Introduction
BASIS runs one of the largest international school networks in China, built on a foundation of academic excellence. As of the 2025–26 school year, 13 BASIS campuses operate across seven cities. Two more open in autumn 2026, in Beijing and Guangzhou. That will bring the network to 15 campuses in eight cities.
The brand comes from the United States. The schools in China are built and run by a Hong Kong–registered partner. The network splits into two lines of international and bilingual school programs. One serves international schools for foreign passport holders. The other serves bilingual schools for Chinese nationals. Which line your child can join depends entirely on their passport.
This guide maps every campus, explains who owns what, and shows you which schools your family can actually apply to. All figures below are drawn from official BASIS and Ascend sources for the 2025–26 year.
Key Takeaways
13 campuses now, 15 by autumn 2026. Seven international schools and six bilingual schools and kindergartens operate today. Beijing and Guangzhou bilingual campuses open in Fall 2026.
Two lines, two eligibility rules. International schools take foreign passport holders plus Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan students only. Bilingual schools are open to mainland Chinese children.
US curriculum, US-style rigor. Every campus teaches the BASIS Curriculum with heavy Advanced Placement (AP) content. Classes run in English.
Strong AP and university results. In 2025, students passed 96.7% of AP exams, with an average score of 4.45 on the 5-point scale.
Built by Ascend, powered by BASIS. US-based BASIS supplies the curriculum and standards. Hong Kong–registered Ascend International Education Group funds, builds, and runs the campuses.
How Many BASIS Schools Are in China?
BASIS runs 13 campuses in mainland China for the 2025–26 school year. These are in seven cities: Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu, and Wuhan. This includes seven international schools and six bilingual schools and kindergartens. Two more bilingual campuses open in Fall 2026, in Beijing and Guangzhou, raising the total to 15 campuses across eight cities.
The table below lists every campus, its city, its line, the year it opened, the grades it serves, and whether it offers boarding.
| Campus | City | Line | Opened | Grades | Boarding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BASIS International School Shenzhen | Shenzhen | International | 2015 | PreK–12 | Day only |
| BASIS International School Guangzhou | Guangzhou | International | 2017 | PreK–12 | Yes |
| BASIS International School Hangzhou | Hangzhou | International | 2018 | PreK–12 | Yes |
| BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour | Huizhou | International | 2018 | Grades 5–12 | Yes |
| BASIS International School Nanjing | Nanjing | International | 2019 | PreK–12 | Yes |
| BASIS International School Sichuan (Chengdu) | Chengdu | International | 2022 | PreK–12 | Yes |
| BASIS International School Wuhan | Wuhan | International | 2023 | PreK–12 | Yes |
| BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen (Futian) | Shenzhen | Bilingual | 2020 | PreK–12 | Day only |
| BASIS Bilingual School Chengdu | Chengdu | Bilingual | 2022 | PreK–12 | Yes |
| BASIS Bilingual School Wuhan | Wuhan | Bilingual | 2023 | PreK–12 | Yes |
| BASIS Bilingual School Guangming | Shenzhen | Bilingual | 2024 | PreK–12 | Yes |
| BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan | Shenzhen | Kindergarten | 2024 | Early years | Day only |
| BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Futian | Shenzhen | Kindergarten | 2024 | Early years | Day only |
| BASIS Bilingual School Beijing | Beijing | Fall 2026 | Fall 2026 | PreK–12 | Yes |
| BASIS Bilingual School Guangzhou | Guangzhou | Fall 2026 | Fall 2026 | PreK–12 | Planned* |
Boarding is available at Guangzhou, Park Lane Harbour, Nanjing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Hangzhou, and Guangming. Beijing will join in 2026. The two Shenzhen K–12 campuses and the kindergartens are day only.
* Guangzhou Bilingual is planned for boarding, but its dormitory may not be ready for the first Fall 2026 intake — confirm with the school.
Who Is Behind BASIS China?
The BASIS name involves two companies and one American brand. Getting this clear helps you understand who actually runs each school.
US-based BASIS was founded in 1998 by economists Michael Block and Olga Block. It is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, and runs a large group of rigorous K–12 schools across the United States. BASIS supplies the curriculum, the academic standards, and the teacher-hiring model. It is the brand owner.
Ascend International Education Group (爱圣国际教育集团) is registered in Hong Kong. It is the exclusive partner that brings BASIS to mainland China, and it holds the sole right to use the BASIS name there. Ascend opened the first BASIS campus outside the US in Shenzhen in September 2015. Ascend runs the seven international schools.
Shenzhen Qianhai Ascend (深圳前海爱圣) is a sister company set up to run the bilingual line for mainland Chinese families. It operates the six bilingual and kindergarten campuses, plus the two opening in Fall 2026.
The Simple Version
BASIS US supplies the curriculum and brand. Ascend funds, builds, and runs the campuses. The two lines have different licences and accept different students. However, they both follow the same BASIS curriculum and teacher standards from the US head office.
By January 2026, the Ascend group had invested 8 billion RMB in China. They employed over 3,800 staff, including about 1,150 foreign workers. They also taught more than 10,000 students.
International vs. Bilingual: Which Can Your Child Attend?
This is the most important decision point for any family looking at BASIS China. The two lines are not interchangeable. Your child's passport decides which one they can join.
BASIS International Schools
- Who can attend: Foreign passport holders, plus permanent residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
- Not eligible: Mainland Chinese passport holders.
- Curriculum: The full BASIS Curriculum, taught entirely in English, with heavy AP content.
- Path: A clean route to US, UK, Canadian, and Hong Kong universities.
BASIS Bilingual Schools
- Who can attend: Open to mainland Chinese children.
- Curriculum: The BASIS Curriculum works alongside the Chinese National Curriculum, covering language, history, and culture.
- Language: Classes run in English, except for Chinese language classes.
- Path: Students can aim for overseas study or transfer toward domestic routes.
For most international families moving to China, the international line is the relevant option. These seven campuses admit foreign-passport and Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan students only, covering PreK to Grade 12 across the international line. If your child holds a mainland Chinese passport, the bilingual line is the route.
The 7 BASIS International Schools
These seven campuses admit foreign-passport and Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan students only. They teach the BASIS Curriculum fully in English. Here is each one.
深圳贝赛思国际学校 · Nanshan District, Shekou
- Opened: September 2015 — the first BASIS campus outside the US
- Grades: PreK–12
- Boarding: Day school only
- Eligibility: Foreign passport + HK / Macau / Taiwan residents
Moved to a purpose-built campus in August 2023. The new campus has excellent teaching facilities: 68 standard and kindergarten classrooms, an auditorium, a black-box theater, a cafeteria, a library, a double-decker gym, science labs, music classrooms, and an observatory. The flagship of the network.
广州贝赛思国际学校 · Huangpu District, Science City
- Opened: September 2017
- Grades: PreK–12
- Boarding: Yes — the first BASIS campus to offer boarding. 147 dorm rooms, 309 beds, open to Grade 5 and above. The boarding fee is not published; ask admissions.
- Eligibility: Foreign passport + HK / Macau / Taiwan residents
- Accreditation: Cognia; College Board AP Capstone, SAT, AP, and PSAT authorized test center
Authorized as an AP Capstone school — a distinction not every campus holds.
杭州钱江贝赛思国际学校 · Shangcheng District
- Opened: 2018
- Grades: PreK–12
- Boarding: Yes (boarding fee not published; ask admissions)
- Eligibility: Foreign passport + HK / Macau / Taiwan residents
- Accreditation: Cognia; College Board AP, PSAT, and SAT test center
A key project brought in by the district government. A ninth bilingual BASIS campus is planned for Hangzhou in Fall 2028.
华润小径湾贝赛思国际学校 · Huizhou, Guangdong Province
- Opened: 2018
- Grades: Grades 5–12
- Boarding: Yes — five-day boarding about ¥30,000/year, 4-person rooms, around 800 places, Grade 5 and up
- Tuition (confirmed): ¥250,480/year (G5–8) · ¥265,650/year (G9–12)
- Eligibility: Foreign passport + HK / Macau / Taiwan residents
- Accreditation: Cognia (since 2018); College Board AP test center, PSAT (2018) and SAT (2019)
南京贝赛思国际学校 · Qixia District, university town
- Opened: September 2019
- Grades: PreK–12
- Boarding: Yes — around 418 beds, Grade 5 and up (fee not published)
- Eligibility: Foreign passport + HK / Macau / Taiwan residents
Fully operational and enrolling for 2026–27. Cognia-accredited (since 2019) and an official AP, SAT, and ACT test center. Sits near Nanjing University.
四川贝赛思国际学校 · Shuangliu District, Chengdu
- Opened: 2022
- Grades: PreK–12
- Boarding: Yes — about ¥20,000/year, 4-person rooms, Grade 5 and up
- Eligibility: Foreign passport + HK / Macau / Taiwan residents
- Accreditation: Cognia; College Board AP test center
Shares one physical campus with BASIS Bilingual School Chengdu under a “two schools, one site” model. Separate admissions and student bodies. Celebrated its first graduating class in 2026.
武汉贝赛思国际学校 · Hongshan District, Wuhan
- Opened: 2023
- Grades: PreK–12
- Boarding: Yes — five days about ¥30,000/year or seven days about ¥50,000/year, Grade 5 and up
- Eligibility: Foreign passport + HK / Macau / Taiwan residents
- Accreditation: College Board AP test center (Cognia at network level)
Also runs a “two schools, one site” setup with BASIS Bilingual School Wuhan.
The BASIS Bilingual Schools and Kindergartens
These campuses are open to mainland Chinese children. They blend the BASIS Curriculum with the Chinese National Curriculum. Six operate today; two more open in Fall 2026.
BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen
深圳贝赛思双语学校 · Futian central district
- Opened: September 2020 — the first BASIS bilingual campus
- Grades: PreK–12
- Boarding: Day school only (school bus provided)
- Eligibility: Open to mainland Chinese students
BASIS Bilingual School Chengdu
成都贝赛思双语学校 · Tianfu, Chengdu
- Opened: 2022
- Grades: PreK–12
- Boarding: Yes — Grade 5 to 12, 4-person en-suite rooms (about ¥20,000/year)
- Eligibility: Open to mainland Chinese students
- Accreditation: Cognia; College Board AP test center
Shares a campus with BASIS International School Sichuan, forming integrated learning communities across both school lines.
BASIS Bilingual School Wuhan
武汉贝赛思双语学校 · Wuhan
- Opened: 2023
- Grades: PreK–12
- Boarding: Yes — five days about ¥30,000/year or seven days about ¥50,000/year, Grade 5 and up
- Eligibility: Open to mainland Chinese students
Shares a campus with BASIS International School Wuhan.
BASIS Bilingual School Guangming
深圳贝赛思外国语学校 · Guangming District, Shenzhen
- Opened: August 2024
- Grades: PreK–12
- Boarding: Yes — about ¥30,000/year, 180 beds, Grade 5 and up (Monday to Friday)
- Eligibility: Open to mainland Chinese students
- Accreditation: Pursuing Cognia accreditation
The only bilingual BASIS campus in Guangming District.
BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan
南山贝赛思幼儿园 · Shekou, Shenzhen
- Opened: August 2024
- Grades: Early years
A standalone early-childhood campus, set in the original 2015 Shenzhen school building.
BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Futian
福田贝赛思幼儿园 · Futian, Shenzhen
- Opened: August 2024
- Grades: Early years
The group’s second standalone kindergarten.
Opening Fall 2026
Two large bilingual campuses join the network this autumn.
BASIS Bilingual School Beijing
Shunyi District, Houshayu · Beijing
- Opening: Fall 2026
- Grades: PreK–12
- Capacity: 2,300 students
- Boarding: 800 places
- Investment: 1.1 billion RMB
- Eligibility: Open to mainland Chinese students
A Beijing municipal key project. Its first entrance exam ran in December 2025.
BASIS Bilingual School Guangzhou
Pazhou, Haizhu District · Guangzhou
- Opening: Fall 2026
- Grades: PreK–12
- Capacity: 1,900 students
- Boarding: Planned — dormitory may not be ready for first intake; confirm before relying on it
- Investment: 1.2 billion RMB
- Eligibility: Open to mainland Chinese students
Topped out structurally in November 2025.
Curriculum and AP Results
Every BASIS campus operates as a BASIS Curriculum School — an American K–12 model known for starting advanced subjects early. The main feature is a focus on Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These are US college-level exams. Many universities around the world accept them.
International campuses teach the curriculum fully in English. Bilingual campuses in China use the Chinese National Curriculum for language, history, and culture; most other classes are taught in English. Students can take 17 to 20 or more AP courses depending on campus — calculus, sciences, history, economics, computer science, and art. BASIS International School Guangzhou is authorized as an AP Capstone school.
Students move forward once they have mastered a unit, not just when a term ends — a classroom experience built around mastery rather than the calendar.
Expert teachers recruited globally teach BASIS China students. These students consistently perform better than global benchmarks. Teachers at both the bilingual and international schools receive ongoing professional development, with opportunities to collaborate on their own campus and across the network.
The results are strong and well documented:
From 2018 to 2024, students sat more than 13,000 AP exams with a 91% pass rate.
Applicants from Grade 2 upward start with the NWEA MAP test, plus written math, independent writing, and a speaking and listening component, followed by a parent interview. Younger applicants (PreK to Grade 1) are assessed through observed group play.
Curriculum and AP Results
Every BASIS campus operates as a BASIS Curriculum School — an American K–12 model known for starting advanced subjects early. The main feature is a focus on Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These are US college-level exams. Many universities around the world accept them.
The Class of 2026 had 318 graduates. They earned 2,195 university offers and more than US$9.2 million in scholarships — a new record for the network. 97% of graduates were accepted to a Top 50 US university, a Top 20 US liberal arts college, a Top 10 UK university, or a top Canadian or Hong Kong university. 77% were admitted to the top 30 universities in the US or the top 5 in the UK.
Double Grand Slam — Class of 2026
Graduates received offers from Yale and Brown for the first time, completing the full set. They now hold offers from all five HYPSM schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT) and all eight Ivy League schools. BASIS calls this a “double grand slam.”
The previous year was a record too. The Class of 2025, from the six original campuses, earned 1,585 offers and US$6,545,557 in scholarships. 98% were admitted to a Top 50 university, and 74% made it to the Top 30.
Tuition and Fees (2025–26)
BASIS China does not publish one central fee list, and fees vary by campus and grade. Three campuses have fees confirmed directly from an official school source, shown below.
| Campus | PreK | K | G1–5 | G6–8 | G9–12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen International | ¥264,160 | ¥282,200 | ¥305,540 | ¥312,970 | ¥326,760 |
| Guangzhou International | ¥211,220 | ¥236,580 | ¥258,020 | ¥258,020 | ¥280,500 |
| Park Lane Harbour (G5–12) | — | — | ¥250,480 (G5) | — | ¥265,650 |
A one-time, non-refundable application fee of ¥2,000 applies at Shenzhen and Guangzhou and at every campus below. Tuition covers core instruction only. Books, meals, uniforms, bus, activities, trips, and boarding (where offered) are extra.
Other Campuses (Indicative)
The remaining eight campuses do not post fees on one official page we could independently confirm. Independent listings show most of them clustering around a single schedule. Treat the figures below as indicative and confirm with the campus.
| Campus | PreK | G1–5 | G6–8 | G9–12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hangzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu (both lines), Wuhan (both lines), Shenzhen Bilingual, Guangming | ¥211,220 | ¥258,020 | ¥258,020–280,500 | ¥280,500–294,510 |
Figures from third-party listings, not each school’s own fee page — treat as indicative. Beijing and Guangzhou bilingual campuses opening Fall 2026 have not published fees yet.
Contact us and we will confirm current figures for the campus you are considering.
📅 Book a Free Consultation →Boarding at BASIS China
Most BASIS campuses offer a boarding program, usually from Grade 5 up. It is available at Guangzhou, Park Lane Harbour, Nanjing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Hangzhou, and Guangming. The new Beijing campus adds 800 boarding places when it opens in Fall 2026.
Where fees are published, five-day boarding (Monday to Friday) runs about ¥20,000–¥30,000 a year. Seven-day boarding, offered at some campuses, runs about ¥50,000. Rooms are usually shared by four students. Park Lane Harbour has around 800 places; Guangming has about 180.
The two K–12 campuses in Shenzhen — Shenzhen International and Shenzhen Bilingual — are both day schools. The same goes for the kindergartens.
⚠ The Guangzhou bilingual campus opening in Fall 2026 is planned for boarding, but its dormitory may not be ready for the first intake. Confirm before you rely on it.
Admissions and How to Apply
Admission to a BASIS International School follows a clear sequence. The exact dates vary by campus and by grade, and popular grades fill early.
Check eligibility
Confirm your child holds a foreign passport or Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan permanent residency. International campuses cannot admit students who hold mainland Chinese passports. Temporary residency is not accepted.
Register and submit documents
Provide passport and visa details, entry and exit records, and prior school reports.
Sit for the assessment
Grade 2 and above take the NWEA MAP test plus written and spoken components. Younger children are observed through group activities.
Parent interview
Families meet the admissions team.
Offer and enrolment
Successful applicants receive an offer and confirm their place.
Higher grades at some campuses — Grade 10 and above at Shenzhen in particular — run on internal progression and may not take external applicants. Always check grade availability before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Alifa Helps International Families
Choosing between fifteen campuses, two lines, and several cities is a lot to weigh, especially from overseas. That is what we do at Alifa Education.
We help international families place their children in the right school in China and support them once they arrive. This includes matching your child to a school that fits their passport, grade, and goals. It also guides you through each school’s admissions and assessment. Plus, we provide full guardianship for students needing local support. If BASIS is on your shortlist, we can confirm current fees, check grade availability, and manage the application with you.
Alifa Education Services
Find the right BASIS campus for your child.
Tell us your child’s passport, current grade, and preferred city. We will shortlist the BASIS campuses open to you and handle the application from there.
📅 Book a Free Consultation Today →Disclosure: Alifa Education Services is an independent education placement consultancy. We may earn a referral fee from partner schools when families enroll, at no extra cost to the family. Our recommendations are based on fit, not fee structure.
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