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Britannica International School

China, Shanghai

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees RMB 252,300 - 356,700
Ages 1½ - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2013
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Taught languages Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Portuguese
Typical class size 10
Strengths Languages, Sport, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Britannica International School, Shanghai is a British-curriculum all-through school for students aged 18 months to 18 years; it opened in August 2013. The campus is listed at 1988 Gubei Road (near Wuzhong Road) in the Gubei residential district of Shanghai. The school follows the English National Curriculum and prepares students for IGCSE and A‑Level examinations in partnership with Cambridge (CAIE) and Edexcel. Britannica publishes its annual tuition table (2025–26): annual tuition ranges from RMB 252,300 (Pre‑Nursery) up to RMB 356,700 (Years 12–13). The school describes itself as smaller than many Shanghai international schools, with a current student population of over 400 and class sizes “all under 22 pupils”. A distinctive, named offering is its extensive Native Language Programme (Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew and others), delivered by specialist native-speaking teachers.

www.britannicashanghai.com

1988 Gubei Rd, Minhang District, Shanghai, China, 200233

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Britannica International School has typical class sizes of 10, instruction in English.

Location
Britannica International School is in Gubei (Puxi), at 1988 Gubei Road near Wuzhong Road — a centrally located site about 10 minutes from Xujiahui CBD and roughly 15 minutes from the former French Concession. The school is inside the city (easy for downtown accommodation) and is served by multiple school-bus routes and short commute times.

Stages
The school covers Early Years through Sixth Form: Early Years (18 months–5 years), Primary (Key Stage 1: ages 5–7; Key Stage 2: 7–11) and Secondary (Key Stage 3: 11–13; Key Stage 4 / IGCSE: 14–16; Sixth Form / A-Level: 16–18).

Type
Britannica is a British international day school delivering the English National Curriculum; students are educated together (co-educational). The school's materials and handbooks describe a day-school model (no boarding provision is listed on the school website).

Additional learning support
The school runs a dedicated English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme and reports specialist EAL teachers and withdrawal sessions where needed. For additional learning needs the Primary handbook describes an inclusive approach: pupils are supported in mainstream classes by qualified teachers and teaching assistants and, where necessary, follow individualised programmes. Pastoral care and regular assessment are used to identify and plan support.

Country affiliation
The school is British in curriculum and ownership: it delivers the English National Curriculum, prepares students for IGCSE and A Level, and states it is British‑owned and British‑managed.

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is listed on the school's public pages; the school presents itself as a secular British international school.

School day structure
The published school hours list the day school as 08:20–15:00 with After School Activities 15:00–16:00; the FAQs note buses start arriving from about 08:00, a registration period around 08:20, and formal lessons beginning at 08:40, with a morning break and lunch.

Bus service
The school operates a comprehensive door‑to‑door bus service with many routes across the city; routes and pick‑up/drop‑off times are updated as families join. Buses meet local safety regulations, and each bus is supervised by a bilingual bus monitor who is also a school teaching assistant; the service is optional and charged separately. Specific route stop lists are published on the school site.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees

Annual tuition at Britannica International School ranges from RMB 252,300 to RMB 356,700 for 2026/27.

Tuition fees (Academic Year 2025–26)
- Pre-Nursery: Autumn RMB 100,900 • Spring RMB 75,700 • Summer RMB 75,700 • Total (3 instalments) RMB 252,300 • Paid in full (by 1 Aug, 3% discount) RMB 244,700.
- Nursery: Autumn RMB 105,700 • Spring RMB 79,300 • Summer RMB 79,300 • Total RMB 264,300 • Paid in full RMB 256,400.
- Reception: Autumn RMB 112,700 • Spring RMB 84,600 • Summer RMB 84,600 • Total RMB 281,900 • Paid in full RMB 273,500.
- Year 1–2: Autumn RMB 124,000 • Spring RMB 93,200 • Summer RMB 93,200 • Total RMB 310,400 • Paid in full RMB 301,100.
- Year 3–4: Autumn RMB 124,000 • Spring RMB 93,200 • Summer RMB 93,200 • Total RMB 310,400 • Paid in full RMB 301,100.
- Year 5–6: Autumn RMB 127,600 • Spring RMB 95,800 • Summer RMB 95,800 • Total RMB 319,200 • Paid in full RMB 309,700.
- Year 7–9: Autumn RMB 135,700 • Spring RMB 101,800 • Summer RMB 101,800 • Total RMB 339,300 • Paid in full RMB 329,100.
- Year 10–11: Autumn RMB 139,100 • Spring RMB 104,400 • Summer RMB 104,400 • Total RMB 347,900 • Paid in full RMB 337,500.
- Year 12–13: Autumn RMB 142,700 • Spring RMB 107,000 • Summer RMB 107,000 • Total RMB 356,700 • Paid in full RMB 346,000.

Application, registration and deposit
- Registration fee (non‑refundable on acceptance): RMB 2,500.
- Enrolment deposit payable on acceptance: RMB 20,000. The RMB 20,000 deposit is credited against the next term's tuition; a place is not guaranteed until the deposit is paid.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Autumn term and annual fees are due by 1 August. Parents may pay termly in advance or pay the full annual fee by 1 August to receive a 3% discount.
- Overdue fees may incur a 2% monthly surcharge, compounded monthly.
- If fees are unpaid, the school may withhold attendance and may reallocate the place at latest two weeks before term starts.

Boarding fees
- No boarding fees are listed. There is no boarding provision indicated in the school fee schedule.

Other costs and optional charges
- School uniform and PE kit: required and sold at the uniform shop (costs borne by parents).
- School lunch (mandatory): RMB 31 per meal and RMB 4 per snack; invoiced by the school caterer and paid directly to the caterer.
- School bus (optional): RMB 160 per day — payable termly or annually.
- EAL or additional learning support: charged separately as required (dependent on individual needs).
- Tuition for Year 10 and above includes public examination entrance fees.

Refunds and withdrawal
- Before 18 May: full refund.
- Before 1 July: tuition refund less the RMB 20,000 deposit.
- After 1 July: six weeks' tuition fee from the Autumn term payment is payable (no full refund).
- Leaving mid‑year: six weeks' notice is required or six weeks' fees payable in lieu of notice.
- Mid‑year refund calculations are based on the standard fee (early‑payment discount not considered).

Sibling discounts
- Second child: 5% discount; Third child: 5% discount.

Payment methods and bank details
- Payment is accepted in RMB or USD at the prevailing exchange rate. Parents are responsible for all overseas transfer charges and should ensure the pupil's name is quoted on transfer details.
- RMB and USD bank account details and beneficiary/SWIFT information are provided by the school's finance office (see the school fee schedule for the account and SWIFT fields).
Academics

Britannica International School teaches British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE for students aged 1.5 to 18.

Curriculum
Britannica International School, Shanghai follows the English National Curriculum from Early Years through Sixth Form; its Early Years programme (18 months–5 years) uses the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
In Primary (Key Stage 1–2, Years 1–6) the school delivers the English National Curriculum with specialist teaching beginning in Reception (including languages, swimming and music).
Secondary is organised as Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11), with Key Stage 4 leading to externally examined IGCSE qualifications.
The Sixth Form (ages 16–18) is a two‑year programme preparing students for AS/A2 and A‑Level examinations, typically taken in 3–4 subjects for university entry.
Alongside the core curriculum the school provides an extensive World Languages programme (Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew) and English-as-an-additional-language (EAL) support.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
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Admissions

Admissions
1. Enquiry and school tour — Start by contacting the Admissions team to request an enquiry, book a tour or join an open day so you and your child can see the campus and meet staff. During this visit the admissions staff will discuss your child's needs, explain the curriculum, transport and routines, and introduce you to the Principal or Head of Phase; use the visit to check whether the school's organisation and timetables fit your family logistics. If you are overseas the school can arrange a virtual tour and a meeting with the relevant head of phase.

2. Complete the online application and upload documents — When you decide to apply you must submit the online application form and upload the specified documents: child's birth certificate, child and parent passports, child and parent residence permits/work permits, recent school report, immunisation record, medical insurance card and a passport photo. The admissions portal stays open for your admissions journey so you can upload documents and track progress, but you cannot edit submitted forms after signing. Note: if a year group is already full and you meet entry requirements, the school will place the child on the waiting list only once the registration fee has been paid.

3. Assessment and second visit — After the application and paperwork are received the school arranges a formal assessment and usually a meeting with the Principal (or relevant Head) to evaluate academic readiness, communication and social interaction. Assessment format depends on age: EYFS children have informal observations (and sometimes a trial day), Years 1–9 typically sit a non-verbal reasoning (NVR) test (with additional drawing assessments in early primary), Years 10–11 have NVR plus English and Maths assessments, and Years 12–13 require evidence of prior externally accredited results (IGCSE equivalence). The Admissions Policy says assessment outcomes and any observed support needs will be discussed with parents; if further evidence is needed the school may invite a trial day or ask for more school reports.

4. Offer, registration and deposit — If the child meets the school's entry criteria and passes the assessment, the Principal issues an offer. To accept a place you will be asked to pay a non-refundable registration fee and an enrolment deposit; the standard registration fee and the deposit amounts and terms are published in the school fees schedule (the 2025–26 fees document shows a RMB 2,500 registration fee and a RMB 20,000 enrolment deposit that is credited against the next term's tuition). The admissions documents and the school's admissions policy explain timing: registration and deposit secure the place, the deposit is refundable subject to the school's refund and notice conditions, and full fee payment deadlines are specified in the fees schedule.

Scholarships
The school has run scholarship opportunities in the past (examples published on the school website include a 2019 Secondary Scholarship Day offering up to 100% scholarships for some secondary entry years and a 2019 announcement of a 50% tuition scholarship for certain Year 10 and Year 12 entrants). Those items are event/news postings from 2019 and describe specific, time‑limited scholarship campaigns rather than a standing, published scholarship programme. The current Admissions and Fees pages do not present an ongoing, school‑wide scholarship scheme, and there is no separate, regularly updated scholarships page on the site; therefore, if you are interested in any scholarship or fee‑assistance options you should contact the Admissions office directly (admissions@britannicashanghai.com or +86 21 6402 7889) to request the latest information and to ask whether any assessments or scholarship days are being offered at the moment.

Waitlist
Britannica operates a waiting list if a year group is full: applicants who meet the entry requirements are placed on the waiting list provided the registration fee has been paid. Priority on the waiting list is explicitly set out in the Admissions Policy: siblings of current students, returning students, sister‑school children, staff children and native first‑language English speakers receive priority, followed by other applicants based on completion of the admission process. The Admissions Policy and fees documents also state that an enrolment deposit (paid on acceptance) guarantees a place once paid and that families may register up to a year in advance subject to completing the full admissions process. For exact position on the list and timing you should confirm with the Admissions team, as places are reallocated if fees are unpaid before term start.
School Events
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