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Shenzhen Experimental School New Hall. Photo by 30000lightyears –

The Best International Schools in Shenzhen

Shenzhen known as China’s Silicon Valley, has been growing exponentially since the 1980s. Sitting between Hong Kong and mainland China, tech graduates and global corporate executives alike are drawn to this economic, financial, logistics, and research hub by the millions.

Like the rest of China’s megacities, Shenzhen has no shortage of ex-pats and no shortage of international schools. Sixteen new international schools were due to open in 2020 alone, with many more planned for the coming years.

Despite the steady supply, however, international school fees in Shenzhen remain among the highest in the world.  If you’re relocating to the city to work with a large multinational company, it’s highly likely that these fees will be covered in your relocation package.

Foreign-owned international schools in Shenzhen are not allowed to admit Chinese students unless they have recently returned from abroad or unless one parent has a foreign passport. It’s unlikely that the student body in your chosen international school will have any local students.

However, Chinese-owned public or private schools can admit non-Chinese students, and many have set up international streams to cater to this. While some do teach an international curriculum through English, they are not the same as the ‘traditional’ international schools you may be familiar with.

The facilities, student performance, and education standards at Shenzhen’s international schools are excellent. While there may be 1000 or more students in a school, class sizes are not necessarily large at 25 students or less per class. Native English-speaking teachers are commonplace and the majority of schools have extensive extracurricular programs.

The school day in Shenzhen starts at 8 am and finishes at 3 pm or 4 pm. Most schools offer a bus service to take students to and from the main residential areas in Shenzhen. International schools in the city tend to be located in or close to the popular ex-pat areas like Shejou and Luohu anyway, so your child shouldn’t have a tough commute.

If need be, many of Shenzhen’s international schools cater to children from kindergarten age and up. If your child attends the kindergarten section of an international school, it may be slightly easier to win them a place – or at the very least a place on the waiting list – for the primary and secondary sections of the school.

China is known for its outstanding performance in education. It may have the most expensive international schools in the world, but it also has some of the best. So no matter which international school your child attends in Shenzhen, they’ll be very well prepared for further education in the best universities in the world.

1. Shekou International School

Shekou International School. Photo by WhisperToMe –

Shekou International School is a private, co-educational, not-for-profit IB school located in Shenzhen, China. It serves students in Nursery school through 12^th grade (ages 2 -18).

2. QSI International School of Shenzhen

QSI International School of Shenzhen. Photo by WhisperToMe –

Success for all supported by mastery learning; non – competitive academic environment; performance-based mastery of all learning outcomes. This school does not make its fees public, hence if you are interested in taking your child there, you will have to make a visit there personally.

You could also have a personal conversation with them via phone or chat.

3. Shen Wai International School

Group of fresh graduates from an International school. Photo by Vasily Koloda on

Shen Wai International School is an IB Continuum and CIS/ WASC accredited school. It serves children of the expatriate community who work in Shenzhen and children who are permanent residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

4. Recognise International Academy

Three people sitting and looking jovial with their laptops open. Photo by Brooke Cagle on

Recognise Internation Academy, established in 2009, is an international school in Shekou, Shenzhen, China. RIA believes that a higher quality educational experience can be achieved by keeping a school community small.

5. Merchiston International School

A site in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by Ebun Oluwole on

Merchiston International School in Shenzhen is the first overseas campus of Merchiston Castle School, a top-ranked independent school located in Edinburgh, Scotland, the UK with a glorious history of over 185 years.

MIS is also the first international school in Shenzhen to provide a British international education and boarding system.

6. Buena Vista Concordia International School

An International school with pupils from different parts of the world. Photo by CDC on

Buena Vista Concordia is an American-style school using Common Care and California State Standards. We are a 1-to-1 Device Campus (tablets for K-4 and laptops for 5-8).

Teachers are hired from all over the world and bring a unique, global perspective to the learning environment.

7. Harrow Shenzhen

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S O C I A L . C U T – Unsplash

This school is designed to cater to a maximum capacity of 800 students with outstanding facilities for an Early Years to Sixth Form school with boarding. The campus connects Harrow’s values with Qianhai’s spirit.

As an inner-city site, the school has a lawn area where the main sports grounds and outdoor activity spaces are located, ensuring the whole campus will have a vibrant atmosphere. The British garden landscaping is inspired by the setting of Harrow School in London.

8. Whittle School and Studios

Students listening to one of them presenting something in class. Photo by Jason Goodman on

Whittle School and Studios believe that education is more than just time spent in a classroom – it encompasses everything students experience during their time with Whittle School.

9. Shenzhen Foreign Languages GBA Academy

Woman searching for a book in a library. Photo by Clay Banks on

Shenzhen Foreign Languages  GBA Academy is committed to the rigor and the rounded values of the International Baccalaureate program, developing students who have a clear sense of moral purpose.

SGA is nurturing leaders in technology who are global networkers, with a strong grounding in Chinese culture.