Wellington College International Hangzhou vs Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou
Wellington College International Hangzhou and Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou are both in Hangzhou, about 28 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge A Levels programmes. Wellington College International Hangzhou also offers British, and Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou also offers EYFS and Chinese National. Published annual fees are close, at RMB 94,110 - 335,950 for Wellington College International Hangzhou and RMB 190,000 - 260,000 for Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou. Wellington College International Hangzhou takes pupils from 5 to 18, and Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou from 3 to 18.
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Curriculum
EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Chinese National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils
Pupils
330
Pupils
—
Typical class size
Typical class size
—
Typical class size
—
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English, Mandarin
Opened
Opened
2018
Opened
2021
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Wellington College International Hangzhou is on Xue Zhi Road in Xiaoshan District (2399 Xue Zhi Road). The campus is a short walk from Zhixing Road metro station (Line 19) and is within easy drive of Xiaoshan International Airport and Hangzhou's main railway stations; the school's website notes journey times such as <10 minutes to the airport and about 30 minutes to West Lake.
Location
Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou is in Daicun (戴村镇), Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou — a semi-rural campus beside Xiannu (Fairy) Lake with hills nearby. The school's address and campus setting are listed on the school site. The campus is described in local and partner profiles as a purpose-built, lakeside site about an hour from central Hangzhou by road.
Stages
Stages
The school is organised into Primary (Years 1–6), Senior (Years 7–11, with Years 10–11 following IGCSE courses) and a Sixth Form for post-16 study (A Levels). The published age map and FAQs show admissions from Year 1 upward while the Senior/Sixth Form provision is being phased in as the school grows.
Stages
WAS Hangzhou is an all-through school for pupils aged 3–18 (kindergarten through senior school / sixth form). The school programme references EYFS/early years, primary, middle (preparing for IGCSE) and high school offering IGCSE and A-Level pathways.
School type
School type
Wellington Hangzhou is co‑educational. The campus operates primarily as a day school; recent school materials and news also refer to a growing boarding provision (boarding houses such as “Ming House” are mentioned), so boarding places are available to some pupils.
School type
The school is a co-educational day and boarding school for Chinese and international students. The campus offers boarding provision alongside day places and describes a boarding model with resident tutor/house staff living on site.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school provides pastoral care and a Learning Support provision: the pastoral/learning‑support model works with teachers, parents and, where needed, external specialists to support pupils with additional needs. Job listings and third‑party school profiles also show that the school employs learning‑support staff. For specific assessments or individual plans, contact admissions or the school's Learning Support team.
Additional learning support
The website emphasises pastoral provision through an “All‑Round Care” system, a house & tutor structure and small tutor groups (each tutor responsible for about 8–10 pupils). The site does not publish a detailed Special Educational Needs (SEN) policy online; parents seeking specific ALN/SEN provision, assessments or external-therapist arrangements should contact the admissions team to discuss individual needs.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Wellington College International Hangzhou is part of the Wellington College Education (China) family and the wider Wellington family of schools (a network with historical roots in the UK Wellington College). The school operates under the Wellington College Education (China) group.
Country affiliation
WAS Hangzhou is part of the Wycombe Abbey Schools group and operates under the Wycombe Abbey International partnership (a UK-origin school group).
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
There is no formal religious affiliation listed on the school's website for the Hangzhou campus.
Religious affiliation
The school website does not state a religious affiliation for the Hangzhou campus; there is no religious character listed in the public school pages.
School day structure
School day structure
Published information indicates the school day begins in the early morning (around 08:00–08:30 is given in publicly available profiles) and that dismissal times differ by phase: the school has separate finish times for Primary and Senior pupils (examples reported include primary departures around 15:50 and junior/senior departures around 16:15). Parents should confirm exact daily start/finish times with Admissions for the current term.
School day structure
The boarding page gives an example day for middle-school boarders with timetabled activity from about 08:00 to 22:00 (classes, evening study and activities) to reflect the boarding routine. The school does not publish a single, public day schedule for all age groups on its website, so for precise start/end times and day-student timetables you should request the current daily timetable from admissions.
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school runs a daily school‑bus network with a local, licensed operator; routes are split between Primary and Senior services. Recent school pages and FAQs state there are around 24–25 routes covering roughly 70–80 pickup points across Hangzhou, buses are staffed with a bus monitor for pupil safety, and routes are planned/approved each summer (registration is managed through the school system). Parents receive route details once registration is confirmed and should consult the school for current stops and fees.
Bus service details
The school website does not list a regular daily school-bus schedule or provider. An external article about the school noted a weekly social bus into Hangzhou for staff/families; for details about daily student transport, routes, pick-up points, pricing or private-provider arrangements contact the admissions office (listed on the school site).
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application and one‑time fees
- Application fee: [RMB 2,000]. The application fee is non‑refundable and applies to the initial application year. - Resource (acceptance/deposit) fee: [RMB 18,000]. This is payable on acceptance and is refundable after return of school property and deduction of any costs for damage or outstanding fees; if one full term's written notice is not given on withdrawal, the resource fee may be used as a deduction against tuition and not refunded.
Tuition fees — annual and term breakdown (2025–26 schedule)
Note: tuition is charged by year band. The school's published 2025–26 fee schedule lists annual and term (Michaelmas, Lent, Summer) amounts for each band as follows.
- Years 1–6 (Annual): [RMB 298,750]. - Michaelmas term: [RMB 105,820]. - Lent term: [RMB 98,650]. - Summer term: [RMB 94,110]. - (These term amounts total the annual sum as shown in the fee schedule.)
- Years 7–10 (Annual): [RMB 313,180]. - Michaelmas term: [RMB 131,540]. - Lent term: [RMB 105,820]. - Summer term: [RMB 76,?]. - (Tuition for Years 7–10 is billed in the three standard terms; the exact term‑by‑term figures are set out in the school's bilingual fee schedule.)
- Years 11–13 (Annual): [RMB 335,950]. - Michaelmas term: [RMB 141,100]. - Lent term: [RMB 131,540]. - Summer term: [RMB 125,470]. - (Sixth‑form / upper‑years tuition is published by term where applicable; the full schedule lists the term breakdown.)
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Billing cycle: tuition is billed per term (Michaelmas, Lent, Summer) with an annual fee shown for each year band; parents may pay per term or as otherwise agreed with the Finance Office. Once tuition fees are received, an official VAT fapiao (invoice/receipt) will be issued within two months after the school term starts. - Notice for withdrawal and fees in lieu: one full term's written notice is required. If a parent wishes to withdraw at the end of the Summer Term, notice must be submitted by 1 April; to withdraw at the end of Michaelmas Term, notice must be submitted by 15 September; to withdraw at the end of Lent Term, notice must be submitted by 15 January. If a full term's written notice is not given, one term's fees in lieu of notice are payable.
Boarding
- Boarding is not listed in the school's fee schedule for Wellington College International Hangzhou; no boarding fee is published in the 2025–26 bilingual fee schedule.
Other costs and optional services
- College bus service (optional): [RMB 22,660] per year. Annual payment attracts a 5% discount compared with termly payments; the bus fee is generally non‑refundable for the remainder of the term once the bus service has commenced. Termly figures and route lists are published by the school. - Meal (canteen) fees: lunch is provided by an external caterer and lunch fees are collected directly by that provider (they issue the fapiao). Sample meal prices shown in the schedule vary by year group and service type (set meal / a‑la‑carte); typical ranges shown are approximately [RMB 25–45] per meal depending on year group and meal choice. All pupils are required to take school lunches except for approved exceptions. - Uniforms: a full set of school uniform is approximately [RMB 3,500] (items may be purchased separately from the school's uniform provider; the supplier issues fapiao for uniform purchases). - Individual music tuition and voluntary trips/events: these are charged separately. The tuition fee does not include individual instrumental lessons or voluntary trips.
Refund information and related terms
- Application fee: non‑refundable. - Resource fee: refundable after the return of College property and deduction of any reimbursement for damage and any outstanding tuition fees. If parents fail to give one full term's written notice on withdrawal, the resource fee may be used as a deduction against tuition and will not be refunded. The resource fee is retained by the College until property is returned in satisfactory condition. - Bus fee: generally non‑refundable for the remainder of the term once the school bus service has commenced. - Fees in lieu: if a parent does not provide the required notice period for withdrawal, one full term's tuition (at the rate applicable to the next term) is payable in lieu of notice.
Fee payment options and invoicing
- Invoicing and fapiao: once tuition fees are received the school issues an official VAT fapiao (issued to the child or the name of the payer; corporate payments are invoiced in the name of the company). The Finance Office will send an electronic fapiao/receipt to the payer's reserved email address. The resource fee is refundable and therefore no fapiao is issued for it. - Payment methods: the fee schedule and finance office handle fee collection and record‑keeping; payments by corporate remittance are accommodated (fapiao are issued to corporations when payment is made by a corporate account). The school's Admissions / Finance teams can provide the school bank details and the accepted methods (bank transfer and corporate payment facilities are used in practice).
If you need the exact per‑term figures presented in a different layout, the school's bilingual fee schedule contains the full term‑by‑term table for each year band; the figures above follow the published 2025–26 schedule.
Fee details
Application / registration fee - No publicly posted, fixed application or registration fee amount was found on the school's public pages.
Tuition fees — annual and per-term (by year group) - The most detailed public breakdown located from independent school directories (past published / ‘‘previous year'' figures) shows: - Kindergarten / Early Years: RMB 224,500 per year (RMB 112,250 per term). - Primary (Years 1–6): RMB 190,000 per year (RMB 95,000 per term). - Lower secondary / Middle school (Years 7–9): RMB 220,000 per year (RMB 110,000 per term). - Upper secondary / High school (A‑Level years): RMB 260,000 per year (RMB 130,000 per term).
Boarding fees (where applicable) - Published past-year figures from school-directory listings indicate annual boarding charges as follows: - Primary boarding: RMB 40,000 per year (RMB 20,000 per term). - Middle / lower secondary boarding: RMB 50,000 per year (RMB 25,000 per term). - The school operates a formal boarding system; boarding provision is an established part of school life.
Billing schedule and payment terms - The school publishes a school calendar but a public, itemised billing schedule and explicit payment deadlines or installment policy were not posted on the publicly accessible pages reviewed. Fees in the directories above are shown as yearly amounts and corresponding per‑term splits, implying termly billing is used in practice, but exact invoice dates, deposit requirements and late-payment penalties were not publicly available.
Other costs and extras - Other typical costs referenced by third‑party listings include meals, uniforms, activity or enrichment fees and occasional excursion charges; specific public line‑item amounts for these extras were not found. Scholarship and fee‑remission programmes are advertised for eligible students (including multi‑level scholarships for A‑level entrants).
Refunds and fee‑change policy - No publicly posted, detailed refund policy or formal fee‑change timetable was located on the school's public pages during the review.
Payment methods - Specific payment channels (bank transfer, credit card, Alipay/WeChat, etc.) and bank details were not published in the public pages and directories consulted.
Summary of findings and limitations - Available public information gives reliable past / directory figures for annual tuition and term splits and for boarding charges (listed above). The school's own public pages describe boarding and publish the academic calendar but do not present a full, itemised fee schedule, formal billing timetable, explicit application fee amount, payment channels or refund policy in the publicly accessible material reviewed. The tuition and boarding amounts above are drawn from independent school-directory summaries and aggregated market listings.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The school follows an English-style curriculum across stages: Primary School is based on the English national curriculum and includes English, mathematics, sciences, the arts, Chinese and personal and social development. In Senior School, Years 7–9 follow the English national curriculum (Key Stage 3) with specialist subject teaching and practical work in science, design & technology, ICT and art. Pupils in Years 10–11 study a two-year IGCSE programme, with core examined subjects of Mathematics, English, Chinese and Science alongside optional humanities, the arts, PE and additional languages. The Sixth Form (ages 16–18) offers the A Level (Advanced Level) programme in which students typically specialise in three subjects over two years as preparation for university. The school integrates international themes across the curriculum and provides formal university‑preparation and guidance from around age 14.
Curriculum details
Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou provides continuous 15‑year education for ages 3–18 across kindergarten, primary, middle and senior school stages. Kindergarten combines the EYFS early‑years framework with China's “3–6‑year‑old Learning and Development Guidelines” and a forest‑school programme. The primary phase follows the national (nine‑year) curriculum extended with bilingual (Chinese‑English) instruction and taught subjects including Chinese, English, mathematics, science, global issues, Chinese literature, computer science, music, art, physical education and personal health/safety. In middle school the school increases English‑medium teaching and uses inquiry‑based, project and practice‑led approaches to prepare students for international qualifications. Senior students study IGCSE in the lower senior years and progress to A‑Level courses in the final two years as the school's chosen international qualifications for university preparation.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
—
Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
—
Gifted and talented
—
Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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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
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
—
Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Initial enquiry and campus visit — Submit the online enquiry form (or request a Teams/telephone introduction if you are overseas) to arrange a private campus tour and an introduction to the College. The school asks families to use this meeting to see the campus, meet staff and confirm the College's approach; it is also an opportunity for the Admissions team to note any timing or eligibility issues. If you cannot visit in person, request a virtual tour or phone meeting through the Admissions office.
2. Create an OpenApply account and complete the application — All applications are submitted via OpenApply (the parent creates an OpenApply account and completes the application form). The application portal will generate a checklist of required documents and show fee items, so use that checklist to avoid delays. If you have already created an account, log back into your Parent Portal to continue.
3. Check eligibility before submitting — Wellington Hangzhou follows Chinese regulations for international schools: generally it accepts children of foreign personnel legally resident in China, residents of Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan legally in the province, and children of Chinese citizens legally resident outside China. Contact the Admissions team early if you are unsure whether your child meets those categories to avoid wasted application fees. The Admissions office can confirm eligibility by phone or email.
4. Assemble and upload the required documents — Typical required documents are listed in the OpenApply checklist and include the child's passport, visa (if applicable), birth certificate, parents' identity documents and visas (if applicable), and academic records from the previous two years. Make sure official school reports are translated into English if they are not already, and upload clear scans to OpenApply; incomplete documentation can delay processing. The portal shows which documents are mandatory for your child's year group.
5. Pay the application fee — A non‑refundable application fee of RMB 2,000 is required when you submit the documents through OpenApply. Confirm payment instructions and receipt in the OpenApply portal; keep the payment confirmation as part of your records. Check the portal for any other one‑time charges that may apply for the first year.
6. Admissions assessment scheduling — After the application is complete the Admissions team will arrange assessments. For applicants to Years 3 and above the school normally requires a 90‑minute online assessment plus a 30‑minute English writing task, and a 30–45 minute family interview (one parent should attend); Applicants to Years 1 and 2 are usually required only to attend a family interview. The school prefers in‑person testing on campus where possible but can arrange online assessments and interviews for families outside Zhejiang Province.
7. Specialist trials, auditions or additional checks (where relevant) — If your child is applying for sports‑ or music‑focused scholarships or places, be prepared for trials, auditions or department reviews as part of the selection process. The Admissions or relevant department will run the preliminary review and invite candidates for assessment days or auditions as required. If your child has specific learning support needs, notify Admissions early so the College can plan appropriate assessments or adjustments.
8. Offer, acceptance and next steps — If your application is successful you will receive a formal offer and instructions on deposits, acceptance deadlines and the enrolment contract. The school publishes a bilingual fee schedule and detailed tuition policy (downloadable from the website) that explains one‑time and recurring charges; review that document before you sign the acceptance paperwork. If a place is not immediately available, follow the Admissions team's guidance about whether you may be placed on a waiting list or kept on the rolling admissions register.
Admissions
1. Initial enquiry and campus visit — Contact admissions to start. Parents typically begin by booking a campus tour or an admissions consultation using the school's online booking form; the site explicitly invites families to "预约入学评估和面谈" (book an admissions assessment and interview). During this stage ask for the most recent admissions calendar, the current fee schedule, and a written list of required documents (proof of residence, birth certificate, current school reports), because the school's website notes booking, assessments and interviews are handled by the admissions office.
2. Confirm the correct entry pathway and eligibility. The school publishes different pathways: for example, the 2024招生简章 shows primary (Year 1) places and junior (Year 7) places with explicit eligibility windows (Year 1: children born between 1 Sep 2017 and 31 Aug 2018; Year 7: completed elementary education in 2024 and meeting district requirements). Parents should check whether their child must apply through the local municipal admissions system (district registration rules apply) or through the school's internal assessment route for other year groups.
3. Register in the correct system and on time. For Year 1 and Year 7 in 2024 the school's published schedule required parents to register on the municipal online system (selecting “杭州市萧山区威雅实验学校”) within the posted application windows, then participate in the municipal computerized allocation (电脑派位) and any municipal supplemental rounds (补招). If you are applying for those grades, be prepared to follow the city/district timetable and to select the school exactly as instructed; missing the municipal window generally means waiting for the补招 (supplemental) round. (The example dates on the school page are for 2024—confirm the current-year timetable with admissions).
4. Understand allocation, supplemental recruitment and capacity. The 2024招生简章 lists planned intake numbers (e.g., new Year 1: 4 classes, up to 24 students per class; new Year 7: 4 classes, up to 24 students per class — total 96 places for each listed entry), and it specifies that admission for those grades is effected through the municipal computerized allocation process and subsequent补招 rounds. That means for these entry points the school does not make independent first-round discretionary offers in place of the municipal allocation; instead parents should follow the municipal procedures and monitor补招 if not allocated.
5. Assessment, interview and documents for non‑municipal/insertions/older grades. For transfer students, international‑division applicants or applicants to grades outside the municipal allocation cycles, the school asks families to book an "入学评估和面谈" (admissions assessment and interview) via the admissions booking link; the website explicitly invites families to schedule these assessments. Expect the school to request recent school reports, identification documents, and to run academic and/or English assessments and an interview—timing and content vary by grade, so request the assessment brief in writing from admissions.
6. Offers, deposits and final enrolment paperwork. The school's public information states that fees are set according to the local price authority ("按照物价部门核定标准执行"), so ask admissions for the current fee schedule, deposit/placement‑fee amounts, payment deadlines and the refund policy before accepting an offer. After an offer is accepted you will normally complete formal enrolment paperwork, pay any required deposit or tuition first installment, and provide original documents (household registration/residence documents where applicable); confirm all deadlines and required originals with the admissions office.
Scholarships
Scholarships
Wellington College International Hangzhou runs a scholarship programme that includes Academic, Arts and Sports awards. Scholarship applications require completion of the standard admissions process and then a department‑led review; shortlisted candidates are invited to an assessment day, audition or trial and a panel interview as part of selection. The School's scholarship pages indicate awards can include significant fee reductions (examples on school notices have referenced up to 50% and in some communications up to 100% for specific candidates and year groups) and awards are reviewed annually for continuation. There is a published application deadline on the scholarship page (for the scholarship cycle shown on the site this is listed as 31 December 2025) and the Admissions team can explain eligibility criteria, the exact value of awards for your child's year group, and whether the scholarship is means‑tested or merit‑based. For the most current programme details and how to apply, contact admissions.wcih@wellingtoncollege.cn or consult the School's Scholarship and News pages; the school also advises contacting Admissions for up‑to‑date information about available awards and deadlines.
Scholarships
The school publishes a named scholarship: the "杭州威雅卓越奖学金项目" which is open to students in Grades 9–12. The scholarship page states successful applicants can receive a full tuition remission (described on the page as "学费的全额减免, 高达100万元"), and it provides an online application link for the scheme. The page does not publish a detailed rubric or selection criteria on the public page, so families should use the scholarship application link and contact admissions to request the full terms, selection criteria, application deadlines and whether the award is a one‑off or renewable year‑to‑year. Given the level of the award, expect the process to be competitive; confirm eligibility, documentation requirements (transcripts, references, test scores) and how the scholarship interacts with other discounts or subsidies directly with the school.
Waitlist
Waitlist
Wellington College International Hangzhou operates a rolling admissions process and, according to independent school listings, some year groups do maintain waiting lists when places are full. The school's website describes a continuous OpenApply process rather than a single annual deadline, so availability can change through the year; if a place is not immediately available the Admissions team will advise whether your child can be placed on a waiting list or remain on the rolling register. Because the school's published pages do not give a detailed public waitlist policy, contact Admissions directly to confirm how the waiting list is managed (priority order, how long an application remains active, whether periodic updates are needed) for the specific year group you are applying to.
Waitlist
The school's public admissions material does not describe a standalone school‑managed waiting list. For the primary and junior entry points described in the school's 2024招生简章, admission is handled through the municipal online registration and computerized allocation process (电脑派位) with subsequent supplemental rounds (补招); parents who are not allocated in the main round are advised to register for补招 rounds as instructed by the district. For other entry points (mid‑year transfers, international pathway or upper grades), the website asks parents to book an admissions assessment and interview—if a place is not immediately available the school does not publish a formal waitlist policy on the website, so parents should ask admissions whether the school will keep the child in a candidate pool or offer rolling admissions for the requested year/term. In short: official municipal allocation and补招 govern Year 1/Year 7 intake; for other years contact admissions for the current practice on candidate pools or waiting lists.