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

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

Families relocating to Jiangsu often assume that getting a place is mainly about paying a deposit. In practice, international school admissions in Nantong turn on one question that comes before fees, curriculum or campus tours: which passport does your child hold? Chinese rules separate schools that may enrol foreign passport holders from privately run schools that teach the national curriculum, and the answer shapes your whole shortlist.

This guide walks through the admissions process step by step: who is eligible for which school, the documents admissions offices ask for, how assessments usually work, and when to apply if you are arriving for the August start or in the middle of the year. If you are still comparing costs, our separate Nantong fees guide covers tuition and extras in more detail.

Nantong for relocating families: where the schools are and how people get around

Nantong is a prefecture-level city of several million people on the north bank of the Yangtze, directly across the river from Suzhou and within commuting reach of Shanghai. Since the Shanghai to Nantong Yangtze River Bridge opened in July 2020, rail journeys to Shanghai have become far quicker, which is one reason manufacturing, shipbuilding and logistics firms have moved managers and engineers here. Many expat families arrive on a two to four year contract with a company in one of the development zones.

The schools sit in three quite different parts of the city. Nantong Stalford International School is at No. 46 Hongxing Road in NETDA, the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area south-east of the old centre, where many foreign-invested factories and newer residential compounds are. Hiba Academy Nantong is at 66 Haide Road in the Su-Xi-Tong Science and Technology Industrial Park, close to the river crossing towards Suzhou. Nord Anglia School Nantong is at No. 99 Jiangcheng Road in the Sutong area. Distances between these zones are significant, and a school run across the city can take 30 to 45 minutes at peak times, so it pays to decide where you will live and where the parent works before you fix on a school. Both bilingual schools offer boarding, which some families use for older children when the daily commute is long.

Curricula you will find in Nantong

• Cambridge International (IGCSE and A Level): Nantong Stalford describes itself as a certified Cambridge International Examination Centre preparing students for IGCSE and A Level.
• IB Primary Years Programme: Stalford states it is an authorised IB World School offering the PYP to students aged 6 to 12.
• English Early Years Foundation Stage combined with the Chinese curriculum: Hiba Academy's nursery merges the EYFS with Chinese early years learning for ages three to six.
• Chinese National Curriculum with bilingual delivery: both Hiba Academy (Primary) and Nord Anglia School Nantong (Primary to Senior High) build on the national curriculum, taught by Chinese and native English-speaking teachers.
• A Level pathway in a bilingual setting: Hiba Academy's high school prepares pupils for public examinations and university entry, with A Level listed among its stages.

The three schools and what their admissions look like

Nantong Stalford International School

Stalford is the English-medium option in the city, covering primary, secondary and pre-university levels in NETDA. English is the language of instruction, the primary years follow the IB PYP and the secondary years lead to Cambridge IGCSE and A Level. For foreign passport holders this is usually the first school to contact. Tip: ask the admissions office early whether it is registered to admit foreign nationals at every stage you need, and request a copy of the document checklist in writing, because requirements for the IGCSE years can differ from the primary years.

Hiba Academy Nantong (formerly Huili School Nantong)

Now part of Wellington College Education (China), this is a bilingual English and Chinese immersive boarding school running from Nursery through Primary and Secondary to A Level. Its primary curriculum meets the requirements of the Chinese National Curriculum while integrating UK content, and the school lists a boarding house, healthcare centre, theatre, sports hall and swimming pool. It also runs a scholarship programme of up to 100% tuition remission for high-performing children in a field the school selects. Tip: because the compulsory years follow the national curriculum, ask directly whether your child's passport makes them eligible for the stage you want, and whether Mandarin is assessed at entry.

Nord Anglia School Nantong

Nord Anglia School Nantong is a bilingual day and boarding school offering Primary (ages 6 to 12), Junior Secondary (13 to 15) and Senior High School (16 to 18). It is built on the Chinese national curriculum with Chinese and native English-speaking teachers, and as part of the Nord Anglia Education group its students take part in a STEAM collaboration with MIT and UN Sustainable Development Goals work with UNICEF. Tip: this school mainly suits Chinese families and returning families with Chinese nationality; if your child holds a foreign passport only, confirm eligibility before you book an assessment.

Fees and payments at the admissions stage

None of the three schools publishes a fee figure on its profile, so treat these as rough planning ranges. Annual tuition at Nantong's international and bilingual schools runs roughly RMB 100,000 to 250,000 (about USD 14,000 to 35,000), with early years at the lower end and the IGCSE and A Level years at the higher end. Boarding adds roughly RMB 30,000 to 60,000 a year on top of tuition.

Eligibility is not only a fee question. China's revised Implementing Regulations of the Law on the Promotion of Privately-run Schools took effect on 1 September 2021; in practice, schools for children of foreign personnel admit holders of foreign passports, so eligibility depends on the child's passport. A family with one Chinese parent and a child holding a Chinese passport may therefore find the English-medium route closed, while a family with only foreign passports may be unable to enter a national-curriculum bilingual school at compulsory-age stages.

• Application or assessment fee: usually non-refundable and payable when you submit the form.
• Seat deposit or registration fee: paid on acceptance to hold the place, often credited against the first term or refunded on leaving with notice.
• Capital or development levy: charged by some schools once on entry or annually.
• Uniforms: required at Hiba Academy and common elsewhere.
• School bus: priced by distance; important if you live in a different zone from the campus.
• Meals and boarding: lunch is often billed separately; boarding is a significant extra.
• External exams: IGCSE and A Level entry fees are charged per subject.
• Devices and trips: laptops or tablets in upper years, residential trips and activities.

Step-by-step admissions timeline and practical advice

Start with eligibility, then the calendar. The academic year in Nantong runs from late August or early September to late June or early July. The main admissions round for August entry opens in the autumn and winter before, and the most realistic window is between November and April. Send a short enquiry with your child's passport nationality, date of birth, current school and target start date; a good admissions office will tell you within a few days whether your child is eligible and which year group they fall into. Age cut-offs are typically based on a 31 August birthday in English-medium schools, while national-curriculum schools often use 31 August as well, so confirm the year group rather than assuming it matches your home system.

Prepare documents before you visit. Schools for foreign passport holders normally ask for a copy of the child's passport and a valid Chinese visa or residence permit, the parents' passports and residence permits, the employer's letter or work permit for the sponsoring parent, the last two years of school reports, a transfer or leaving certificate, and an immunisation record (often with a Chinese health check form). Any special educational needs reports should be shared upfront. If documents are not in English or Chinese, budget time for certified translations. Families who arrive before their residence permit is issued can often start the application on a visa and complete the file later, but the school will want the permit before enrolment is final.

Plan for assessment, offer and deposit, and expect movement mid-year. After the visit and application, children sit an age-appropriate assessment: a play-based observation for early years, English and mathematics for primary, and subject papers or an interview for IGCSE and A Level entry. Bilingual schools may add a Mandarin check. Offers usually arrive within one to two weeks and must be secured with a deposit within a short deadline. Waiting lists in Nantong tend to be short compared with Shanghai, so mid-year entry in January or after the Chinese New Year break is often possible, but popular year groups in the bilingual schools can fill early. If you are moving from Shanghai or Suzhou, ask whether your current school's reports and assessment results can replace a fresh test.

See how Nantong compares across Jiangsu

If you are weighing Nantong against Suzhou, Wuxi or Nanjing, it helps to see the province as a whole before committing. Our ranking of the Best international schools in Jiangsu lists the main English-medium and bilingual schools across the region with their curricula and stages, so you can check whether a longer commute or a move across the river would widen your options.

More guides to schools in Nantong

• International school fees in Nantong
• Best international schools in Jiangsu

Frequently asked questions

Can a child with a Chinese passport attend an international school in Nantong?

Usually not at a school for children of foreign personnel such as Nantong Stalford, because those schools admit holders of foreign passports. Children with Chinese nationality normally join bilingual private schools such as Hiba Academy or Nord Anglia School Nantong, which follow the Chinese national curriculum. Always confirm with the school before paying any assessment fee.

What documents do I need to apply to an international school in Nantong?

Most schools ask for the child's passport and Chinese visa or residence permit, both parents' passports, an employer letter or work permit, the last two years of school reports, a leaving certificate and immunisation records. Documents in languages other than English or Chinese usually need a certified translation, so allow two to three weeks for that.

Can my child start school in Nantong in the middle of the year?

Yes, mid-year entry is often possible because waiting lists are shorter than in Shanghai. January and the weeks after Chinese New Year are common start points. Send reports and passport details early so the school can arrange an assessment, and check that your residence permit will be issued before the planned first day.