Best International Schools in Nanjing: 2026 Guide for Families

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

The first question to settle when you research the best international schools in Nanjing is not curriculum or campus. It is your child's passport. China separates schools for children of foreign nationals, which may only enrol foreign passport holders and a few defined exceptions, from Chinese private schools with international programmes, which mainly serve Chinese families. The same city therefore has two very different markets, and which one you can use depends on your documents.

Within the foreign-passport sector, Nanjing is smaller than Shanghai or Suzhou, so the choice is manageable: a long-established IB school, a British school, an IB and Cambridge school in the city centre, and an American-model school in the university district. Wycombe Abbey Nanjing is covered as well, because many mixed-nationality and returning families ask about it.

Nanjing for expat families: districts and distances

Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu, a short high-speed rail ride from Shanghai, and a base for car makers, electronics, chemicals and a very large university sector. The international schools are spread out, so the district you live in matters more than in many cities.

Xianlin University City in Qixia district, in the north-east, is home to Nanjing International School and BASIS, surrounded by campuses such as Nanjing University and Nanjing Normal University. Jiangning, to the south, has The British School of Nanjing near Cuiping Mountain and, further east in Tangshan, Wycombe Abbey Nanjing. EtonHouse is the city-centre option, in Jianye district west of the old town. The Nanjing government's international schools page describes BSN as about 30 minutes' drive from Xinjiekou, the commercial centre, and both NIS and BSN run bus networks aimed at the main expatriate compounds.

Who can enrol: the passport rule explained

National rules date back to the 1995 interim regulations on schools for children of foreign personnel, issued by China's then State Education Commission. Article 8 states that these schools shall enrol the children of foreign personnel holding residence certificates in China and shall not enrol the children of Chinese citizens in the country. Jiangsu applies its own measures: as published by Nanjing International School, Article 24 of the Jiangsu administrative measures says such schools mainly enrol the foreign-citizen children of expatriates legally staying in the province, and may, after verification by education authorities, also admit children of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, children of Chinese citizens legally settled abroad, and children of high-level overseas talent, each with specific documents.

In practice this means a child with a foreign passport is eligible for NIS, BSN, EtonHouse and BASIS, which the city lists as its international schools. A child with only a mainland Chinese passport is not, and will usually look at Chinese private schools such as Wycombe Abbey Nanjing, which teaches the Chinese National Curriculum alongside IGCSE and A level. Check your child's status before you fall in love with a campus.

Curricula on offer

• International Baccalaureate: NIS runs the PYP, MYP and Diploma from Pre-K to Grade 12; EtonHouse is authorised for the PYP, according to the Nanjing government's school listing.
• English National Curriculum, IGCSE and A level: BSN throughout; EtonHouse also lists IGCSE and A levels for older students.
• American college-preparatory: BASIS, which the city says has been accredited by Cognia since its opening year.
• Chinese National Curriculum with an international pathway: Wycombe Abbey Nanjing, with IGCSE and A level in the upper years.

The shortlist, and who each school fits

Nanjing International School

Founded in 1992 by three expatriate families, NIS is the oldest international school in the city and describes itself as the first IB Continuum school in China. It is a non-profit, parent-owned school governed by a volunteer board, and it says it is accredited by the IB, the Council of International Schools and WASC, with its most recent WASC accreditation in July 2022. The city government's page puts enrolment at nearly 600 students from 30 countries and regions, with 85 foreign teachers.

Best for: families who want the full IB from age 3 and a broad international mix. Worth knowing: admissions tests for Grade 3 and above use MAP, and students in Grade 9 and above whose home language is not English take the WIDA test to decide on English language support. NIS also gives priority for places to families who enrol all their age-appropriate children, so apply for siblings together.

The British School of Nanjing

BSN opened in August 2007 to teach the children of expatriate families and now takes pupils aged 2 to 18. It follows the English National Curriculum with IGCSEs in Years 10 and 11 and AS and A levels in Years 12 and 13, and English is the language of instruction throughout. The Nanjing government listing says around 40 nationalities are represented, that BSN is a member of COBIS, and that the school runs 10 bus routes. It is part of Nord Anglia Education.

Best for: British and Commonwealth families and anyone heading to UK universities. Practical point: BSN publishes a full fee table for 2026-27, accepts payment in RMB, USD, GBP or EUR, includes lunch for full-day students, and charges a one-off EAL fee of RMB 18,000 for students who need extra English.

EtonHouse International School Nanjing

EtonHouse is the city-centre option, in Jianye district, and belongs to the Singapore-based EtonHouse group. According to the Nanjing government's international schools listing, it caters for children aged 2 to 18, teaches in English from preschool through secondary, is authorised for the IB PYP and by Cambridge, and follows British curriculum standards with IGCSE and A levels in Grades 6 to 12. The same listing mentions small classes and second-language courses in Chinese, French and Korean.

Best for: younger children and families who want to live centrally rather than in the suburbs. Ask how many students are in the upper secondary years, because a small senior cohort shapes subject choice at A level.

BASIS International School Nanjing

BASIS opened in September 2019 in Xianlin University City and, according to the Nanjing Municipal Education Bureau, was accredited by Cognia in its founding year. The bureau lists grades from PreK-1 to Grade 12, capacity for 1,000 students including 418 boarders, and 220 staff in 2024-25, 57 of them foreign teachers. Facilities named include a heated pool, a black-box theatre and a 200 m track.

Best for: families who want an accelerated, American-style academic programme and the option of boarding. Ask the school to confirm in writing which passport categories it enrols in each grade, since the city lists it among schools for foreign families.

Wycombe Abbey School Nanjing

Wycombe Abbey Nanjing, in Tangshan in Jiangning district, describes itself as a private boarding school for students aged 2 to 18 that combines the Chinese National Curriculum with an international pathway, teaching IGCSEs and A levels in an immersive English environment. Its kindergarten programme is bilingual and based on the British EYFS framework. Because it follows the national curriculum, it is the route most mainland Chinese families consider, rather than a school for foreign passport holders.

What families pay in 2026-27

Nanjing's two largest international schools publish their fees, which makes budgeting easier than in many Chinese cities.

• NIS, new students: RMB 191,500 for full-day Pre-K, RMB 284,940 for Kindergarten to Grade 5 and RMB 292,800 for Grades 6 to 12, each including an RMB 18,000 new student fee. Returning students pay RMB 266,940 to 274,800 from Kindergarten up.
• BSN: RMB 221,671 for Nursery and Reception, rising to RMB 286,640 for Years 11 to 13 when paid by term, or RMB 215,020 to 278,040 when paid annually.
• EtonHouse, BASIS and Wycombe Abbey: ask each school for its current fee schedule. As our own rough planning estimate, not a published figure, allow roughly RMB 150,000 to 300,000 a year depending on age and boarding.

At around 7.1 to 7.2 RMB to the US dollar, a year at NIS or BSN costs roughly USD 37,000 to 41,000 for primary and secondary. Extras to budget for:

• Application and enrolment: BSN charges RMB 2,500 to apply, a refundable RMB 12,000 deposit and a one-off RMB 10,000 enrolment fee; the NIS deposit is non-refundable but credited to the first semester.
• Transport: NIS buses cost RMB 925 to 2,350 a month in 2026-27; BSN buses cost RMB 13,255 to 18,116 a year.
• Devices and exams: NIS requires an iPad in Grades 2 to 4 and an Apple laptop from Grade 5, and parents pay IB exam fees in Grade 12.
• Uniform: required at BSN, with items from RMB 40 to RMB 400.
• Refunds: NIS pays no refund if a student leaves during the first two full semesters, so time your move carefully.

Practical advice before you commit

Check the company package first. At close to RMB 300,000 a year for a secondary student, many families rely on an employer education allowance. Confirm whether it covers new student, enrolment and bus fees, and whether it is paid per semester or per year, since NIS bills in two semesters and BSN in three terms.

Pick a district, then a school. Living in Xianlin puts NIS and BASIS close by, Jiangning suits BSN, and Jianye suits EtonHouse. Crossing the city twice a day by school bus is possible but tiring for young children, so ask each school for its current bus stops before you sign a lease.

Bring the right documents. Schools for foreign children must check passports and residence permits, and NIS asks for school records, passport copies and, for transfers within China, a confidential teacher reference. Families with a Chinese parent should check the Jiangsu exceptions early, because eligibility is verified by the education authorities rather than decided by the school alone.

Explore the regional ranking

If you are also considering Suzhou, Wuxi or Changzhou, compare options across the province in our list of the best international schools in Jiangsu.

More guides to schools in Nanjing

• Bilingual schools in Nanjing
• International school admissions in Nanjing
• International school fees in Nanjing
• best international schools in Jiangsu

Frequently asked questions

Can Chinese citizens attend international schools in Nanjing?

Not schools for children of foreign nationals, as a rule. China's 1995 regulations bar them from enrolling children of Chinese citizens in the country, and Jiangsu's measures allow only defined exceptions, such as children of Chinese citizens settled abroad with foreign passports, verified by education authorities. Mainland families usually choose Chinese private schools like Wycombe Abbey Nanjing.

How much does Nanjing International School cost in 2026-27?

NIS publishes its fees in RMB. For new students in 2026-27, Kindergarten to Grade 5 costs RMB 284,940 and Grades 6 to 12 cost RMB 292,800, including an RMB 18,000 new student fee. Full-day Pre-K is RMB 191,500. Buses are extra, at RMB 925 to 2,350 a month depending on distance.

Which international school in Nanjing teaches A levels?

The British School of Nanjing follows the English National Curriculum with IGCSEs in Years 10 and 11 and AS and A levels in Years 12 and 13. EtonHouse also lists IGCSE and A levels for Grades 6 to 12, and Wycombe Abbey Nanjing teaches them alongside the Chinese National Curriculum. NIS offers the IB Diploma instead.