Shen Wai International School vs Shenzhen Foreign Languages GBA Academy

	S Shen Wai International School Shenzhen, China	S Shenzhen Foreign Languages GBA Academy Shenzhen, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 121,400 - 218,500	Fees / year RMB 165,200 - 210,000
Age range	Age range 4 - 18 years	Age range 6 - 19 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Chinese National Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 780	Pupils 900
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 7
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2012	Opened 2017
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Shen Wai International School is on 29 Baishi 3rd Road in Nanshan District, Shenzhen (518053). The campus is in the Shenzhen Bay / Nanshan area and is reachable by city roads and public transport; the school website lists the full address and contact number for directions and visits.	Location Address: No. 30 Xiangtang Road (Xiangtang Lu), Bantian sub-district, Longgang District, Shenzhen. The campus is in the Bantian/Longgang area (city outskirts with road and local-bus connections); parents relocating should check specific transit options and journey times from their housing area.
Stages	Stages SWIS is an IB continuum school offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP), serving roughly ages 4–18 (Pre‑K/Kindergarten through Grade 12).	Stages SGA is a 12‑year, continuous school covering primary, middle and high school. It delivers the IB continuum: PYP for primary, MYP for middle years and DP for the final two years.
School type	School type Co‑educational day school (no boarding). The school is government‑invested/non‑profit and serves expatriate families as well as residents from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.	School type The school is a co‑educational, government‑run (municipal) school operated by the Shenzhen Foreign Languages School Group; it is a publicly authorised integrated/“multi‑path” school and admits students of different nationalities.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school provides English language support (EAL) and additional learning / special‑education resources, and has counselling services and access to educational‑psychology support; some specialised services may be provided for a fee—contact Admissions for specifics.	Additional learning support SGA states it provides short‑term English language (EAL) support for students who need it and has school counselling/pastoral services; third‑party listings note a growing learning‑support team (a Learning Support Coordinator and trained staff) and access to external specialists when required. Parents with specific SEN requirements should contact admissions to discuss individual provision and assessment.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is not affiliated with a foreign country; it is invested by the Shenzhen municipal government and operates as an international school serving the local expatriate community and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan residents.	Country affiliation The school is run under the Shenzhen Foreign Languages School (group) and Shenzhen municipal education authorities; it is not affiliated to any other country.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation SWIS is secular and does not have a religious affiliation.	Religious affiliation SGA does not advertise any religious affiliation; its programmes are secular and curriculum‑focused.
School day structure	School day structure Published information indicates a typical school day runs approximately from 08:30 to 15:30, with options for supervised before/after care and an After‑School Activities (ASA) programme. Check the school calendar or Admissions for exact daily bell times for each division.	School day structure The school follows age‑appropriate daily timetables for PYP (primary), MYP (middle) and DP (senior) with lessons, a mid‑morning break and a lunchtime, plus after‑school co‑curricular activities. Exact start/end times and break lengths vary by year group and are published to families (contact the school or check the Parent Handbook for the current term schedule).
Bus service details	Bus service details The school offers a school‑bus service for families; bus availability, routes, pick‑up points and fees are organised through the school and can change each year. Parents relocating from overseas should request the current route map, operating company (if any) and fee schedule from Admissions before arrival.	Bus service details Public listings indicate SGA operates a school‑bus service for families (routes/availability are adjusted each year and places are typically by application/registration). Many schools in the area contract private bus providers, so parents should confirm current routes, pickup points, safety arrangements and fees with admissions before relocating.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Fees overview - Annual tuition by year group (amounts shown in RMB): - Kindergarten (4‑year‑old / K2): [RMB 121,400] per year; per term (approx.): [RMB 40,467] (annual ÷ 3, shown as an approximate per‑term figure). - Kindergarten 3 / Year 0 and Years 1–5 (Early Primary): [RMB 166,980] per year; per term (approx.): [RMB 55,660]. - Years 6–10 (Lower & Upper Secondary): [RMB 182,160] per year; per term (approx.): [RMB 60,720]. - Years 11–12 (IB Diploma / Sixth Form): [RMB 218,500] per year; per term (approx.): [RMB 72,833]. Application / enrolment fees - No explicit, separate application fee or one‑off enrolment/deposit amount was located in the publicly available fee summaries consulted. Public fee summaries present annual tuition figures but do not publish a distinct application charge in the sources reviewed. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school follows an August–June academic year (three‑term school year). Annual tuition figures are published; the sources consulted do not publish a detailed term billing schedule (for example exact term percentages or instalment due dates). Where a per‑term amount is required below, it is shown as an approximate value calculated by dividing the published annual fee by three. Boarding / accommodation fees - Shen Wai International School is listed as a day school (no boarding programme shown in the public profiles consulted). No boarding or residential fees were published in the sources reviewed. Other costs and typical additional charges - Uniform: the school is listed as having a uniform requirement, but no published uniform cost was found in the public fee summaries reviewed. - Transport (school bus): transport is offered according to school profile summaries; no specific bus fees or routes/prices were published in the fee summaries consulted. - Examination, materials, extra‑curricular and assessment fees: the publicly available fee summaries reviewed show annual tuition levels but do not itemise textbook, exam (IB examination) or co‑curricular charges. These kinds of additional charges are commonly billed separately at many schools, but no itemised list or amounts were found in the sources consulted. Refunds and refundable deposits - No explicit refund policy, refundable deposit amount, or step‑by‑step refund procedure for fees was located in the public fee materials that were available to the sources consulted. The published summaries provide annual tuition figures but do not publish a detailed refund/refund‑schedule statement. Accepted payment methods and practical payment notes - The public fee summaries consulted do not list specific accepted payment methods (for example bank transfer, credit card, or local cashiers). Contact details for the school are published and may be used to confirm current payment methods: phone +86 755 8654 1200 and email office@swis.cn. Summary of sources consulted and limitations - Confirmed items above (the published annual tuition figures by grade band) come from recent publicly available school‑profile and fee summary pages. The sources consulted publish annual tuition amounts but do not publish detailed line‑item charges (for example a named application fee, explicit enrolment deposit, exact per‑term billing proportions or formal refund wording) in the materials accessible through those summaries. Consequently, per‑term figures above are shown as approximations (annual fee divided by three) to provide a term‑level view when a per‑term number is required; those per‑term figures are inferences based on the published annual amounts.	Fee details Application fee - The school's published fee schedule and parent/student handbook do not list a separate application, registration or seat-deposit fee on their public fee pages. Tuition fees (by year group) - Grade 1–5: RMB 165,200 per year. Per term (semester): RMB 82,600. - Grade 6–10: RMB 178,400 per year. Per term (semester): RMB 89,200. - Grade 11–12: RMB 210,000 per year. Per term (semester): RMB 105,000. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school publishes tuition as annual amounts and the academic calendar is split into two semesters (Semester 1 beginning in August and Semester 2 beginning in January). The per-term figures above are the annual tuition divided by two to match the school's two-semester calendar. Snacks for the year must be reserved at the start of each semester and meal charges are calculated by the school calendar. Boarding fees (if applicable) - Boarding (Grades 6–12): RMB 12,000 per year. Per term (semester): RMB 6,000. The boarding fee covers basic dormitory facilities and utilities; personal items, bedding, laundry and meals are not included and are payable separately. Boarding places are by application only. Other costs and recurring charges - Meal charges (charged per meal/day according to age group): - Grades 1–2: snack RMB 10; lunch RMB 20 (breakfast/dinner not listed except for boarders). - Grades 3–5: snack RMB 25. - Grades 6–12: breakfast RMB 10; lunch RMB 25; dinner RMB 25. Meal charges are calculated according to the school calendar and some meals (breakfast/dinner) are provided only to boarders. - Tuition explicitly excludes: school uniform, school bus, off-campus competitions / inter-school activity costs and other additional items (these are charged separately). The boarding fee also excludes personal items, beddings and laundry. - Co-curricular activities, external exam or registration fees for external exams, school trips, and specialist program fees may incur additional charges (not included in the tuition). The school's published fee statement notes those categories as exclusions from tuition. Refund information - The school's public fee statement and the student/parent handbook do not publish a detailed refund or cancellation policy on the fee pages reviewed. No published refund schedule or explicit refund rules were found on the school's public fee and handbook pages. Fee payment options and channels - The school's publicly posted fee pages and handbook do not specify payment channels (for example: bank transfer details, accepted card payments, WeChat/Alipay or international payment instructions). No payment-account or payment-method details were found on the school pages reviewed. Parents should expect standard institutional payment channels (bank transfer or school finance office arrangements) but the school does not publish the exact options on the referenced pages. Brief summary of missing items (from public fee pages reviewed) - The school's official published fee notice provides the annual tuition, boarding fee and meal charges and confirms the two-semester academic calendar, but does not publish (on the pages reviewed): a separate application/registration/seat fee, detailed billing deadlines or installment/late-payment penalties, explicit refund/cancellation rules, nor the school's bank account or accepted payment channels. The tuition, boarding and meal figures above are taken from the school's official fee announcement and the term dates from the school calendar.
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 Shen Wai International School (SWIS) delivers the full International Baccalaureate continuum—Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). The school serves students from Pre‑Kindergarten through Grade 12 and teaches in English while maintaining a structured Mandarin/Chinese language and culture programme. In the middle years (MYP, typically Grades 6–10) SWIS follows the MYP framework and prepares students for MYP certification/e‑assessment at the end of Year 10. Upper secondary (Grades 11–12) follows the IB Diploma: students choose subjects across the DP groups (languages, sciences, mathematics, individuals & societies, the arts) and complete the DP core—Theory of Knowledge, Creativity‑Activity‑Service and the extended essay—along with external DP examinations. SWIS is accredited by international bodies and integrates the IB inquiry‑based approach with co‑curricular arts, STEM and cultural learning.	Curriculum details Shenzhen Foreign Languages GBA Academy delivers an IB continuum: Primary Years Programme (Grades 1–5), Middle Years Programme (Grades 6–10) integrated with China's national curriculum, and the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12) for students pursuing the IB Diploma. The MYP fusion curriculum maps national content into eight subject groups (language & literature, language acquisition, individuals & societies, sciences, mathematics, the arts, design, and physical and health education) while using IB assessment criteria. The PYP is delivered through six transdisciplinary Units of Inquiry that weave language, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts and physical education, and includes a second‑language program. In Grades 11–12 students follow the IB DP structure (three Higher Level and three Standard Level subjects plus Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS), with course options listed including Chinese and English Language A and Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches. SGA states it is authorized across PYP, MYP and DP and holds CIS, WASC and BSA accreditations, and describes its curriculum as a three‑pillar fusion of foundation subjects, integrated competencies and career/frontier elements.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Check eligibility and timing. Shen Wai International School (SWIS) primarily serves children of the expatriate community and residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan; at least one parent must normally hold foreign passport/residency and local guardianship rules require students to live in Shenzhen with a parent or an approved guardian. Confirm your child's age against the school's cut-off date (September 1) because grade placement is age-based. See the school's admissions criteria for these restrictions and rolling-entry notes. 2. Prepare required documents. Parents should be ready to provide documentary proof of the items above (passport information page and any relevant residence/visa pages), the child's birth certificate, recent school reports or transcripts, and standard health/immunisation records; if you are using a guardian, bring the appropriate power of attorney/guardianship paperwork. SWIS requires applicants to show they can access an English-language curriculum, so evidence of recent school reports or any English test results can speed placement. If your child has identified special educational needs, discuss these with admissions before applying so the school can confirm whether it can meet those needs. 3. Submit the online application and school tour/ enquiry. Use the school's Apply Online link and the Admissions page to start an application and to arrange a tour or admissions meeting; the official admissions page is the primary entry point for applications and enquiries. Be aware that some international schools charge a non-refundable application fee or require a one-time first-year payment/placement charge — parents should check the specific payment/fee instructions shown on the offer or fee schedule. Keep records of application submission and any reference/application IDs the school provides. 4. Assessment and interview/placement. SWIS expects applicants to demonstrate sufficient English and may use grade-specific assessments or interviews to check academic level and English proficiency; each grade can have a tailored process and placement is based on results and available places. For younger children the school may use age-appropriate observation or interviews, while older children are typically assessed with school reports and subject-specific checks. Ask Admissions in advance what format (in-person or online) the assessment and interview will take for your child's grade. 5. Offer, acceptance and payment. If a place is offered you will usually receive a written Offer Letter or invoice that specifies the deadline to accept and any placement deposit or tuition payment required to secure the place. SWIS's published tuition schedule shows annual tuition bands by year group, and the first-year or placement financial requirements can be higher than the annual tuition shown; read the offer carefully for one‑time fees and payment deadlines. Keep the payment receipt and confirm enrolment steps (medical forms, transport, uniform orders) after the school acknowledges your payment. 6. Visa, guardianship and local compliance. Before your child's first day, confirm that local guardianship, residency/visa paperwork and any health insurance or immunisation records meet Shenzhen and school requirements — SWIS will not accept students who do not meet local guardianship rules. If your family's situation requires a guardian in Shenzhen, arrange the legal documents well before arrival so the school can complete registration. Contact Admissions for any school-specific local-compliance instructions. 7. Start date, orientation and ongoing communication. SWIS operates on a rolling-admissions basis where places are confirmed subject to vacancies; when your child starts expect an orientation (or grade-level entry procedure) and possible short-term monitoring or placement adjustments as teachers confirm appropriate class groupings. Keep in regular contact with the Admissions office and the relevant Head of Division during the first weeks so any academic or pastoral adjustments can be made promptly. If anything in your family situation changes (arrival date, guardian, residency), notify Admissions immediately.	Admissions 1. Submit an online application through OpenApply. All applications to SGA must be completed via the school's OpenApply portal (sga.openapply.cn/apply); SGA does not accept paper applications. When you register, choose the correct form for your child's grade (Primary G1–G5, Secondary G6–G8 or G9–G11) and keep your OpenApply login details handy for follow-up requests. 2. Provide the required documents listed in the application checklist. The school's admissions page specifies that an Admission Application Form, a Family Statement and a School Report are minimum required items; the Admissions Office will not start processing until required materials are received. Parents should prepare scanned academic reports (two most recent years if available), any translated or certified documents, the student's passport or ID, and any teacher references the portal requests. 3. Application review and document integrity check. After you submit, the Admissions Office reviews all documents against SGA's admissions policy; the school explicitly reserves the right to withdraw an offer if information is found to be false or misleading. Make sure dates, school names and grades on transcripts match and that school reports are authentic to avoid delays or rescinded offers. 4. Entrance assessment invitation is issued to candidates who clear the document review. SGA's published process says successful applicants will receive an invitation to an Entrance Assessment; the website does not publish a public, detailed breakdown of assessment content or format, so expect the Admissions Office to provide the assessment schedule, format (online or on-campus) and any preparation instructions by email. Parents should confirm time-zone differences for remote assessments, bring the required ID to in-person assessments, and ask Admissions in advance if accommodations are needed. 5. Admissions decision and response window. The school states that a decision is normally sent by email within 10–15 working days after the Entrance Assessment; offers will include instructions and a deadline for confirming the place. Parents should watch the email account used on OpenApply, read the offer letter carefully (it will state any conditions) and meet the confirmation deadline to secure the place. 6. Fees, boarding and other cost information you should check before confirming. SGA publishes its official fee policy (2025–2026 school year) on the school website: Tuition for Grade 1–5 is RMB 165,200; Grade 6–10 RMB 178,400; Grade 11–12 RMB 210,000. Boarding (Grades 6–12) is RMB 12,000 for the year; meal rates are listed per grade band and tuition excludes meals, uniforms, school bus and some extracurricular or trip costs. Parents should read the school's policy page carefully to confirm what is included in tuition, ask about the payment schedule and whether there is an enrollment deposit or refund policy stated in the offer letter.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships The school's official pages (admissions, policy and related site sections) do not list scholarships, bursaries or formal fee‑remission programs. SGA's published fee policy gives tuition, boarding and meal rates but does not describe merit or need‑based awards. If you need information about financial assistance, sibling discounts, or any temporary subsidies, ask Admissions directly (OpenApply contact or the school phone listed on the Shenzhen municipal school directory) because any such programs would be administered case-by-case and are not described on the public site. For accuracy when planning, request written confirmation from Admissions about whether any scholarships or fee reductions are available and the eligibility/application process.
Waitlist	Waitlist SWIS publicly describes admissions as rolling and that places are offered according to enrolment limits and vacancies; the school's published admissions information does not include a public, detailed waitlist policy. That means: when a grade is full the school typically manages new applications on a vacancy basis (often by holding records of applicants and offering places as they become available), but there is no formal, publicly posted waitlist procedure or guaranteed position published on the website or directory listings. Parents should therefore assume places are offered by vacancy and should keep their application active (and confirm their interest) with Admissions; for a definitive answer about whether SWIS will keep a formal waitlist for a specific grade and how applicants are prioritised, contact the Admissions office directly using the school's admissions contact.	Waitlist SGA's public admissions documents and the school's admissions procedure do not describe an explicit waitlist or pool system. The published process shows application review, an entrance assessment, a decision and a confirmation step but does not explain what happens to applicants who are not offered a place. If you are not offered a place, contact the Admissions Office (via OpenApply or the school's admissions contact) to ask whether the school maintains a waiting list, how candidates are ranked, and whether you must reapply for a later intake; the school runs regular Open Days where Admissions staff can address these questions in person.
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