Introduction
Alcanta International College (AIC) is a private international school in Nansha District, Guangzhou, offering the IB Diploma, Cambridge IGCSE, A-Level, AP, and DSE programs to students from China and around the world.
Known in China as 广州新亚高中国际部, AIC was the first IB school in Guangzhou permitted to enroll both Chinese passport holders and foreign nationals (IB World School ID: 006668). Founded in 2011, AIC has served families from Southeast Asia, South Asia, and beyond across 14 graduating classes.
In 2025, the school formalized its structure as the international division of Guangzhou Xinya Senior High School (广州市新亚高级中学), a non-profit private school approved by the Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau — the same campus, the same programs, and the same accreditations, now strengthened by a formal UK institutional partnership with Abbotsholme School, approved by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education in May 2025.
AIC holds four major internationally recognized accreditations: IBO, Cambridge Assessment International Education, MSA-CESS, and the College Board. Across all 14 graduating classes, 100% of AIC students have received offers from QS Top 80 universities.
Academic Pathways
AIC runs five tracks across Grades 7 to 12. Each one targets a different destination and learning profile.
Foundation Program Grades 7–8
Builds language and study skills before the IGCSE track begins. Classes use bilingual support in English and Chinese. Subjects include math, general science, English B, Chinese culture, PE, art, and music. Students who arrive needing more time with English start here.
Cambridge IGCSE Grades 9–10
Students take seven IGCSE subjects. Options include Combined Science, Economics, Drama, Computer Science, and Business Studies. Students sit Cambridge exams at the end of Grade 10.
Class sizes run to a maximum of 20, with an average of around 14. That ratio keeps teachers closely connected to each student’s progress.
IB Diploma Program Grades 11–12
AIC’s flagship program. Students complete six subject groups alongside Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the CAS program, and an Extended Essay. Top score: 45 points.
Subjects available at HL and SL: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Computer Science, Economics, Business, Psychology, Geography, Global Politics, Math, Visual Art, Theater, and Music. See how AIC compares to other IB schools in China →
A-Level and AP Options
AIC offers A-Level courses for students who prefer a subject-focused track. AP courses run alongside IB. A-Level classes use bilingual teaching, which benefits students who arrive stronger in Chinese than in English.
DSE Programme Launched 2026
AIC is the third school in Nansha District to launch a DSE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education) track, with its first major intake opening in 2026.
Four compulsory subjects: Chinese, English, Mathematics, and Civics and Social Development, plus two to three electives from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Chinese History, and Geography. Taught partly in Chinese — accessible to students targeting Hong Kong universities without switching entirely to English-medium study.
Led by Michael Lee (dual master’s in education and history, CUHK) — 13 years of international curriculum experience, HKDSE examiner, 100% subject pass rate. Two streams available: standard track and an accelerated stream targeting HKU and QS Top 50 universities.
Key Takeaways
Alcanta International College was the first IB school in Guangzhou to enroll both Chinese and foreign students. It enrolled Chinese students. It also enrolled foreign students.
AIC's 2024 IB cohort averaged 34.1 out of 45, nearly four points above the global IB average of 30.32 for the same year.
Over 14 graduating classes, all AIC students received offers from QS Top 80 universities. In 2024, 99% received offers from QS Top 50 schools.
Annual tuition for IB, A-Level, AP, and IGCSE programs is RMB 182,000, with boarding adding RMB 8,000 to RMB 9,500 per year.
AIC's top admission scholarship offers full tuition of RMB 182,000 plus up to RMB 300,000 in university placement support. Combined total value can exceed RMB 1,000,000.
AIC has a student-to-teacher ratio of 1:7, with 85% of teachers being foreign nationals holding IB or Cambridge certification.
AIC launched a DSE programme in 2026, becoming the third school in Nansha District to provide a direct path to Hong Kong universities.
Learning Environment & Campus Life
AIC’s campus sits in Nansha District — a planned waterfront development zone in southern Guangzhou. The campus was purpose-built for international study. Science labs meet IGCSE and IB practical requirements. Smartboards and digital tools are standard in every classroom.
The school is co-educational. Total enrollment runs at approximately 260–300 students. Around 20–25% come from outside China, representing roughly 17 countries. That mix shapes daily life. Students share classrooms, dormitories, and mealtimes with peers from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and beyond.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 1:7. Around 85% of the teaching staff are foreign nationals, many holding IB or Cambridge teaching certification alongside master’s or doctoral qualifications.
Students choose between 5-day or 7-day boarding. Dormitories are arranged in four-person rooms with en-suite bathrooms and 24-hour hot water. Residential staff are on-site at all times.
The school operates its own cafeteria, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meals are priced at approximately RMB 55 per day, billed at actual cost with any balance refunded at year end.
International students under 18 whose parents are based overseas can engage Alifa Education Services as a local guardian in China — providing a formal point of contact for school communications, emergencies, and family updates throughout the school year.
AIC holds monthly open days for prospective families. Visiting the campus in person is the best way to assess whether the school environment is the right fit for your child.
Want to see the AIC campus?
Alifa can arrange your family’s campus visit and prepare you for what to look for. Our team has placed students at AIC and knows the school well.
Arrange a Campus Visit →Student Support & University Counseling
AIC has a dedicated university counseling team. All counselors hold professional certification with more than seven years of experience on average. They begin working with students from Grade 9, supporting subject selection, extracurricular planning, and personal statement writing.
What Are AIC’s IB Results?
AIC’s 2024 IB cohort averaged 34.1 out of 45 — significantly above the global IB average of 30.32 for the same year. The top score was 43 out of 45. Fifty percent of the cohort scored 35 or higher; within that band, 60% scored 40 or above.
In 2025, the cohort averaged 32, with a top score of 40 and a pass rate of 85%.
Where Do AIC Graduates Go?
In 2024, 99% of AIC graduates received offers from QS Top 50 universities. 13.3% were placed at QS Top 10 institutions. Total scholarship value across the cohort reached RMB 5.2 million, with 40% of students receiving financial awards from their universities.
In 2023, 33 graduates received 175 offers. 91.2% of those offers were from QS Top 50 universities.
Across 14 graduating classes, AIC graduates have studied at Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, LSE, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, Columbia, NYU, University of Toronto, McGill, University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Warwick, UBC, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Waseda University, and the University of Hong Kong.
To date, AIC has produced three Cambridge offers, two Johns Hopkins offers, and fifteen University of Hong Kong offers.
Every student at AIC has a personal tutor who tracks academic and personal progress throughout the school year. No student moves through the program without a consistent point of support.
Extracurriculars & CAS Programme
The CAS program is a core part of the IB Diploma. At AIC, it runs school-wide. Students engage in creativity, activity, and service work across their high school years.
Creativity activities include filmmaking, hip-hop, computer drawing, and embroidery. Activity options cover basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and badminton. Service work has included annual trips to ethnic minority schools in Liannan, where AIC students tutor and support local communities.
Students have competed in the US Academic Decathlon, the National Economics Challenge, the American Computer Science League, and the Australian Science Olympiad in Biology.
AIC holds LAMDA accreditation — the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Students who pursue drama or public speaking can earn formal LAMDA awards alongside their main program.
Where is Alcanta International College?
Alcanta International College is located at 14 Guangsheng Road, Nansha Street, Nansha District, Guangzhou, China (Postcode: 511458).
By Metro
Take Guangzhou Metro Line 4 to Guanglong Station (广隆站). Use Exit C and walk approximately 600 meters directly to the school gate.
By High-Speed Rail
Qingsheng Station (庆盛站) connects Nansha to the Greater Bay Area network. The campus is also accessible via the Nansha Port Expressway and Guangzhou Ring Expressway.
School Shuttle
AIC operates a dedicated shuttle bus service covering eight city districts — Tianhe, Yuexiu, Haizhu, Liwan, Baiyun, Panyu, Huangpu, and Zengcheng. Routes for the 2026 autumn semester are published. Contact the admissions office for current schedules and pickup points.
Self-Drive
The campus has on-site parking at no charge. Nansha District sits at the geographic center of the Greater Bay Area — accessible from Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, and Shenzhen.
For directions, visit: www.aicib.org
How Do You Apply to Alcanta International College?
AIC accepts applications through its own rolling self-admissions process, open year-round to domestic and international students. Mid-year entry is accepted for eligible students.
- Book a consultation with Alifa Education Services to assess program fit and begin admissions preparation.
- Submit your application form with academic records — the most recent two years of transcripts for international students.
- Sit for the entrance assessment: a mathematics written test, an English OPT, and a personal interview. The assessment is free of charge.
- Receive a decision within 3 to 5 working days.
For questions about Chinese student visa requirements, contact the AIC admissions office directly. They handle the visa process and walk international families through each step.
AIC Admissions Contact
What Scholarships Does AIC Offer?
AIC offers five admission scholarship tiers and a separate university placement award scheme. Total combined value can exceed RMB 1,000,000.
Admission Scholarships
Awards are based on entrance exam results, English and mathematics performance, interviews, academic records, and personal profiles. Talent in sports, arts, research, or leadership also qualifies.
There is also a Principal’s Special Scholarship for students with exceptional potential in academic research, innovation, arts, sports, or leadership. A separate principal’s interview applies.
University Placement Awards
Sibling Policy
Families with more than one child at AIC receive annual fee reductions: RMB 20,000 per student per year for two siblings; RMB 30,000 off for the third child and beyond.
All scholarships are renewed annually based on academic results. Talent and admission scholarships can be combined, provided the total does not exceed one year’s tuition.
How Much Does Alcanta International College Cost?
2026–2027 Official Fee Schedule
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Seat Deposit | RMB 10,000Non-refundable; deducted from first tuition payment |
| Foundation Program (Grades 7–8) | ~RMB 158,000/yearConfirm with admissions before enrolling |
| IGCSE / A-Level / IB / AP (Grades 9–12) | RMB 182,000/year |
| DSE Programme | RMB 158,000/year |
| 5-Day Boarding | RMB 8,000/year |
| 7-Day Boarding | RMB 9,500/year |
| Meals | ~RMB 55/dayBilled at actual cost with year-end reconciliation |
| School Uniform | RMB 2,191 per full set6 outfits, via the official school store |
| Textbooks, health checks, exams, activities | Billed at actual cost |
Budget an additional RMB 20,000–30,000 per year for personal costs, including annual airfare home, medical insurance, dental care, and daily living expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. AIC holds four internationally recognized accreditations: the IBO (IB World School ID: 006668), Cambridge Assessment International Education, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA-CESS), and the College Board. In May 2025, AIC received Guangdong Provincial approval for a Sino-foreign cooperative education program with the UK’s Abbotsholme School.
AIC is at 14 Guangsheng Road, Nansha Street, Nansha District, Guangzhou (Postcode: 511458). The nearest metro is Guanglong Station (广隆站), Exit C, on Line 4 — approximately 600 meters from the school gate.
The 2026–2027 tuition for IB Diploma, A-Level, AP, and IGCSE programs is RMB 182,000 per year. The DSE program and Foundation Program (Grades 7–8) are approximately RMB 158,000 per year. Boarding costs RMB 8,000 (5-day) or RMB 9,500 (7-day) annually, plus meals at approximately RMB 55 per day.
AIC’s 2024 IB cohort averaged 34.1 out of 45, against a global IB average of 30.32. The highest score in 2024 was 43/45. Fifty percent of students scored 35 or higher.
Yes. AIC was the first IB school in Guangzhou licensed to admit both Chinese passport holders and foreign nationals. The current student body represents approximately 17 countries. International students make up around 20–25% of total enrollment.
Applications go through AIC’s rolling self-admissions process: submit academic records, sit a free mathematics test and English interview, and receive a decision within 3–5 working days. Email admission@aicib.org or call 400-816-9395.
AIC offers five admission scholarship tiers — from partial grants up to a full tuition waiver of RMB 182,000 — plus university placement awards up to RMB 300,000 for Oxford, Cambridge, and Ivy League admissions. Combined total value can exceed RMB 1,000,000.
Conclusion
Alcanta International College is one of the most established boutique international school options in southern China. The IB Diploma, Cambridge IGCSE, A-Level, AP, and DSE programs cover every major university destination. Class sizes average 14. Fourteen graduating classes have produced a 100% QS Top 80 record. The 2024 cohort averaged 34.1 on the IB — nearly four points above the global mean, with 99% receiving QS Top 50 offers.
AIC is not the largest international campus in Guangzhou. That is a deliberate choice. The school’s model is built around small cohorts, close counseling relationships, and students who leave with English fluency, cross-cultural agility, and a degree from a world-ranked university. For families in Southeast Asia and India, that combination is genuinely rare.
Alifa Education Services
The first step is a conversation.
Alifa is an official school placement partner of AIC. Our team can assess programme fit, prepare your child for the entrance assessment, manage the full application, and advise on visas and the move to Guangzhou.
Book a Free Consultation with Alifa →
Member comments