Beijing City International School vs Yew Chung International School of Beijing

	B Beijing City International School Beijing, China	Y Yew Chung International School of Beijing Beijing, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 244,000 - 343,500	Fees / year RMB 221,000 - 334,000
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 1,275	Pupils 800
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 7
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2005	Opened 1995
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Main campus: No. 77 Baiziwan Nan Er Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100022. The Early Childhood Center is nearby at No. 11 Dongbai Street (both in the Shuangjing / Baiziwan area close to the CBD). The site is inside Chaoyang District with good road links to central Chaoyang residential compounds and public transport; the school's contact page lists both campus addresses and phone numbers.	Location Main campus: Honglingjin Park, 5 Houbalizhuang, Chaoyang District, Beijing (postcode 100025). The campus is in the Chaoyang/Honglingjin Park area—central Chaoyang with straightforward road access and regular taxi/ride-hailing links; parents often reference proximity to embassy and expatriate neighbourhoods in Chaoyang. For exact directions and public-transport options check the school map or contact admissions.
Stages	Stages BCIS is divided into an Early Childhood Center/Courtyard Kindergarten (Toddler–Kindergarten), an Elementary School (Grade 1–5) and a Secondary School (Grade 6–12). The admissions page and school sections show age/grade guidance and entry cut-off dates by academic year.	Stages The school enrols expatriate students aged 2–18 (K2 to Year 13) and is organised into Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary phases. Programmes include IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate Diploma at upper-secondary level.
School type	School type BCIS is a non-profit, independent, co-educational day school (no boarding provision is listed). The school's materials describe it as an international school that admits both foreign and Chinese national students who reside in Beijing.	School type YCIS Beijing is a private, co‑educational international day school serving children of foreign personnel; it does not advertise boarding provision. The school is part of the Yew Chung/Yew Wah network of international schools.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support BCIS runs a Student Support Services program that includes counselling, Learning Support (for learners across the ability range) and English as an Additional Language (EAL) support; specialists work with classroom teachers to provide targeted interventions. The school also publishes child-protection and wellbeing policies and describes coordinated support for social–emotional needs.	Additional learning support The school operates a Student Support Services team (learning support and counselling). Admissions guidance and third‑party listings indicate YCIS accepts students with mild learning difficulties on a case‑by‑case basis and provides in‑class and withdrawal support where appropriate; more complex needs may exceed the school's provision. Parents with children who have additional needs are advised to discuss requirements with Admissions early and share assessments/reports.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation BCIS is an international school with no single-country affiliation; it admits students of all nationalities and is registered with the Chaoyang District education authorities. The school's site and admissions material state its international intake and local registration.	Country affiliation YCIS Beijing is part of the Yew Chung Yew Wah (YCYW) education network that originated in Hong Kong; it is not officially affiliated to a single national government.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school does not list any religious affiliation on its public materials; its mission and programs are presented secularly on the official site.	Religious affiliation The school does not list any religious affiliation on its official information pages; its programme and materials describe an international, bilingual education rather than a faith‑based approach.
School day structure	School day structure School hours vary slightly by campus but the school day typically runs in the morning to mid/late afternoon (most published timetables show starts around 08:10–08:30 and regular finishes in the 15:30–15:45 range). BCIS also operates an earlier finish on Wednesdays (afternoon departure times are earlier on that day) and offers after-school enrichment sessions.	School day structure Typical published schedules for YCIS Beijing indicate a morning start around 08:00 and the academic day finishing around mid‑afternoon (roughly 15:00–15:30), with co‑curricular activities running later in the afternoon on most days. The school publishes a full school‑year calendar (term dates, holidays, PD days) on its website; check the current year calendar for exact term and event times.
Bus service details	Bus service details BCIS operates an in-house school bus service; parents request places via a transport application form and the school lists dedicated bus coordinators and contact details. A free shuttle runs between the Main Campus and the ECC during school days; regular and late buses operate in the afternoons. The school names its contracted provider (Hu Hang (Beijing) School Bus Operation Management Co. Ltd.), and notes safety features such as GPS tracking, professional drivers/attendants and vehicle air-purification systems.	Bus service details YCIS Beijing provides a school‑bus option for families; bus arrangements are confirmed during the enrolment process and bus/meal options are referenced in admissions materials and third‑party school guides. Routes and vendor details are managed by the school (or an appointed provider) and parents normally register for stops and schedules through Admissions/School Services. Contact the admissions office for current route maps, stops and fees.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fee - A non‑refundable application fee applies. For applications to the 2025–2026 school year the published application fee is RMB 3,000. Tuition fees — annual (by year group) The school's published fee schedule for the 2025–2026 academic year lists annual tuition by age/grade. The following figures are the school-year (annual) tuition amounts quoted in RMB: - Toddler (Nursery 2): RMB 244,000 per year. - Kindergarten (younger kindergarten levels shown by some sources as Kindg 1 / Kindg 2): RMB 265,000 – RMB 285,000 per year (depending on kindergarten level). - Grades 1–5 (Elementary): RMB 298,000 per year. - Grades 6–8 (Lower/Middle secondary): RMB 321,500 per year. - Grades 9–10 (Upper secondary / IGCSE‑equivalent years): RMB 332,000 per year. - Grades 11–12 (IB Diploma / senior years): RMB 343,500 per year. (Third‑party compilations of BCIS fees for recent previous years show similar annual ranges and list the same fee categories; these are consistent with the 2025–2026 figures above. ) Per‑term figures (inference from annual amounts) - The school states that “school fees are payable in advance.” The publicly posted fee schedule gives annual fees; a per‑term amount is not published on the public fee page. If a family is invoiced on a two‑term / two‑semester basis, a simple division of the annual fee by two produces the following illustrative per‑term amounts (this is an arithmetical division of the published annual fee and not an official BCIS semester invoice): - Toddler: approx. RMB 122,000 per term (annual ÷ 2). - Grades 1–5: approx. RMB 149,000 per term (annual ÷ 2). - Grades 11–12: approx. RMB 171,750 per term (annual ÷ 2). - Note: this per‑term split is an inferred calculation based on the published annual fees because the public fees page states only that fees are payable in advance and does not display an official semester billing table. Families should expect invoices that reflect the school's chosen billing arrangement for the year. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school's published statement indicates that school fees are payable in advance; fees include tuition, applicable administration fees for new students, and any bus service fees. Parents are advised that fees are reviewed regularly and to anticipate annual increases. - The application fee is explicitly described as non‑refundable. Boarding fees - BCIS operates as a day school; boarding facilities are not part of the school's provision. There is no published boarding fee because BCIS is a day school. Other costs and typical additional fees - New‑student / admission administration fee: several independent local school listings and parent guides cite a one‑time new‑student (enrolment) fee around RMB 15,000 for BCIS; this has been listed in recent school‑profile compilations. - Transportation (school bus): independent compilations show typical annual bus fees in the range of approximately RMB 17,600 to RMB 24,200 (actual amount depends on route/zone). - Uniforms: the school provides the first full school uniform set free to students in Toddler through Grade 10; families may order additional uniform items at cost through the school's uniform ordering system. - MacBook / device costs: BCIS requires students in Grades 4–12 to have a MacBook that meets the school's specified minimums; the school works with an authorized reseller to offer discounted education pricing and recommends AppleCare. Device purchase and any recommended extended warranty are additional family costs. - Lunch / meal charges: arrangements differ by campus; ECC lunch/snacks are included in the ECC tuition, while Main Campus students often use a pre‑paid pass for on‑campus meals—expect separate meal charges where noted. (School publications and school‑profile listings describe differing arrangements by campus.) - Extracurricular, trips, external examination fees and some optional activities (e.g., individual music tuition, certain overseas trips) are typically charged in addition to tuition where applicable. Independent school guides list these as common additional costs. Refund information - The application fee is non‑refundable. BCIS's public tuition page gives the high‑level statement that fees are payable in advance, but a detailed public refund schedule or a detailed withdrawal/tuition‑refund table is not shown on the publicly visible tuition page. Families should expect that some one‑time fees (application, administration) are treated as non‑refundable; specific refund percentages and notice periods for tuition withdrawals are not publicly itemized on the BCIS tuition page. Fee payment options - The school's public materials indicate fees are payable in advance and are invoiced by the school; typical payment methods used by international K‑12 schools in Beijing include local bank transfer (RMB), and international bank transfer (USD/RMB) as invoiced, and card payments where accepted by the school's billing platform. Parents frequently receive specific bank details and accepted payment methods on the invoice. The BCIS published pages do not display a single public list of accepted payment methods on the tuition summary page; families receive precise payment instructions on their invoice. Key practical notes for parents (factual summary) - Application fee: RMB 3,000 (non‑refundable). - Annual tuition: ranges by year group from about RMB 244,000 (Toddler) up to about RMB 343,500 (Grades 11–12) for the 2025–2026 school year, per published fee compilations. - First full uniform set is provided at no charge for Toddler–Grade 10; additional uniform items are payable by families. - Students in Grades 4–12 must meet the school's MacBook specification and typically purchase the device (discounted reseller option available). - BCIS is a day school; no boarding fees apply. (Where the public page gives only annual totals, per‑term amounts shown above were calculated by halving the published annual fee to illustrate how an equal two‑term split would look; that split is an arithmetic inference and not an official BCIS semester invoice. For billing‑cycle details, invoice breakdowns and precise additional fees for items such as buses, AppleCare or optional trips, consult the invoice you receive from the school.)	Fee details Application and one‑off fees - Application fee: RMB 2,500 (non‑refundable). - Placement / security deposit: RMB 20,000 (one‑time; refundable subject to the school's Departure & Refund procedures). Tuition fees — per term and annual by year group (day students) - K2 (Kindergarten) – Half day: Semester 1 RMB 49,200; Semester 2 RMB 73,800; Annual RMB 123,000. - K2 (Kindergarten) – Full day: Semester 1 RMB 80,400; Semester 2 RMB 120,600; Annual RMB 201,000. - K3 & K4 (Full day): Semester 1 RMB 92,000; Semester 2 RMB 138,000; Annual RMB 230,000. - Primary (Years 1–6) typical breakdown: Semester 1 RMB 110,800; Semester 2 RMB 166,200; Annual RMB 277,000. (Year‑by‑year variation applies within Primary—see next item). - Lower Secondary (Years 7–9) typical breakdown: Semester 1 RMB 121,200; Semester 2 RMB 181,800; Annual RMB 303,000. - Upper Secondary (IGCSE / IB — Years 10–13): Semester 1 RMB 128,400; Semester 2 RMB 192,600; Annual RMB 321,000. Note that annual tuition increases by year band; published annual amounts for different year groups range from approximately RMB 221,000 up to RMB 334,000 depending on grade. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school issues invoices and accepts payments by semester or annual arrangements as shown on invoices; semester payment amounts are commonly used (see semester figures above). The placement deposit is held against the student account and may be used to settle outstanding fees. - The school requests that bank transfers include the invoice or student reference number to ensure correct allocation of funds. Boarding - YCIS Beijing operates as a day school; there are no boarding charges for this campus. Other costs and optional fees - Bus service fees charged per route/distance (examples: RMB 15,000–RMB 18,500 annually depending on route). - Uniforms, lunches, some co‑curricular activities, individual instrumental lessons or external exam fees are additional and billed separately. - Sibling discounts on tuition only: commonly published at 15% for second child and 25% for third (applies to younger siblings). Refunds and deposit handling - The placement deposit is refundable after deductions for outstanding charges; standard processing timelines cited include refund within 45 days after completion of required departure procedures. The school may use the deposit to settle unpaid account balances. Fee payment options - Bank remittance (RMB or USD accounts), in‑person cash (RMB only), credit/debit card payments in person (service charges may apply), and online payment portals (examples cited: YooPay and WeChat) are accepted. The school provides bank account details for wire transfers. Personal cheques are not accepted. If you require these figures presented in a different format for your database, use the amounts above directly; the figures are given in Chinese yuan (RMB).
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The school provides one full school uniform set to students from Toddler to Grade 10. The uniform can be ordered online. For the 2025-2026 school year, the uniform order period begins August 10, 2025; new users register an account, log in with their Student or Staff ID, and follow the steps to place the order. The first full uniform set is free.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options The school provides healthy, balanced, high-quality meals and snacks. ECC campus catering times include breakfast 8:00-8:30, morning snack 10:00-11:00, lunch 12:00-12:50, and afternoon snack 14:00-15:00. Main Campus snack and lunch times are ES 10:30 and 12:30; SS 11:15. Contact emails are BCIS.ECC@zhongrongyx.com (ECC), BCIS.Maincampus@zhongrongyx.com (Main Campus), and foodservice@bcis.cn.	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership BCIS is a non-profit private school. It is governed by a Board of Trustees under a Head of School responsible system, with two committees: the Education & Development Committee and the Finance & Operations Committee. The Board Chair is Mr. He Lantian. Board Members include Mr. Tan Wee Seng, Ms. Liu Peng, Mr. Gou Yiqun, and Mr. Yang Jinfang.	Governance and ownership YCIS Beijing is part of the Yew Chung Yew Wah (YCYW) network. It holds accreditation from the Council of International Schools (CIS). The school uses a Western and Chinese co-leadership model, with a Regional Executive Principal, a Western Co-Principal, and a Chinese Co-Principal.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details BCIS delivers the International Baccalaureate continuum: Primary Years Programme in Elementary (Grades 1–5), Middle Years Programme in Grades 6–10, and the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12; the school is authorised for PYP, MYP and DP. The Early Childhood Center (toddlers to kindergarten) uses a play‑based, inquiry‑led pedagogy aligned with the PYP transdisciplinary framework to prepare children for Grade 1. In Elementary the PYP drives learning across mathematics, language, personal/social/emotional development, science, social studies, visual arts, music and physical education, with EAL and Chinese language support. The MYP (Grades 6–10) continues inquiry‑based learning and includes arts (drama, music, visual art), individuals & societies, language & literature (English/Chinese), language acquisition (English/Chinese/Spanish), mathematics, physical & health education, sciences and design. In Grades 11–12 students may follow the IB Diploma (six DP subject groups plus Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS) or a personalised IDEATE pathway/BCIS Diploma that can combine IB courses, in‑person IDEATE courses and online dual‑enrolment/university‑credit options.	Curriculum details Yew Chung International School of Beijing provides a bilingual English–Chinese programme from Early Childhood (around ages 2–4) through Upper Secondary (Year 13). Early Childhood follows the Early Years Foundation Stage and classrooms use a co‑teaching model with Chinese and international teachers; Primary (Years 1–6) follows the National Curriculum for England adapted with a bilingual focus. Lower Secondary (Years 7–9) continues the school's international/Yew Chung curriculum framework, while Years 10–11 prepare students for Cambridge IGCSE examinations. Years 12–13 offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Chinese language and culture are compulsory across secondary with staged ability groupings (CFL/CAL); the school also provides EAL/IEP support, co‑curricular programmes and character education alongside the academic qualifications.
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 BCIS describes social and emotional learning as part of its Student Support and school learning models: counsellors deliver guidance lessons (social skills, mindfulness, conflict resolution, digital citizenship), participate in homeroom/advisory programmes, and collaborate with teachers and families to support students' wellbeing. The Secondary School page explicitly states the school “prioritiz[es] social and emotional learning” within its learning model. The counselling team also runs whole‑school and year‑level wellbeing initiatives and parent workshops to support transitions and resilience. These provisions are described on the school's Student Support Services and counselling pages.	Social & emotional learning YCIS Beijing describes a Student Support Services department that explicitly offers social, emotional and behavioural counselling, parent workshops, individual counselling and social‑skills groups to support students' SEL. The school also frames its curriculum around learning principles that recognise the social nature of learning and that emotions are integral to learning. YCIS highlights life‑skills and a wellness curriculum as part of its pastoral provision and encourages parent engagement through workshops and webinars. Specific staff roles named on the site include a School Counsellor and a Student Support Services lead who coordinate Learning Support, Student Counselling and University Guidance.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) BCIS states that its Learning Support (LS) programme is core to Student Support and combines guidance counsellors and LS teachers to support a wide range of student needs, including students with learning difficulties and students who are highly capable. The website explains LS works collaboratively with classroom teachers to create personalised interventions across the learning continuum. The school does not publish a detailed list of specific medical or diagnosable SEN categories it will or will not support, nor does it present itself as a specialist SEN institution on its public pages. For details or eligibility for particular needs families are directed to contact admissions or Student Support.	Special educational needs (SEN) The school's Student Support Services webpage states that its Learning Support provision includes in‑class and withdrawal academic support, social‑skills groups and programmes for high‑ability students, coordinated with counselling and university guidance. YCIS presents these services as part of a broader Student Support Services department rather than as a separate specialist SEN campus. The school's website does not list specific diagnostic categories (for example dyslexia, ADHD or autism) that it supports, nor does it present itself as a specialist special‑needs institution. For clarity on whether particular types or levels of additional support can be accommodated, the school directs families to contact Student Support or Admissions.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language BCIS states it operates a comprehensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme: specialist EAL teachers work alongside homeroom and subject teachers to provide structured, personalised EAL support across the curriculum. The Admissions pages also note English is the language of instruction and applicants may need to provide standard English test reports as part of admissions screening. The school therefore documents both in‑class EAL provision and expectations about English proficiency for admission.	English as an additional language YCIS Beijing publishes information about an established EAL provision: the Secondary programme describes tiered levels (EIP — English Intensive Programme, EAL and ELL) to match beginner, intermediate and advanced needs, and notes pull‑out language and literacy classes and EAL options within IGCSE and IB programmes. The site includes interviews and descriptions of EAL leadership and teachers and explains that EIP offers more intensive vocabulary and grammar work for beginners. The school's news articles emphasise a dedicated EAL team and parallel language‑and‑literacy lessons tailored to students' levels.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing BCIS describes a professional counselling team that provides confidential one‑to‑one and small‑group counselling, supports homeroom/advisory programmes, runs parent workshops, and designs interventions in collaboration with teachers and families. The school's counselling communications note specific wellbeing activities (e.g., Wellness Wednesdays, screen‑free wellness days) and ongoing contact with families during periods of remote learning. These services are presented as part of the Student Support/Counselling provision on the school site.	Mental wellbeing YCIS Beijing's Student Support Services includes individual counselling, social and behavioural support and parent workshops as part of its stated approach to wellbeing. The school has described a life‑skills and wellness curriculum and reports an in‑house wellbeing programme and 24‑hour bilingual counselling access for staff across the YCYW network. During periods of remote learning the school also published guidance that includes mindfulness activities and strategies for managing wellbeing at home. For more detailed, case‑specific mental‑health supports (for example clinical referral options), families are asked to contact Student Support directly.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding BCIS publishes a formal Child Protection Policy (approved December 2016, reviewed May 2023) that sets out aims, reporting procedures, staff training requirements, student keeping‑safe lessons, and responsibilities for preventing and responding to abuse and neglect. The Student Support Services page links to the Child Protection/Safeguarding documents and to related policies (Code of Conduct; Positive Relationships and Wellbeing; Digital Citizenship). The Child Protection Policy explicitly requires mandatory staff training, age‑appropriate student safety lessons, and established communication/flow‑chart procedures for disclosures.	Safeguarding YCIS/YCYW states a formal commitment to safeguarding and child protection and the school requires staff to read and comply with Child Protection policies and procedures. Recruitment materials for YCIS/YCYW say the organisation aligns its practices with the International Task Force on Child Protection and implements checks such as identity and criminal‑record checks before appointment. The school website includes a Child Protection section and a privacy policy that addresses protection of children's personal information. For full details of procedures and reporting routes, the site refers readers to its Child Protection policy and the Student Support or admissions teams.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview BCIS operates across multiple Beijing campuses: the Early Childhood Center, Courtyard Kindergarten, Elementary School, and Secondary School. The Main Campus is located at 77 Baiziwan Nan Er Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. The Early Childhood Center notes that the school has state-of-the-art facilities. There are libraries at the ECC, Elementary School, and Secondary School campuses designed to provide a safe, welcoming environment for reading, research and lifelong learning. The libraries and other on-site spaces support learning across age groups.	Facilities overview YCIS Beijing is located at Honglingjin Park, 5 Houbalizhuang, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100025, China. It serves expatriate students aged 2 to 18 (K2 to Year 13) and offers Early Childhood to Upper Secondary education. It holds accreditation from the Council of International Schools (CIS). The learning environment is bilingual, with Chinese and Western teachers working with families to develop confident, caring, and curious learners. There are over 120 co-curricular activities and a culturally diverse community with students from more than 45 nationalities. The Yew Chung Yew Wah network provides more than 90 years of educational experience.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities BCIS provides a gym, a soccer field, a swimming pool, and a fitness room as on-site facilities. These spaces are available to the BCIS community, with opening hours posted and access subject to school events.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Three BCIS libraries—one at the Early Childhood Center, one at the Elementary School, and one at the Secondary School—are designed to create a pleasant and safe environment for teaching and learning. The libraries support reading, research and lifelong learning, with teacher librarians collaborating with teachers to integrate information literacy into the curriculum. Parents are welcome to check out books from the libraries; resources support personal, social, and emotional development. The libraries function as flexible resource centers for staff, students, parents and the wider BCIS community.	Academic facilities The school offers the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). It has a proven track record of excellent educational results in these programmes. Recent university acceptances include Peking University, Tsinghua University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London, Stanford University, University of California campuses, Cornell University, National University of Singapore, and The University of Hong Kong. The campus is located in Honglingjin Park, Chaoyang District, Beijing. The school is CIS-accredited.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities BCIS offers Enrichment Activities across Athletic, Arts & Culture and Academic categories, including Swimming, Aeromodelling, Start Up, Model United Nations, Robot Maker, Orchestra, Brain Bee and many others. Week Without Walls provides off-campus learning experiences each year for Elementary and Secondary students. BCIS supports Athletics through a dedicated program, including the BCIS Water Warriors Swim Team for Grades 2–12.	Extra curricular facilities The school offers over 120 co-curricular activities. It provides In-School Instrumental Programme (IIIP) for private instrument lessons during school hours, with group instrumental activities such as orchestra, jazz band, and musicals.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History BCIS opened in 2005, initially enrolling fewer than 60 students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 and expanding its secondary provision in the years that followed. The school is operated as a non-profit and is a member institution of YueCheng Education. In August 2014 BCIS opened a purpose-built Early Childhood Center, and that facility later received LEED recognition. As the school has grown it has undertaken multi-year strategic planning processes to guide its development.	History Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) opened in 1995. The school is part of the Yew Chung Yew Wah (YCYW) education network, a group of international and early‑childhood schools that operate across Hong Kong, mainland China and Silicon Valley. From its early years YCIS Beijing has used a bilingual Chinese–Western approach with paired Chinese and Western teachers in early years and primary classrooms and a co‑leadership model at senior levels. The campus was established to bring the Yew Chung pedagogy to expatriate families and has grown to serve several hundred students from many nationalities.
Community	Community The BCIS community brings together international and local families, faculty, staff and alumni who participate in campus-wide events such as International Day, the Winter Bazaar and the Roundabout Book Fair. Student-led projects and extracurricular programs — including entrepreneurial challenges and sustainability activities run by student groups (for example, Eco Warriors) — involve family volunteers and local partners. The school posts regular news and calendar items and encourages parent participation through workshops, community events and school-hosted social gatherings.	Community The school describes an active, multicultural community that holds regular cultural and community events such as Community BBQs, Global Community Day and festival celebrations (Christmas, Chinese New Year), and stage and music performances. These events are used to bring families, staff and students together and to mark cultural occasions in the school calendar. The community also engages in charity and wellbeing initiatives (for example, support for New Day Foster Home and a school Food Committee) that involve students and families.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association Membership in the BCIS PTA is automatic for parents, teachers and members of the school community; the PTA is organized as a non-profit body that aims to support the school's international character and community cohesion. The PTA helps plan and run specific events such as International Day, the Roundabout Book Fair, Spring in the City and the Winter Carnival/Bazaar. Fundraising is managed by the PTA and it operates a Grant Program through which Student Council, classes, individual students, teachers or management can apply for project support. The PTA also runs weekly language classes for members and hosts clubs and activities such as arts & crafts sessions and book clubs; many PTA activities rely on volunteers from the parent body. The PTA constitution (2010) and contact details for the PTA president and secretary are published on the school site.	Parent teacher association YCIS Beijing refers to an organised parent body as the Parent Organisation (PO), which the school says is active in promoting community wellbeing. The PO is mentioned as supporting and participating in community events such as the Community BBQ and Global Community Day. The school's recent reporting also highlights parent involvement in charity work and wellbeing programmes (for example work linked to New Day Foster Home and the Food Committee). Through these activities the Parent Organisation helps connect families with school events and community service opportunities. The school's public communications present the PO as a regular contributor to campus community life rather than as a separate governance body.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school teaches in English. The school offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). IDEATE is BCIS's high school pathway for Grades 9–12, with in‑person courses in IB (MYP or DP), optional IDEATE courses for Grades 11–12, online dual enrollment with Arizona State University and Savannah College of Art and Design, and online options via Global Online Academy and Virtual High School; university guidance supports the pathway.	Academic & intellectual YCIS Beijing serves expatriate students aged 2–18 (K2–Year 13). The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and IGCSE and has a track record of strong results in these programmes. It was established in 1995 and holds accreditation from the Council of International Schools (CIS). The campus is located in Honglingjin Park, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100025, China.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative The school provides over 120 co-curricular activities (CCAs). The In-School Instrumental Programme (IIIP) offers in‑school music instruction. A Western and Chinese leadership model supports programming across arts and music at YCIS Beijing.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language The school provides a bilingual learning environment with Chinese and Western teachers. The leadership team comprises Western and Chinese Co‑Principals. Students represent over 45 nationalities. The school is part of the Yew Chung Yew Wah network with a mission emphasis on science and technology, culture and arts, and love and charity.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies Co-curricular Activities number over 120 offerings, providing clubs and groups beyond academics. IIIP contributes to music and performance opportunities. The diverse CCAs support a wide range of interests and talents.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service The mission emphasizes Building a Bright Future for Humanity and aligns with Love and Charity. YCIS Beijing is part of the Yew Chung Yew Wah network. The school provides a Careers and University Guidance Office to support student development.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional The school is led by a Regional Executive Principal, Ms Christine Xu. The Western Co-Principal is Ms Shelley Swift and the Chinese Co-Principal is Ms Jessica Sun. The Careers and University Guidance Office supports college planning.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing Early Childhood focuses on whole-child development, building character, and instilling values. In Early Childhood, children aged two to four are immersed in a bilingual learning environment with Chinese and Western teachers. The school emphasizes a nurturing, values-based approach to education across the early years.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The school teaches in English. It is an International Baccalaureate World School that implements the Chinese national curriculum as part of its program.	Language provision English and Chinese are core languages of instruction. In Early Childhood, English and Chinese language skills are developed equally, and learners are encouraged to develop language skills in their mother tongue. In Primary and Secondary, Chinese is taught as CFL or CAL, with Chinese Studies part of the curriculum. In Secondary, most lessons are taught in English to prepare for IGCSE and IB, while Chinese language and culture remain central.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching YCIS Beijing uses a bilingual teaching model across Early Childhood through Secondary. In Early Childhood, each class has one English-speaking and one Chinese-speaking teacher who co-plan and co-teach, and English and Chinese are developed equally. The school operates with a Western and Chinese co-leadership model.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs The co-teaching model provides an immersive bilingual environment across the curriculum. English and Chinese language skills are developed through a bilingual curriculum with equal emphasis, including the Early Childhood years. English Language support is provided through EAL/EIP, including an English Intensive Programme, and Chinese culture is integrated through Chinese Studies and Experiencing China.
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards Between January 1, 2021 and January 1, 2026, the BCIS website explicitly records one school-level award won by the school itself: - China School Awards — "Enterprise and Employability" (winner, March 10, 2023). The BCIS news item describes that BCIS was selected as the winner of the Enterprise & Employability award in the China School Awards (organized by the British Chambers of Commerce); the prize recognises a school's work to develop students' employability and enterprise skills and was presented to the school. Note: I searched the school website for other items described as awards given to the school in the same five‑year window; other recognitions on the site (for example, project prizes or competition awards) refer to student teams or individual students and so were not included because you asked only for awards granted to the school as an institution.	Awards Awards the school has won (as listed on the school website) in the past five years (Jan 1, 2021–Jan 1, 2026): - Forbes China Outstanding International Schools Award (2023) — YCIS Beijing reports receiving the 2023 Forbes China Outstanding International Schools award; the school's news item describes the award as recognising performance across operations, teaching standards, financial strength and certifications. - 2023 Tencent International School Comprehensive Strength Benchmark Award — YCIS Beijing reports receiving this Tencent award in December 2023; the school's announcement indicates the award recognises overall institutional strength across academic, operational and programme dimensions. Note: the school website also references older recognitions (for example, a Cambridge ‘‘Award for Excellence in Education'' received by the YCYW/YCIS network in earlier years), but that award falls outside the 5‑year window you specified and therefore is not included above. The network's and campus pages refer to that historical recognition.
Accreditations	Accreditations 1) International Baccalaureate (IB) — BCIS is a fully authorized IB World School delivering the PYP, MYP and DP. This means the school has completed the IB authorization process and is approved to teach IB programmes, which involves regular review of curriculum and teaching against IB standards and practices. 2) Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — BCIS states it is accredited by WASC. WASC accreditation indicates the school has met an external set of quality standards for governance, teaching and learning, and undergoes periodic review by WASC teams. 3) Council of International Schools (CIS) — BCIS states it is accredited by CIS. CIS accreditation is an international school-quality process that assesses the school's programme, leadership, resources and student support and is renewed through cyclical evaluation. 4) Approval by the Education Committee of Chaoyang District, Beijing — the school's website notes BCIS is approved/registered with the local education authority, which is the basis for its ability to enroll both international and Chinese-national students and indicates local regulatory recognition. 5) Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC) membership — BCIS's news item and admissions announcement list the school as a member of the Mastery Transcript Consortium, a membership that supports alternative, competency‑based transcript practices and signals the school's participation in that network. (Listed on the school website as a membership/recognition rather than a traditional accreditation.) 6) LEED Gold (Early Childhood Center facilities) — BCIS notes its Early Childhood Center holds LEED Gold certification for the building. This is a third‑party, industry certification of the ECC campus' environmental and building‑performance standards rather than an academic accreditation.	Accreditations Yew Chung International School of Beijing — accreditations listed on the school website: - Council of International Schools (CIS) — The school is accredited by CIS; CIS accreditation means an external, multi-year review has found the school meets internationally recognised standards for governance, teaching and learning, student welfare and continuous improvement. - International Baccalaureate (IB) World School — The Secondary School is authorised as an IB World School to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP); IB authorisation indicates the school has met the IB Organisation's requirements for curriculum, teacher training and assessment for the Diploma Programme. - Cambridge International Examinations Centre (IGCSE/ICE) — The Secondary School is an authorised Cambridge centre for IGCSE/Cambridge examinations; this authorisation allows the school to enter students for Cambridge qualifications and shows it follows Cambridge's administrative and examination centre standards.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Familiarize yourself with BCIS and schedule a campus tour. The school's Admissions Policy encourages families to tour the campus before applying so you can assess fit with BCIS's mission and educational approach; the school will not consider an application complete until a campus tour has been completed. Parents should plan the tour well ahead of key application windows and bring questions about curriculum, language support and campus logistics. 2. Check age and grade eligibility before applying. BCIS publishes age-by-August-31 cutoffs for each incoming school year (for example, the policy lists the dates used to determine appropriate grades for 2025–2026 and 2026–2027), so confirm your child's placement against those dates before you submit an application. If a child's previous school calendar differs from BCIS, expect BCIS to place the child in the grade they are currently studying or have just completed unless exceptional circumstances are agreed by principals. 3. Begin the online application (OpenApply) and pay the application fee. BCIS requires an online application via the link on its Admissions pages; for the 2025–2026 intake the non-refundable application fee is stated as RMB 3,000. Parents should complete the online form carefully, keep a record of the submission, and be prepared to follow up with admissions by phone or email to confirm seat availability if applying late or relocating to Beijing. 4. Prepare and upload required supporting documents specific to the child's level. For Early Childhood and Elementary: passports or hukou (depending on nationality), recent school/assessment reports (if available), one BCIS recommendation form (if the child is currently in a program or school), the completed Student Medical Form and vaccination records, and — for kindergarten entrants — a recent health check-up form. For Secondary (Grades 6–11): passports or hukou, school reports for the past two academic years, two BCIS recommendation forms (homeroom & English recommended), a student essay in the online application, medical and vaccination records, and, if applicable, standard English test reports (TOEFL, IELTS, SSAT, Duolingo, MAP, etc.). Make sure teacher recommendation forms are completed in English and have the referee email them directly to admissions as instructed. 5. Expect assessment and interview stages once your application is complete. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews (BCIS interviews students and often parents separately); for Secondary applicants BCIS assesses English language skills and may request formal English test results before or during this stage. If parents do not speak English they may bring an interpreter to the parental interview; bring copies of transcripts, examples of student work, and any other evidence that supports your child's academic and extracurricular profile. 6. Understand how offers, placement and rolling admissions work. BCIS uses a rolling admissions approach: after the first round, applications continue to be considered while seats remain available in each grade. The school evaluates fit holistically (academic history, English proficiency, interests, and current cohort balance) and placement is finalized after interviews and any required testing; parents should check seat availability with Admissions before investing in travel or making firm relocation plans. 7. Be aware of key fees and payment expectations associated with admission. BCIS states that school fees (tuition, applicable administration fees for new students, and bus fees) are payable in advance and that fees are reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees. The website confirms the application fee (RMB 3,000) and notes fees for the 2025–2026 school year; independent fee aggregators list annual tuition ranges (example figures published by external sources for 2025–2026: approximately RMB 244,000–343,500 depending on grade) and show common one-time items such as a new-student administration fee and transport costs — but these numbers should be confirmed directly with Admissions because the BCIS fees page provides policy and a year label while the school's detailed amounts are periodically updated. Parents should ask Admissions for the current fee schedule, deposit, payment deadlines, and refund policy before accepting an offer. 8. Complete enrollment requirements after an offer is accepted. BCIS requires completed medical forms and vaccination records before enrollment and will provide instructions on any final administrative steps (contracts, tuition payment, bus registration, uniform ordering). Keep copies of passports/visa pages or hukou for school records, confirm start date and grade placement in writing, and maintain regular contact with the Admissions office for any outstanding items. Contact details for Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary admissions are published on the BCIS site and are useful to have on hand.	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry & online application. Parents should be prepared to provide basic details about the child (date of birth, current year level, nationality) and to ask about current space availability for the child's year group. 2. Submit application form + required documents and pay application fee. After completing the online form you will be asked to upload supporting documents (commonly: passport, recent school reports, and proof of residency/visa and health/immunisation records) and to pay the non‑refundable application fee; published external listings report an application fee of around RMB 2,500. Parents should confirm the exact document checklist and fees with Admissions before submitting because requirements can vary by age and nationality and because official amounts and accepted document formats may change. 3. Assessment / interview and placement check. For most applicants YCIS Beijing carries out age‑appropriate assessments and/or interviews (these can include classroom observations in Early Childhood, literacy/numeracy checks in Primary, and subject/English assessments or interview for Secondary) and reviews previous school records to recommend the correct placement. For IGCSE and IB entry the school notes that acceptance can be limited at particular times in the academic calendar because placement depends on prior subject coverage; parents should ask Admissions which subjects and levels can be taken mid‑year. Expect communications from the admissions team about scheduling the assessment and any language or learning‑support arrangements the school may offer. 4. Offer letter, placement deposit and invoice. If the school offers a place you will receive an offer letter and invoice; third‑party fee summaries for YCIS Beijing show a refundable placement/security deposit (commonly quoted as RMB 20,000) in addition to the first term/year tuition. Parents should check the payment deadline on the offer (deposit deadlines commonly secure the place) and confirm whether the deposit is refundable and under what conditions. Also ask about the school's published sibling discounts, early payment discounts, bus fees and other recurring charges so you can budget the full cost of attendance. 5. Registration, visa documentation and start planning logistics. After deposit payment the school will confirm registration and provide joining instructions (start date, orientation, uniform and supply lists, bus enrolment, medical/insurance requirements). International families should coordinate visa/residency documentation and any medical checks or local registration the school requires; contact Admissions early if your child will need English language support or has additional learning needs so the school can advise on available services. Finally, confirm the academic calendar and welcome/orientation sessions so your child's first week is planned in advance.
Scholarships	Scholarships BCIS operates an active Scholarship Program targeted at Secondary students (Grades 9–12) and offers four scholarship streams: Future Leaders, APEX Innovators, Academic Scholarships (these are open to external and internal applicants depending on the scheme), and the Founder's Scholarship (for current BCIS students entering Grades 11–12). The school awards both 100% and 50% scholarships in these categories, and recipients must complete high school at BCIS and meet program requirements through to graduation. Scholarship aims, eligibility criteria and types are described in detail on BCIS's Scholarship Program page. Application mechanics and requirements: Each external scholarship category requires a 600–800 word essay (topic provided at time of application), names and contact details for two teacher referees who will complete recommendation forms in English, supporting documentary evidence or a portfolio (awards, past work, exam results, certificates, media, etc.), and shortlisted candidates must complete an interview with the BCIS Scholarship Committee (including a faculty expert where relevant). BCIS publishes clear documentary and interview requirements for each scholarship type (Future Leaders, APEX Innovators, Academic Scholarship), and scholarship awards are renewable annually subject to academic/progression and conduct criteria (annual reviews include academic reports, service, behavior and attendance). Timelines, notification and administration: Scholarship applications typically open on 1 February and external applications close on 21 June, with interviews held during March–May and notification by 31 May; the school may accept additional external applications until 1 August for families newly moving to Beijing. Parents should submit scholarship material through the BCIS online admissions system (OpenApply) and, for current BCIS students, follow the Secondary School Principal's directions for internal applications. If you are considering a scholarship application, confirm the current year's exact dates and submission process with Admissions because timelines and intake conditions are updated annually. Questions and next steps: For specific questions about scholarship eligibility, the application process or to request the scholarship application pack, contact BCIS Admissions (admissions@bcis.cn) or the Secondary School Principal (contacts are listed on the scholarship page). Because scholarship awards can significantly affect financial planning and place allocation, it's advisable to speak directly with Admissions before submitting both a general application and a scholarship application.	Scholarships YCIS Beijing participates in the YCYW Scholarship Programme and publishes scholarship rounds and winners on its site and news pages. The programme is merit‑based, open to both current and prospective students entering Years 7–13 (as announced for the 2024–2025 cycle), and includes multiple award streams—examples listed by the school are the Madam Tsang Chor‑hang Memorial Scholarship, IGCSE/IB/A Level awards, and subject & talent awards (academics, arts, music, sport and community service). The school's scholarship announcements and the scholarship application notice state that one online application can be used to apply for multiple awards, that candidates are assessed on academic record, leadership, contribution to the school community and demonstrated talent, and that there are published application deadlines (for the 2024–2025 round the deadline was published as 16 February 2024). Parents should check the current scholarship announcement or contact the Scholarships/Admissions team for the latest eligibility rules, deadlines, the scope of fee remission (partial vs. full), and whether awards are renewable year to year.
Waitlist	Waitlist BCIS does not publish a separate, detailed ‘waiting-list' policy on its public Admissions pages; instead the school states it operates a rolling admissions process and reviews applications until seats are filled in each grade. The Admissions Policy and Application pages instruct parents to confirm seat availability with the Admissions Office (phone/email) before applying, which implies that when a grade is full the school manages new enquiries through the rolling process and direct communication rather than by posting a public waitlist procedure. Because BCIS does not spell out a formal waitlist or ranking procedure on the website, parents who are concerned about availability should contact Admissions to ask whether the school holds names on a waiting list or whether offers are made from a pool of shortlisted candidates (and if so, how candidates are prioritized). Third‑party school guides and community sources also report that BCIS is popular and can have limited places in some grades, so early application and direct follow-up with Admissions are recommended.	Waitlist YCIS Beijing's public admissions pages emphasise rolling admissions and advise families to contact the Admissions Office about specific enrolment availability, but the school website does not publish a formal waitlist policy or a detailed waitlist procedure. Because space can be limited—especially for particular secondary programmes or popular year groups—the usual practice is to contact Admissions to ask whether a place is available or whether your child can be placed on a holding list; Admissions can explain current availability, expected timelines and any priority categories (for example, internal YCIS transfers). If you need a definitive statement about waitlist placement, position, or how offers are released, request that information in writing from the Admissions Office so you have the school's current procedure and timelines.
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