The Beijing fee landscape
Beijing hosts the historical anchor international schools of mainland China. ISB and WAB are among Asia's longest-established. Premium tier sits at RMB 280,000-340,000 per year. Mid-tier at RMB 200,000-280,000. Embassy schools (American Embassy School, French International School, German Embassy School) sit slightly below or at premium tier and are restricted to specific nationalities or those whose employer has reciprocal access.
As with Shanghai, Chinese passport-holders are restricted from attending pure international schools and must attend bilingual Chinese internationals or state schools.
2026 fee tiers (Beijing)
| Tier | Annual fee range (RMB) | Annual fee range (USD) | Typical schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium international | RMB 280,000 - 340,000 | USD 39,000 - 47,500 | International School of Beijing (ISB), Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), Dulwich Beijing, Harrow Beijing, BSB |
| Upper-mid international | RMB 190,000 - 280,000 | USD 26,500 - 39,000 | Yew Chung International, BISS Beijing, Daystar Academy, Eduwings, Australian International |
| Bilingual Chinese internationals | RMB 130,000 - 220,000 | USD 18,000 - 30,500 | Various bilingual Chinese internationals (Keystone Academy, Beanstalk, Dulwich International) |
| Embassy / diplomatic | RMB 220,000 - 320,000 | USD 30,500 - 44,500 | American Embassy School, French International, German Embassy School (restricted access) |
The hidden extras
Total cost-of-place adds 10-15% to headline fees. Largest line items: registration and re-registration fees (RMB 4,000-12,000), school bus (RMB 25,000-45,000. Beijing distances are significant), uniform (RMB 4,000-8,000), iPad/laptop programmes (RMB 8,000-18,000), exam entries (RMB 6,000-15,000), trips (RMB 8,000-25,000), lunch (RMB 8,000-15,000).
Year-on-year fee inflation
Beijing school fees rose 3.5% on average across 2025-26, similar to Shanghai. Premium schools tracked 3.5-4.5%; mid-tier 3.0-4.0%. Lower than pre-pandemic 5-7%. Some premium schools have offered enrolment incentives (early-bird discounts, multi-year fee freezes) to maintain enrolment in the post-pandemic context.
The post-pandemic context
Beijing's international school cohort fell more sharply than Shanghai's during 2020-2023, with several schools cutting capacity or consolidating campuses. Recovery has been gradual. Premium schools generally have available places at most ages in 2026. pre-2020 waitlist pressure has substantially eased. Mid-tier schools are actively recruiting.
Beijing vs. Shanghai
A premium IB Diploma place at WAB or ISB Beijing runs RMB 290,000-340,000 (USD 40,500-47,500) per year. The equivalent at SAS or Dulwich Shanghai runs RMB 320,000-360,000. Beijing is roughly 5-10% cheaper than Shanghai at the premium tier. Cost-of-living differential favours Beijing for housing and transport; Shanghai for food and lifestyle.
Sibling discounts
Some Beijing schools offer 5-10% sibling discounts; ISB, WAB and several premium schools offer none. Bilingual Chinese internationals more commonly offer sibling discounts. See our sibling discount table.
Currency exposure
RMB-denominated. USD-paid families have modest currency risk; GBP and EUR-paid families relatively neutral. Some schools accept USD payment at preferred rates for foreign passport families.