How many French schools in Beijing
Beijing has one anchor school delivering the full French national curriculum, the Lycee Francais International Charles de Gaulle de Pekin. Founded in 1964 and now operating from a purpose-built campus in Shunyi District, it is fully accredited by the French Agency for French Education Abroad, the AEFE. Because the cluster has only one mainstream provider, this page is a guide rather than a ranking. There is no second French national school in the city to compare against.
Beyond Lycee Francais, Beijing offers French language pathways at a handful of bilingual nurseries and primary schools, and some Chinese national schools include French as a foreign language option from middle school. Families looking specifically for the French national curriculum, French baccalaureat and onward access to French and Belgian universities, should treat Lycee Francais as the practical choice. The school had around 800 pupils across maternelle through terminale at the most recent published count.
The cluster's small size has practical implications. Waiting lists at the popular year groups, especially maternelle and primaire entry, are managed actively. Mid-year transfers depend on departures; in practice the school is at or near capacity in most years, which makes early registration essential for any family planning a Beijing move.
Fees and tiers
French curriculum tuition in Beijing sits well below the international school median. Annual tuition at Lycee Francais ranges from around RMB 110,000 in maternelle to RMB 180,000 at terminale, with a one-off registration fee of approximately RMB 12,000. There is no capital contribution of the kind levied at the major American and IB schools in the city, reflecting the AEFE network model and French public subsidy.
French citizens may qualify for the AEFE scholarship scheme, the bourses, which is means tested and can cover a meaningful share of fees for families resident outside France. Non-French passport holders pay full tuition. Lunch, school transport and trips typically add 10 to 12 percent. See our Beijing fees guide for cross-cluster comparison.
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The AEFE pathway
Lycee Francais delivers the full French national programme from petite section through terminale. The school prepares students for the brevet at end of college and the baccalaureat at end of terminale, with all three main bac series available depending on cohort demand. Diploma results consistently exceed the AEFE network average, reflecting both family selectivity and small class sizes.
Most graduates progress to French Parcoursup admissions for higher education in France, with a meaningful minority applying to Belgian, Swiss and Canadian francophone universities, and a growing group entering UK Russell Group institutions through UCAS. The French curriculum guide sets out the bac specialities, the assessment weighting and the recognition of the French bac by university systems worldwide.
Illustrative example school
Lycee Francais International Charles de Gaulle de Pekin (Shunyi). The only AEFE accredited school in Beijing. Full programme from maternelle through terminale on a purpose-built campus in Shunyi with around 800 pupils. Strong placement at Sciences Po, French grandes ecoles preparation classes, Belgian universities, Canadian francophone universities and selected UK and Asian destinations. Mandarin is taught from primaire and English is offered as a second foreign language.
Where French families live
French families in Beijing have historically clustered in three areas. Sanlitun and the broader Chaoyang district, around the French embassy and the long-standing French expatriate cafes and bakeries, remain the cultural heart of the community. Apartment living is the default here. Sanlitun suits younger French families and those without children of senior school age, given the school bus commute time to Shunyi.
The Shunyi villa belt, including Capital Paradise, Beijing Riviera and Quanfa, holds many French families with children at Lycee Francais. The campus is in Shunyi and the residential estates are within a 15 to 25 minute bus commute. French families in Shunyi often share the same compounds as American and Northern European international school families, giving the area a multilingual, multicultural feel.
Liangmaqiao and the third embassy district provide a middle path: apartment based living with reasonable Shunyi commute times. The French ambassador's residence, several French corporate offices and the most active Alliance Francaise venues sit in this corridor. Most families discover the practical commute trade-offs only after touring schools and housing in parallel, which we recommend over selecting either first.
Admissions calendar
Lycee Francais runs the French academic year. The main intake is September and applications open in October of the previous year, with priority deadlines in late January. The school maintains active waiting lists in maternelle and primaire, with most movement occurring between May and August as French corporate relocations confirm.
Mid-year transfers are accepted where places exist, with most space appearing in college and lycee years rather than the popular early years. Diploma year transfers after October of premiere are usually discouraged given the continuous assessment weighting in the new baccalaureat structure. Apply at least six months ahead if you can; the school is operating close to capacity and offers limited overflow.
Frequently asked questions
How many French curriculum schools are in Beijing?
Beijing has one mainstream French national curriculum school, the Lycee Francais International Charles de Gaulle de Pekin, fully AEFE accredited and operating from a purpose-built Shunyi campus. A small number of bilingual nurseries and primary schools offer French language pathways but none deliver the full French national programme through to the baccalaureat.
How much does the Lycee Francais in Beijing cost?
Annual tuition ranges from around RMB 110,000 in maternelle to RMB 180,000 in terminale, with a one-off registration fee of approximately RMB 12,000. There is no capital contribution. AEFE bourses are available to French citizens on a means tested basis. Lunch, transport and trips add 10 to 12 percent.
Can non-French families enrol at the Lycee Francais Beijing?
Yes. Lycee Francais Beijing accepts pupils of any nationality. Children with no prior French exposure are typically placed in supported entry programmes through maternelle or primaire and may need a French language assessment at older ages. The school has a multinational community with around forty nationalities represented.
Does the French baccalaureat work for US or UK universities?
Yes. The French baccalaureat is recognised by UK universities through UCAS conditional offers and by US universities through Common App, with strong placement at Russell Group and selective US private universities each year. The bac is also the standard route to French grandes ecoles preparatory classes and to Belgian and Canadian francophone universities.
When do French school applications open in Beijing?
The main September intake opens for applications in October of the previous year with priority deadlines in late January. Mid-year applications are accepted where places exist, with most movement between May and August. Apply at least six months ahead; the school operates close to capacity in most years.
Is Mandarin taught at the Lycee Francais Beijing?
Yes. Mandarin is taught from primaire onward and continues through college and lycee. Several pupils choose Mandarin as a second foreign language at the baccalaureat. The school is located in Shunyi District in a Chinese language environment, supporting daily Mandarin exposure through extracurricular and community activities.
