Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai is one of the newer British options for families relocating to Shenzhen. It opened in 2020 in the fast growing Qianhai zone in the west of the city, and it carries the name and house traditions of the AISL Harrow group of schools in Asia. For parents who specifically want a British education with the option of boarding, the question is rarely whether the school can deliver the curriculum, but how it compares with the city's established international schools on cost, location and feel, and that is what this profile is built for.
Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | English National Curriculum; Early Years Foundation Stage; IGCSE; A Level in the Sixth Form |
| Stages | Early Years to Sixth Form (ages 2 to 18) |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Accreditation | Part of the AISL Harrow schools network in Asia. External accreditation not published |
| Fee band | Premium for the Shenzhen market |
| Campus area | Qianhai Cooperation Zone, west Shenzhen, near Nanshan and the Hong Kong border |
The British curriculum at Harrow Qianhai
The school follows the British curriculum in the form most UK families recognise. The youngest children start in the Early Years Foundation Stage, the primary and lower secondary years work through the English National Curriculum toward IGCSE examinations, and the Sixth Form leads to A Level. English is the language of instruction throughout, with Mandarin taught alongside it, which is a practical advantage for families who want their children to keep up a second language during a posting in China.
What the Harrow name adds is a house based structure and a wider co curricular programme covering sport, the arts, leadership and outdoor activities, the elements the group presents as central to its approach. As with any young school, the sensible check is to look past the brand: ask the admissions team for the most recent IGCSE and A Level results and university destinations rather than projections, and visit to see how settled the senior school feels.
Beyond the academic timetable, the Harrow approach leans on its house system, with pupils grouped into houses that run pastoral care, competitions and leadership roles, and on a values led programme the group presents as preparing young people to lead. Mandarin sits alongside English so children keep building a second language, and the co curricular programme spans sport, music, drama, debating and outdoor activities. For boarders, house life extends into the evenings and weekends, which is part of what families are paying for when they choose the residential option.
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Harrow Shenzhen Qianhai fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Pre-Nursery | CNY 291,400 |
| Year 1 | CNY 350,700 |
| Year 7 | CNY 365,700 |
| Year 13 | CNY 372,900 |
Source: Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai (harrowshenzhen.cn). British curriculum. Annual tuition (three terms). Boarding and bus extra. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai sits in the premium band for the city, with day tuition rising through the year groups and reaching the top of the range in the senior school. Our Shenzhen international school fees guide explains how the local market is tiered, and Harrow falls toward the upper end. Boarding, where chosen, is charged on top of day tuition.
Beyond tuition, budget for an assessment fee at application, a deposit, and optional extras such as boarding, the school bus and meals. Fees tend to rise year on year, so assume increases across a multi year stay rather than a flat rate, and read the published schedule in full before you plan.
Set against the city's other choices, Harrow Qianhai competes with the established international schools on curriculum and with the newer premium entrants on facilities. Families who want the English system with boarding will find few direct equivalents in Shenzhen, while those open to other routes might weigh it against an American school or an IB programme before deciding.
Admissions
The academic year starts in late summer and the main intake follows that calendar, with rolling entry where places exist. The school takes pupils from age two in the Early Years through to the Sixth Form, so there are several natural entry points, and demand is strongest at the start of each phase. The process combines an application with school reports and an age appropriate assessment that becomes more formal in the senior years.
Families considering boarding should raise it early, since places and house allocation are handled separately from day admissions. Sixth Form entry is the most considered point, when the school checks that a student's IGCSE profile supports the chosen A Level subjects.
It is worth preparing for the assessment rather than treating it as a formality, and gathering recent school reports, any English language evidence and a record of the curriculum your child has followed will make the process smoother. Be candid about additional learning needs so the school can tell you honestly whether it can support them, and ask how the youngest entry points are assessed, since these rely more on observation than on tests. Where a place is not immediately available, ask about the waiting list and how it is prioritised, and confirm boarding availability separately if you need it.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone in the west of Shenzhen, a planned business district close to Nanshan and well connected toward the Hong Kong border. That position suits families working in Qianhai and Nanshan, and the boarding option and bus network widen the practical catchment well beyond the immediate area. The school draws from the international and returning families that local rules allow it to serve, and its boarding places make it an option for families based further afield in the Greater Bay Area.
Qianhai is one of Shenzhen's newer planned districts, built up over the past decade with offices, transport links and housing, and it sits close to Nanshan and Shekou where many international families already live. The metro reaches the area and the school bus network extends the practical catchment, while its position in the west of the city keeps the Hong Kong border within easy reach for weekends and travel.
To compare Harrow Qianhai with the city's other British and international schools and see where comparable families live, use the Shenzhen city hub as your starting point.
Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have collected enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to both the school and to families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai a British school?
Yes. Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai teaches the English National Curriculum with the Early Years Foundation Stage, IGCSE and A Level, with English as the language of instruction. It is part of the AISL Harrow network of schools in Asia.
How much are Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai fees?
The school sits in the premium band for Shenzhen, with fees rising through the year groups. Add an assessment fee, a deposit and optional boarding and bus costs, and confirm the current schedule with the school.
Does Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai offer boarding?
Yes. The Qianhai campus offers boarding alongside day places, including flexible options, organised around the house system that is central to the Harrow approach.
When did Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai open?
The school opened in 2020 in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone in the west of Shenzhen, on a campus designed to take pupils from the Early Years through to Sixth Form.
What ages does Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai take?
The school takes pupils from age two in the Early Years through to age eighteen in the Sixth Form, across Pre Prep, Prep and Senior phases on a single campus.
