How many IB schools in Beijing
Beijing currently lists around eleven authorised IB World Schools across the city and its inner suburbs. Nine deliver the full IB Diploma at sixth form, with the remaining two offering only the Primary Years Programme. Most schools cluster in Shunyi District around the Lido and Houshayu villa enclaves, with two providers in the Central Business District and one in the airport corridor.
Diploma cohorts in Beijing are larger than in the smaller mainland China hubs. A typical Beijing IB Diploma cohort runs to 50 to 120 pupils, with the largest school, the Western Academy of Beijing, graduating around 130 a year. Larger cohorts mean strong subject breadth at Higher Level, including less common options such as Mandarin B Higher Level and IB Visual Arts.
The cluster is mature but contracted post-2020. Several Beijing IB schools downsized during the pandemic and have not fully recovered enrolment to pre-2020 levels. Diploma scores remain above the global average of 30 points across most providers, with WAB and ISB consistently above 36 points. The strongest results sit at full continuum schools running PYP, MYP and DP in sequence.
Fees and tiers
IB Diploma tuition in Beijing sits within three rough tiers. The value tier, RMB 240,000 to RMB 270,000 a year, covers smaller IB providers and lower senior school years at mid-tier schools. The mid tier, RMB 270,000 to RMB 310,000, captures Canadian International School of Beijing, Beijing City International School and Yew Chung International School senior school. The premium tier, RMB 310,000 to RMB 340,000, applies to ISB and WAB sixth form years.
Published tuition is not the all-in cost. Capital contributions are common at Beijing schools, typically a one-off RMB 30,000 to RMB 80,000 on enrolment, although some schools waive this for corporate sponsored families. Examination registration, lunch, transport and trips add a further 10 to 15 percent. Detailed loading patterns sit in our Beijing fees guide.
Not sure which school is the right fit?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three schools based on your child's age, your budget, and your timeline. Free, no obligation.
Passport rules and access
Beijing IB schools are tightly regulated under Chinese Ministry of Education rules. The largest providers, ISB and WAB, are licensed to enrol only children holding a foreign passport or those whose parents hold permanent residency in another country. Children with mainland Chinese passports are not eligible at these schools, although exceptions exist for ethnic Chinese families holding Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan documents in some cases.
The mid-tier IB providers including Beijing City International School and Yew Chung International School operate under bilingual or private licences and accept a broader mix of nationalities, including some mainland Chinese passport holders enrolled in the Chinese national stream. Always confirm the licence type and the implications for university destinations during the admissions process. Our Beijing IB school review covers individual school licensing in more detail.
Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each is an authorised IB World School in Beijing with a continuous track record of Diploma graduates entering top tier universities worldwide.
Western Academy of Beijing (Lido). WAB runs the full PYP, MYP and DP continuum on a single large campus in the Lido enclave. Strong destinations in the US, UK and Canadian Russell Group and Ivy League universities.
International School of Beijing (Shunyi). ISB delivers the full IB continuum on a flagship Shunyi campus. The longest-established American style international school in Beijing and the most popular choice for senior management relocations.
Yew Chung International School of Beijing (Honglingjin). A bilingual co teaching model with the IB Diploma at sixth form. Each classroom has one English and one Mandarin teacher.
Beijing City International School (CBD). Centrally located IB World School with the full continuum from PYP through to DP. A strong choice for families based in the central business district.
Canadian International School of Beijing (Liangmaqiao). Ontario curriculum at lower school transitioning to IB Diploma at sixth form. Popular with Canadian and Australian relocations.
Where IB families live
IB families in Beijing cluster around four areas. Shunyi District, including Houshayu, Tianzhu and Wangjing, holds ISB, WAB and several other major IB providers. Most families in this catchment live in compound style villa estates such as Capital Paradise, Beijing Riviera and Quanfa with on site amenities and short school commutes.
The Lido neighbourhood serves WAB and offers a denser apartment based environment popular with younger families. Central business district areas including Sanlitun, Chaoyang Park and Liangmaqiao serve Beijing City International School, Canadian International School and Yew Chung. Sanlitun is the cosmopolitan core of expat Beijing and combines apartment living with city walkability.
The airport corridor along Tianzhu and the Yangtze River New Town towards Zhangjiawan suits families prioritising villa space over commute time, with school bus links running to Shunyi schools. Most Beijing international schools provide door to door bus services with a one-time bond on enrolment.
Admissions calendar
Most Beijing IB schools open the main August intake window in November of the previous year and close priority deadlines by late February. Mid-year transfers in PYP and MYP are common where places exist. Diploma Programme transfers after October of Year 12 are usually declined because Internal Assessment work is already underway and subject choices are locked.
If you are targeting WAB or ISB, apply nine to twelve months before your desired start. Both schools maintain waiting lists for the most popular year groups, with the largest movement between May and August as withdrawals come through. Mid-year applications are accepted with English, mathematics and a writing assessment. Capital contributions are payable on acceptance unless covered by corporate sponsorship.
Frequently asked questions
How many IB schools are there in Beijing?
Beijing has around eleven authorised IB World Schools. Nine deliver the full IB Diploma; two offer only the Primary Years Programme. The cluster includes WAB, ISB, Yew Chung, Beijing City International School and Canadian International School of Beijing among others, mostly concentrated in Shunyi District and the Lido enclave.
How much do IB schools in Beijing cost?
IB Diploma tuition in Beijing ranges from around RMB 240,000 a year at value tier providers to RMB 340,000 at WAB and ISB sixth form. The median sits near RMB 290,000. Add capital contributions of RMB 30,000 to RMB 80,000 on enrolment and 10 to 15 percent for transport, lunch, examination registration and trips.
Which is the best IB school in Beijing?
There is no single best IB school in Beijing, but the Western Academy of Beijing and the International School of Beijing are the longest-established and consistently produce Diploma averages above 36 points. Both place graduates in Russell Group, Ivy League and top US public universities. Smaller providers offer stronger attention and lower fees.
Can mainland Chinese citizens attend IB schools in Beijing?
The largest IB providers including ISB and WAB are licensed to enrol only children holding a foreign passport or whose parents hold foreign permanent residency. Mainland Chinese passport holders are not eligible. Mid-tier IB providers under bilingual licences accept some mainland Chinese passport holders in dedicated streams.
When do IB applications open in Beijing?
Most Beijing IB schools open the main August intake window in November of the previous year and close priority deadlines by late February. Mid-year transfers in PYP and MYP are common. Diploma Programme transfers after October of Year 12 are usually declined because Internal Assessment work is underway.
Do Beijing IB schools teach Mandarin?
All Beijing IB schools teach Mandarin from Primary Years onward, with most offering Mandarin B and Mandarin A Language and Literature at IB Diploma. Yew Chung International School operates a fully bilingual co teaching model. Mandarin acquisition for non-native speakers can take three to five years to reach IB Higher Level standard.
