International School of Nanshan Shenzhen (ISNS) opened in 2002 and has grown into one of the longer established international schools in Shenzhen. The school grew out of a partnership linked to the Canadian province of New Brunswick, and today teaches students from early years through to Grade 12 on a single campus in the Nanshan district. It is authorised to run the complete IB programme from Primary Years to Diploma, with a Canadian pathway running in parallel, a combination that sets it apart in a market otherwise split between Cambridge, American and bilingual Chinese schools.
This is an independent reference page. No school pays to be listed on GlobalSchoolGuide. The details below were researched from the school and public sources at the time of writing, and anything we could not confirm is marked not published.
At a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Full IB continuum: Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes, alongside a New Brunswick (Canada) curriculum and the option of a New Brunswick high school diploma |
| Stage range | Early years to secondary, roughly ages 3 to 18 through to Grade 12 |
| Founded | 2002 (IB World School since 2016) |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School for the PYP, MYP and Diploma; New Brunswick (Canada) programme recognition. Confirm the current bodies with the school |
| Fee band | Premium band for Shenzhen, broadly the city's RMB 250,000 to RMB 330,000 tier |
| Campus area | Nanshan district, western Shenzhen, near Tanglang Mountain |
Curriculum and academics
ISNS is built around the International Baccalaureate, which it delivers as a full continuum. The Primary Years Programme frames learning in the early and primary grades through inquiry, the Middle Years Programme carries that approach into the lower secondary years, and the Diploma Programme sits at the top of the school for students aged sixteen to eighteen. Running all three on one campus is among the more demanding authorisation standards the IB awards, and it means a child can move through the whole school without changing educational philosophy.
Alongside the IB, the school delivers a Canadian curriculum, taught in English, drawn from the province of New Brunswick, a legacy of its founding partnership. In the senior years that gives families a choice of pathway, with students able to work towards a New Brunswick high school diploma as well as, or instead of, the IB Diploma. English is the language of instruction, with Mandarin Chinese and French taught as additional languages. To see how the IB route compares with A Levels and the American system, and where the Diploma can lead, read our IB curriculum guide. Ask the admissions office for the latest Diploma results rather than relying on older figures.
Not sure ISNS is the right fit?
Take our five minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three Shenzhen schools based on your child's age, target programme and your budget. Free, no obligation.
International School of Nanshan Shenzhen fees
ISNS sits in the premium international band of the Shenzhen market. Our Shenzhen international school fees guide places that top tier at roughly RMB 250,000 to RMB 330,000 a year, the level occupied by the city's leading internationals. Tuition is set by grade and rises through the school, so treat any single number as indicative and confirm the current schedule directly, since fees are reviewed each year.
Headline tuition is not the whole cost. Across the Shenzhen market families typically add ten to fifteen per cent for the extras a place carries, including registration and renewal fees of around RMB 4,000 to RMB 12,000, a school bus at RMB 22,000 to RMB 40,000 a year, uniform, a device or laptop programme, exam entry fees and trips. Given Shenzhen distances and traffic, the bus line is a material part of the budget for families outside Nanshan. Our Shenzhen fees guide breaks down how those levies stack up across the tiers.
Admissions
ISNS accepts applications on a rolling basis through the year and offers places as they come free, which suits relocating families who arrive off the standard cycle. Entry is subject to space and an assessment suited to the child's age, and the academic year begins in August. Applying in the months before the year you want helps, particularly at the busier entry points where a year group may already be near capacity.
Because places depend on availability, registering interest early is worthwhile. Confirm the current assessment format, the supporting documents the school asks for, and any support for English as an additional language with the admissions office before you commit to a move. Foreign passport and residency requirements can apply to international schools in mainland China, so check eligibility for your family's situation as part of the process.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits in Nanshan, the western district that is the centre of gravity for Shenzhen's technology sector, its universities and much of its international community. The setting near Tanglang Mountain gives the school space on the edge of one of the city's greener districts, while keeping it within reach of the Shekou and Houhai areas where many expatriate families live.
The student body is genuinely mixed, drawing on the many nationalities that the tech economy brings to Nanshan, alongside families with Canadian ties and families who commute across the border from Hong Kong, drawn by the IB and New Brunswick pathways. To weigh ISNS against the other Shenzhen options, including fees and where families cluster, start with the Shenzhen city hub and our roundup of IB schools in Shenzhen.
International School of Nanshan Shenzhen reviews
We do not yet hold verified parent reviews for the International School of Nanshan Shenzhen. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we can confirm reviews come from real families. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your child attends or has attended ISNS, we would value your first hand account of the teaching, the IB and Canadian pathways and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and help the next relocating family decide with better information.
Frequently asked questions
How much are International School of Nanshan Shenzhen fees?
ISNS sits in the premium international band of the Shenzhen market. Our Shenzhen fees guide places that tier at roughly RMB 250,000 to RMB 330,000 a year, with tuition set by grade and reviewed annually. Budget separately for registration, school bus and the usual extras, and confirm the current schedule with the school.
What curriculum does International School of Nanshan Shenzhen follow?
ISNS is an authorised IB World School running the full IB continuum, the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme. It also delivers a Canadian curriculum, taught in English, from the province of New Brunswick, so senior students can work towards a New Brunswick high school diploma alongside the IB Diploma.
Is International School of Nanshan Shenzhen an IB school?
Yes. ISNS has been an authorised IB World School since 2016, offering the PYP, MYP and Diploma Programme. Full continuum authorisation across all three programmes on one campus is among the more demanding standards the IB sets.
When do International School of Nanshan Shenzhen applications open?
ISNS accepts applications on a rolling basis through the year, with places offered subject to space and an assessment. The academic year starts in August, so applying in the preceding months helps for popular year groups. Confirm the current assessment format and documents with the admissions office.
Where is International School of Nanshan Shenzhen located?
ISNS sits in the Nanshan district of western Shenzhen, near the foot of Tanglang Mountain. Nanshan is the city's technology and university belt and home to a large share of its international families.
