Tsinghua International School, known as THIS, is an American curriculum school in Beijing, founded in 2009 as the international division of Tsinghua University High School, the secondary school attached to one of China's most prestigious universities. It sits on the Tsinghua Fuzhong campus on Zhongguancun North Street in Haidian District, the academic heart of north west Beijing. The school teaches in English across the primary, middle and high school years, pairs that with a required Chinese programme for every student, and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Tsinghua International School at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | American based curriculum on US Common Core and AERO standards; Advanced Placement in high school; required Chinese language and culture |
| Stages | Primary, middle and high school |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Affiliation | International division of Tsinghua University High School |
| Accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
| District | Haidian, Zhongguancun North Street |
Curriculum and academics
Tsinghua International School follows an American based programme built on US Common Core and AERO standards, the framework many American international schools use to keep their teaching aligned with schools in the United States. English is the language of instruction across the primary, middle and high school, while every student takes Chinese language and culture, taught in separate streams for native and non native speakers so that beginners and fluent speakers each progress. In the high school the academic spine is Advanced Placement, the college level courses and examinations recognised by universities in the United States and increasingly elsewhere, which lets able students sit demanding subjects before they leave.
Around that core the school runs a wide enrichment programme, with more than fifty clubs and activities and competitive teams in the ISAC athletics league that connects international schools across the city. Accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, first granted in 2016 and renewed since, gives the American style transcript external standing. To see how the American route compares with the British and IB schools in the city, read our guide to the best American schools in Beijing, and ask THIS for its most recent Advanced Placement results and university destinations.
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Tsinghua International School fees
THIS sits in the mid to upper part of the Beijing market, below the most expensive British and full continuum schools but firmly above the budget tier. Our Beijing international school fees guide sets out the bands across the city, and at THIS tuition rises stage by stage, with the high school the dearest year groups, so treat any single figure as a snapshot rather than a fixed price for every grade.
Beyond tuition, Beijing international schools typically add a registration fee, a refundable deposit and optional bus and meal charges, and because fees are set in renminbi while many families earn in another currency, the figure in your home currency moves with the exchange rate. Model the full annual cost with our fee calculator before you apply, and confirm the current schedule directly with the school.
Admissions
The academic year begins in August and the main intake aligns with it, with rolling admission into other year groups where places exist. As an international division, THIS primarily serves families whose children are eligible for international rather than local Chinese schooling, so confirm eligibility and the documents you will need before you apply. Admission usually considers prior school reports, an age appropriate assessment and, for the high school, a record that shows a student can cope with Advanced Placement work.
Because the school is attached to a sought after campus in Haidian, popular year groups can fill, so apply early and ask the admissions team about current availability for your child's grade and about the level of Chinese expected on entry.
Location and who goes there
Tsinghua International School is unusual among Beijing international schools in sitting in Haidian rather than the expatriate belt in the north east. Haidian is the university and technology district, home to Tsinghua and Peking universities and a dense cluster of research institutes, which gives the school a community weighted towards academic, research and technology families, including many returnee Chinese households who want an English medium American pathway. Read our Beijing schools directory to see how the districts compare for international families.
That location sets THIS apart from the schools clustered around Shunyi and Chaoyang. Families weighing it against the city's other options often look at the IB heavy Western Academy of Beijing and the larger campus of the International School of Beijing, both in the north east, against the academic setting and university links of Haidian.
Tsinghua International School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Tsinghua International School. 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 the families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
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Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does Tsinghua International School follow?
THIS teaches an American based curriculum informed by US Common Core and AERO standards, with Advanced Placement courses in the high school and Chinese language and culture required of every student. English is the main language of instruction, with separate Chinese classes for native and non native speakers.
Where is Tsinghua International School located?
The school sits on the Tsinghua University High School campus on Zhongguancun North Street in Haidian District, the university quarter in north west Beijing, as the international division of Tsinghua University High School.
When was Tsinghua International School founded?
THIS was founded in 2009 as the international division of the well known Tsinghua University High School, and it spans the primary, middle and high school years through to university entry.
Is Tsinghua International School accredited?
Yes. THIS holds accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, first awarded in 2016 and renewed since, which underpins its American style high school transcript and Advanced Placement programme.
How much are Tsinghua International School fees?
THIS sits in the mid to upper part of Beijing's fee range, with tuition rising through primary, middle and high school. We keep live bands in our Beijing international school fees guide rather than quote a figure that dates quickly, so confirm the current schedule and any extras with the school.
