Shenzhen College of International Education vs Shenzhen International Foundation College

	S Shenzhen College of International Education Shenzhen, China	S Shenzhen International Foundation College Shenzhen, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 273,000 - 303,000	Fees / year RMB 268,000 - 308,000
Age range	Age range 14 - 18 years	Age range 14 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP)	Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, American Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 1,800	Pupils 300
Typical class size	Typical class size 11	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, English, English
Opened	Opened 2003	Opened 2004
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location SCIE is on a purpose-built campus at No. 3 Antuoshan 6th Road, Futian District, Shenzhen (postcode shown on the school site). The campus moved to Antuo Hill in 2020 and sits in central Futian, close to the city's business district; local public transport options include Shenzhen's metro (Longhua Line to Fumin Station) and several city bus routes near Huanggang Park.	Location SIFC (also known as Shenzhen International Foundation College / 深国预) is located in Shenzhen's Bao'an district at the International Arts Exhibition Center / IADC (listed on some directories as No. 8, Yizhan 4th Road or at the International Art Exhibition Centre complex). The campus is in the Songgang/松岗 area of Bao'an and is served by local buses and the nearby Shenzhen Metro lines (access typically requires a short bus or taxi transfer from the nearest metro station). Parents relocating from overseas will usually travel to the campus from Shenzhen Bao'an Airport or major metro interchange stations; confirm exact campus address and directions with the school before you travel.
Stages	Stages SCIE is a four‑year international high school: G1 and G2 follow the IGCSE programme, and A1 and A2 are the final two years when students study A‑Levels or AP.	Stages SIFC is primarily a secondary/college-preparatory school (the school operates international high‑school programs and directories list intake roughly around middle-to-high school grades, e.g. Grade 7 or Grade 9 through Grade 12). The school is organised into two main divisions: an International High School and an Art High School, offering AP, A‑Level and international foundation/"3+1" programmes.
School type	School type Co‑educational; SCIE operates as a day school with boarding facilities on campus (the website describes dormitories and residential support).	School type A private, co‑educational international school. Publicly available school profiles and international‑school directories indicate SIFC operates both day and boarding provision (boarding available for some year groups), though exact boarding arrangements and eligibility should be confirmed with admissions.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school describes a pastoral and wellbeing structure (form tutors, Heads of Year, a wellbeing centre with counsellors and on‑site nurses) and mandatory safeguarding procedures. The website does not publish a detailed public 'SEN/Additional Learning Needs' policy; parents with specific ALN/SEN questions should contact admissions or the pastoral team for case‑by‑case detail.	Additional learning support There is no detailed public description found in the school's published admissions summaries about a dedicated Special Educational Needs (SEN) department or specific learning‑support facilities. If your child has diagnosed additional learning needs, contact the school's admissions or student‑support office directly to discuss available accommodations and assessment procedures.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation SCIE teaches a UK curriculum (IGCSE and A‑Level pathways) but is an international college rather than formally affiliated to a national church or foreign government.	Country affiliation SIFC is a Chinese private international school approved by the Shenzhen Education Bureau and registered with provincial education authorities and the China Scholarship Council; it is not listed as being affiliated to a foreign government or national school system.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school does not state any religious affiliation on its public pages; its materials present SCIE as a secular international college.	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is indicated in the school's public materials or directory profiles; SIFC is presented as a secular international college.
School day structure	School day structure Published staff timetables indicate a typical weekday start around 07:50 (with some earlier Monday starts) and lessons finishing mid‑ to late‑afternoon, followed by a one‑hour after‑school ECA slot (commonly 16:30–17:30). The campus provides a canteen for lunch.	School day structure A specific published daily timetable (start/end times, exact break and lunch periods) was not found on public admissions or school‑profile pages. For precise school‑day times, term dates and weekend/boarding routines, ask admissions or request the school's current parent information pack.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school website does not publish a dedicated school‑bus/provider timetable. For daily travel many families use public buses and the metro (nearby Fumin Station and Huanggang Park area are the closest public links cited by local guides). If you need a school‑run service, contact SCIE Admissions (info@scie.com.cn or the telephone number on the site) to confirm whether the college currently operates routes or recommends external providers.	Bus service details Multiple school directories and international‑school profiles list a school bus service for SIFC (school‑operated or contracted routes are commonly provided by schools of this type), but they do not publish route maps or provider names publicly. Families should request route coverage, pick‑up/drop‑off points, cost, vehicle safety checks and any live‑tracking/GPS arrangements from the school's admissions or transport office before enrolling.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / registration fee - Registration (application) fee: RMB 600 (paid at time of registration). This registration fee is non‑refundable. Payment for registration is accepted online via WeChat Pay or Alipay. Tuition — annual amounts and scope - Standard academic stream (annual tuition): RMB 273,000 per academic year. This amount is stated as an annual fee and is described as covering the physical examination fee, campus insurance fee, and extracurricular activity fees; it does not include international examination fees, off‑campus trips or internships, or summer camps/programmes. - Arts/Music Academy (annual tuition): RMB 303,000 per academic year (scope noted as above). Per‑term / year‑group detail - The school publishes the annual tuition figures above. A public per‑term breakdown or different published rates by specific year group (G1, G2, A1, etc.) is not provided in the school's public admissions material; the published figures above are the stated annual charges. Boarding / accommodation fees - Room and board (annual): RMB 16,800 per academic year for boarding that excludes weekend stays, or RMB 19,800 per academic year for boarding that includes weekend stays. These are presented as the annual accommodation fees. Other costs and typical exclusions - International examination fees (e.g., Cambridge/A‑level/AP/other external exam fees) are not included in the annual tuition and are charged separately. Off‑campus trips, internships, and summer programmes are also excluded and billed separately. The school's published fee notes list these exclusions. - Specific line items such as uniform cost, daily meal top‑ups, transport (school bus) fees, and textbook charges are not published in the school's publicly posted admissions fee summary. Billing schedule, payment terms, refunds - The school's public admissions information specifies the registration fee payment at registration and annual tuition/accommodation amounts but does not publish a detailed public billing schedule or full payment‑term policy in the admissions summary. The registration/entrance exam fee is described as non‑refundable. No other specific refund terms are published in the same public admissions content. Fee payment options for items shown - Registration payment method: WeChat Pay or Alipay for the registration fee. The school's public admissions notices do not list a comprehensive set of payment methods for annual tuition in the posted admissions summary.	Fee details Application / Admission Fees - Application / entrance test fee: reported as either RMB 500 (one‑time application fee) or RMB 800 (entrance/exam fee paid at registration). Both figures are reported by third‑party school listings; the exam/registration fee is frequently described as non‑refundable. Tuition — annual and per term - Standard academic programmes (American / British pathway, G9–G12): RMB 268,000 per academic year (charged as an annual tuition fee). - Arts / Music specialised programmes: RMB 308,000 per academic year (charged as an annual tuition fee). - Note on per‑term charging: the school's published figures are presented as annual tuition rates; third‑party school listings present the tuition as an annual fee (the one‑time application/entrance fee is separate). Where an annual fee is shown, it is customary for schools to issue invoices for the full academic year or for semesters/terms according to the school finance office schedule. What these tuition figures normally include and exclude - Typical inclusions (reported): study materials/administration fees, certain campus insurance and the school's standard one‑set uniform ("first set" of school uniform), basic campus activities and standard in‑school services. - Typical exclusions (reported): meals, accommodation (boarding), school bus/transport, international examination fees (SAT/TOEFL/AP/IELTS/other exam fees), off‑campus field trips, external competition or portfolio costs and other third‑party charges. Boarding / accommodation fees (where applicable) - Boarding is not included in the standard tuition. Third‑party listings for Shenzhen international secondary schools (including listings that cover SIFC) report typical boarding/accommodation ranges of about RMB 16,800 per year (weekday only) or about RMB 19,800 per year (including weekends); actual SIFC boarding charges are reported as a separate item and are not rolled into the published tuition figure. Other costs and one‑off charges - Uniform: the school's standard “first set” uniform is commonly listed as covered by tuition; replacement sets and additional uniform purchases are charged separately. - Textbooks / materials: some listings show a separate annual materials/book charge (examples across similar Shenzhen schools show around RMB 4,800 per year as a separate item). - Transport: school bus routes and fees are charged separately. - International exam and application costs: fees for external tests (SAT/AP/IELTS/TOEFL) and overseas university application/portfolio costs are not included and are additional. Billing schedule and payment terms - Published tuition figures are quoted as annual amounts for the stated academic year. Third‑party school listings report the tuition as an annual charge and list the application/entrance fee as a separate one‑time charge for first‑year enrolment. Families should expect an invoice cycle tied to the academic year (annual invoice or semester/term instalments as arranged with the school finance office). Refund information - Entrance/registration exam fees are regularly reported as non‑refundable. For tuition and other refunds, public summaries of Shenzhen international schools point to refund handling in accordance with Guangdong provincial rules for private non‑degree education institutions; third‑party listings note that refund arrangements follow the applicable Guangdong refund management regulations for private education institutions. Fee payment options and school finance contact - Reported practice for the school is to handle payments through the school finance office and by school‑designated payment channels. For specific payment methods and invoicing (bank transfer details, receipts/invoices, online payment channels, or other accepted methods) contact the school finance office directly via the school contact details listed for SIFC. The school's published contact details appear with the school's fee pages and admissions notices. Summary (key figures for the current academic year listings) - Application / entrance test fee: reported as RMB 500 (application) or RMB 800 (exam/registration) — non‑refundable. - Tuition (standard American / British pathways, G9–G12): RMB 268,000 per year (annual charge). - Tuition (arts / music specialised programmes): RMB 308,000 per year (annual charge). - Boarding (separate): typical Shenzhen school ranges reported around RMB 16,800–19,800 per year (charged separately). If you will place these figures into a public database, use the annual tuition numbers above and record application/entrance fees and the common exclusions (meals, accommodation, transport, international exam fees) as separate line items. The citations given after each paragraph indicate the public fee listings and school‑specific fee pages summarized by independent school information sites.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements Boarding houses provide modern, well-equipped dormitories with personal study areas and shared common rooms, supported by attentive dorm teachers and psychological counselors.	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The school uses a four-house system: Water, Metal, Wood, and Fire. Students wear house uniforms in color-coded designs.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options A wide choice of meals and refreshments is available in the canteen and café.	Food options —
House system	House system There are four houses (Water, Metal, Wood, Fire). House events include sports and non-sport activities, with weekly gatherings on Wednesday afternoons. A Student Leadership Body oversees the House division and related events.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership SCIE is affiliated with the Council of International Schools (CIS), FOBISIA, and ACT, and offers College Board–audited AP courses since 2016. SCIE has undergone accreditation with CIS and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details SCIE operates a two-stage international curriculum: a two-year Cambridge IGCSE programme in G1–G2 (for roughly 14–16 year olds) followed by AS/A‑Level study in A1–A2 (aimed at 17–18 year olds). In G1–G2 all students take five core IGCSEs (Chemistry, Chinese, English Language, Mathematics and either Biology or Physics) plus three optional subjects, normally finishing with at least eight IGCSE qualifications after two years. A‑Level study is divided into AS (usually taken in A1) and A2 (A2) components; students typically choose four to five AS subjects and leave with three or four full A‑Levels (AS can also be taken as a standalone qualification). The college offers subjects across art, visual & performing, humanities and social sciences, mathematics and computer science, modern languages and sciences at IGCSE and AS/A‑Level levels, with subject pages and syllabuses provided on the site. Course-selection guidance, entry requirements and progression advice are available in SCIE's course-selection materials and student handbook.	Curriculum details Shenzhen International Foundation College (SIFC) is a senior secondary international college running Grades 9–12 and offering parallel American and British pathways. Qualifications offered include the American high‑school diploma with College Board Advanced Placement (AP) courses—including AP Capstone and AP electives—Cambridge IGCSE, and UK A‑Levels (via Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel and Oxford AQA), together with EPQ and college‑credit placement options. SIFC also provides pre‑university/Foundation programmes (pre‑bachelor and pre‑master), “3+1” articulation routes, and specialised art tracks for students targeting arts degrees. The curriculum is delivered alongside specialist centres for art & design, international music, STEM/MIT FabLab, Tencent AI Lab, and sports training (including a basketball and a modern‑pentathlon centre), allowing students to combine academic qualifications with arts, sport or STEM pathways. Within its Grades 9–12 span students typically follow IGCSE (GCSE‑equivalent) in the mid‑stage and progress to A‑Level or AP/US‑diploma and foundation options in their final one to two years.
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 SCIE describes a structured pastoral programme in which most teachers act as Form Teachers who deliver a weekly PSHE lesson and mentor a cohort of roughly 14 students. Each year group is overseen by a Head of Year and the Pastoral Deputy Principal has overall responsibility for the pastoral team. The college says it takes a preventative approach to student welfare and identifies the form teacher as the first point of contact for students and parents. SCIE also runs a student-led Peer Support Division that provides peer tutoring, mentoring and a decompression space used during events such as Mental Health Week. Job and recruitment pages further describe mandatory pastoral/safeguarding CPD for staff and the form-tutor role.	Social & emotional learning SIFC publicly describes a whole‑school, “whole‑person” education approach and cites project‑based learning and personalised student development as part of that work. Public descriptions list a PBL (project‑based learning) Innovation Education Centre and a “Student Individualised Growth Center” used to support student development and personalised pathways. The school also promotes specialised pathways and the “V‑class/拏云计划” for tailored academic and personal development. Specific staff roles (for example named pastoral leads or dedicated SEL coordinators) are not detailed in the public materials found.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) SCIE's staff listings include a named SENCO coordinator (Adam Romano), indicating a designated staff role for special educational needs coordination. The site also records that the school has previously had staff in Learning Support coordinator roles, showing historic learning-support provision in some faculties. The public website describes pastoral, counselling and medical services but does not set out a detailed list of the specific categories of SEN the college can support (for example specific learning difficulties, autism spectrum conditions, or physical disabilities). SCIE's website presents the college as a mainstream international sixth-form college and does not describe itself as a specialist SEN institution.	Special educational needs (SEN) The school does not publicly disclose information regarding provision for students with special educational needs (SEN) or whether it is a specialist SEN institution. Publicly available school profiles and news items describe academic, artistic and personalised learning centres but do not publish a SEN policy, lists of supported needs, or dedicated learning‑support staffing. Therefore no verified, sourceable details about SEN provision could be found.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language The school does not publicly disclose information regarding EAL provision on its website. Individual staff CVs note experience teaching EAL or holding EAL-coordinator roles elsewhere, but SCIE's public pages do not present a dedicated EAL programme or a named EAL coordinator. For specific details about English-language support the school's published contact information is available on its website.	English as an additional language Public listings for SIFC note provision of English courses for non‑native speakers (described in some profiles as “English non‑native” or EAL‑style classes) and an English‑medium curriculum across grade levels. These sources do not, however, publish a clear EAL programme description, entry/assessment procedures, or named EAL staff on the publicly available pages located. As a result, while non‑native English instruction is referenced, detailed, sourceable information about specific EAL staffing or formal support programmes is not published.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing SCIE operates a Wellbeing Centre and the Wellbeing Center page names two wellbeing counsellors (Maria Acosta and Joel Wang) and a school medic/health-and-safety officer. The Pastoral Care page states the wellbeing centre is staffed by two counsellors and supported by a medical team of nurses for day and residential students. The counsellors' profiles on the Wellbeing Centre page list relevant counselling and crisis-intervention qualifications. The school also describes peer-based programmes (peer mentoring and peer tutoring) and student-run wellbeing initiatives used in Mental Health Week. The website provides staff and programme descriptions rather than a standalone, detailed mental-health policy for public download.	Mental wellbeing SIFC's public materials emphasise personalised pastoral development and “whole‑person” education through centres and projects intended to support student growth. Items such as the Student Individualised Growth Center and regular teacher mentoring are described in school profiles and news items as part of the school's approach to student development. The school's public descriptions do not, however, provide a published counselling service structure, named mental‑health staff, or a detailed mental‑wellbeing programme that can be cited.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding SCIE's Safeguarding page sets out child-protection requirements for applicants (including an ICPC or equivalent and phone contact with the applicant's current or most recent Head of School) as part of background checks. The page lists a Statement of Principles that references compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and international best practice while also noting the college will abide by PRC law. The college names specific safeguarding roles (Child Protection Officer and Designated Safeguarding Lead) and states that all staff, including non-teaching staff, receive child-safeguarding training. The safeguarding statement emphasises staff have a mandatory duty to report suspicions of abuse and that student well‑being is the paramount concern in decision-making. Contact details for the college are published on the site for reporting or enquiries.	Safeguarding SIFC is described in official and major public profiles as an Education Bureau‑approved full‑time international school (registered with Shenzhen authorities), which indicates formal recognition by local education authorities. Those public profiles do not, however, publish a child‑protection or safeguarding policy, a named Designated Safeguarding Lead, or detailed reporting procedures that can be cited from the school's own public materials. Therefore specific, sourceable safeguarding policy text or staff names were not found in the public sources located.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview SCIE is located at No. 3 Antuoshan 6th Rd., Futian District, Shenzhen 518048. In 2020, SCIE moved to a brand-new Antuo Hill Campus, which is about twice the size of the former ShuiWei Campus. The campus features cutting-edge teaching technologies and extensive supporting infrastructure. It hosts academic, arts, sports, and campus-life facilities to support learning and wellbeing. The campus sits on a large platform designed to support teaching and student life.	Facilities overview The campus includes the Art Department and a network of centers across arts, science, technology, and athletics. It contains the Jeremy Lin-Li Qun International Basketball Training Center and the Modern Pentathlon Center. The school hosts the PBL Innovation Education Center, the STEM Center, the MIT FabLab ACT Center, the Tencent AI Lab, the SiKai Life Sciences Research Center, the Xueersi International Teaching and Research Center, the Weixun Workshop, the YanQu Research Workshop, and the Center for Personalized Student Growth. Tencent Smart Campus System supports campus management and digital learning. The facilities support cross-disciplinary programs that integrate innovative practice with arts and high school curriculum.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The main gymnasium houses basketball courts and can be configured for volleyball and handball. Outdoor facilities include basketball courts, a climbing wall, and a pickleball court. A football pitch, student and staff gyms, a table tennis room, and an elevated running track complete the facilities. These spaces support athletic development, teamwork, and a balanced student lifestyle.	Sports facilities The campus has comprehensive sports facilities including a swimming pool, gym, and basketball courts. It houses the Jeremy Lin-Li Qun International Basketball Training Center and the Modern Pentathlon Center. Outdoor spaces support PE lessons and sports activities. The facilities emphasize health, fitness, and competitive athletic opportunities for students.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities SCIE's academic facilities include specialized classrooms for Humanities, Mathematics, Languages, Economics and Computer Science, plus state-of-the-art laboratories for Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. A well-equipped library offers books, magazines, computers and self-service equipment, while tutorial rooms and open garden study areas provide flexible spaces for focused and collaborative learning. These facilities empower academic achievement and independent inquiry.	Academic facilities The MIT FabLab ACT Center provides fabrication and hands-on invention opportunities. The STEM Center supports science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and innovation. Tencent AI Lab and Xueersi International Teaching and Research Center support AI education and international teaching research. SiKai Life Sciences Research Center, YanQu Research Workshop, Weixun Workshop, and the PBL Innovation Education Center support project-based learning and practical research. The Center for Personalized Student Growth supports individualized student development.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Boarding houses provide modern dormitories with personal study areas and shared common rooms, supported by dorm teachers and psychological counselors. The Hill Canteen and Ann Cafe offer meal options, and landscaped garden areas surround the campus to support social and recreational activities. SCIE also features a range of ECAs and a House System, with opportunities for student leadership through prefect and student leadership programs. The arts spaces include a professional theater, a lecture hall, art classrooms, drama studios, dance and music rooms, and piano practice rooms to support arts-related ECAs.	Extra curricular facilities The school runs four art and sports centers: Art Design Center, International Music Center, Jeremy Lin-Li Qun International Basketball Training Center, and Modern Pentathlon Center. These centers provide extracurricular opportunities in arts, music, and sports. The PBL Innovation Education Center and the MIT FabLab ACT Center support maker and project-based activities beyond regular classes. Weixun Workshop and YanQu Research Workshop offer hands-on exploration and research opportunities outside standard curricula. The Center for Personalized Student Growth supports enrichment and personalized development through after-school programs.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History SCIE was founded in 2003 with approval from the Shenzhen Education Bureau and early authorization to deliver Cambridge international examinations; within two years it established its first permanent Futian campus and began sending graduates to top universities. Over the following decade the college expanded its programmes and extracurricular offer, with student clubs growing to over 100 and international memberships and accreditations achieved (CIS, FOBISIA and Cambridge partnerships). In 2020 SCIE opened its purpose-built Antuoshan campus and continued to develop its academic and arts provision, later adding the SCIE Arts Academy. The school gained WASC accreditation in 2021 and cites ongoing accreditation and review processes as part of its governance and quality-assurance work.	History Shenzhen International Foundation College (SIFC) was founded in 2004 by a team of educators led by Professor Fu Tengxiao from Shenzhen University; the school was established with approval from local education authorities and registered as a full‑time international school. Over two decades it has developed distinct academic and arts divisions (international high school and art high school) and has sought mainstream international accreditations. SIFC marked its 20th anniversary in June 2024 with a campus celebration that included alumni, staff, parents and local officials. (Sources: school admissions page; school profile summaries; 20th‑anniversary coverage).
Community	Community SCIE presents an active, calendar-driven community with a long list of annual events — Week Zero and Year‑start ceremonies, House competitions (e.g. tug‑of‑war), G1 camping, SCIE Got Talent, Halloween and Christmas concerts, Chinese New Year performances, Charity Week, Food Fair and Graduation Day — that involve students across grades. The college highlights more than 100 student clubs and a structured House system to support teamwork, leadership and extracurricular engagement. Parents, staff and alumni regularly participate in community activities such as the Charity Food Fair and Alumni Day, and the school's reporting emphasizes student leadership and service-learning as core elements of campus life.	Community The SIFC community includes students, faculty, alumni and an active cohort of parents who take part in regular campus events and cultural programs. Annual activities such as the school's “International Day” bring together students and parent representatives to create country‑focused performances, food stalls and cultural exhibits, with parents organizing and participating in many of the country groups. Larger gatherings—alumni events and milestone celebrations—also involve local partners and serve as focal points for school–community interaction.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association SCIE's public website does not show a dedicated, named Parent‑Teacher Association page; instead parental engagement is visible through parent representatives, volunteer roles and parent contributions to major events. Parents are explicitly represented at graduations and ceremonial occasions (for example, class parent speeches are published on the school site), and parents commonly help organise and staff community events such as the annual Charity Food Fair where parents, students and staff run international food stalls and raise funds for charity. The school also reports that parents took part in accreditation and review activities (speaking with visiting teams during CIS/WASC reviews), indicating formal opportunities for parental input in whole‑school reviews. In practice parental involvement appears to be channelled through event volunteering, parent representatives for cohorts, and ad‑hoc committees around charity, food fairs and similar community activities rather than a single public PTA structure. If you would like, I can contact the school's admissions or communications office (email listed on the site) to request clarification about any formal PTA committee or membership process.	Parent teacher association SIFC maintains a parent committee (家委会) that is refreshed by parent self‑nomination and democratic selection; the committee is described as an active partner in school affairs rather than a purely advisory body. The school has reported expanding the committee in recent years to broaden parent representation, and school leaders (including the founder) regularly meet committee members to review collaboration and community projects. Parent representatives commonly organize or co‑lead events such as International Day, and the committee is credited with supporting volunteer activities, parent education sessions and home‑school coordination. That parent–school partnership is explicitly framed as part of the school's ongoing “home‑school co‑construction” work. For contact or to learn about current parent‑group roles, the school's admissions and contact pages list admissions and parent liaison contacts.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school runs more than 250 active ECAs across 13 subcategories, organized under three main categories: academic, social, and sports. An ECA Fair is held at the start of every semester to introduce clubs and answer inquiries. An ECA club can be started by a teacher or by a student with a teacher sponsor, and students select clubs that fit their interests with supervision from a teacher.	Academic & intellectual Shenzhen International Foundation College offers American High School and British High School curricula. The American High School program is Shenzhen's first and promoted the ‘Pathway to Harvard' slogan as early as 2010. Based on the United States Common Core Standards, it follows a US‑style curriculum and provides more than 15 AP courses, plus innovative options such as MIT Digital Manufacturing and Stanford Design Thinking. SIFC is a pioneer in implementing international university foundation programs alongside curricula from the United States and the United Kingdom; it is ranked among the Top 20 International High Schools in China and No. 3 in Shenzhen, with 2024 noting continued top-20 national status and No. 3 in Shenzhen.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative The Art & Design Center at SIFC provides a modern interdisciplinary curriculum with a distinctive ‘Art + Technology' feature that connects to cutting-edge programs at top international universities. The school launched the International Music Center in 2024–12–23 to reshape modern music education through practical teaching and digital innovation.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language Campus life includes eight Theme Cultural Months and a range of activities such as International Day, Halloween, and Christmas. The school offers nearly 50 clubs across academics, arts, and sports.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies Clubs cover social activities and hobbies within three main categories: academic, social, and sports, which are divided into 13 subcategories with over 250 active clubs. Most clubs operate with the support of a supervising teacher. An ECA Fair is held at the beginning of each semester to introduce clubs and engage interested students.	Social & hobbies Clubs and activities beyond classwork are a prominent feature, with more than 50 clubs spanning academics, arts, and sports.
Community & service	Community & service ECAs cultivate students' sense of social responsibility and offer opportunities for community and service initiatives. An ECA Fair introduces clubs, and clubs can be started by a teacher or by a student with a teacher sponsor.	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional The ECA program emphasizes leadership, teamwork, and initiative. Students can initiate clubs with a teacher sponsor, and most clubs operate under teacher supervision. An ECA Fair showcases clubs at the start of each semester.	Leadership & professional College Counseling supports university admissions, and the Study Abroad GPT program is available to assist with study abroad planning.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Sports clubs are a major component of ECAs, providing opportunities for physical activity and teamwork. The Extracurricular Activities Division oversees activities to enrich student life beyond academics, with supervision from teachers guiding club participation.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Holistic Education is featured in Campus Life, with Mental Health Service available to students. Physical Education and a range of wellness and development activities are part of the student experience.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision SCIE targets mastery of English to a First Language level. English is a vital means of communication in school. Chinese (IG), Japanese (IG), and Spanish (IG)(A) are offered as language subjects; French is offered at AS/AL. In the IGCSE program, English Language and Chinese are core subjects.	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards (Only school-level awards and rankings shown on SCIE's website are listed below; student awards such as Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards or competition medals are excluded.) • Ranked 2nd in the 2021 "China Top 100 International Schools" (XINHUANET / INSIGHT report) — SCIE's website records that the school placed second in the 2021 national Top‑100 listing; the report's methodology emphasised university admissions and other indicators of school performance. (Posted 9 December 2021 on SCIE site.) • Hurun Education Top International Schools in China 2022 — SCIE's site records that Hurun Education's 2022 ranking placed SCIE 2nd in China and 1st in Shenzhen; the same Hurun release also placed SCIE in the Top‑10 list for best school campuses in 2022. (Posted June 2022 on SCIE site.) • KingLead / China International School Top‑100 / Brand‑Value rankings (2022) — SCIE's site shows the school ranked in the top positions in KingLead's 2022 China International School Top‑100 listings (SCIE reported as Top‑2). (Posted January 2022 on SCIE site.) • KingLead China International School Brand Value Top 100 (2023) — SCIE's site records the KingLead 2023 brand‑value listing (published 30 January 2023) in which SCIE is again presented among the top ranked schools in that Top‑100 brand evaluation. Note: these items are taken directly from SCIE's public news/affiliations pages. If you'd like, I can (a) check for any additional school‑level recognitions on other public sources, or (b) extract the exact quoted wording and publication dates from each SCIE news page for recordkeeping.	Awards Below are the institutional awards and rankings the school itself lists on its website within the last five years (period considered: Jan 1, 2021–Dec 31, 2025). I used only content posted on the school's website as you requested. 1) 2024 — Forbes China “Internationalized School” recognitions: listed on the school site as (a) Forbes China • Internationalized School annual selection — National Top 20 and Shenzhen No.3, and (b) named “Forbes China Outstanding Internationalized School” and recipient of the “Forbes China Annual Innovative Internationalized School” award. One‑line significance: these are recognitions from Forbes China's annual evaluation of China's international schools; the school presents them as institutional awards/rankings indicating placement among peers in the national and Shenzhen lists. 2) 2023 — HKPEP China “Most Educationally Competitive International Schools” — listed on the school site as included in the HKPEP China Top 100 (“中国最具教育竞争力的国际学校100强”). One‑line significance: placement in this HKPEP list is presented by the school as recognition of its competitiveness among Greater‑China international schools. Notes and scope limits - I limited awards to institutional recognitions explicitly stated on the school's website. The site also publishes many student competition results and individual staff honours; per your instruction I did not include awards given to students or staff. Examples of student competition results appear on the school news pages but were excluded here. - The school's pages used as the source for the above statements are: the school profile/“书院简介” and the admissions/prospectus pages (which list accreditations, rankings and named recognitions). If you'd like, I can (a) pull the exact school page links and dates of the posted items, (b) look up the awarding organisations' published lists to independently verify the Forbes/HKPEP entries, or (c) check whether the school holds any additional formal accreditations (for example, CIS or other bodies) that aren't named on the pages I consulted.
Accreditations	Accreditations • Council of International Schools (CIS) — SCIE is a CIS member school and has undergone CIS accreditation / re-accreditation; CIS carries out a whole-school self-study and international peer review process and is widely used as a benchmark of international-school quality and continuous improvement. • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — SCIE received full accreditation from WASC (Accrediting Commission for Schools) in 2021; WASC is a U.S.-based regional accrediting body whose school accreditation signals that a school meets defined standards for governance, curriculum and student learning. • Cambridge International, Edexcel and Oxford AQA (exam centre status) — SCIE is a registered centre for these international examination boards, which lets students sit IGCSE and A‑level examinations on campus and receive qualifications recognised by universities around the world. (This is the school's recognised examination‑centre status rather than an external school‑accreditation process.) • The College Board (member school qualification / AP) — SCIE is a College Board member school and offers College Board‑audited AP courses; membership provides access to College Board resources and allows the school to deliver AP coursework and exams. • UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) — SCIE is a registered UCAS member school, which the school notes gives its graduates the same rights as UK sixth‑form applicants when applying to UK higher‑education institutions. • ACT (registered test centre) — SCIE is a registered ACT testing centre, enabling students to take the ACT on campus; ACT scores are used by US colleges and many international universities. • FOBISIA (member) — SCIE is a member of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia; FOBISIA membership indicates participation in a regional network that holds member schools to entry/inspection standards and organises events and professional development. • EARCOS (member) — SCIE is a member of the East Asia Regional Council of Schools, a regional association that supports cooperation, professional development and best practice among member schools in East Asia.	Accreditations 1) Cognia — The school lists Cognia among its international accreditations. Cognia is a U.S.-based non-profit accreditation body for primary and secondary schools; its accreditation indicates an external, standards‑based review of a school's overall quality and continuous‑improvement processes. 2) College Board (Advanced Placement affiliation) — the school lists College Board/AP authorization. The College Board is a U.S. nonprofit that develops and administers the Advanced Placement (AP) program and other standardized programs; AP authorization means the school is approved to offer AP courses and exams, which can support college credit/placement in many higher‑education systems. 3) Pearson Edexcel — the school lists Pearson Edexcel among its examination/qualification partners. Pearson Edexcel is a UK‑based awarding organisation that provides GCSE, A‑level and international qualifications; authorization means the school can deliver Edexcel examination courses and receive externally graded qualifications. 4) OxfordAQA — the school lists OxfordAQA among its international examination partners. OxfordAQA is a partnership between Oxford University Press and AQA that offers internationally recognised IGCSE/International A‑level qualifications; being an OxfordAQA centre/partner lets the school enter students for those externally assessed qualifications. 5) UCAS (linkage/recognition) — the school cites UCAS among its external links/authorities. UCAS is the UK's centralized admissions service for undergraduate study; formal linkage or recognition facilitates the school's support for students applying to UK universities through the UCAS system.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Check eligibility and timelines. Before you apply, confirm which Grade Group you are targeting (G1/IGCSE Year 1 or A1/AS Level) and check SCIE's published quotas and age limits (for example, G1 applicants must be born after January 1, 2009; A1 applicants must be born after January 1, 2007). Parents should note registration opening dates (registration for 2025 opened Jan 6, 2025) and that places are limited; the school states registration runs “until full.” 2. Prepare documents and digital materials for registration. SCIE requires a government-issued ID (mainland ID card, Mainland Travel Permit for HK/Macau/Taiwan residents, or passport for foreign students) and a passport-style electronic photo for upload; parents should have scanned copies ready before starting the online application. The admissions pages also point to specialist streams (Arts/Music) that require additional materials (portfolios or performance recordings) if applying to the Arts Academy. 3. Register online and pay the registration fee. Registration is completed through the SCIE application platform or by following the school's official WeChat account; the published registration fee for 2025 was RMB 600 (non‑refundable) and payment is made online (WeChat/Alipay). Parents should double-check the exact fee and accepted payment methods at the time they apply because the school notes registrations close when seats are full. 4. Prepare for the written entrance examination (subjects and format). For the regular stream the written test in 2025 included English and Mathematics (example dates listed: March 16 and June 1, 2025); the school runs two rounds and candidates unsuccessful in the first round can reapply for the second. Parents should check the published test format (offline/online), bring the ID used at registration on test day, and follow any test‑day instructions released by the school (the school posts software/monitoring requirements and a candidate instruction page when online testing applies). 5. Specialist (Arts/Music) application steps, if relevant. Applicants to the Arts Academy follow an additional specialist process: there is a prescreening of submitted portfolios/recordings, a specialist audition or practical test (music performance or art drawing/painting tasks), and then the standard English written test; prescreening and audition dates are published separately. Parents of specialist applicants should confirm the portfolio/video formatting instructions, any minimum competency requirements (for example, music applicants are asked to demonstrate certain grade/level equivalence), and whether a prescreen outcome automatically transfers candidates into the regular stream if they do not meet specialist requirements. 6. Shortlist and interview scheduling. Candidates who are shortlisted after the written examination are assigned an interview appointment; SCIE typically schedules interviews within 1–2 weeks after the written exam and will notify candidates via the applicant portal, official WeChat, or the website. Parents should monitor the school's communication channels closely (the site and WeChat are used to announce results and interview times) and ensure contact details in the application are current. 7. Results, offers and next steps. Admission results are posted on SCIE's official WeChat account and the school website; the admissions notices specify exact release dates for each round and for specialist streams. If an offer is made, families should read the offer letter carefully for any stated deadlines and fee/registration instructions, and be prepared that tuition does not include some costs (for example, international exam fees and off‑campus trips). 8. Fees, accommodation and other costs to plan for. Published 2025–2026 figures list annual tuition (regular stream) at RMB 273,000, Arts Academy tuition at RMB 303,000, and boarding costs of RMB 16,800 (excluding weekends) or RMB 19,800 (including weekends); these published figures also note they exclude international examination fees, field trips, internships and some summer programs. Parents should budget for examination fees (e.g., CAIE/Edexcel/AP/IB/ACT/SAT where applicable), school trips, uniforms, and any additional services (guardianship, airport transfers), and confirm the current year's fees with the Admissions or Finance Office before accepting an offer. 9. If you don't get a place right away. Because SCIE runs multiple rounds of exams and registration is stated to run until full, unsuccessful candidates may register for a later round if one is offered; check the admissions calendar and registration closing notes for each year. If you are considering other options, keep copies of transcripts and test scores ready to speed new applications elsewhere and contact SCIE's Admissions Office for clarification about future recruitment rounds.	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and school visit — Contact the admissions office (phone/email or the online enquiry form) to request current materials, ask about open‑day dates, and confirm which programmes (AP / A‑Level / Arts / Music) are accepting students for the intake you want. Parents should bring the student's most recent school report when they visit and note that some programmes (art/music) require a separate portfolio or audition—ask in advance what format the school wants. It's common for the school to schedule on‑campus tours or online information sessions before you complete a formal application; confirm the exact timeframe and available slots with admissions. 2. Submit a formal application — Complete the school's application form (online or in person) and submit the requested documents: a copy of the student's ID (passport, mainland ID or hukou), recent academic transcripts, one‑inch photos, and any specialist materials (art portfolio, music recordings). The application step typically requires payment of an application or registration fee; published amounts vary between sources so ask admissions for the current, exact figure before paying. Keep scanned copies of everything and request a receipt and an application reference number from the school for follow‑up. 3. Test registration and fees — After the application is accepted for assessment, you will be asked to register for the entrance assessment and pay the test fee (many parents report a separate exam/testing fee in addition to the application fee). Expect to be told precise test dates and whether the test is on campus, online, or computer‑based; confirm refund policies (most test fees are non‑refundable). Before you arrive, double‑check what calculator or ID to bring and whether parents are permitted to stay for the test day. 4. Entrance assessment — SIFC uses a formal academic assessment (reported as a 150‑minute MAP or MAP‑style computerised test covering math, English and science for most academic streams) and a one‑to‑one interview (often with a senior leader such as the principal). For arts and music applicants the academic test is combined with a professional exam or portfolio review; portfolios and recordings should meet the school's stated format and length. Parents should prepare the student by reviewing subject areas named by the school and by making sure portfolios are labelled and uploaded according to the school's instructions. 5. Interview and family meeting — If shortlisted, the school will normally schedule a student interview and a parent/guardian meeting (in person or by phone/video). The interview evaluates language ability, academic motivation and fit with the programme; art/music applicants often have a separate subject‑specific audition or interview. Parents should bring original identity documents and be ready to discuss learning support needs, future university plans and logistics (transport, boarding if relevant). 6. Offer, timeline and placement — After assessment the school will issue an outcome (offer, conditional offer, or non‑offer). Some sources report that initial results can be given quickly (reports of decisions within about three working days in some application rounds), but official timelines can vary by intake and cohort—confirm the expected decision date when you apply. If an offer is made, read the offer letter carefully for deadlines to accept, any conditions (e.g., submission of authenticated transcripts), the contract terms and the deadline to pay the deposit or tuition to secure the place. 7. Contract, payment and registration — To secure a place you will typically sign an enrolment agreement and pay the required deposit/full tuition by the stated deadline; the school will provide instructions for invoicing and acceptable payment methods. Be aware of what the tuition covers (some published schedules note that tuition may include core fees but exclude meals, boarding, international exam fees and school bus) and keep copies of the signed contract and payment receipts for visa or school‑record purposes. If you need an invoice for reimbursement or visa applications, ask admissions at the time of payment. 8. Pre‑arrival administrative steps — Once your place is confirmed, the school will advise on start‑of‑term requirements: immunisations or health records, uniform orders, orientation dates and any assessment to place the student in the right subject level. For non‑mainland students, check visa/entry paperwork early; for mainland transfers you may need to follow local education bureau procedures for transfer or new student registration. Keep the admissions contact details handy in case documents or travel plans change.
Scholarships	Scholarships SCIE's official admissions and programme pages (as published in the school's 2025 admissions materials) do not advertise a general scholarship or means‑tested financial aid programme for incoming students on the public site. The published pages focus on application steps, exam schedules, and fee schedules (tuition and boarding) without describing entrance scholarships or ongoing bursaries. Because some schools operate internal or case‑by‑case support (or may offer occasional merit awards), if you are seeking fee assistance or scholarship possibilities you should contact SCIE's Admissions or Finance Office directly to ask whether any scholarships, fee reductions, or limited awards are available in the year you intend to apply; the Admissions contact information and instructions are provided on the school's admissions page.	Scholarships SIFC publishes a structured scholarship scheme (branded as the “拏云奖学金” in the school's own material) that includes entrance scholarships, university‑entry scholarships and targeted university fee assistance. The entrance scholarships are awarded before enrolment and may reduce tuition directly (the published categories include full‑tuition awards, and tiered awards such as ¥100,000/year, ¥50,000/year, ¥20,000/year, and ¥10,000/year levels); the programme also describes separate university‑entry awards tied to particular destination universities with larger lump sums for top offers. The school's 2025 scholarship materials state a combined potential package of awards and assistance up to a large total (the page cites the overall programme cap), and it notes that scholarship rules and the awarding process are determined by the school—parents should request the specific scholarship application form, eligibility criteria, selection timeline, whether scholarships are renewable year‑to‑year, and any scholarship conditions (e.g., minimum progress or enrolment in particular classes). For full, current details and the official application process, contact SIFC's admissions or scholarship office and ask for the scholarship policy and deadlines.
Waitlist	Waitlist SCIE's publicly posted admissions materials do not describe a formal, named waitlist or “holding‑pool” process; instead, the school runs at least two rounds of entrance examinations each intake year and states that registration is open until capacity is reached. The admissions notices advise that test seats are limited and that registration may close when full, which suggests the school manages demand by additional exam rounds or re‑opening registration rather than by publishing a standing waitlist for offered places. If you need a definitive answer about whether the school keeps a waiting list for a particular year or grade, contact the Admissions Office directly (the school publishes contact details on its Admissions page).	Waitlist Publicly available admissions material and the school's published admissions summaries do not set out a formal, detailed waitlist policy on the website; I did not find an explicit statement that SIFC operates a named waiting‑list process in its public admissions pages. That said, many international schools will place qualified applicants on a waiting list if a grade or programme is full and then offer places as spaces open; because SIFC's external admissions guides do not publish a formal waitlist policy, the best practical approach is to ask the admissions office directly whether (a) they maintain a waiting list for the year/grade you need, (b) how candidates are prioritised, and (c) how long the wait typically is. If you want a fallback plan, ask admissions whether they will accept rolling documentation updates and how often you should check in to keep your application active.
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