IB Curriculum International Schools in Shanghai, China

Shanghai hosts a large and growing group of International Baccalaureate (IB) schools, many of which offer one or more IB programmes and a number that deliver the full PYP - MYP - DP continuum; the IB framework is often paired with strong Mandarin provision or bilingual English - Mandarin models suited to families seeking Chinese language depth alongside an international pathway. Instruction is most commonly in English, with Mandarin taught across the age range and other modern languages (French, Spanish, German, Japanese and Korean) available at secondary level in many schools. Annual tuition varies widely: a typical international-school bill in Shanghai is often in the RMB hundreds of thousands, with published mid-range figures around RMB 150,000 - 320,000 and a full market range that runs from lower-cost bilingual options under RMB 100,000 to schools that publish fees above RMB 350,000 once extras are included. Admissions operate on a rolling but competitive basis with formal entry points at early years/primary, the start of secondary (roughly Year 7), and the two-year Diploma stage; families should expect assessments, interviews and waiting lists and plan applications several months in advance. Eligibility rules are set by Shanghai authorities and most international schools enrol foreign-passport holders (with specific provisions for overseas-born Chinese and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan documents), so check each school’s registration category before applying.