Alcanta International College vs EtonHouse International School Foshan

	A Alcanta International College Guangzhou, China	E EtonHouse International School Foshan Guangzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 158,000 - 182,000	Fees / year RMB 120,000 - 190,000
Age range	Age range 12 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Chinese National Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2011	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Alcanta International College is in Nansha District, Guangzhou — listed at No. 14 Guangsheng Road (Nansha), in the southern part of the city's Greater Bay Area. The Nansha area is served by Guangzhou Metro Line 4 and other regional links, so public-transport connections to central Guangzhou and neighbouring cities are available; confirm exact travel times from your location.	Location EtonHouse International School Foshan is located in Nanhai (Guicheng) Business City, Foshan, Guangdong — the campus address is listed as Block 32 / 32 Fufeng Square, 1st Foping (Foping 4th) Road, Nanhai, Foshan. It sits in a business/residential district with road links into central Foshan and the Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou is the nearest major city); contact details are published by the school and the IB.
Stages	Stages The school offers a Pre‑Diploma pathway and Cambridge IGCSE courses for junior students, followed by the two‑year International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma for senior students (typical ages mid‑teens to 18). AIC describes a four‑year Pre‑Diploma plus the IB Diploma for graduation preparation.	Stages The school is a through‑train K–12 campus (early years / primary through to secondary / senior years). Its programmes include IB-inspired primary provision and a secondary pathway that leads to IGCSE and A‑Level (and the school is listed with IB authorisation details).
School type	School type AIC is a private, co‑educational international school; it is an IB World School and also lists Cambridge IGCSE and external accreditation (MSA‑CESS). The school operates boarding provision alongside day places.	School type EtonHouse Foshan is co‑educational and operates as a day school with mixed (male and female) boarding facilities available. The IB directory entry and school listings identify the campus as both day and boarding.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support AIC's publicly available pages and directory listings do not publish a detailed Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Additional Learning Needs policy online. Prospective parents should contact admissions directly to ask about specific learning‑support services, EAL support, diagnostic assessment or individual learning plans available for their child.	Additional learning support The school lists a dedicated Wellness & Inclusion Specialist on its staff roster, indicating an on‑site role for inclusion and student wellbeing; parents should contact the school directly for details about formal SEN (additional learning needs) provision, assessment procedures, and any outside‑agency arrangements.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is based in the People's Republic of China (Guangzhou) and is not presented as being affiliated to another country's school system.	Country affiliation The campus is part of the EtonHouse International Education Group, a Singapore‑based education group — the Foshan campus is one of the group's global schools.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is listed in the school's public profiles; AIC is presented as a secular international school in its directory entries.	Religious affiliation The school is independent and does not advertise a religious affiliation; its public descriptions present it as a secular/international campus.
School day structure	School day structure Public listings note the school year runs on a roughly August–June cycle, but AIC does not publish a detailed daily start/end timetable or break schedule on its public pages. If you need exact school‑day hours, class period lengths or boarding daily routines (for example supervised evening study), request the current daily timetable from admissions.	School day structure The school operates a full‑day K–12 timetable, but specific published start/end times, break and lunch schedules are not clearly posted on the public pages reviewed. Prospective parents should request the current daily timetable from Admissions or during a school visit.
Bus service details	Bus service details Directory information indicates the school provides transport (school bus) options, but public pages do not specify the provider, routes, stops or fees. For route maps, pickup/dropoff times, and costs you should request the school's transport brochure or speak with the admissions office.	Bus service details Information sources indicate the school provides managed school‑bus (commuter) services for families and also operates boarding accommodation for students who need it; some school listings and local school guides reference a paid bus service (routes/fees vary by distance). Parents should confirm available routes, costs and pickup/drop‑off points with the school's transport or admissions team. }
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fee - One-time application/registration fee: RMB 300. Tuition fees (by year group) - Grade 7: RMB 158,000 per year (day student). - Grade 8: RMB 158,000 per year (day student). - Grade 9: RMB 182,000 per year (day student). - Grade 10: RMB 182,000 per year (day student). - Grade 11: RMB 182,000 per year (day student). - Grade 12: RMB 182,000 per year (day student). Tuition per term (billing note and calculation) - Public information lists tuition as an annual amount. The school's published practice is to collect tuition/meal/accommodation in advance prior to each semester; using that practice, a simple per-semester figure can be calculated by dividing the annual tuition by two (example: Grade 7/8 ≈ RMB 79,000 per semester; Grade 9–12 ≈ RMB 91,000 per semester). This per‑semester amount is a derived value (annual ÷ 2) based on the school's semester-advance billing practice. Boarding, meals and ancillary fees - Seven‑day boarding (typical option): RMB 10,300 per year (example reported). - Five‑day (weekly) boarding option: RMB 8,800 per year (where offered). - Student meal plan (boarding/non‑boarding catering charge examples): RMB 13,860 per year (reported meal fee). - Textbooks/learning materials: example published estimate RMB 3,000 per year. - Activity/programme fee example: RMB 3,500 per year. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees (tuition, meals, accommodation) are collected in advance prior to the start of the relevant semester/study period; annual invoicing is used for published tuition amounts and schools typically require payment by the commencement date or specified deadline. Parents are expected to settle billed amounts before the semester begins. Refund information - The school's publicly available materials and corporate filings indicate that partial refunds may be offered if a student withdraws during a semester; a formal School Fees Refund Policy is referenced in offer documentation. Specific refund percentages and conditions are established in the school's fee/refund policy. Fee payment options (published example) - Bank transfer / international wire: published offer documents show payment instructions for payments to a China Merchants Bank account (domestic RMB account and SWIFT details for USD wire transfers) and request that payment receipts be emailed to the admissions contact. This is the payment method explicitly shown in the school's offer materials. Other notes on costs - Some published school materials and third‑party listings show refundable deposits, printing/ICT fees, insurance and occasional one‑off charges (these vary by intake). Parents should treat the listed items above as the principal recurring charges (application, tuition, boarding/meals, textbooks, activities).	Fee details Application / Registration fees - No specific, publicly-published one‑time application or registration fee for EtonHouse International School Foshan was located in the sources consulted. Tuition fees by year group (annual and termly equivalents) - Nursery 2 (age 2): Annual RMB 120,000 — termly equivalent (assuming a 3‑term billing structure) RMB 40,000 per term (inference: annual ÷ 3). - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual RMB 120,000 — termly equivalent RMB 40,000 per term. - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual RMB 145,000 — termly equivalent RMB 48,333 per term. - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual RMB 145,000 — termly equivalent RMB 48,333 per term. - Grade 1 to Grade 5 (ages 6–10): Annual RMB 145,000 — termly equivalent RMB 48,333 per term. - Grade 6 to Grade 8 (ages 11–13): Annual RMB 159,000 — termly equivalent RMB 53,000 per term. - Grade 9 to Grade 12 (ages 14–17): Annual RMB 190,000 — termly equivalent RMB 63,333 per term. Billing schedule and payment terms - The published figures above are presented as annual tuition amounts. Many EtonHouse campuses use either annual or termly billing; termly payment options and schedules are commonly offered at other EtonHouse schools (termly fees and payment methods are shown in EtonHouse campus fee pages). The per‑term amounts above are a calculated termly equivalent (annual ÷ 3) and should be treated as an approximation when a three‑term calendar is used. Boarding fees - Boarding is listed as available for the Foshan campus, but no publicly-published boarding fee schedule or amounts was found. For boarding rates and boarding billing terms, contact the school's admissions office. Other costs and typical extras - No itemised amounts for uniforms, meals, transport, exam or trip fees specifically for Foshan were found in the published material consulted. Typical additional fees at EtonHouse campuses can include registration/deposit at enrolment, student insurance, uniforms, transport and activity/trip fees; amounts vary by campus. Refunds and deposits - No Foshan‑specific refund policy or deposit/refund schedule was located in the sources consulted. At other EtonHouse campuses, registration fees are commonly non‑refundable and deposits may be refundable subject to notice conditions; practice varies by campus. Fee payment options - Common payment methods used by EtonHouse campuses internationally include bank/wire transfer and credit card payments; some campuses list local digital options relevant to their country. Specific payment methods for Foshan were not publicly listed in the material reviewed. (Amounts above are those published for EtonHouse International School Foshan and presented as annual tuition with termly equivalents calculated where a three‑term pattern is commonly used at EtonHouse campuses.)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership Independent international school established in 2011; accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA-CESS), the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), and Cambridge IGCSE.	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Alcanta International College runs a four‑year pre‑IB/preparatory programme (Grades 7–10) followed by the two‑year IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12. The school is an authorised IB World School offering the full IB Diploma as its senior qualification. Diploma students at AIC complete the DP core—Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service—alongside six subject‑group courses required for the diploma. The IB registry for AIC lists available DP subjects including English A (Language & Literature), English B, Mandarin (ab initio), Chinese A/B, Mathematics (Analysis & Approaches and Applications & Interpretation), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Business Management, Psychology, Computer Science, Environmental Systems & Societies and Visual Arts (May examinations). The preparatory years are structured to ready students for DP subject choices and assessments and instruction is delivered in English.	Curriculum details —
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning Alcanta International College describes itself as a student-centred community and cites values of a “safe and supportive” learning environment; the school public news items also reference student-led activities such as a student council (STUCO), TOK Café events, debate competitions and drama productions that involve collaborative project work. These curricular and co-curricular activities (debate, drama, TOK Café, clubs) are used on the website to illustrate opportunities for students to practise collaboration, communication and leadership. The site does not list a separate named SEL programme or a designated SEL coordinator. Parents and applicants would need to contact the school for details about formal SEL curricula or staff roles.	Social & emotional learning The school emphasizes a holistic approach to learning with inquiry-based activities that support social and emotional development across all age groups.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision on its website. There are no pages or policy documents on the site that describe the types of SEN supported, specialist staff, an inclusion/learning-support department, or whether the school is a specialist SEN institution. If you need this information for admissions or placement, please contact the school directly for its current SEN policy and available support.	Special educational needs (SEN) The school supports a broad range of needs within its IB framework and through its through-train structure, aligning with standard international school practices (no additional details published here).
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Alcanta International College's published curriculum pages show English-language pathways: the IGCSE provision includes English as a second language, and the IBDP subject list on the site includes English B at higher level alongside language offerings such as Chinese ab initio. These entries indicate the school teaches English as a language option within its formal qualifications, but the website does not describe a separate EAL support programme, specific EAL staff, or staged intervention pathways. For details about individual EAL assessment or in-class support, contact the school.	English as an additional language No specific EAL provision is described in the provided content.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The school's mission and values emphasise a caring, student-focused community and a safe, supportive learning environment, and the website documents co‑curricular activities that contribute to student engagement. The website does not publish a dedicated mental-health or wellbeing policy, nor does it identify named counselling staff or an on-site counselling service. Because those specific provisions are not publicly listed, interested families should request the school's current mental-health/wellbeing policy and details of available counselling or pastoral staff directly.	Mental wellbeing The learning environment is designed to foster creativity and curiosity, supporting students' overall well-being through engaging, child-centered sessions.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The school's mission and values statement affirms that AIC aims to provide a safe and supportive learning environment, but the website does not publish a dedicated safeguarding or child-protection policy with named safeguarding contacts, procedures or statutory-compliance details. There is no public child-protection policy document or explicit safeguarding contact listed on the site. For formal safeguarding procedures, mandatory reporting arrangements, or the school's designated safeguarding lead, please contact AIC directly and request their safeguarding policy.	Safeguarding Safeguarding and child protection policies are not detailed in the provided content.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The school provides a modern campus with spaces for study and recreation. It features a library, a computer room with Apple desktops, a dance room, and art studios. Students have access to ping-pong tables, a track, a football pitch, and badminton and basketball courts. A recreational garden area and a rooftop terrace offer outdoor spaces for relaxation and informal gatherings. The facilities have been upgraded to support contemporary teaching and learning.	Facilities overview The Foshan campus opened in 2016 as the first international school in Foshan and offers a through-train K-12 education. It is located in the Nanhai District, Foshan, in the Nanhai Business City area. The campus supports inquiry-based learning and includes spaces for library activities, music, art, dance and drama, and performing arts. The library has a large collection of English-language children's books, and specialist spaces include a swimming pool, an indoor gym, science laboratories, and performing-arts studios. Boarding facilities are available.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The track supports physical education and running activities. There is a football pitch for outdoor play and practice. Badminton and basketball courts provide space for court-based sports. The sports facilities are designed to accommodate both individual and team sports. They support intramural programs as part of the school's physical education offering.	Sports facilities The campus includes a 200 m track field, a swimming pool, and an indoor gym.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities The computer room is equipped with Apple desktops to support digital learning. Apple Education tools, including iPads and MacBooks, are integrated into daily teaching to enhance interactive learning. The campus supports IB Diploma Programme, Cambridge IGCSE, and A-Level curricula through upgraded spaces and resources. The school provides a broad range of subjects including languages, mathematics, sciences, computer science, and arts to support an international curriculum.	Academic facilities The school uses an IB-inspired inquiry approach for the early years and offers a British National Curriculum pathway for older students, including Key Stage 3, IGCSE and A-Levels. It has a library and specialist studios for music, art, dance and drama.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Arts spaces include a dance room and art studios to support visual arts, drama, and music activities. The campus hosts arts- and sports-related clubs and events throughout the year. Extracurricular programs include business simulations and field trips, along with university visits and other enrichment activities that complement classroom learning.	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Alcanta International College opened in 2011 and has graduated multiple cohorts since then. The school was authorized as an IB World School on 10 February 2012. AIC operates as part of the Alcanta education group and has been associated with Guangzhou Xinya Senior High School in its recent institutional development; the school's website also records a provincial approval in May 2025 for a Sino‑foreign cooperation project with Abbotsholme School (UK).	History Opened in 2016, EtonHouse International School Foshan (FEIS) is located in Nanhai Business City and is the first international school in Foshan. It offers a through-train K-12 education from pre-school to primary, guided by an inquiry-based, child-centered IB approach. As students progress to middle and high school, the curriculum includes British National Curriculum Key Stage 3, IGCSE, and A-Levels. In 2018, EtonHouse Foshan received authorisation as a Cambridge International School.
Community	Community AIC describes a multicultural student body—approximately 20% of students are international—which the school says contributes to daily cross‑cultural exchange. The school's calendar and news feed record regular community activities such as assemblies, TOK events and themed celebrations; external reports and school posts describe student‑led Mid‑Autumn Festival assemblies and other cultural programming. These activities are presented as regular parts of campus life and student learning.	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The school website and news items show organized parent activities including a Parent Orientation and an "AIC Parents Workshop," and school posts reference a parents committee (家委会) participating in events such as graduation ceremonies. These items indicate parents meet with staff for orientation, workshops and event participation, and that a parents' committee exists. Publicly available pages do not provide a standalone PTA constitution or a detailed, up‑to‑date PTA event calendar; most references appear in news posts and the school calendar. If you'd like, I can search the school's news archive or contact the school for more detailed or current PTA documents and recent activities.	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Alcanta International College (AIC) is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA-CESS), the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), and Cambridge IGCSE. The school offers the IB Diploma Program for seniors (Grades 11-12) and the Cambridge IGCSE Program for juniors. The language of instruction is English, and boarding facilities are available. Examinations are conducted in May.	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations - International Baccalaureate (IB) — Alcanta International College is an IB World School authorised to deliver the IB Diploma Programme; the IB Diploma is an internationally recognised two‑year pre‑university curriculum that emphasises academic rigour, interdisciplinary learning and university preparation. (School site; IB authorisation record shows AIC as an IB school since 10 February 2012). - Cambridge IGCSE (Cambridge Assessment International Education) — the school states it delivers Cambridge IGCSE courses; Cambridge IGCSE is an internationally recognised qualification for 14–16 year olds that provides externally assessed, subject‑based certification and is widely used as preparation for advanced study (A‑levels, IB Diploma, etc.). - Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA‑CESS) — the school lists MSA‑CESS accreditation; Middle States is a US‑based peer accreditation body whose review process and standards are used globally to validate a school's institutional quality and commitment to continuous improvement.	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and information-gathering. Parents should confirm which academic year/term they are applying for (AIC lists a first application deadline of 30 April on directory pages) and whether the student is applying as day or boarding, since fees and deadlines can differ. 2. Complete and submit the application form and pay the application fee. AIC's published application charge is shown as roughly RMB 300 (around USD 43) on school directories; make sure you submit the signed form plus payment by the stated deadline and retain the payment receipt. Parents should check whether the application is submitted via the school website, the school's own application portal, or a third‑party system (some directories link AIC to OpenApply) and upload required documents in the requested format. 3. Prepare and send required supporting documents. Typically this will include the student's current academic transcripts/grade reports, passport copy (for international students), recent school reports, teacher recommendation(s) and any previous exam records; confirm the exact document list with admissions. If English is not the student's first language, expect to provide evidence of English proficiency or to arrange an English assessment—directories note that AIC teaches in English and provides ELL support. Parents should arrange official translations where required and allow time for notarisation if the documents are needed for visas or scholarship applications. 4. Entrance assessment and interview. Public information about AIC indicates scholarships and admissions decisions are linked to an entrance examination and review of academic records, so expect a written/online assessment (academic and/or English) and an interview with admissions or a senior teacher. Parents should verify the format (onsite, online, timed test) and, if travelling from overseas, ask whether remote assessment options are available and whether any preparatory materials are provided. Keep copies of past schoolwork or samples the school requests for the assessment. 5. Scholarship consideration (if applying). AIC directories state that applicants who perform strongly in the entrance exam and have strong academic records may be considered for scholarships; for international students AIC has historically offered full-tuition awards to selected applicants. If you want to be considered, follow the school's specific scholarship application instructions and submit any additional documents or essays by the scholarship deadline; note that directories indicate scholarships typically cover tuition only, not living costs. Parents should ask whether the scholarship decision is made at offer stage or separately and whether scholarship recipients must meet ongoing academic or behavioural conditions. 6. Offer, acceptance and deposit. Successful applicants will receive a formal offer (conditional or unconditional). The offer will set out any conditions (e.g., final transcripts, visa paperwork, English standard) and the deadline for accepting the place and paying any tuition deposit or enrolment fee; check the offer letter carefully for exact amounts and payment instructions. Parents should confirm refund and withdrawal policies for deposits, and whether the deposit counts toward the first year's fees. 7. Final paperwork: contracts, visas and boarding arrangements. After acceptance, complete the school contract and provide final documentation the school requires for registration; international families should start the visa process promptly because visa timelines vary. If the student will board, confirm the boarding contract, boarding fees and the school's published meal/room charge schedule (boarding and meal fees are listed separately in directory fee summaries). Parents should check arrival dates, orientation schedules, health insurance/medical forms and any immunisation requirements. 8. Fee payment schedule and orientation. AIC directories list annual tuition ranges (day tuition figures published between approximately RMB 158,000 and RMB 182,000 depending on grade) and additional boarding/meal charges for boarders; confirm the exact fee schedule and whether the school accepts instalments, bank transfer instructions and the currency required. Parents should also check for one‑time enrolment charges (directories reference a first‑year one‑time fee such as an application or administration charge) and request an itemised fee breakdown (tuition, boarding, meals, activity fees, textbooks). Finally, attend the school's orientation and keep a copy of the signed enrolment agreement and the school's contact details for ongoing questions.	Admissions —
Scholarships	Scholarships Directories indicate that Alcanta International College offers scholarships and that applicants showing exceptional ability and potential may be awarded tuition scholarships; for international students, full‑tuition awards have been offered in past cycles. Scholarship awards are reported to be based on the applicant's performance in the school's entrance examination and on previous academic records; directories also note that scholarships typically cover tuition only and not living or boarding costs. Historical notes on some directory pages reference specific award numbers in particular years (for example, a past cycle listing 15 full scholarships in 2020–21), but these are examples rather than guarantees for future years—confirm current availability, selection criteria, application deadlines and whether there are scholarship renewal conditions with admissions. For authoritative, up‑to‑date details about scholarship types, amounts and application steps, contact the admissions office directly and ask for the current scholarship policy and deadlines.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist Public directory listings and the school's available admissions summaries do not explicitly describe a formal waitlist or pool process for Alcanta International College; the school's admissions pages linked in directories focus on application, examination and offer stages rather than an online waitlist. Because many schools operate informal or formal waiting lists (and policies vary year to year), if you want to know whether a waiting list will be used for the grade you are applying to, ask admissions directly (AIC's admissions contact details appear on OpenApply's school entry). If you are placed on any waitlist, confirm whether you must re‑affirm interest periodically to keep the application active, whether siblings or other priorities are applied, and how the school notifies families when a place becomes available.	Waitlist —
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