French provision in Shanghai
French curriculum education in Shanghai is concentrated in a single institution. The Lycee Francais de Shanghai operates two campuses, one in Qingpu in the western suburbs and one in Yangpu on the Pudong side, and together they cover the full French national curriculum from maternelle through the French Baccalaureate. A small number of independent French language nurseries operate around Hongqiao but lead naturally into the Lycee at CP (Year 2). The model is therefore familiar to French families: one main school, one Bac pathway, one network linked back to Paris through the Agence pour l'Enseignement Francais a l'Etranger (AEFE).
The school had its origins in the early 1990s as a small AEFE outpost serving a few hundred French expatriate families. It has since grown to more than 1,600 students across the two campuses, with the lycee section based at Qingpu and Yangpu running maternelle, elementaire and college (Years 1 to 9). The Lycee is the only school in Shanghai certified to deliver the French national curriculum to ministerial standards, and the only one whose Baccalaureate is automatically recognised through Parcoursup in France.
AEFE and the French Bac
The AEFE network is the world's largest network of overseas state-aligned French schools, covering more than 580 institutions across 139 countries. Lycee Francais de Shanghai sits within that network as a fully accredited establishment, meaning its diplomas, transcripts and teacher inspections operate under French Ministry of National Education rules. The Bac francais general is the standard exit qualification, with strong representation in the Section Internationale Britannique stream which adds rigorous English literature and history alongside the French general syllabus. The OIB (Option Internationale du Baccalaureat) is well established and is the pathway most chosen by families targeting UK or US universities.
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Fees and bourse support
Lycee Francais de Shanghai fees are lower than the Anglo-American international schools but higher than the French average. Annual fees run from approximately EUR 13,000 in maternelle to EUR 18,000 in college and EUR 22,000 in lycee. Inscription fees, capital levies and exam costs sit on top. The decisive advantage for French passport holders is the AEFE bourse scolaire, a means-tested scholarship that can cover anywhere from 20 to 100 percent of fees depending on household income. Applications run through the French Consulate in Shanghai in the autumn. Many large French employers (Total, Renault, LVMH, Sanofi) also include education allowances within Shanghai expat packages. For the wider city fee picture see our Shanghai fees guide.
The two campuses
Qingpu, in west Shanghai's outer suburb belt, is the historic main campus. It runs the full continuum from maternelle through to terminale and houses the lycee section that prepares for the Baccalaureate. Qingpu is closest to French residential neighbourhoods around Hongqiao and the Former French Concession but is a 30 to 60 minute commute depending on rush hour. Yangpu, opened in the 2010s, sits on the northern Pudong side and serves maternelle through college (Year 9). Children moving into seconde, premiere or terminale transfer to Qingpu for the lycee years. Both campuses run AEFE-aligned school bus networks covering Hongqiao, Xujiahui, the Former French Concession and Pudong central residential areas.
Where French families live
French families in Shanghai cluster in three zones. The Former French Concession (Xuhui) remains the spiritual heart of French life in the city, with the consulate, French restaurants and the school bus runs. Hongqiao and the Gubei area sit closest to Qingpu and host many of the multinational employer compounds. Central Pudong draws French families working at LVMH, Sanofi and the financial firms, particularly those with younger children using the Yangpu campus. The Qingpu campus itself is in a quieter suburban setting and not a typical expat residential zone.
Admissions calendar
The Lycee Francais de Shanghai runs a standard AEFE calendar with the main intake in September. Applications open in January for the following September and are managed through the school's admissions office in coordination with the French Consulate. Priority is given to French passport holders, AEFE network transferees and Section Internationale Britannique applicants meeting the English language requirement. Maternelle (toute petite section, petite section and moyenne section) takes children with limited French. Entry into elementaire and college presumes working French unless joining a small reception programme. See our Shanghai schools hub for context across the wider international sector.
University outcomes from Lycee Francais
University destinations from the Lycee Francais split roughly into thirds. Around 40 percent return to French universities and grandes ecoles, with Sciences Po, the parisian classes preparatoires and the engineering ecoles strongly represented. Around 30 percent go to UK universities, with Oxbridge, UCL, King's and Imperial featuring annually from the OIB cohort. The remaining 30 percent split between US universities (NYU, McGill, top liberal arts colleges), Canadian universities and onward AEFE-network destinations including Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne. The OIB streams typically achieve mention bien or mention tres bien at rates above 70 percent. Comparing across the city is easier with our comparison tool.
Frequently asked questions
How many French curriculum schools are there in Shanghai?
Shanghai has effectively one French curriculum school, the Lycee Francais de Shanghai, operating two campuses in Qingpu and Yangpu. It is part of the AEFE network and delivers the full French national curriculum from maternelle through to terminale and the French Bac.
How much does Lycee Francais de Shanghai cost?
Annual fees at Lycee Francais de Shanghai run from approximately EUR 13,000 in maternelle to EUR 22,000 in terminale. AEFE bourse scolaire (scholarship support) is available for French passport holders meeting income criteria, and several large French employers offer education benefits.
Do you need French to attend the Lycee Francais de Shanghai?
Yes. The Lycee Francais de Shanghai delivers the French national curriculum in French and expects working fluency from primary onwards. Maternelle (ages 2 to 5) accepts beginners and runs an immersion programme. From CP (Year 2) onward children need conversational French.
What is the difference between Qingpu and Yangpu campuses?
Qingpu is the main suburban campus in west Shanghai and serves the historic French expat community around Hongqiao and the Former French Concession. Yangpu is the newer Pudong-side campus and runs maternelle to college; the lycee remains based at Qingpu.
Does the French Bac work for non-French universities?
Yes. The French Baccalaureate is recognised by UK, US, Canadian, Dutch and Asian universities. The OIB (Option Internationale du Bac) is particularly strong for English-medium destinations. Section internationale britannique within the school adds rigorous English literature and history streams.
