In this guide
Choose the curriculum first
The single most useful decision when moving to Beijing with children is the curriculum, because it shapes the shortlist, the fees and how easily a child transfers if you move again. Beijing offers British, American and International Baccalaureate pathways among others, with the IB Diploma and A-Level routes for senior students. The guiding principle is continuity rather than prestige: a child part-way through one system almost always settles fastest by staying in it, so a family arriving from a British school should weight the British and IB schools, and one arriving from an American system should look first at the American and IB campuses. Our IB curriculum hub explains how the Diploma years work, which helps if your child is approaching the senior phase.
Where the schools cluster
Beijing's international schools are concentrated in the north-east, and families generally choose the school first and the home second because city traffic makes a long commute hard on young children. Shunyi, out towards the airport, is the largest cluster and holds the International School of Beijing and Dulwich College Beijing, both with extensive campuses and the green space that draws families away from the centre. Chaoyang, closer to the central business district, is home to the Western Academy of Beijing and suits parents who want a shorter hop to downtown offices. Knowing which district your shortlist sits in tells you where to focus a house hunt; our Beijing primary schools guide maps the main clusters by stage.
Tip · Shortlist by district, then tour
Group your shortlisted schools by district so a single visiting trip covers a cluster rather than crossing the city twice. The spring open-day season is the easiest time to do this; see our Beijing open days 2026 page for confirmed dates.
What schooling costs
School fees are usually the largest line in a Beijing family budget after housing. Most established international schools charge roughly RMB 150,000 to RMB 380,000 a year, with premium schools above that. As a concrete reference, Dulwich College Beijing published 2025/26 tuition ranging from about RMB 245,000 in the early years to RMB 373,000 in Years 12 to 13. On top of tuition, budget for a non-refundable application fee, a registration fee and a deposit, and remember the apostille and translation of documents carries its own cost. Many relocating families negotiate a schooling allowance into the contract, so price the schools before you sign. Our international school fees in Beijing guide breaks the bands down by curriculum and stage.
Timing the move around school
The cleanest move aligns with the August start of the academic year, when new children join their peers at the start of a fresh year. A smaller January second-semester entry is the alternative for families whose relocation lands mid-year. Whichever you target, begin the school application the autumn before, because popular year groups close from January and the document chain, notarisation, apostille and translation, takes four to eight weeks. The sequence is set out in our how to apply to international schools in Beijing walkthrough, and the windows in our Beijing admissions deadlines 2026 page.
Start with a focused shortlist
The school finder narrows Beijing schools by curriculum, district and stage, so a family move starts from the right four or five schools rather than the whole city.
Use the school finderHelping children settle
The schooling decision does not end at enrolment. Children settle faster when the school choice protects continuity, so keep the curriculum steady where you can and lean on the school's transition support, which most Beijing campuses run for new arrivals. Practical things help too: confirm the school bus route before fixing a home, ask about language support if your child is new to English-medium learning, and use the long northern-hemisphere summer as a buffer to arrive before term rather than during it. A child who starts in August with the rest of a new cohort has an easier landing than one who joins mid-term into settled friendship groups.
Frequently asked questions
Where do most expat families with children live in Beijing?
Most international families cluster around the schools, which sit mainly in the north-east of the city. Shunyi, near the airport, holds campuses such as the International School of Beijing and Dulwich College Beijing, while Chaoyang, closer to the centre, is home to the Western Academy of Beijing. Choosing the school first and the home second is the usual approach, because Beijing traffic makes a long commute hard on young children.
Which curriculum should I choose when moving to Beijing?
Choose the curriculum your child can continue elsewhere if you move again. Beijing offers British, American and IB pathways among others, with IB Diploma and A-Level routes for senior students. Continuity matters more than prestige: a child mid-way through one system usually settles fastest by staying in it.
How much does it cost to school a child in Beijing?
Most established international schools in Beijing charge roughly RMB 150,000 to RMB 380,000 a year, with premium schools higher; Dulwich College Beijing, for example, published 2025/26 tuition from about RMB 245,000 in the early years to RMB 373,000 in Years 12 to 13. Budget separately for registration, deposit and the document apostille process.
When should we time a move to Beijing around school?
The cleanest move aligns with the August start of the academic year, with a smaller January second-semester entry as an alternative. Begin school applications the autumn before, because popular year groups fill from January and the document chain takes four to eight weeks.