Shanghai United International School, known as SUIS, is a bilingual school group run by the Xiehe Education Group, which opened its first SUIS campus in the Hongqiao area in 2003 and added a Gubei campus focused on the high school in 2007. It has since grown into a multi campus group across the city, built around a co teaching bilingual model and offering internationally recognised pathways from primary to university entrance. To see where it sits among the city's other options, start with the Shanghai city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Co teaching bilingual model; Cambridge IGCSE, IB Diploma and A Levels at secondary; inquiry based frameworks in primary |
| Stages | Primary through to high school across the group |
| Founded | Hongqiao campus opened 2003; Gubei high school campus 2007 |
| Accreditation | IB authorised for the Diploma; Cambridge International for IGCSE and A Levels |
| Fee band | Generally below the city's top foreign passport schools; varies by campus |
| Campuses | Multiple across Shanghai, including Hongqiao and Gubei |
Curriculum and academics
What sets SUIS apart is its bilingual co teaching model, in which Chinese and international teachers work together in the same classroom, so that core subjects are taught in both languages rather than one being treated as a foreign language lesson. The primary years use inquiry based frameworks, and the secondary school opens out into recognised international pathways, including the Cambridge IGCSE, the IB Diploma and A Levels, which gives families a choice of route to universities in China or abroad.
Because SUIS is a group rather than a single school, the exact offer varies by campus, so it is worth checking which pathways and stages run where. The breadth of the group, and its focus on genuine bilingual learning, is the main reason families choose it over a single system school.
Deciding between two real offers?
Put up to three schools side by side on curriculum, fees, stages and location before you commit to a place.
Shanghai United International School fees
As a bilingual group serving many Chinese passport families, SUIS generally sits below the city's top foreign passport international schools. Our Shanghai international school fees guide sets out the bands, and bilingual schools of this kind often offer better value than the premium English medium tier, though fees still vary by campus, by stage and by pathway. Our guide to the most affordable international schools in Shanghai puts that value in context.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration fee, a deposit and the usual extras such as bus and meals. The group sets fees per campus and resets them each year, so confirm the current schedule for the campus and stage you are considering, and model the full annual figure with our fee calculator.
Admissions
Entry follows the start of the school year, with assessment for places and rolling admissions where a campus has space. Because SUIS is a multi campus group, families apply to a specific campus rather than to the group as a whole, and the stage and pathway available depend on which campus you choose.
Confirm the application window, the entry requirements and any assessment for your chosen campus directly. Prepare your child's academic records early, and ask how the bilingual model is introduced for children who arrive with limited Chinese.
Location and who goes there
The group spans several sites across the city, with its longer established campuses in the Hongqiao and Gubei areas in the west. SUIS draws a different community from the city's foreign passport schools, with many Chinese families who want a genuinely bilingual education alongside international families seeking strong Chinese provision. The campus you choose usually comes down to where you live and which stage your child is entering.
For families weighing a bilingual group against a single system international school, the deciding factors are usually language balance, the secondary pathway and value for money. To compare the full range of options, including fees and where families cluster, return to the Shanghai city hub.
Shanghai United International School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Shanghai United International School. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have gathered enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to both the school and to the families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended a SUIS campus we would value your account of admissions, the bilingual co teaching model, the secondary pathways and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Shanghai United International School fees?
As a bilingual group serving many Chinese passport families, SUIS generally sits below the city's top foreign passport international schools, though fees vary by campus and by pathway. Confirm the current schedule for your chosen campus and stage directly.
What curriculum does Shanghai United International School follow?
SUIS uses a co teaching bilingual model and offers internationally recognised pathways including the Cambridge IGCSE, the IB Diploma and A Levels at secondary, with inquiry based frameworks in the primary years.
How many campuses does Shanghai United International School have?
SUIS has grown into a multi campus group across Shanghai, with the Hongqiao campus opened in 2003 and the Gubei campus, focused on the high school, in 2007. Families apply to a specific campus.
When do Shanghai United International School applications open?
Entry follows the start of the school year, with assessment for places and rolling admissions where campuses have space. Confirm the application window and entry requirements for your chosen campus directly.
Is Shanghai United International School a good school?
SUIS is an established bilingual group offering IGCSE, IB Diploma and A Level pathways through a co teaching model. We publish ratings only from verified reviews, so weigh recent results, the bilingual approach and a campus visit.
