International Education in Beijing
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Beijing is the most expensive city in the world for international education. But if you’ve looked into re-locating to China’s capital at all, you’ll already know that. So let’s move past the bad news and tell you all the things you really need to know about international schools in one of the world’s biggest cities.
The demand for international schooling in China is staggering. There are hundreds of thousands of international students in the country already, and the numbers are expected to rise rapidly over the coming years. Around half of the country’s international schools are located in Beijing and Shanghai. But even though there is a wealth of schools to choose from, competition is still high.
Western-style international education is what everyone in Beijing wants for their child. That goes for the high number of expats in the city as well as the middle class locals. Such is the demand, in fact, that a number of different types of international schools have emerged.
Firstly, public schools for native students are now offering ‘international education streams’. This usually means that the Chinese curriculum is taught through English.
Next up are local private schools. These are not available to non-native students, but they offer internationally-recognised curricula and bilingual teaching. Essentially, they’re Beijing’s own version of an international school.
Then there are co-operative schools, partnerships between international and local Chinese education groups. Expat and native students can attend and the curriculum is international.
Last but not least, there are traditional foreign-owned international schools which enrol expat students exclusively. These are the schools that come with the sky-high fees you’ve heard so much about. The good news, however, is that they also come with sky-high standards of education.
Beijing’s international schools are among the best on the planet. They have the best facilities, the best educational programs, and their students achieve the highest grades. Rest assured, the price is worth it. And if you’re lucky enough to have some or most of the cost covered by your relocation package, even better.
Another advantage that international schools in Beijing can boast about is the language offering. All types of schools place an emphasis on learning about Chinese culture. This often includes teaching through Chinese or offering it as an additional language subject. The ability to speak a near-fluent level of Mandarin is, of course, a highly valuable skill for anyone. Learning it from a young age at schools will work wonders in helping your child achieve this.
Chinese aspects aside, there is a wide array of international curricula available in Beijing. British, American, German, Australian, Swiss, French, Canadian, International Baccalaureate and everything in between; it’s all here. There is no doubt that if you choose an international school in Beijing for your child, they’ll get a top tier education that will set them up for the rest of their life.
Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Beijing according to our users. However, there are another 29 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Beijing based on your requirements.
