Yew Chung International School of Beijing, known as YCIS, is a bilingual international school in Beijing that opened in 1995 and forms part of the Yew Chung education network of schools across China and beyond. It enrols around 850 students from the early years through to the end of secondary, and its defining feature is a co-teaching model that brings a Western and a Chinese teacher together in the same classroom. The senior school leads through the Cambridge IGCSE to the International Baccalaureate Diploma, so the bilingual approach lower down feeds into a globally recognised university qualification at the top.
Yew Chung International School Beijing at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Bilingual international curriculum to Year 9; Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10 to 11; IB Diploma in Years 12 to 13 |
| Languages | English and Mandarin Chinese together from the early years; French offered later in secondary |
| Stages | Early years, primary and secondary |
| Opened | 1995 |
| Group | Yew Chung education network |
| District | Chaoyang |
Curriculum and academics
What sets Yew Chung International School Beijing apart is the bilingual co-teaching model. In the early and primary years a Western teacher and a Chinese teacher share the classroom and plan together, so children learn in both English and Mandarin every day rather than meeting Chinese only as a timetabled lesson. That immersion continues into the lower secondary years through a bilingual international curriculum, before students move to the Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10 and 11 and then the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Years 12 and 13, completing the extended essay, the theory of knowledge course and the creativity, activity and service programme that sit at the heart of the Diploma.
For families who want their children to leave Beijing genuinely literate in Chinese as well as English, that sustained bilingual pathway is the main draw, and it distinguishes YCIS from the city's English medium international schools. To see how it sits among the city's other options, read our guide to the best international schools in Beijing, and ask the school for its most recent Diploma results, the balance of English and Chinese as students move up, and its university destinations.
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Yew Chung International School Beijing fees
YCIS Beijing sits in the upper part of the Beijing market, in line with the city's established international schools. Our Beijing international school fees guide sets out the bands across the city, and at YCIS tuition rises stage by stage, with the Diploma years the dearest, so treat any single figure as a snapshot rather than a fixed price for every year group.
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 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 allow. As an international school in China, YCIS Beijing primarily serves families whose children are eligible for international rather than local schooling, so confirm eligibility and the documents you will need before applying. Because instruction is bilingual, the admissions conversation often covers a child's starting point in English and in Chinese, and how the co-teaching model will support them from there.
Popular year groups can carry waiting lists, so apply early and ask the admissions team about availability for your child's year group and about the support on offer for students who join with little or no Mandarin.
Location and who goes there
Yew Chung International School Beijing is based in Chaoyang District, the broad eastern arc of the city where much of the international community, the embassies and the multinational offices are concentrated, which keeps it within reach of the families it mainly serves. Its bilingual character also attracts internationally mobile Chinese heritage families who want their children to keep up their Mandarin while studying in English.
That bilingual positioning marks YCIS out from the wholly English medium schools nearby. Families weighing it up often compare it with the IB continuum at the Western Academy of Beijing and the large campus of the International School of Beijing. To see every option side by side, start with the Beijing city hub.
Yew Chung International School Beijing reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does Yew Chung International School Beijing follow?
YCIS Beijing teaches a bilingual international curriculum in the lower and middle school, the Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10 and 11, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Years 12 and 13. Mandarin Chinese and English run side by side from the early years through a co-teaching model.
What is the YCIS co-teaching model?
In the early and primary years a Western and a Chinese co-teacher share the classroom, so children learn in both English and Mandarin every day rather than taking Chinese only as a separate lesson. It is the feature that most distinguishes YCIS from the city's English medium international schools.
When did Yew Chung International School Beijing open?
YCIS Beijing opened in 1995 and is part of the Yew Chung education network, which runs schools across China and beyond. It enrols around 850 students across the early years, primary and secondary stages.
Is YCIS Beijing an IB school?
Yes, at sixth form. YCIS Beijing follows a bilingual curriculum lower down and IGCSE in Years 10 and 11, then the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Years 12 and 13, with the extended essay, theory of knowledge and the CAS programme.
How much are Yew Chung International School Beijing fees?
YCIS Beijing sits in the upper part of the Beijing market, with tuition rising through the school and the Diploma years dearest. We keep the 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.
