On this page
For the full picture of senior provision, start with our international schools in Beijing directory, which lists every school by curriculum and stage. The schools below all run an examined Years 12 to 13 or Grades 11 to 12 programme that leads directly to university entry, and they admit by application rather than by catchment. This is a shortlist to research, not a ranking, and provision changes, so confirm current pathways with each school.
If you are weighing the qualification itself, our guides to A-levels and the International Baccalaureate explain how each is examined and recognised by universities. Families focused on outcomes should also read our shortlist of the best schools for university preparation in Beijing.
The shortlist
Dulwich College Beijing
Dulwich College Beijing is a co-educational independent school for expatriate children from across more than 30 countries. Students follow Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10 and 11 and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Years 12 and 13, and the school announced an additional A-levels pathway from August 2025. That dual sixth form offer, IB Diploma alongside A-levels, is unusual in Beijing and lets families choose the qualification that fits the child rather than the school.
Harrow International School Beijing
Harrow Beijing opened in 2005 and runs a British curriculum from early years through to Year 13, with a larger senior campus at Hegezhuang. Sixth formers take A-levels after IGCSE, in the house and pastoral tradition modelled on Harrow School in London. It is a natural shortlist entry for families who want a wholly British sixth form with A-levels as the leaving qualification.
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi
Part of the Nord Anglia group, the British School of Beijing in Shunyi teaches an enhanced English National Curriculum, with students sitting IGCSE at 16 and then studying the IB Diploma in the sixth form at ages 17 and 18. Families who want a British school lower down but the breadth of the IB Diploma at the top will find that combination here.
Western Academy of Beijing
Western Academy of Beijing is one of the city's largest and most established schools and an IB World School running the IB continuum, with the IB Diploma in the final two years. Its scale supports a wide Diploma subject choice and a well staffed senior school, which matters when a child's Diploma combination is unusual.
How we chose
We included only Beijing schools we could confirm run a genuine, externally examined sixth form leading to university entry, the IB Diploma, A-levels or both, and that enrol students through to Year 13 or Grade 12. We did not rank them, score them or attach ratings, because the right sixth form depends on your child's subjects, the qualification universities in your target country prefer, and the fit of the school. Verify current subject lists and pathways directly, as schools add and retire options year to year.
Shortlist Beijing schools for your child
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and priorities and the school finder returns a matched Beijing shortlist.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
Sixth form fees in Beijing sit at the upper end of each school's fee schedule, and the senior years are typically the most expensive. Rather than quote figures that move each year, we keep the live bands in one place: see our guide to international school fees in Beijing for current tuition by school and stage, and confirm the exact sixth form figure, plus any examination and deposit costs, with the school before you apply.
To build a shortlist around your child, use the school finder, browse the full Beijing schools directory, or compare the related shortlists for university preparation and boarding in Beijing.
Common questions
Harrow International School Beijing teaches A-levels through to Year 13, and Dulwich College Beijing added an A-levels pathway from August 2025 alongside its IB Diploma. Several other British style schools offer A-levels; confirm the current subject list with each school, as offerings change year to year.
The British School of Beijing in Shunyi, Western Academy of Beijing and Dulwich College Beijing all run the IB Diploma in Years 12 and 13. The IB Diploma is widely recognised by universities worldwide. See our IB curriculum guide for how it is examined.
Neither is universally better. The IB Diploma is broad, with six subjects plus the core, while A-levels let a student specialise in three or four. Universities in different countries express preferences in their entry requirements, so the better choice depends on your child's strengths and target universities. Our curriculum guides compare both in detail.
Sixth form sits at the top of each school's fee scale and is usually the most expensive stage. Figures change annually, so we maintain current tuition by school and stage in our international school fees in Beijing guide rather than quote a number that dates quickly.
No. Beijing international schools admit by application, assessment and interview rather than by residential catchment, so where you live does not guarantee a place. Apply directly to each school and check its entry requirements for the sixth form.