Lower Secondary (ages 10-14); Upper Secondary (ages 14-18)
School type	School type NIS is co-educational and operates as a fully inclusive, non-profit international school. It is an IB World School offering the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP).	School type British international day school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix More than 30 nationalities represented; multicultural community
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The Learning Support Services (LSS) team comprises four specialists who work with classroom teachers to provide targeted interventions, accommodations, and individualized learning plans. English Language Support and Counselling are also available to support learners with diverse needs.	Additional learning support Dedicated SEN coordinators; comprehensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme
Country affiliation	Country affiliation There is no formal country affiliation.	Country affiliation United Kingdom
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation NIS has no religious affiliation.	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Early Years follow a full-day schedule with a start at 8:00 a.m. and a finish at 3:00 p.m. Primary School schedules are issued by the homeroom teacher, and Secondary timetables are managed by the school leadership as part of the IB continuum.	School day structure From Early Years through Upper Secondary, a typical day begins with a warm welcome and mindfulness, followed by a day of learning across subjects with enquiry-based and practical activities. There are opportunities to perform, participate in clubs, and engage in sport and other enrichment.
Bus service details	Bus service details Bus transport is provided through HomeCaught to cover routes serving most international compounds in Nanjing. Buses are supervised, GPS-tracked, and driven by trained staff; parents pay the bus fees and coordinate with a dedicated buses manager for pickups and drop-offs.	Bus service details BSN provides a monitored bus service with home-address pick-up and drop-off in Nanjing; BSN Bus Route 2025-2026; schedules and routes are managed by the school and require advance notice for changes
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / New‑student fees - New‑student fee: RMB 18,000 (this amount is included in the published tuition figures for new students). - Enrolment deposit: an enrolment deposit is required upon acceptance; it must be paid before the student's first day and within 14 days of the invoice. The deposit is non‑refundable but is applied to the student's first semester tuition. Tuition fees (per semester and annual) — New students (2025–2026 published schedule) - Pre‑K (arriving Semester 1, full day, age 3–4): Semester 1 RMB 113,750; Semester 2 RMB 95,750; Annual RMB 209,500. - Kindergarten (K1/K2) – Grade 5 (arriving Semester 1): Semester 1 RMB 149,500; Semester 2 RMB 131,500; Annual RMB 281,000. - Grade 6 – Grade 8 (arriving Semester 1): Semester 1 RMB 152,050; Semester 2 RMB 134,050; Annual RMB 286,100. - Grade 9 – Grade 12 (arriving Semester 1): Semester 1 RMB 178,860; Semester 2 RMB 107,240; Annual RMB 286,100. Tuition fees (per semester and annual) — Returning students (2025–2026 published schedule) - Pre‑K (full day): Semester 1 RMB 95,750; Semester 2 RMB 95,750; Annual RMB 191,500. - Kindergarten (K1/K2) – Grade 5: Semester 1 RMB 131,500; Semester 2 RMB 131,500; Annual RMB 263,000. - Grade 6 – Grade 8: Semester 1 RMB 134,050; Semester 2 RMB 134,050; Annual RMB 268,100. - Grade 9 – Grade 12: Semester 1 RMB 160,860; Semester 2 RMB 107,240; Annual RMB 268,100. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is presented and billed by semester; annual totals are provided as the sum of semester charges. - The enrolment deposit must be paid before the enrolment day and within 14 days of receipt of invoice; the deposit is non‑refundable and is applied to the first semester's tuition. - For returning students, total school fees must be paid by the published due date (the published schedule indicates May 31 as a noted payment deadline for returning‑student fees). - Cash payments are handled through the school cashier office; the school maintains secure cash handling and cashier procedures for on‑site collections. Boarding fees - Nanjing International School is a day school; no full‑time boarding fees are listed in the published fee schedule for the school. Optional and other fees - Bus / transportation service (optional): monthly bus fees vary by distance; published range for 2025–26 is RMB 925 – RMB 2,350 per month. The bus service is coordinated with an external contractor. - Device / technology requirements and related costs: students in Grade 2–4 are required to own an iPad; students in Grade 5–12 are required to own an Apple laptop; calculators are required from Grade 6 upward. Devices may be purchased through the school or independently. Parents of Grade 12 students are responsible for IB examination fees. - ID card / printing credit: student ID cards are charged each semester for printing; families may need to add funds at the cashier if the card balance is exhausted. - Extra‑curricular activities, school trips (Discover China) and specific course materials: these may incur additional charges where applicable; the published tuition covers core instructional provision but some trips/exam fees or optional programme fees (for example IB exam fees) are charged separately. - Any specific uniforms, uniform costs, or school‑shop purchases are handled through the school's parent and resource channels; itemised uniform pricing is not listed in the published tuition schedule. Refund information and early‑withdrawal rules - No refund of school fees is paid for students who are withdrawn during their first two full semesters of attendance (a full semester is defined as being enrolled before the 30th day of a semester). - For students enrolled at NIS for more than one year who leave during the first half of a semester, a refund of 25% of that semester's fee is payable; students leaving in the second half of a semester are not entitled to a refund. - Refunds are not provided in cases of temporary closure through force majeure; in such circumstances the school will endeavour to provide continued education but fees are not refundable. Fee payment options - Bank transfer: the school publishes bank transfer instructions for international remittance and accepts payments by bank transfer. - On‑site / cashier payments: the school operates a cashier office for collection of cash and on‑site payments; cash handling and secure storage procedures are documented in the school's finance procedure materials.	Fee details Tuition fees (Academic year 2026–27) - Pre‑Nursery (half day, age 2): Term 1 RMB 48,768 · Term 2 RMB 36,576 · Term 3 RMB 36,576 · Total for year RMB 121,919 · Annual payment (single payment) RMB 118,262. - Pre‑Nursery (full day, age 2): Term 1 RMB 88,668 · Term 2 RMB 66,501 · Term 3 RMB 66,501 · Total for year RMB 221,671 · Annual payment RMB 215,020. - Nursery (age 3): Term 1 RMB 88,668 · Term 2 RMB 66,501 · Term 3 RMB 66,501 · Total for year RMB 221,671 · Annual payment RMB 215,020. - Reception (age 4): Term 1 RMB 88,668 · Term 2 RMB 66,501 · Term 3 RMB 66,501 · Total for year RMB 221,671 · Annual payment RMB 215,020. - Year 1–3 (age 5): Term 1 RMB 105,130 · Term 2 RMB 78,848 · Term 3 RMB 78,848 · Total for year RMB 262,825 · Annual payment RMB 254,940. - Year 4–6 (age 8): Term 1 RMB 109,335 · Term 2 RMB 82,001 · Term 3 RMB 82,001 · Total for year RMB 273,338 · Annual payment RMB 265,138. - Year 7–10 (age 11): Term 1 RMB 111,702 · Term 2 RMB 83,777 · Term 3 RMB 83,777 · Total for year RMB 279,255 · Annual payment RMB 270,878. - Year 11–13 (age 15): Term 1 RMB 114,656 · Term 2 RMB 85,992 · Term 3 RMB 85,992 · Total for year RMB 286,640 · Annual payment RMB 278,040. Application, deposit and one‑off charges - Application Fee: RMB 2,500 (non‑refundable; payable on application). - Refundable Deposit (security deposit): RMB 12,000 (payable to secure a place after a formal offer; refundable subject to the school's refund conditions). - Enrolment Fee: RMB 10,000 (one‑time, non‑refundable on enrolment confirmation). - English as an Additional Language (EAL) charge: RMB 15,000 (one‑time, non‑refundable; applied when additional English support is required). Bus service (optional) — fees by tier - Tier 1: Annual RMB 13,255 · Term 1 RMB 5,302 · Term 2 RMB 3,977 · Term 3 RMB 3,977. - Tier 2: Annual RMB 15,686 · Term 1 RMB 6,274 · Term 2 RMB 4,706 · Term 3 RMB 4,706. - Tier 3: Annual RMB 18,116 · Term 1 RMB 7,274 · Term 2 RMB 5,435 · Term 3 RMB 5,435. Uniforms, meals and other recurring / optional costs - Uniform items are required and available from the school shop; individual items typically range from RMB 40 to RMB 400. - School lunches are complimentary for all full‑day enrolled students. - External examination fees (IGCSE, A‑Level) are charged separately. Textbooks, device provision (iPad for Years 6–9; MacBook for Years 10–13) and daily lunch are shown in the school's fee calculator as standard items; after‑school activities, premium trips, bus service, student support (SEN/EAL) and cafeteria extras may incur additional charges. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are normally billed in RMB. Tuition may also be invoiced in USD, GBP or EUR upon request; invoices in foreign currency are updated in line with the prevailing Bank of China exchange rate. - Annual or termly payment plans are offered. Tuition and other fees must be paid by the due date shown on the school invoice; students may be denied attendance if fees are not paid before classes commence. - New students who join after a term starts are invoiced pro‑rata on a two‑week cycle. Bus fees are also invoiced pro‑rata if the service starts mid‑term. Once a term has commenced there are no refunds for that term. - Withdrawal requires two months' written notice before the child's last day of school; failing to provide two months' notice will result in payment of two months' fees in lieu of notice. - Late payment may incur a penalty (policy sets a typical charge of 1.5% per month on overdue amounts). Students' reports and transcripts may be withheld for unpaid accounts. Refund information - The refundable deposit is returned when the student leaves provided all accounts are fully settled, school property returned undamaged and the required two months' written notice has been given (holidays excluded). The deposit is not refundable if the student does not attend after an offered enrolment or where remaining tuition does not cover the required notice period. - Refunds are reimbursed to the payer in the same way the payment was made except in specified cases (for example, refunds from overseas payments are processed to a nominated Chinese bank account); refunds are typically processed within 15 working days after the student leaves the school. Original tax receipt (fapiao) must be returned when requesting a refund. Fee payment options and instructions - By electronic / bank transfer: include the invoice number and/or student name; scan and send the bank transfer remittance slip to the school finance email as instructed by the finance office. All bank transfer charges are the payer's responsibility. USD payments by bank transfer are accepted based on the Bank of China exchange rate applied to the invoice. - By cash: only Chinese currency (RMB) is accepted in cash; large cash payments are discouraged for security reasons (school guidance notes a recommended limit). - By cheque: cheques should be issued to the school name in Chinese as specified by the finance office. (All figures above are those published for the 2026–27 fee schedule. For questions about a specific invoice, currency preference, payment recipient details or timing, contact the school's finance or admissions team directly.)
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 Nanjing International School (NIS) is an IB World School offering an IB Continuum Pre-K to 12 curriculum. The IB programmes at NIS are PYP for Pre-K to Grade 5, MYP for Grades 6–10, and DP for Grades 11–12. The PYP focuses on the development of the whole child through transdisciplinary inquiry, while the MYP includes service learning as a core element. The Diploma Programme lasts two years (Grades 11–12) and comprises six subject groups plus the DP Core (Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay); the school also recognises a Global Citizen Diploma for activities beyond academics. English is the language of instruction; language offerings include a German Mother Tongue programme and IB-integrated language courses. NIS emphasises inquiry-based, student-centred learning with inclusive practices and provides university counselling to support DP students.	Curriculum details The school follows the English National Curriculum from Early Years through Upper Secondary, including IGCSEs and A-levels.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results 100% pass rate at A-level. In 2021, 75% achieved an A*. Two in three BSN students achieved scores high enough to gain entry to the world's top 100 universities. Two BSN students achieved 'best in the world' IGCSE Mandarin results. Graduates have progressed to universities such as Cambridge, the University of Toronto, and KAIST.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression Offers from top universities worldwide, including Cambridge, University of Toronto and KAIST; Class of 2025-2026 offers total 38 universities worldwide.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Step 1: Enquiry and/or school tour. Begin by making an enquiry or arranging a tour to learn about NIS and determine if the school fits your child's needs. Tours can be booked through the Book Tour option in the Admissions area, or you can contact the admissions team for more information. This step helps families decide whether to proceed with the online application. If you decide to move forward, you proceed to Step 2. Step 2: Online application. The OpenApply online form is how your family introduces themselves to NIS. All applications are completed online, and each child requires a separate application. The system allows you to return to the application later, and all necessary supporting documents are uploaded during this process. Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance. Step 3: Admissions interview. After the online application and documents are received, the Admissions Team will schedule an interview to determine if NIS is a good fit for your family and your child's learning needs. The interview includes an in‑person session with your child, and they can ask questions about the school. Students in Grade 3 and above will be assessed on reading, writing, maths, and language during or after the interview, and initial online interviews may be conducted for families outside Nanjing; a second interview may be arranged if more information is needed. Step 4: Assessment. Admissions testing is diagnostic and does not affect eligibility. All applicants for Grade 3 and above will take a MAP assessment to gauge maths and literacy against grade‑level standards. If English is not the home language, Grade 9 and above will take the WIDA English language test to determine if English Language Learning (ELL) support is needed. Step 5: Interview with Principal. The Primary or Secondary Principal will meet with the family, and they may be accompanied by a Learning Support specialist if relevant. In Primary, the Deputy Primary Principal is also present. This interview provides a final opportunity to discuss learning needs and fit. Step 6: Final decision. Following the Principal Interview, the Admissions Committee reviews the application package and interview results and makes a recommendation to the School Director, who makes all admissions decisions. Families are notified of the admissions decision through an OpenApply email generally within one week of the Principal Interview. Grades are then placed according to the school's guidelines: Primary (Early Years to Grade 5) and Secondary (Grade 6 to Grade 12) with age guidelines by August 31.	Admissions 1. Make an enquiry. Reach out to the admissions team to learn how your child will thrive here. They answer questions, discuss needs, and guide you through the application process. This initial contact helps you understand the admissions timeline. 2. Take a tour. Join an in‑person or online tour to experience BSN. You'll meet a teacher from your child's year group who explains how learning happens. The tour provides a feel for the campus and school life. 3. Send us your application. Applications are open all year round. Along with the online form, send supporting documents. We confirm receipt of your application promptly. 4. Assessment. Your child will complete a short assessment, including an English test. The assessment helps determine fit for BSN and ensures a good match. The results guide next steps in placement. 5. Placement. After the first four steps, if BSN is right for your family, an offer is made. We'll discuss next steps and any requirements. You'll receive placement confirmation and starting details. 6. Starting school. Once placed, a warm welcome awaits. You'll receive information before starting and be invited to a family induction day. The induction helps your child settle and meet classmates and ambassadors.
Scholarships	Scholarships No discounts or scholarships are offered.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist If a grade level reaches capacity, students are placed in a waiting pool (waitlist). The school operates a diversity policy, and the maximum number of any one nationality group at any grade level is 30%.	Waitlist —
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