QSI International School of Shenzhen is one of the longer established international schools families weigh up when they move to Shenzhen. It was set up in 2001 as part of Quality Schools International, a network of not for profit schools that uses a distinctive mastery learning approach, and it has served the international community in Shekou ever since. For parents who want an American style programme with the option of an IB Diploma at the top of the school, the questions are usually how mastery learning works day to day and where the school sits on cost, and that is what this profile addresses.
QSI International School of Shenzhen at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | American mastery learning programme in English; IB Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement courses in the senior years |
| Stages | Early childhood through to the senior school, roughly ages 2 or 3 to 18 |
| Founded | 2001, part of the Quality Schools International network |
| Accreditation | IB World School for the Diploma Programme; part of the QSI network of accredited international schools. Confirm current accreditation with the school |
| Fee band | Mid to upper for the Shenzhen market |
| Campus area | Shekou, Nanshan District, west Shenzhen |
Curriculum and academics
The school follows an American curriculum built around mastery learning, the principle that a pupil moves on only once they have shown they can do the work rather than simply because a year has passed. Core subjects of reading, writing, mathematics, cultural studies and science are taught in English, supported by specialists in art, music, physical education, technology and languages. The approach aims to remove the gaps that can open up when children change schools and systems, which suits the mobile families an international school serves.
At the top of the school the programme widens into two recognised routes to university. QSI Shenzhen is an IB World School for the Diploma Programme, the two year course that universities worldwide accept, and it also offers Advanced Placement courses, the United States college level examinations that can earn credit and strengthen an application. Having both means a student can lean toward the broad, balanced IB or toward a more subject focused AP path depending on where they expect to apply.
Because mastery learning is unusual, the honest first step is to see it in action and ask how progress is reported, since marks look different from a traditional grade book. Ask too how new arrivals are placed, how the school stretches confident learners while supporting those who need more time, and for recent IB results and university destinations rather than long run averages, so you can judge the senior school on current evidence.
Comparing QSI with other Shenzhen schools?
Line it up against up to two other schools to weigh curriculum, fees and location side by side before you book a tour.
QSI International School of Shenzhen fees
QSI International School of Shenzhen sits in the mid to upper part of the city's range. Our Shenzhen international school fees guide sets out how the local market is tiered, and QSI falls below the most expensive names while still asking a substantial tuition, with the figure rising as students move into the senior grades. The headline tuition is only part of the cost, so read the published schedule in full before you plan a budget.
Alongside tuition, budget for a one off application or registration fee, a deposit, and optional extras such as the school bus and meals. Examination entries for the IB Diploma and Advanced Placement are typically charged separately, and fees tend to rise year on year, so assume increases across a multi year stay rather than a flat rate.
For a sense of where that leaves you against the rest of the city, our fees guide groups Shenzhen schools into broad tiers, and QSI's position below the premium names can make it a sensible middle option for families who want an American programme with an IB route without the top tier price. Ask whether sibling discounts or corporate billing apply, since employers often meet part of the cost for relocating staff.
Admissions
The academic year starts in late summer and the main intake follows that calendar, with rolling admission across the year where places exist, which fits the mid year arrivals common among relocating families. As an international school in mainland China, the school admits foreign passport holders and residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan in line with the rules for schools serving the children of foreign nationals, so confirm your family's eligibility early.
The process combines an application with school reports and an age appropriate assessment, which the mastery learning model uses to place a child at the right level rather than simply by age. Demand is steady, so apply ahead of your move where you can, and discuss the right entry point with admissions if your child is arriving mid stage.
It is worth gathering recent school reports, any standardised test results and a record of the curriculum your child has followed, and being candid about additional learning needs so the school can tell you honestly whether it can support them. Register your interest as soon as your move is confirmed, and ask how the waiting list is prioritised if a place is not immediately available at your preferred entry point.
Location and who goes there
The school is in the Shekou area of the Nanshan District in the west of Shenzhen, one of the oldest and best known hubs for international families in the city, close to the Shekou ferry port and the Sea World district. That location places it among the cluster of schools, housing and amenities that have grown up to serve expatriates working in Nanshan and Shekou, and it draws from the foreign national communities that local rules allow it to serve.
Most international families in this part of Shenzhen settle around Shekou and Sea World, where housing, restaurants and clinics are geared toward expatriates, which keeps the daily commute short. The area is well served by the metro and by school bus routes, and its position in the west of the city makes trips toward the Hong Kong ferry and the land border straightforward for weekends and travel.
To see how QSI compares with the other schools nearby and where comparable families tend to live, start from the Shenzhen city hub and work outward by curriculum and budget.
QSI International School of Shenzhen reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for QSI International School of Shenzhen. 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
What curriculum does QSI International School of Shenzhen follow?
QSI International School of Shenzhen teaches an American mastery learning programme in English, where pupils progress as they demonstrate competence rather than by age alone. Senior students can take the IB Diploma and Advanced Placement courses.
How much are QSI International School of Shenzhen fees?
QSI International School of Shenzhen sits in the mid to upper part of the Shenzhen market. Budget for tuition plus an application fee, a deposit and optional bus and meal costs, and confirm the current schedule with the school.
Does QSI International School of Shenzhen offer the IB?
Yes. Alongside its American mastery learning core, QSI International School of Shenzhen offers the IB Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement courses in the senior years, giving students more than one route to university.
When did QSI International School of Shenzhen open?
The school was established in 2001 as part of the Quality Schools International network, which runs not for profit international schools in cities around the world.
Where is QSI International School of Shenzhen?
The school is in the Shekou area of the Nanshan District in the west of Shenzhen, a long established hub for international families that is close to the Shekou ferry port and Sea World.
