Nord Anglia International School Shanghai Pudong

1. Make an enquiry and book a tour or virtual meeting. Be ready when you enquire to give basic family and child details (name, date of birth, preferred entry date, current school and curriculum) so the school can advise on age placement and documentation you will need. (Source: NAIS Pudong admissions and enquiry pages).

2. Visit the school (in-person or virtually) and meet staff. NAIS Pudong offers in-person tours, Virtual Discovery Meetings and open days so you can see facilities and ask curriculum- and welfare-related questions; parents should use this opportunity to discuss English language support (EAL), any special educational needs (SEN), and school-bus coverage. If you are not in Shanghai you can request a virtual meeting; when you visit, bring up specific start dates and campus logistics (bus routes, lunch menus, uniform shop) so there are no surprises later. (Source: admissions/FAQs).

3. Complete the online application and upload required documents. Applications are submitted through the school's online form (you can save and resume) and the portal lists the documents to upload — passport/ID scans, parents' work permit and household book where applicable, recent school reports, medical information and preferred start date. Note there is a non-refundable application fee (RMB 3,500) payable when you submit the form; keep scans sized within the portal limits and allow time for references to be requested from your child's current school. (Source: online application form and tuition-fees page).

4. Assessment, language screening and references. NAIS Pudong assesses all prospective entrants so the school can place and support students appropriately: Early Years candidates usually take part in classroom observations; Primary and Secondary applicants sit entrance assessments (written or online) and older secondary applicants may be invited to an interview. All applicants are also screened for English as an Additional Language (EAL) needs and possible learning support; if your child has additional needs you should declare them on the application so the Learning Support Coordinator can discuss suitability and any potential Individual Education Plan (IEP). (Source: entry requirements and FAQs).

5. Application review, offer and acceptance. Completed applications are reviewed by the school leadership (the site notes principal review) and the school aims to make a decision quickly — in many cases the offer is made the same day as assessment and otherwise within 48 hours. If you receive an offer you will be sent an invoice and asked to accept the place; acceptance requires payment of the non-refundable enrolment fee (RMB 4,000) and other onboarding fees as invoiced (see step 6). Confirm exactly what the invoice covers and the deadline to secure the place so you don't lose the offer. (Source: admissions, application and tuition-fees pages).

6. Fees, deposits and pre-start arrangements. Be prepared for the one-off and ongoing costs the school publishes: application fee RMB 3,500, enrolment fee RMB 4,000 (non-refundable), a resourcing fee (RMB 16,000 — refundable on satisfactory exit conditions), term-by-term tuition amounts and optional services such as school bus or lunch. Full-year tuition fees (2025–26) are listed by year group on the school site, and the school offers a 3% Early Bird discount when annual tuition is paid in advance (available typically in the summer — confirm exact deadline). Before your child's first day you will also usually complete medical forms, order uniforms, sign parental agreements and arrange bus routes or lunch accounts. (Source: tuition-fees page and application form).

7. Starting at school and ongoing communication. After fees are settled and paperwork completed, the school will confirm your child's start date. Expect induction activities: settling-in reports, contact channels with teachers (the school uses platforms such as Microsoft Teams and other parent communications), and termly reporting; if your child needs EAL or SEN support, the school will work with you to set up the required support plan. Keep contact details for admissions and the main school office to hand in case any pre-start issues arise. (Source: FAQs and school contact info).

No formal public waitlist policy is published on the NAIS Pudong admissions pages. The school's public admissions and FAQs detail a quick decision process (offers often made the same day as assessment or within 48 hours) but do not set out a standard waiting‑list or pool procedure on the website. Because NAIS Pudong does not publish a waitlist policy, practical outcomes (for example whether you can be placed on a waiting list for a specific year group, any registration fee to hold a place, or the order in which places are offered) are handled case‑by‑case by Admissions — you should ask the admissions team directly for the current position on availability for your child's year group. Suggested questions to ask admissions: “Is there currently a waiting list for my child's year group?”, “If placed on a waiting list, what priority rules do you use (date of application, sibling priority, legacy/Nord Anglia connections)?” and “Is any registration deposit required to hold a place if one becomes available?”. (Source: NAIS Pudong admissions and FAQs — absence of published waitlist details).

Yes — NAIS Pudong operates a formal scholarship programme and publishes the categories, eligibility and application process on its scholarships page. Key points you should know:

- Who can apply: Candidates must not already be enrolled at NAIS Pudong and scholarships are open to students eligible for entry in Years 1–12. Applications are limited in number each year. (Source: scholarships page).

- Scholarship categories and partners: Scholarships are offered for Academic, Sports, Performing Arts and Leadership. The school emphasises development through its external collaborations (for example with Juilliard, MIT and IMG Academy) within those pathways. (Source: scholarships page).

- Value, duration and review: Awards run for up to three years and provide a variable tuition discount of up to 50% depending on assessment performance; there is an annual review of the scholar's progress and conduct, and continuation of the award depends on that review. (Source: scholarships page).

- How to apply and selection process: You must download and complete the scholarship application form, submit a short personal statement (the school prefers the student to write this where possible), and attach supporting documents (certificates, reports, references). Applications are reviewed by a Scholarship Committee; candidates may be invited for interviews with the Principal and relevant staff, and will be notified of the outcome (the site states notification usually within two working days of the committee meeting). Send completed scholarship applications and supporting documents to the Admissions email listed on the site. (Source: scholarships page and downloadable form).

If you would like, I can extract the exact 2025–26 tuition table, list the one‑off fees and optional charges in a short table, or draft an email template you can send to admissions asking about waitlist status and scholarship deadlines. (Contact details on the pages: admissions@naispudong.com; +86 (0)21 5812 7455 ext.1015).