Wellington College International Shanghai is one of the city's best known British schools, opened in 2014 as the Shanghai member of the Wellington College family of schools that traces back to Wellington College in England. It is a school for the children of foreign nationals, and teaches the British curriculum from the early years to a sixth form built around the IB Diploma, serving students from the age of 3 through to Year 13. To see where it sits among the city's other options, start with the Shanghai city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | English National Curriculum and International Primary Curriculum, IGCSE in Years 10 and 11, IB Diploma in the sixth form |
| Stages | Pre-nursery to sixth form, ages 3 to 18 |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Accreditation | Part of the Wellington College family of schools; IB authorised for the Diploma |
| Fee band | Top of the range for Shanghai |
| Campus area | Qiantan, Pudong New District |
Curriculum and academics
Wellington follows the English National Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum from pre-nursery through to Year 9, then the IGCSE in Years 10 and 11, before students move into the IB Diploma in the sixth form. The school frames its teaching around the Wellington identity of being inspired, intellectual, independent, individual and inclusive, and its average Diploma score has consistently placed it among the strongest results in China. Mandarin runs throughout, with dual language provision in the early years.
That structure gives families a recognised British route through the school with an internationally portable Diploma at the end. For a wider view of how Wellington sits against the city's other British options, read our editorial guide to the best British schools in Shanghai, and ask the school for its recent Diploma results and university destinations.
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Wellington College International Shanghai fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Pre-Nursery to Reception | CNY 292,400 |
| Years 1 to 5 | CNY 324,600 |
| Year 6 | CNY 341,800 |
| Years 7 to 9 | CNY 356,700 |
| Years 10 to 11 | CNY 380,300 |
| Years 12 to 13 | CNY 391,000 |
Source: Wellington College International Shanghai (shanghai.wellingtoncollege.cn). Annual tuition as published. 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.
Wellington sits at the top of the Shanghai market, among the most expensive foreign passport schools in the city. Our Shanghai international school fees guide sets out the city's bands, and a flagship British school of this kind typically sits at the premium end, with the sixth form the most expensive stage. The school sets its own schedule and resets it each year, so confirm the current figures directly.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration fee, a refundable deposit, a capital or facilities levy and optional bus and meals. Take the School Finder quiz to see where Wellington fits against your budget, and put it against alternatives on our compare tool before you decide.
Admissions
The school year starts in August, and Wellington runs a main August intake with rolling admissions through the year where places allow. The school asks for prior school reports and an age appropriate assessment, and as a school for the children of foreign nationals its eligibility follows Chinese regulations on passport and residency.
Popular year groups can carry waiting lists, especially entry into the IGCSE and sixth form years, so apply early. Confirm space in your child's year group, and prepare passport and academic records ahead of your move.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in Qiantan, a planned riverside district in Pudong on the eastern side of the city, purpose built for the school when it opened in 2014. It draws from the residential areas of Pudong, including the compounds near the Huamu and Lujiazui areas where many British, European and other expatriate families settle. The school sits alongside its bilingual sister school under the same Wellington brand on a shared site.
For families weighing Wellington against the city's American and IB focused options, the deciding factors are usually the strong British identity, the IB Diploma at sixth form and the campus facilities in Pudong. To compare the full range of options, including fees and where families cluster, return to the Shanghai city hub.
Wellington College International Shanghai reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Wellington College International Shanghai. 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 Wellington we would value your account of admissions, the British and IB pathways, teaching 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 Wellington College International Shanghai fees?
Wellington sits at the top of the Shanghai fee range, among the most expensive foreign passport schools in the city, with the sixth form the most costly stage. Budget on top for a registration fee, a deposit, a capital levy and optional bus and meals, and confirm the current schedule directly as it is reset each year.
What curriculum does Wellington College International Shanghai follow?
Wellington follows the English National Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum from pre-nursery to Year 9, the IGCSE in Years 10 and 11, and the IB Diploma in the sixth form, with Mandarin taught throughout.
Who can attend Wellington College International Shanghai?
As a school for the children of foreign nationals, Wellington serves an international roll. Eligibility follows Chinese regulations on passport and residency, as with other foreign passport schools in the city. Its sister school Huili serves Chinese national families.
When do Wellington College International Shanghai applications open?
The school year starts in August and Wellington runs a main August intake with rolling admissions where places allow. Apply early for popular year groups, especially entry into the IGCSE and sixth form years.
Is Wellington College International Shanghai a good school?
Wellington is one of Shanghai's best known British schools, linked to Wellington College in England, with a strong record at the IB Diploma. We publish ratings only from verified reviews, so weigh recent Diploma results, curriculum fit and a campus visit.
