In this guide
Typical fee bands in 2026
For an established international school in Beijing in 2026, plan on roughly RMB 150,000 to RMB 380,000 per year, which is about USD 21,000 to USD 53,000 at recent rates. Premium schools sit above that ceiling. The single biggest driver of where you land in that band is the year group: early years and lower primary tuition sits towards the bottom, and senior school, particularly the IB Diploma and A-Level years, sits at the top. Curriculum and campus facilities push the figure too, but stage is the first lever. Treat these as planning ranges rather than quotes, and confirm the exact figure on each school's own fees page, because schools review tuition annually.
What named schools publish
Where schools publish their figures, they give a useful anchor for the bands above. The examples below are drawn from published or reported 2025/26 tuition and should be confirmed with each school before you budget against them.
| School | Reported 2025/26 tuition |
|---|---|
| Dulwich College Beijing (Shunyi) | From about RMB 245,000 (nursery and reception) to RMB 373,000 (Years 12 to 13). |
| Harrow International School Beijing | Primary tuition reported from around RMB 380,000, with secondary higher. |
| Market range (most established schools) | Roughly RMB 150,000 to RMB 380,000 a year, premium schools above. |
The spread between these points illustrates the rule of thumb: a younger child at a mid-market school can cost less than half what a senior student at a premium school does. For how the bands line up by curriculum and stage across the whole city, our international school fees in Beijing guide is the deeper reference.
Match a school to your budget
The school finder filters Beijing schools by curriculum, district and stage, so you can shortlist within the fee band that fits your family.
Use the school finderCosts beyond tuition
Tuition is the headline, but it is not the whole bill. Most Beijing schools charge a non-refundable application fee at the point of applying, the International School of Beijing charges RMB 2,800 for example, followed by a registration fee and a deposit when you accept an offer. Then there are the costs that are easy to forget: the notarisation, apostille and translation of the child's documents, school transport on routes that can be long in a spread-out city, uniform, lunches and trips. None of these is large against tuition, but together they shape the first-year total, so build them into the plan rather than meeting them as surprises.
How to budget
Three habits keep a Beijing school budget honest. Price the senior years even for a young child, because fees rise sharply through the school and a multi-year posting will reach those bands. Confirm the billing schedule, usually by semester with the larger invoice at the August start, so the cash-flow timing matches your salary or allowance. And if an employer pays a schooling allowance, check whether it covers the full tuition or only a capped share, and whether the extras above fall inside or outside it. For families still weighing when to relocate around the fee and term calendar, our best time to move to Beijing for schools guide sets out the trade-offs.
Frequently asked questions
How much are international school fees in Beijing in 2026?
Most established international schools in Beijing charge roughly RMB 150,000 to RMB 380,000 per year, around USD 21,000 to USD 53,000, with premium schools above that range. Fees rise with year group, so the early years sit at the lower end and senior or IB Diploma years at the top.
Which Beijing school fees are published for 2025 to 2026?
Dulwich College Beijing published 2025/26 tuition ranging from about RMB 245,000 for the nursery and reception years to RMB 373,000 for Years 12 to 13. Harrow International School Beijing has reported primary tuition from around RMB 380,000. Always confirm the current figure on each school's own fees page.
What costs come on top of tuition in Beijing?
Beyond tuition, expect a non-refundable application fee, the International School of Beijing charges RMB 2,800 for example, plus a registration fee and a deposit on offer acceptance. Budget separately for the apostille and translation of documents, transport and uniform.
How are Beijing school fees billed?
Tuition is usually billed by semester, with the larger invoice falling around the August start of the academic year. Some schools offer termly or monthly options. Confirm the billing schedule before accepting, especially if a schooling allowance is paid by an employer.