Comparing 3 schools side by side in USD.
The Wellington College International Tianjin campus is at No.1 Yide Dao, Hong Qiao District, Tianjin 300120, China. It is located in the Hongqiao District in Tianjin's northern area, within easy reach of central Tianjin. The campus is a short 5-minute walk from Xibei Jiao subway station on Line 1, and Tianjin West Railway Station is one stop away. Access by car follows Beima Road to Beimen Wai Dajie and then Nanyunhe Nan Lu, with the college about 500m ahead on the left.
The school is organised into three main sections: Early Years (Nest) for ages 2–6, Junior School for ages 6–11, and Senior School for ages 11–18. Open admissions indicate Year 2 to Year 13, roughly corresponding to ages 7–18.
The school is co-educational and offers both day schooling and boarding. Boarding is available for pupils aged 11–18 in the Benson House, alongside the day programme.
The wellbeing programme supports mental, emotional, and physical health, with expanded counselling and coaching available to all pupils. There are dedicated SEN-related resources, including special educational needs officers, in‑house counsellors, guidance and welfare staff, coaches, diversity leaders, and links to external educational psychologists for additional learning support and safeguarding.
The school is affiliated with Wellington College in Berkshire, England, as the first overseas partnership within the Wellington College network.
There is no religious affiliation stated in official materials.
Exact daily start and end times are not published publicly. The school operates a bus service with the aim that pupils arrive at school by around 08:15. Afternoon bus departures are 16:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays, and 17:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
A school bus service is provided in cooperation with Tianjin YiLong Transportation Co., Ltd. The service covers twelve routes designed to minimise journey times, with bus monitors on each vehicle. The company aims for pupils to reach school by 08:15 and provides afternoon departures at 16:00 or 17:00 depending on the day.
Boarding is available for pupils aged 11–18. The Benson is the dedicated boarding house located beside the main school, offering a safe, modern residential facility with separate accommodation for boys and girls. Most boarders live on site Sunday to Thursday and may go home at weekends; weekend boarding is available with a tailored programme including study time, leisure, sports and communal dining.
Uniform is mandatory for all pupils. The Uniform Shop, located next to the Wellesley Arch, sells all required items (including swimwear and PE kits) and is open 8:00–17:00 on weekdays; it opens two weeks before the start of each academic year, and an online uniform shop is also available.
Catering is provided by Sodexo. All pupils are required to have school lunches; Eaglets to Year 1 dine in the Nest, while Years 2–13 dine in Main Building dining halls. A Food Committee gathers feedback from parents and pupils to help improve catering.
There are five houses. Pupils from pre-Nursery to Year 13 belong to a house, and in the Senior School houses include mixed-age groups with House Tutors and House Masters. Inter-house competitions cover sports, debating, public speaking, singing and other activities, with house points contributing to an annual winner.
The school is part of the Wellington College Education (China) family of schools, governed by the WCEC group. The family operates multiple Wellington College international campuses in China, reflecting a shared governance model across the network.
Wellington College International Tianjin delivers an International British Curriculum across Early Years, Primary (Junior School) and Secondary (Senior School), with Mandarin taught as a core language to support bilingual global citizenship. The Early Years Bilingual Centre covers Pre-Nursery to Year 1 and follows the British EYFS framework, implemented by a team of Western and Chinese teachers with assistants and activities in English and Mandarin. The Junior School curriculum is modeled on the English National Curriculum and enriched by the International Primary Curriculum, including English, Mandarin, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Arts and Physical Education alongside a broad co-curricular program. In Senior School, students work towards the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) in Years 10–11, and then progress to the A Level programme in the International Curriculum Centre, with AS Levels in Year 12 and A Levels in Year 13. Mandarin continues as a core subject throughout, with continued focus on developing proficiency across all stages.
The Wellbeing Programme at Wellington College International Tianjin, based on the English Wellington model, comprises six strands, Physical Health, Positive Relationships, Perspective, Strengths, The World, and Meaning and Purpose, and includes an expanded counselling and coaching service available to all pupils.
Public-facing materials do not specify a dedicated SEN provision, the types of SEN supported, or whether the school is a specialist SEN institution.
English is the language of instruction; Mandarin is taught daily by Mandarin specialists across year groups, and ELA is referenced as part of campus life.
Mental wellbeing is supported by a Wellbeing Programme with a campus wellbeing team, access to psychological services, mindfulness-based practices, and a counselling/coaching service for pupils.
Safeguarding and child protection are central, with annual safeguarding training for staff, signing of safeguarding policies and codes of conduct, and recruitment aligned with ITFCP guidelines.
Step 1. Visit the College. Visiting the College is optional but highly recommended. You can arrange a campus visit to see the Tianjin site and ask initial questions about the curriculum, facilities, and daily life. A visit helps families assess fit before starting the application process.
Step 2. Complete and Submit an Online Application via Open Apply. Submit the online application, upload all available supporting documents, and pay the non-refundable RMB 2,000 application fee. If this is your first time using Open Apply, you must register an account; if you already have an account, sign in and proceed with the application. After submission, the Admissions team will confirm receipt of your materials. In addition to the application, there is a one-time RMB 18,000 Resource Fee payable on acceptance, which is refundable on withdrawal in accordance with policy. The tuition fees can be paid annually or by term and include detailed termly schedules; fees and payment terms are published alongside the application steps.
Step 3. Admissions' Assessment. After the application is received, you will get an email confirmation from the Admissions Office. The Admissions team will arrange the relevant testing and, if necessary, an interview. This step determines whether further consideration by the Admissions Committee is required.
Step 4. Admissions' Committee Review Application and Assessments. The Admissions Committee reviews the application materials and assessment results. Decisions are communicated by email, and the intention is to offer a place within about one week of the assessment taking place. A campus tour can be booked if you wish to visit again or see additional facilities.
1) Academic Scholarships (IGCSE and A Level): Locals and foreigners with outstanding academic achievement can apply for IGCSE and A Level scholarships. Awards span categories and include substantial tuition fee reductions.
2) Individual Scholarships: Art Scholarships, Sports Scholarships, and Music Scholarships recognise exceptional talent in arts, athletics, or music.
3) Master's Scholarship Award: This award recognises top-performing IGCSE or A Level pupils in the Scholars Programme at graduation. Award amounts shown include 50,000 RMB for eligible IGCSE Year 11 scholars and 50,000 RMB for eligible A Level Year 13 scholars.
4) Young Achievers Scholarship (Years 7–9): Up to 10% tuition fee reduction per category (Academic, Sports, Arts, or Music). Eligibility is for students in Years 7–9 with exceptional talent.
5) IGCSE Scholarship (Years 10–11): Up to 60% tuition fee reduction combining academic and co-curricular awards (Academic Award up to 30%; Co-curricular Award up to 10% per category). Eligibility: students entering Years 10–11 with exceptional talent.
6) A Level Scholarship (Years 12–13): Award amounts range from 10% to 100% tuition fee reduction. Eligibility: students demonstrating outstanding ability in academics, sports, arts, or music.
7) Elite Sports Scholarships: Elite Performance Scholarships are available to support high-performing athletes.
8) Eligibility and application process: Eligibility criteria include reaching Grade A or above in admissions' English test and scoring 120 or higher on CAT4. Applications for scholarships begin via a scholarship enquiry form and Admissions contact; the school provides forms and guidance through the Admissions Office.
The admissions pages do not describe a waitlist or pooling system.
IST is located at 22 Weishan Nan Lu, Shuanggang, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China. The campus sits in the Shuanggang area of Jinnan District, within the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. The site is accessible by road and IST operates a bus service for students and staff. (Addresses: 22 Weishan Nan Lu; Chinese listing references Weishan South Road in the same district.)
IST is structured into Elementary School (Nursery/KG1–Grade 5) and Secondary School (Grade 6–12). Elementary is authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), while Secondary offers the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the IB Diploma Programme (DP).
IST is a co-educational day school. It serves both boys and girls across its two main sections, with no boarding facilities indicated.
IST provides a Student Services department with English Language Acquisition (ELA), Individual Needs (I.N.), Counseling, and a fully staffed school clinic. ELA supports English learners from the Elementary level, and the school offers first language classes in English, French, German, and Chinese, with Korean available in Secondary; I.N. supports students needing additional assistance.
IST has no formal country affiliation; it is presented as a genuine non-profit, parent-governed international school serving a diverse expatriate community.
IST has no religious affiliation publicly stated; admissions policies indicate no discrimination based on religion.
Elementary days run from 8:10 to 15:15, with eight 40‑minute periods, a 20‑minute morning recess (9:45–10:05) and a 60‑minute lunch (12:10–13:10); Wednesdays finish early at 14:15. Secondary days run from 8:10 to 15:15, with a 60‑minute lunch (13:10–14:10 or 13:10–14:10 depending on cycle) and Wednesdays also feature an early finish at 14:15.
IST offers a campus bus service for students and staff. Buses include a Chinese helper, seat belts, a first‑aid kit, and a mobile phone. Fees are RMB 14,200 per year (RMB 7,100 per semester) for city locations and RMB 15,300 per year (RMB 7,650 per semester) for TEDA, with pick‑ups at designated housing gates and schedules designed to keep travel time under about 45 minutes for most routes. A bus routes document is available for current stops.
The school operates as a non-profit, parent-governed international day school. It uses a state-owned but parent-governed governance model. There is no boarding provision.
A cafeteria service on campus is operated by Amashine Catering. The daily set-meal lunch is included in IST's fees.
The school is a non-profit, parent-governed international day school. It is state-owned but parent-governed; the Board of Governors comprises nine voting members and seven non-voting members, and policy implementation is delegated to the Director.
IST is divided into Elementary (0 years to Grade 5) and Secondary (Grade 6–12), with the Elementary School offering the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB-PYP) via PYP Early Years (KG1–KG2) and PYP (KG3–Grade 5). The Secondary School is a fully authorized IB World School offering the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP, Grades 6–10) and the IB Diploma Programme (DP, Grades 11–12). In the DP, students study six subjects from the six groups (Studies in Language and Literature; Language Acquisition; Individuals and Societies; Sciences; Mathematics; The Arts), with 3 Higher Level and 3 Standard Level, plus the core Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). IST also offers the IST Diploma, a fully accredited course of study equivalent to a US high school diploma. The instruction is English, supported by English Language Acquisition, and DP language offerings include English, Chinese, French, German and Korean. Service learning is embedded across the IB continuum, with PYP Action, MYP Action and DP CAS guiding student engagement with communities.
IST supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a structured Counseling program that promotes the overall wellness of students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The School Counseling program is described as comprehensive, preventative, and accessible, covering academic, personal/social, career, and global-perspective domains. The Counseling Department offers services across Academic Development (study skills, organization, tutoring), Career Development (PSAT/SAT prep, university planning, and visits), and Personal/Social Development (individual and group counseling, grief management, peer conflict resolution, new student orientation, and transition presentations). Counselors are described as holding Master's level credentials and providing support for academic, social, and career concerns, while referrals to external professionals may be made for diagnoses or specialized needs. A designated Counseling contact is provided for inquiries: StudentServices@istianjin.org.cn.
IST provides Learning Support and an Individual Needs (I.N.) program to assist students who require additional help to participate in school programs. The Learning Support/I.N. framework supports in-class or small‑group instruction and may include classroom modifications, with a focus on enabling participation in regular classes. The Student Services Department emphasizes collaboration with classroom teachers to design curriculum and implement diverse teaching strategies, and it explicitly values mother tongue and culture while supporting English language development. English Language Acquisition (ELA) and I.N. work together to support students with language and learning needs, with ELA incorporating pull‑out and push‑in approaches in the Elementary School and alignment to MYP/DP in Secondary. First language offerings include English, French, German, and Chinese (English and mother-tongue maintenance are supported), with Korean available in Secondary, and Mandarin offered to all students. The information published does not enumerate a detailed taxonomy of Special Educational Needs; SEN support is described in general terms through Learning Support and the IN program.
IST provides English Language Acquisition (ELA) as part of its Student Services to develop academic English proficiency and enable access to the mainstream curriculum. ESL teachers collaborate with homeroom and subject teachers to support students. In Elementary (Grades 1‑5), ELA uses a combination of pull‑out and push‑in support, with up to two pull‑out lessons per day for foundational language needs. In Secondary, ELA aligns with MYP and DP English language acquisition courses, with placement based on the WIDA framework and grouped by proficiency level; students may take English Language and Literature once proficient enough. IST also offers First Language classes in English, French, German, and Chinese (Korean in Secondary), plus Mandarin for all students, and actively supports mother tongue maintenance and development.
Mental wellbeing at IST is embedded in the School Counseling program, which aims to promote the overall wellness of K‑12 students and provides preventative, accessible support across academic, personal/social, career, and global perspectives. Counseling services cover Academic Development, Career Development, and Personal/Social Development, including offerings such as group counseling, grief management, peer conflict resolution, new student orientation, and transition planning. Professional School Counselors hold Master's level credentials; they assist with concerns in academic, social, and career areas but do not diagnose, with external referrals arranged as needed. The Student Services Department also comprises ELA and IN programs, which support students' language and social needs and contribute to overall wellbeing. For contact or referrals, the Counseling team can be reached at StudentServices@istianjin.org.cn.
IST operates a Community Safeguarding Framework that centers on promoting the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of the entire IST community. Safeguarding policies are guided by the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1990) and are reinforced by the IST School Philosophy. The framework comprises Eight Essential Domains, each with defined Mission and Objectives, to govern safeguarding scope and the wellbeing of all community members. Details of the framework are available as IST Community Safeguarding Framework materials, including an overview PDF, which can be downloaded from the school's safeguarding resources. The framework and related policies reflect the IST Board of Governors' Community Safeguarding Policy 5.1j, underlining a formal, school‑wide commitment to child protection and welfare.
1. Step 1 — Determine grade placement and eligibility. Student placement is age-based with a September 30 cut-off; the minimum admission age is two years and nine months, and exceptions may be considered for near-cut-off birth dates. For example, some near-cut-off cases may join KG1a or KG1b under specific age rules, and placement continues upward from KG3. The director may specify exceptions as needed. This age framework guides which grade your child would enter before formal application.
2. Step 2 — Prepare and submit the Student Admissions Application Package. To initiate formal enrollment, you submit a copy of the Student Admissions Application Package for each child online, by email, post, or delivery to the school. The admissions forms are provided in writable PDF format and can be completed after download; Form F must be printed and filled by a doctor. You submit the completed forms by pressing the Submit button at the bottom right of each form.
3. Step 3 — Complete and gather the required application forms. The available documents include the Admissions Application Package (writable) and Application Forms A-C (writable); a Korean translation of Form C is available; D (School Transfer), E (General Health), and F (Doctor) forms are also provided. You can download and print these forms or request the package by email if needed. Ensure all forms are completed and ready for submission.
4. Step 4 — Contact the school to discuss enrollment and next steps. The school invites prospective families to engage in person, by telephone, or by email to learn more about IST and the admission process. You can reach out to discuss your child's needs, placement, and the documentation required. This initial contact helps clarify expectations and timelines.
5. Step 5 — Admissions decision and panel process. The decision to admit a student is made by the Principals in consultation with the Director and relevant academic staff. This decision takes into account the student's fit with IST's academic program and environment. All decisions are made through this process and communicated accordingly.
6. Step 6 — Complete applications and processing. IST does not discriminate in admissions but uses a structured review. Remaining applicants are processed by the date of receipt of a fully completed application; incomplete applications will not be processed unless special arrangements are made. It is essential that all components of the application are provided to move forward.
7. Step 7 — Attendance and enrollment prerequisites. Students may not attend class until all parts of the application package are received by the school office. This ensures that enrollment can be properly scheduled and that the school has all necessary records before a student begins.
8. Step 8 — Fees and final enrollment steps. If admitted, families will be invoiced according to IST's fee schedule. A non-refundable Registration Fee of 2,000 RMB applies to new students; there are components A (non-refundable) and B/C (pro-rated) that determine total tuition at different grade levels. The schedule includes tuition per grade, currency options (RMB or USD), and payment guidelines (deadlines, potential quarterly payment options, early payment discounts, and IB-related fees). Additional details cover language-tongue fees, family discounts for multiple children, and refunds under various scenarios. For example, Component A fees are non-refundable and paid annually; Component B is pro-rated; there are tiered tuition figures by grade; and IB Diploma exam fees are payable to the IB with timing rules. See the Fees page for the full schedule and the Payment Guidelines section for timing.
IST offers scholarships for students in their final two years (Grades 11–12) under a 2026/2028 Scholarship Program. Scholarships can be Full (covering all tuition: components A & B), Tuition (covering tuition only: component B), or Bursaries (covering half of tuition: half of component B). Scholarships are awarded for up to two years (Grades 11–12) and may be granted to current IST students with demonstrated financial need or to non-IST students with exceptional talent to enrich the IB Diploma Programme. Selection allows a maximum of three IST scholarships or bursaries for current IST students each year and a similar number for external candidates. The process includes examinations, a formal interview, and final selection by the IST Scholarship Committee of the IST School Board of Governors. Eligibility requires English proficiency and a track record of strong academic performance; families may not receive more than one full scholarship at a time. Applicants should contact the school to obtain an application package. The closing date is February 13, 2026, with scholarship examinations on February 28, 2026 and interviews around March 4; awards are announced by late March 2026.
IST does not publish a formal waitlist or waiting pool. Admissions are described as being processed by date of receipt of a fully completed application, with priority admissions given to certain groups. The policy outlines Priority Admissions (for Capital Levy holders/Associate Members, siblings, and ESL-resource considerations) and states that remaining applications are processed in order of receipt. In short, IST relies on a date-of-receipt process with explicit priority rules rather than a public waitlist.
The Tianjin International School campus is at 4–1 Sishui Dao, Hexi District, Tianjin 300222, China. The campus sits in Hexi District and is a three‑floor facility housing the Early Childhood Center (ECC), Elementary, and Secondary divisions. It features 75 modern classrooms, two libraries, a STEAM wing with science labs and a robotics lab, art studios, an indoor gym, an outdoor soccer field, and a 350+ seat auditorium.
The school serves Foundation Class–Kindergarten, Elementary Grades 1–6, and Secondary Grades 7–12.
Co-educational; day international school.
English Language Support (ELS) services A and B are available for students needing additional language support. Secondary offers Learning Support with a Learning Support Teacher and Co-teacher. The school describes Academic Special Needs provisions in the admissions materials with services adjusted to the level of need.
There is no formal country affiliation noted; the school is part of the LifePlus international school network.
No religious affiliation is stated in official materials.
The school day runs from 8:00 to 16:00, Monday through Friday.
A bus service is provided with multiple routes. Morning pick‑up routes include Apple, Litchi, Grape, Orange and Mango lines with published times; tracking is via the iBusChina app.
The school has a cafeteria on campus. The Landing coffee shop provides on-site refreshments.
Tianjin International School in Tianjin, China provides Pre-K through Grade 12 education in English and follows an American curriculum, with Cognia accreditation. The school is organized into Early Childhood (FC–K), Elementary (Grades 1–6), and Secondary (Grades 7–12). Elementary focuses on sustained language development with a Daily 5 Literacy program, solid mathematics instruction, and deliberate character development, complemented by learning beyond the classroom and active parent partnerships. Secondary offers a broad Advanced Placement (AP) program, with about 15 AP courses and a Dual Enrollment option, and includes the AP Capstone Diploma. Across divisions, university and career planning and a robust co-curricular program support leadership development and lifelong learning.
Tianjin International School supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a dedicated counseling team and advisory teachers within a safe, caring community. The counseling team addresses emotional and social difficulties, helps students build emotional resilience, navigate interpersonal relationships, and manage stress. Follow-up and collaboration sessions are arranged to plan long-term social-skill training and self-esteem building. The environment is designed to be safe and supportive, with on-site health staff and counseling as part of student well-being. The school emphasizes SEL as an ongoing practice supported by counseling services and student-support structures.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, including types of needs supported, staff qualifications, or whether a dedicated SEN unit exists.
Tianjin International School provides Pre K–12 education in English. The Early Childhood Center uses English immersion to support language development, and the Elementary program emphasizes sustained language development and language arts to support reading, writing, listening and speaking. Language development is presented as a central feature of the curriculum across the lower grades. Explicit EAL staff, programs, or targeted EAL classes are not detailed in publicly available materials.
Mental wellbeing is supported through a school counseling team and advisory teachers who care for students and provide social-emotional support. Counselors address emotional and social difficulties, help students develop resilience, navigate relationships, and manage stress, with follow-up sessions for ongoing social-skill training and self-esteem building. A Health Office with a trained healthcare professional is on duty daily from 8:00 to 17:00. The school monitors air quality daily at 8:00 under nurse guidance and adjusts activities to protect health, including for students with asthma. Safeguarding and child-protection practices are integrated into school routines through established policies and designated staff.
Safeguarding is underpinned by Child Safety Policies and a Code of Conduct, with regular training for staff, volunteers, and students. Two staff members in each school are designated as Child Safety Specialists to raise awareness and respond to concerns. Policies and Procedures (English) govern safeguarding, with confidentiality maintained when concerns are raised. A confidential channel to raise concerns is available via an online form, and responses are handled by designated staff. The safeguarding framework integrates with on-site Health Office procedures to support student safety.
1. Step 1: Submission. Tianjin International School uses a rolling admissions policy and accepts applications throughout the year. To start, complete and submit the online application form. This step focuses on collecting basic information about your family and your child as a precursor to the rest of the process.
2. Step 2: Paperwork. The school will request supporting documents for both the applicant and the child. Typical documents include copies of your passport and visa or residence permit, and your child's immunization record, as well as previous school records or transcripts. All documents must be in English or translated into English. An Enrollment Deposit is required to reserve your child's space.
3. Step 3: Assessment. You will be invited to come to the school for an interview, and your child may be asked to take an assessment test in math, reading, and language. The admissions office will schedule any required tests as needed. This step helps the school assess readiness and fit with the program.
4. Step 4: Decision. After the process is complete, you will be notified within about one week of the decision. The outcome can be an acceptance, a decline, or placement of your child's name in the waiting pool. If accepted, you will be asked to pay the enrollment deposit and prepare to start school. Age-based placement uses September 30 as the cut-off: FC must be 3 by Sept 30, JK 4, K 5, and Grade 1 6 in the enrolment year.
Tianjin International School offers the TIS Scholars Award for secondary students. The scholarship targets tenth-grade applicants and provides either a full or a partial tuition scholarship for the eleventh and twelfth grades if accepted. Applicants must complete an essay about themselves, create a video detailing their accomplishments and efforts, and participate in an interview with a scholarship panel. The award is for up to two years, and recipients may later present the award to universities along with the school's confirmation. In 2025–2027, four scholarship recipients were celebrated, including both internal and external applicants.
The admissions process can result in placement of your child's name in the waiting pool if the application is not immediately accepted. The waiting pool is part of the decision pathway described in the final step, indicating that you may be offered a place when vacancies arise.
