Shenzhen College of International Education

In Brief

If your child is heading to a UK or top US university and is academically serious, SCIE is the strongest option in Shenzhen - and by some measures in all of southern China. It is a high school only, so factor in where your child is doing their earlier years.

SCIE is consistently ranked in the top two international high schools in China, with 48 Oxbridge offers for the Class of 2024 and 25 for the Class of 2023. The programme runs IGCSE across the first two years, then A-Levels plus an AP pathway option in the final two. The school is open to all nationalities including mainland Chinese students - rare among Shenzhen's international schools. The academic pressure is real and deliberate; the school's culture rewards students who are already self-driven.

The purpose-built Antuoshan campus in Futian opened in 2020 and houses a theatre, multiple science labs, dedicated arts spaces, and boarding houses (boarding costs CNY 16,800-19,800 per year on top of tuition). The ECA programme covers MUN, drama, music and sports. Staff quality is generally strong, and Glassdoor reviews from teachers average 4.5 out of 5 with consistent praise for the collaborative culture.

Tuition is CNY 273,000 per year for regular students (CNY 290,000 for the Arts Academy). That flat fee does not include international exam entries, field trips or boarding. The results-oriented management culture creates a high-pressure environment; families mention mandatory 8am morning registration and an administration focused firmly on outcomes. Not the right fit for a child who needs room to find their stride.