International School of Tianjin

1. Step 1 — Determine grade placement and eligibility. Student placement is age-based with a September 30 cut-off; the minimum admission age is two years and nine months, and exceptions may be considered for near-cut-off birth dates. For example, some near-cut-off cases may join KG1a or KG1b under specific age rules, and placement continues upward from KG3. The director may specify exceptions as needed. This age framework guides which grade your child would enter before formal application.

2. Step 2 — Prepare and submit the Student Admissions Application Package. To initiate formal enrollment, you submit a copy of the Student Admissions Application Package for each child online, by email, post, or delivery to the school. The admissions forms are provided in writable PDF format and can be completed after download; Form F must be printed and filled by a doctor. You submit the completed forms by pressing the Submit button at the bottom right of each form.

3. Step 3 — Complete and gather the required application forms. The available documents include the Admissions Application Package (writable) and Application Forms A-C (writable); a Korean translation of Form C is available; D (School Transfer), E (General Health), and F (Doctor) forms are also provided. You can download and print these forms or request the package by email if needed. Ensure all forms are completed and ready for submission.

4. Step 4 — Contact the school to discuss enrollment and next steps. The school invites prospective families to engage in person, by telephone, or by email to learn more about IST and the admission process. You can reach out to discuss your child's needs, placement, and the documentation required. This initial contact helps clarify expectations and timelines.

5. Step 5 — Admissions decision and panel process. The decision to admit a student is made by the Principals in consultation with the Director and relevant academic staff. This decision takes into account the student's fit with IST's academic program and environment. All decisions are made through this process and communicated accordingly.

6. Step 6 — Complete applications and processing. IST does not discriminate in admissions but uses a structured review. Remaining applicants are processed by the date of receipt of a fully completed application; incomplete applications will not be processed unless special arrangements are made. It is essential that all components of the application are provided to move forward.

7. Step 7 — Attendance and enrollment prerequisites. Students may not attend class until all parts of the application package are received by the school office. This ensures that enrollment can be properly scheduled and that the school has all necessary records before a student begins.

8. Step 8 — Fees and final enrollment steps. If admitted, families will be invoiced according to IST's fee schedule. A non-refundable Registration Fee of 2,000 RMB applies to new students; there are components A (non-refundable) and B/C (pro-rated) that determine total tuition at different grade levels. The schedule includes tuition per grade, currency options (RMB or USD), and payment guidelines (deadlines, potential quarterly payment options, early payment discounts, and IB-related fees). Additional details cover language-tongue fees, family discounts for multiple children, and refunds under various scenarios. For example, Component A fees are non-refundable and paid annually; Component B is pro-rated; there are tiered tuition figures by grade; and IB Diploma exam fees are payable to the IB with timing rules. See the Fees page for the full schedule and the Payment Guidelines section for timing.

IST does not publish a formal waitlist or waiting pool. Admissions are described as being processed by date of receipt of a fully completed application, with priority admissions given to certain groups. The policy outlines Priority Admissions (for Capital Levy holders/Associate Members, siblings, and ESL-resource considerations) and states that remaining applications are processed in order of receipt. In short, IST relies on a date-of-receipt process with explicit priority rules rather than a public waitlist.

IST offers scholarships for students in their final two years (Grades 11–12) under a 2026/2028 Scholarship Program. Scholarships can be Full (covering all tuition: components A & B), Tuition (covering tuition only: component B), or Bursaries (covering half of tuition: half of component B). Scholarships are awarded for up to two years (Grades 11–12) and may be granted to current IST students with demonstrated financial need or to non-IST students with exceptional talent to enrich the IB Diploma Programme. Selection allows a maximum of three IST scholarships or bursaries for current IST students each year and a similar number for external candidates. The process includes examinations, a formal interview, and final selection by the IST Scholarship Committee of the IST School Board of Governors. Eligibility requires English proficiency and a track record of strong academic performance; families may not receive more than one full scholarship at a time. Applicants should contact the school to obtain an application package. The closing date is February 13, 2026, with scholarship examinations on February 28, 2026 and interviews around March 4; awards are announced by late March 2026.