Schools for Expats in China
Learn about expats schools in China and what can be expected working there
Schools for Expats
What Is an Expat school?
An expat school isa school for children of foreign workers. These schools are mainly for the children of expatriate workers or for children whose parents hold an international passport. The Chinese Government issued regulations in 1995 ensuring that expat school do not take children of Chinese citizens. Bilingual schools are different from Expat schools, which mainly offer places to children of Chinese citizens, and are regulated by the Chinese Government (See more information about Bilingual Schools in China ).
History of Expat Schools in China
As more countries developed diplomatic ties with China in the 1980’s, the number of foreign diplomats in China increased. In 1980, America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK all opened embassies in China. The International School of Beijing Shunyi (ISB) was opened for diplomat’s children. This was China’s first foreign managed school offering an international curriculum. In 2002, the ISB began accepting children of foreign workers who did not work at the embassies.
After the early beginnings, the majority of expat schools opened in Shanghai and Beijing in the early 2000’s, catering for the large numbers of foreign expats attracted by China’s financial boom and the increase in foreign trade resulting from globalization. British schools including Dulwich and Harrow were some of the first schools to set up. According to government statistics, there are now more than 1000 international schools in China. As of 2012, there were 116 expat schools. Details of these schools can be found on TopTutorJob (TTJ) website.
Expats in China
How Many Expats Are in China?
The first generation of expats came to China in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, drawn by high salaries and good expat packages. The number continued to increase throughout the 2000’s as foreign workers sought better career prospects and opportunities for promotion in the growing economy.
Despite the recent slowdown of the Chinese economy, China’s expat population has continued to grow, although not as quickly as in the early 2000’s. According to China’s 2010 National Census, there were 600,000 expats living in the country. By 2017, the number of expats in China was estimated to be around 800,000. This number includes expats on short term visas who are unlikely to send their children to expat schools. The number of expats on long term working visas is likely to be lower.
Nationality of Expats
As of 2018 a large number of these expats are from America (23%) and from European countries including the UK (10%) and Germany (7%). There are also large numbers of expat workers from Asian countries including South Korea and Japan. Many expats arrive in China with their families.
Where Do Most Expats in China Live?
Foreign expats are typically attracted to the East coast of China, with many working in the major cities of Shanghai and Beijing. Shanghai is home to the largest number of foreign expatriate workers in China, and there are over 200,000 expats in Shanghai alone, with large numbers also living in other cities including Guangzhou and Shenzhen. You can have a general idea of living in China through our topic article here.
Expat Children and their Education
Foreign expat workers in China have specific demands for education. As the number of expat workers increased throughout the 2000’s, so did the number of expat schools. There is a now a large number of educational options for expat children. There are now expat schools from countries including America, Britain and France. These schools offer pre-school, primary and secondary education for children as young as two to aged eighteen. Most schools offer English as the medium of instruction, but some are also bilingual.
Many expat schools offer internationally recognised curricula such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), International GCSE (IGCSE), the UK national curriculum, and the US-style model. The international qualifications available at these schools allow their students to transition smoothly back to universities in their own countries after finishing school in China.
Expat Schools in China
Expat School Jobs
General Requirements for Working at an Expat School
Based on TopTutorJob's understanding, to work at an expat school, candidates should:
- have a minimum of a relevant Bachelor’s degree
- be qualified teachers in their home countries
- have a PGCE or Teaching License (Refer to TTJ's Glossary).
- have up to two years of post-qualification experience (with at least some international experience preferred).
The Benefits of Working at an Expat School
Education in China is highly valued and teachers are generally well respected. International teachers working at expat schools have high benefits. According to TTJ's research, expat school salaries can normally be quite high in comparison to those in a teacher’s home country, often reaching up to 30-40,000 RMB.
Packages for expats are generally competitive, with teachers provided with good medical insurance coverage, and generous housing and flight allowances. Income tax in China is comparatively low at 10-25%. School fees for dependents of school teachers are also often provided by the school. Expat schools also often offer an excellent working experience with opportunities for professional development and career progression.
Expats School List
Please be sure to check the latest update time of this list.
Tips: Copy the name of the school and use School Search to find more information about more about the school.
| Name | City | Found Year |
|---|---|---|
| Concordia International School, Ningbo ☆ | Ningbo | 2020 |
| EtonHouse International School Nanjing ☆ | Nanjing | 2016 |
| Georgia School Ningbo ☆ | Ningbo | 2019 |
| Quality Schools International of Shenzhen ☆ | Shenzhen | 2001 |
| Teda Global Academy, Tianjin ☆ | Tianjin | 1995 |
| The International School of Rhodes ☆ | Suzhou | 2019 |
| Xi’an Liangjiatan International School ☆ | Xi'an | 2004 |
| 3e International School | Beijing | 2005 |
| Access International Academy Ningbo (AIAN) | Ningbo | 2003 |
| American International School of Guangzhou | Guangzhou | 1981 |
| Basis International School Guangzhou | Guangzhou | 2017 |
| Basis International School Hangzhou | Hangzhou | 2018 |
| Basis International School Nanjing | Nanjing | 2019 |
| Basis International School Park Line Harbour | Huizhou | 2018 |
| Boston International School | Wuxi | 2018 |
| Britannia International School | Guangzhou | 2017 |
| Britannica International School, Shanghai | Shanghai | 2013 |
| Cambridge International Curriculum Centre of Beijing Normal University | Beijing | 2003 |
| Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) | Beijing | 2005 |
| Canadian International School of Guangzhou (CIS) | Guangzhou | 2012 |
| Changchun American International School (CAIS) | Changchun | 2006 |
| Concordia International School Shanghai | Shanghai | 1998 |
| Dalian American International School | Dalian | 2006 |
| Dalian Etonhouse International School | Dalian | 2018 |
| Dongguan Etonhouse Internationl School | Dongguan | 2006 |
| Dulwich College, Beijing | Beijing | 2005 |
| Dulwich College, Shanghai Pudong | Shanghai | 2003 |
| Dulwich College, Shanghai Puxi | Shanghai | 2016 |
| Dulwich College, Suzhou | Suzhou | 2007 |
| Dulwich International High School, Zhuhai | Zhuhai | 2010 |
| French International School of Guangzhou | Guangzhou | 1997 |
| Guangzhou Grace Academy | Guangzhou | 1996 |
| Guangzhou Japanese School | Guangzhou | 2018 |
| Guangzhou Nanfang International School (GNIS) | Guangzhou | 2003 |
| Hailiang Education International Students College Shaoxing | Shaoxing | 2011 |
| Hangzhou International School | Hangzhou | 2002 |
| Harrow International School Beijing | Beijing | 2005 |
| Harrow International School Haikou | Haikou | 2020 |
| Harrow International School Hong Kong | HongKong | 2012 |
| Harrow International School Shanghai | Shanghai | 2016 |
| Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai | Shenzhen | 2020 |
| Hong Qiao International School | Shanghai | 1997 |
| HuZ International School | Shenyang | 2018 |
| International School of Beijing | Beijing | 1980 |
| International School of Dongguan | Dongguan | 2012 |
| International School of Nanshan Shenzhen | Shenzhen | 2002 |
| International School of Qingdao | Qingdao | 1996 |
| ISA International School of Guangzhou | Guangzhou | 2014 |
| ISA Science City International School | Guangzhou | 2020 |
| KL International School of Chongqing Bashu | Chongqing | 2015 |
| Korean International School in Tianjin | Tianjin | 2017 |
| Korean School in Yantai | Yantai | 2002 |
| Kunming International Academy | Kunming | 1994 |
| LEH International School Foshan | Foshan | 2020 |
| Léman International School | Chengdu | 2009 |
| Livermore International School — Beijing Branch | Beijing | 2011 |
| Lycée Français de Shanghai (Qingpu Campus) | Shanghai | 1996 |
| Lycée Français de Shanghai (Yangpu Campus) | Shanghai | 1996 |
| Malvern College Qingdao | Qingdao | 2012 |
| Maple Leaf International Academy—Shenzhen | Shenzhen | 2018 |
| Maple Leaf International School—Zhejiang | Jinhua | 2015 |
| Merchiston International School, Shenzhen | Shenzhen | 2018 |
| Nanjing International School | Nanjing | 1992 |
| Nantong Stalford International School | Nantong | 2015 |
| Ningbo Huamao International School | Ningbo | 2015 |
| Ningbo International School | Ningbo | 2006 |
| Nord Anglia International School | Shanghai, Pudong | Shanghai | 2002 |
| Peking University Experimental School ( Suqian ) | Suqian | 2017 |
| Qingdao No.1 International School Of Shandong Province | Qingdao | 2007 |
| Quality Schools International of Chengdu | Chengdu | 2002 |
| Quality Schools International of Dongguan | Dongguan | 2001 |
| Quality Schools International of Shenyang | Shenyang | 2012 |
| Quality Schools International of Zhuhai | Zhuhai | 1999 |
| Shaanxi Normal University Jin Yuan International School | Xi'an | 2004 |
| Shanghai American School | Shanghai | 1912 |
| Shanghai Community International School Hongqiao ECE Campus | Shanghai | 1996 |
| Shanghai Community International School Hongqiao Main Campus | Shanghai | 1997 |
| Shanghai Community International School, Pudong Campus | Shanghai | 2009 |
| Shanghai EtonHouse International School | Shanghai | 2013 |
| Shanghai Livingston American School | Shanghai | 2003 |
| Shanghai Singapore International School | Shanghai | 1996 |
| Shekou International School | Shenzhen | 1988 |
| Shenyang Korean International School | Shenyang | 2006 |
| Shenyang Transformation International School(STIS) | Shenyang | 2013 |
| Shenzhen American International School | Shenzhen | 2005 |
| SPGS Sheng Bo International School, Chengdu | Chengdu | 2020 |
| Suzhou Singapore International School | Suzhou | 1996 |
| The British International School Shanghai, Puxi | Shanghai | 2004 |
| The British School of Beijing (Shunyi) | Beijing | 2003 |
| The British School of Beijing, Shunyi | Beijing | 2003 |
| The British School of Guangzhou | Guangzhou | 2005 |
| The British School of Nanjing | Nanjing | 2007 |
| The Foshan EtonHouse International School | Foshan | 2016 |
| The International Montessori School of Beijing | Beijing | 1990 |
| The Western International School of Shanghai | Shanghai | 2006 |
| Tianjin International School | Tianjin | 1985 |
| Utahloy International School Guangzhou (UISG) | Guangzhou | 1997 |
| Utahloy International School Zengcheng | Guangzhou | 2003 |
| Wahaha International School Hangzhou | Hangzhou | 2015 |
| Wellington College China | Shanghai | 2014 |
| Wellington College International Hangzhou | Hangzhou | 2018 |
| Wellington College International Shanghai | Shanghai | 2014 |
| Wellington College International Tianjin | Tianjin | 2011 |
| Western Academy of Beijing | Beijing | 1994 |
| Whittle School & Studios | Shenzhen | 2019 |
| Wuxi – EtonHouse International School | Wuxi | 2007 |
| WUXI International School | Wuxi | 2003 |
| Wuxi Korean School | Wuxi | 2006 |
| Xi'an Hanova International School | Xi'an | 2012 |
| Xi'an Hi-Tech international school | Xi'an | 2003 |
| Xiamen International School | Xiamen | 1990 |
| Yew Chung International School of Beijing | Beijing | 1995 |
| Yew Chung International School of Chongqing | Chongqing | 2001 |
| Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong | HongKong | 1932 |
| Yew Chung International School of Qingdao | Qingdao | 2006 |
| Yew Chung International School of Shanghai | Shanghai | 1993 |
| Yew Wah International Education School Tongxiang | Jiaxing | 2017 |
| Zhuhai International School | Zhuhai | 2007 |
