Harrow International School, Shanghai
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$38K - US$53K
Curriculum: British
Age Range: 1-18
Students: ~800
Location: Pudong (Waigaoqiao), Shanghai
Updated April 2026
In Brief
If A-Levels matter to your family - UK boarding school pathway, traditional British sixth form, Russell Group university applications - Harrow Shanghai is the only school in the city offering them. For families comfortable with that British-only route, it is a credible choice; for those wanting IB flexibility, it is not.
Harrow Shanghai is structurally different from every other premium school on this list: it offers the British curriculum through IGCSE, then A-Levels in the Sixth Form, with no IB option at all. It also launched AP courses in 2025 alongside the A-Level track. That is a deliberate positioning choice - and a real differentiator. Families whose children are tracking toward UK university applications, particularly Oxbridge and Russell Group, find A-Levels a cleaner pathway than the IB Diploma. The school opened in 2016 in the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, the northern section of Pudong, as part of the AISL Harrow network that operates across Asia.
The Harrow brand carries weight in the UK boarding school world, and the Shanghai campus leans into that heritage - house system, the Harrow Song, school traditions intact. Cubs provision starts from 18 months, covering the full age range through to Year 13. University outcomes from the AISL Harrow network show consistent Oxbridge and Ivy League acceptances; across the network in 2024, 23 Oxbridge and Ivy League offers were made from 1,244 total university offers. Shanghai-specific outcome data is not published separately, so ask the school for its own track record.
Waigaoqiao is the honest trade-off. It sits in far northern Pudong, near the port and Free Trade Zone - an industrial-residential mix that is a significant distance from the main Jinqiao and Century Park compounds. Families in central or southern Pudong, or anywhere in Puxi, face a substantial daily commute. The Resources Fee (RMB 25,000 refundable deposit) is a larger upfront outlay than most schools; factor that into cash-flow planning at enrolment.
What parents value
- –The only school in Shanghai offering A-Levels as the senior pathway (with AP courses also available from 2025). For families targeting UK universities, A-Levels are a familiar and well-regarded route that avoids the IB's breadth requirement.
- –Full British curriculum from Cubs (18 months) through Year 13, with Harrow house traditions intact. Part of the AISL Harrow network with campuses in Bangkok, Beijing, and Hong Kong - useful for families who may relocate within Asia.
- –Sibling discounts available (3rd child 5%, 4th child 10%, 5th+ 15%). Larger families on corporate packages benefit meaningfully from this structure.
Points of consideration
- –Waigaoqiao is far north in Pudong, near the port. Unless you live in the immediate area, commute times from Jinqiao, Century Park, or anywhere in Puxi will be substantial - 45-60 minutes each way is realistic at school-run times.
- –No IB pathway. For families whose children may transfer internationally mid-school-life, or who want IB Diploma university recognition globally, this is a genuine constraint - A-Levels are not as widely understood outside the UK as the IB.
- –Campus is relatively new and smaller in scale than established schools like SAS or the Dulwich campuses. Ask specifically about cohort sizes at IGCSE and A-Level, which can be small in a newer school.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Cubs & Pre-Nursery | 1 | NaN |
| Nursery & Reception | 3 | NaN |
| Years 1-5 | 6 | NaN |
| Year 6 | 11 | NaN |
| Years 7-9 | 12 | NaN |
| Years 10-11 (IGCSE) | 15 | NaN |
| Years 12-13 (A-Levels) | 17 | NaN |
Fees converted from CNY. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | NaN |
| Resources Fee (refundable deposit) | NaN |
Academic Results
| A-Level / IGCSE | British curriculum only |
Key results: A-Level / IGCSE British curriculum only.
Extra Curriculars
Contact the school for details on co-curricular activities and facilities. Ask what a normal week looks like outside lessons for your child's interests.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
No published inspection details are currently available.
Accreditations
- AISL Harrow network member
Memberships
- FOBISIA
Student Body
The school draws families primarily from Pudong, with a British and Western European majority alongside growing Korean, Japanese, and Hong Kong Chinese communities. The Waigaoqiao location means the student body skews toward families working in the Free Trade Zone and northern Pudong corridor.
Leadership
School Leadership
Harrow International School Shanghai is part of the AISL Harrow network. Contact the school for the current head's biography.