International School Admissions in Nanjing: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Quick answer: How do you apply to an international school in Nanjing? Check that your child holds a foreign passport, then apply online to schools such as Nanjing International School or The British School of Nanjing. You will send reports, passports and vaccination records, and your child will sit an assessment and interview. Apply between October and March for August entry. Tuition runs roughly RMB 180,000 to 330,000 a year.

Last reviewed: September 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

International school admissions in Nanjing are manageable if you understand two things early: which schools your child is allowed to attend, and how quickly the main grades fill for August. Nanjing has fewer international schools than Shanghai, which is only about an hour and a half away by high-speed train, so seats in the most popular year groups can be tight. Planning the process like a small project is the best way to avoid last-minute stress.

This guide walks through eligibility, the documents schools ask for, entry assessments, the calendar and the real cost of the first year.

Understanding Nanjing's school system

Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu province, home to major universities, automotive and electronics manufacturers and a sizeable community of foreign engineers, academics and managers. Many expat families live in the Xianlin university district in the east, in Jiangning to the south, or near Hexi and the Olympic Sports Centre on the west bank of the river. The metro is good, but school buses often cover the longer journeys.

As elsewhere in China, private international education is split into two types:

Schools for Children of Foreign Personnel (SCFP): licensed to teach foreign curricula, but only to children with a foreign passport.
Chinese private schools with international programmes: they follow the national curriculum in compulsory grades and add bilingual or international courses. They mainly serve Chinese families.

Two regulatory changes from 2021 still shape this market. The revised Implementing Regulations of the Private Education Promotion Law, effective 1 September 2021, tightened oversight of private schools. In July 2021 the national double reduction policy also banned for-profit tutoring in core school subjects during compulsory education. For expat families the practical result is simple: the passport rule at SCFPs is strictly applied, and after-school tutoring options are more limited than they used to be.

Curricula available in Nanjing

International Baccalaureate: from the Primary Years Programme to the Diploma.
British curriculum: the English National Curriculum leading to IGCSE and A level or IB.
American-style programmes: including the BASIS curriculum with a strong focus on maths and science and Advanced Placement exams.
Early years inquiry programmes: IB-style or Singaporean-inspired approaches for children aged two to six.

Schools to apply to in Nanjing

Nanjing International School

Nanjing International School, known as NIS, is the city's longest-running international school, a non-profit SCFP that teaches the full IB continuum on a large campus in Xianlin. It is usually the first application for families who want an IB education and an established community.

The British School of Nanjing

The British School of Nanjing follows the English National Curriculum for foreign passport holders. It suits British and Commonwealth families and anyone who wants a clear path to IGCSE and A levels.

BASIS International School Nanjing

BASIS International School Nanjing uses the American BASIS curriculum, known for its academic pace and early specialist teaching in science. Ask how the school places students who arrive from a gentler system, because the jump can be significant.

EtonHouse International School Nanjing

EtonHouse International School focuses on early years and primary with an inquiry-based approach. It is a practical option for younger children, especially if you want a smaller setting close to home.

Admissions step by step

Step 1, confirm eligibility: check your child's passport against the school's licence before you pay any fee.
Step 2, apply online: fill in the form, upload passports and pay the non-refundable application fee.
Step 3, send documents: two years of school reports, a confidential teacher reference, vaccination records and any learning support reports.
Step 4, assessment: play-based observation for early years, English and maths tests and an interview for older students. Many schools run these online for families who are still abroad.
Step 5, offer and enrolment: sign the contract, pay the deposit and send the residence permit once issued.

Fees and first-year costs

As a rough guide for the 2026 to 2027 school year:

Early years: roughly RMB 120,000 to 220,000 a year.
Primary: roughly RMB 180,000 to 280,000 a year.
Secondary and IB Diploma or A levels: roughly RMB 230,000 to 330,000 a year.

Extras that families often forget:

Application fee, commonly RMB 1,500 to 3,000.
One-off enrolment or development fee and a refundable deposit.
Bus service, lunches, uniforms, trips and IB, IGCSE or AP exam fees.

If your employer pays tuition, ask HR for the approved school list and whether they pay the enrolment fee as well. It is common for companies to cover tuition but not the one-off charges.

Practical advice for families

Apply to more than one school. With a small number of SCFPs in the city, it is sensible to apply to two schools at the same time and decide once you have offers. Application fees are small compared with the cost of a year out of school.

Prepare for the move before you arrive. Have school reports, birth certificates and vaccination records translated or certified at home. Chinese authorities and some schools ask for official copies, and arranging them from Nanjing takes time.

Look at the commute from Xianlin and Jiangning. Distances in Nanjing are larger than they look on a map. If your job is on the west bank and the school is in the east, a daily commute of an hour each way is realistic.

Ask about English support and class sizes. Children who are still learning English will do better in a school with a proper EAL team. Ask how many EAL students are in the year group and how long they usually need support.

Use the waiting list wisely. If your first choice has no place in your child's grade, accept an offer elsewhere and ask to stay on the waiting list. Seats often open in June and August when other families relocate, and schools usually contact waiting families in order of application date.

Compare the best schools in China

You can compare Nanjing schools with others in Jiangsu and across the country, and read parent reviews, in the ranking of the best schools in China.

More guides to schools in Nanjing

Frequently asked questions

Which international schools in Nanjing accept foreign passport holders?

Schools for Children of Foreign Personnel, including Nanjing International School and The British School of Nanjing, accept students with foreign passports. Some Chinese private schools with international programmes may also admit foreign children. Always confirm eligibility with the admissions office before paying an application fee, especially for dual nationals.

What entry tests do international schools in Nanjing use?

Early years applicants usually have a play-based observation. Older children typically take English and maths assessments and an interview, and some schools add a writing task or an online adaptive test. Many schools run these online if you are still abroad, so you can often receive an offer before you arrive.

How much are international school fees in Nanjing?

Tuition is roughly RMB 180,000 to 330,000 a year for primary and secondary, and lower for early years. Add an application fee, a one-off enrolment fee, a refundable deposit, transport, lunches, uniforms and exam fees. Many corporate relocation packages cover tuition, but not always the one-off charges.