Introduction
Shanghai Foreign Language School International Division (SFLSID) (上海外国语大学附属外国语学校国际部) is the International Division of Shanghai Foreign Language School Affiliated to Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) . It operates within a state school in Shanghai and serves eligible international and overseas-connected families from Grades 6 to 12.
Families comparing international schools in China may consider SFLSID because it combines a Chinese state-school environment with international pathways. The division offers a synchronized curriculum, a joint-examination route and international IB and AP programmes. Shanghai Foreign Language School has been an IB World School for the Diploma Programme since April 2018 , and families comparing IB schools in China can use this guide to understand exactly what SFLSID currently offers.
For the current published fee schedule, tuition is RMB 38,000 per semester, or RMB 76,000 per academic year . Boarding and other school costs are charged separately. The division now operates across two Shanghai campuses — Hongkou and Changning — with different grades and programmes assigned to each location . These details matter because older school listings may still show incomplete fee information or only one campus.
Admission is also more specific than at many international schools. Applicants must fall within the school’s permitted eligibility categories, including foreign passport holders and certain students with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or qualifying overseas status. Families who are still comparing school types can also review Alifa’s broader International Schools in China hub before applying.
Key Takeaways
- School identity: Shanghai Foreign Language School International Division (SFLSID) is the International Division of Shanghai Foreign Language School Affiliated to Shanghai International Studies University (SISU).
- Tuition: the current published fee is RMB 38,000 per semester, or RMB 76,000 per academic year.
- Eligibility: applications are open to five specified categories, including foreign passport holders and certain students with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or qualifying overseas status. A child with only a mainland Chinese passport and local hukou does not meet the International Division criteria.
- Curriculum: SFLSID offers a synchronized route, a joint-examination pathway and an international IB/AP pathway. Shanghai Foreign Language School is authorised for the IB Diploma Programme (IB code 052556).
- Two campuses: the Hongkou campus serves the synchronized course for Grades 6–9, while the Changning campus serves the joint-examination course for Grades 10–12 and the international IB/AP pathway for Grades 6–12.
- Boarding: boarding is available at the Changning campus and is currently listed at RMB 1,300 per semester, or RMB 2,600 per academic year.
- University outcomes: the school’s 2026 International Division summary reported 47 offers across 28 institutions. These are school-reported offer results, not the number of individual students enrolled.
Verification: Key figures were checked against the school’s fee disclosure , the current SFLSID admissions materials, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and the International Baccalaureate registry . Fees, eligibility and programme details should be reconfirmed for the applicant’s actual entry year.
Who Can Apply to Shanghai Foreign Language School International Division?
SFLSID does not accept students solely on the basis of academic ability. Applicants must first meet the division’s nationality or overseas-status requirements. The 2026 admissions materials list five eligible categories. Confirmed
| # | Eligible category | What it means for families |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foreign nationals | The child holds a valid foreign passport. |
| 2 | Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan students | The applicant holds permanent-resident status in Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan. |
| 3 | Chinese nationals with overseas permanent residency | The applicant holds qualifying overseas permanent-resident status and must obtain the required certification from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. |
| 4 | Chinese nationals with an overseas birth certificate | The child holds a valid overseas birth certificate and meets the applicable Shanghai requirements. |
| 5 | Chinese-passport children accompanying qualifying parents | This applies to Chinese-passport children accompanying foreign, Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan parents who work and live in Shanghai. |
A child who holds only a mainland Chinese passport and local hukou, without qualifying overseas documents or parent status, does not fall within these International Division categories. That student would normally need to follow the admissions route for the main SFLS school rather than SFLSID.
Category 3: What Does the Shanghai Education Commission Require?
This category needs extra attention because the school brochure refers to education-commission certification without explaining the full test. According to the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, the whole family must have obtained foreign permanent residency, and the child must have studied at a school in the country of that permanent residency for the most recent two years or more.
What About the “442 Rule”?
A 2022 SFLS admissions document described a so-called “442 policy”: overseas permanent residency held for more than four years, together with more than two years of overseas study within the previous four years.
However, the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission’s published requirement does not state a four-year permanent-residency condition. Its current published rule focuses on whole-family permanent residency and at least the most recent two years of schooling in that country.
For that reason, families should treat the “442” wording as historical school guidance rather than the wording of the current municipal rule, and confirm their individual case directly before applying.
Foreign-national applicants may apply directly to the school when the relevant parent holds the required Shanghai work and residence documentation. Families whose eligibility depends on overseas permanent residency may need approval documentation from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission before completing the school application.
Sources & verification: SFLSID 2026 admissions materials and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission . The commission states that qualifying returning Chinese families must hold foreign permanent residency and that the child must have studied in the relevant country for the most recent two years or more. Eligibility should be reconfirmed for each applicant before submission.
Shanghai Foreign Language School Affiliated to SISU: A Leader in Language Education
SFLSID Admissions Process: How to Apply
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Contact the admissions office.
The 2026 brochure lists 021-62831008 and sflsid_admissions@126.com as the current admissions contacts.
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Complete document review first.
Applicants must meet one of the five SFLSID eligibility categories . The 2026 open-day notice states that only families who had already passed document review could attend the assessment.
Source: SFLSID 2026 Open-Day Invitation
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Attend the open day and assessment.
For September 2026 entry, the assessment was held on 16 May 2026 at the Changning Campus, 109 Anshun Road . Families applying for a later intake should ask the school for the next available date.
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Complete the entrance assessment.
The school’s 2022 English brochure described written tests in Chinese, Mathematics and English , followed by a one-to-one interview. Because the 2026 materials do not restate the exact test format, families should confirm the current assessment directly with SFLSID.
Source: SFLSID Admission Brochure 2022
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Wait for the admission result.
The 2022 brochure stated that results were normally issued within about one week, but the current 2026 materials do not confirm that exact timeline.
Tuition and Year-One Cost
Tuition is RMB 38,000 per student per semester, which is RMB 76,000 per academic year. The same figure applies to every stream — the IB and AP stream, the synchronised stream and the joint-examination stream are priced identically. Boarding is RMB 1,300 per semester.
SFLSID Published Fees
| Item | Per Semester | Per Year | Applies To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | RMB 38,000 | RMB 76,000 | All registered International Division students |
| Boarding | RMB 1,300 | RMB 2,600 | Boarding students |
| Textbooks — junior high, international curriculum | RMB 1,700 | RMB 3,400 | G6–G9 international stream |
| Textbooks — junior high, synchronised curriculum | RMB 700 | RMB 1,400 | G6–G9 synchronised stream |
| Textbooks — senior high, international curriculum | RMB 1,640 | RMB 3,280 | G10–G12 IB and AP |
| Textbooks — senior high, Chinese and joint-examination courses | RMB 640 | RMB 1,280 | G10–G12 joint-examination stream |
| Activities — junior high | RMB 100 | RMB 200 | Voluntary, settled on actual cost |
| Activities — senior high | RMB 160 | RMB 320 | Voluntary, settled on actual cost |
| Uniform | RMB 450 spring/autumn, RMB 445 summer and RMB 480 winter, per set | Voluntary, settled on actual cost | |
Year-One All-In Cost
Alifa Education calculated the following estimates from the published school charges above. Estimated
- Senior high, IB or AP, boarding: about RMB 83,500 per year. Tuition 76,000 + boarding 2,600 + textbooks 3,280 + activities 320 + one uniform set per season 1,375.
- Junior high, synchronised stream, day student: about RMB 79,000 per year. Tuition 76,000 + textbooks 1,400 + activities 200 + one uniform set per season 1,375.
Families comparing SFLSID with other schools can also read our International Schools in Shanghai guide for other tuition, curriculum and school options in the city.
SFLSID Curriculum: Course Streams and Exit Routes
Shanghai Foreign Language School International Division currently lists three academic streams. Each pathway is linked to specific grade levels, a campus and a different university route.
SFLSID Course Streams
| Stream | Grades | Campus | Where It Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Synchronised Course 同步课程 |
G6–G9 | Hongkou | Students follow the same core subjects and teachers as the main school’s junior-high programme, before choosing a senior-high pathway. |
|
Joint-Examination Course 港澳台侨联考课程系列 |
G10–G12 | Changning | Preparation for the joint entrance examination for students from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas Chinese families, leading primarily to universities in mainland China. |
|
International IB/AP Course 国际课程IB/AP系列 |
G6–G12 | Changning | International university preparation through the school’s IB Diploma and AP pathway. |
IB Diploma Programme at SFLSID
Shanghai Foreign Language School is an IB World School authorised for the Diploma Programme. The International Baccalaureate registry gives an authorisation date of 3 April 2018 and school code 052556.
The IB registry currently lists students registered for the following subjects:
The combination of English B and Chinese A: Language and Literature is relevant for families assessing language fit. Students with limited Chinese should confirm the language expectations for their intended pathway directly with the school.
Official source: International Baccalaureate — Shanghai Foreign Language School .
AP Courses: College Board Verification
Shanghai Foreign Language School appears in the College Board AP Course Ledger under school code 694121. The ledger records which courses were authorised to use the AP designation in each academic year.
| AP Subject | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 | 2025–26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macroeconomics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chemistry | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | — | Yes | — | Yes |
| Statistics | — | — | — | Yes |
| Calculus BC | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Computer Science A | — | Yes | Yes | — |
| Physics C: Mechanics | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Psychology | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| Biology | — | — | Yes | — |
| Precalculus | — | — | Yes | — |
Whether SFLSID also operates as an AP examination test centre, and under which test-centre code, is not stated by the AP Course Ledger. Families should confirm examination arrangements directly with the school.
Official sources: College Board AP Course Ledger — school code 694121 and College Board K–12 School Code Search .
Families comparing SFLSID with other IB schools can also explore our IB School Ranking Lists in China 2026 guide for a broader comparison of IB schools and results across China.
SFLSID Fast Facts
Here is a quick overview of Shanghai Foreign Language School International Division (SFLSID), including its school type, grade range, curriculum, tuition, campuses, international programme codes and admissions contact information.
- School
- Shanghai Foreign Language School International Division (SFLSID)
- Chinese Name
- 上海外国语大学附属外国语学校国际部
- Formal English Name
- International Division of Shanghai Foreign Language School Affiliated to Shanghai International Studies University
- School Type
- State-school international division; coeducational
- Main School Founded
- 1963
- International Division
- Established in 1999
- Grade Range
- Grades 6–12
- Main Entry Grades
- Grade 6 and Grade 10, with limited transfer places in other grades
- Curriculum
- IB, AP, Chinese/Tongbu pathways and International Chinese programmes
- IB Languages
- English and Chinese
- Tuition
- RMB 38,000 per semester / RMB 76,000 per academic year
- Accommodation Fee
- RMB 1,300 per semester / RMB 2,600 per academic year
- IB School Code
- 052556
- IB World School Since
- 3 April 2018
- College Board Code
- 694121
- Hongkou Campus
- 295 Zhongshan North No. 1 Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai
- Changning Campus
- 109 Anshun Road, Changning District, Shanghai
- Admissions Phone
- 021-62831008
- Admissions Email
- sflsid_admissions@126.com
- Official Website
- www.sfls.cn
- Official WeChat account
- ID SFLSID, registered to 上海外国语大学附属外国语学校 Confirmed
Tuition, accommodation charges, admissions arrangements and transfer availability can change between admission cycles. Families should reconfirm the latest fees, available places and campus arrangements directly with SFLSID before applying.
Sources: Shanghai Foreign Language School , International Baccalaureate, College Board and official Shanghai education information.
SFLSID Two Campuses: Hongkou and Changning
Shanghai Foreign Language School International Division (SFLSID) now operates across two campuses in Shanghai: Hongkou and Changning. The two sites are about 10 kilometres apart, and a student's campus depends on their grade and curriculum pathway.
Hongkou Campus
Address: 295 Zhongshan North No. 1 Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai 200083
Hongkou is the main SFLS campus. According to the 2026 admissions brochure, it hosts the Synchronised Course for Grades 6–9.
Students completing Grade 9 may later move to Changning if they continue into one of SFLSID's senior-high programmes.
Changning Campus
Address: 109 Anshun Road, Changning District, Shanghai 200052
The Changning campus formally opened on 8 September 2025. It hosts:
- International IB/AP Course — Grades 6–12
- Joint-Examination Course — Grades 10–12
The IB registry also lists 109 Anshun Road for the school's Diploma Programme, supporting Changning's role as the main location for the international curriculum.
Which Campus Will My Child Attend?
| Programme | Grades | Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Synchronised Course | G6–G9 | Hongkou |
| International IB/AP Course | G6–G12 | Changning |
| Joint-Examination Course | G10–G12 | Changning |
Families choosing the IB/AP pathway should generally plan around Changning from Grade 6, while students in the Synchronised Course study at Hongkou through Grade 9.
Families comparing location, curriculum and school options can also read our guide to international schools in Shanghai.
Sources
SFLSID 2026 Admissions Brochure; SFLS Changning Campus opening announcement; International Baccalaureate school listing.
SFLSID Boarding and Daily Life
SFLSID offers boarding at its Changning campus, with a published fee of RMB 1,300 per semester, or RMB 2,600 per academic year. Government procurement records for the Anshun Road campus also include dormitory-management services, confirming that boarding facilities operate there. Confirmed
School materials describe 7-day, 24-hour dormitory supervision and a canteen operated by Shanghai International Studies University (SISU). School-reported
Student life includes school clubs, sports teams, cultural events, multilingual presentations and a field-study trip each semester using project-based learning. The school has also described short overseas exchange opportunities for some Grade 9 and Grade 11 students. School-reported
The school does not currently confirm whether boarding is available to every grade and curriculum stream, so families should check availability directly with the admissions office before applying.
Families comparing boarding, curriculum and school-life options can also read our guide to international schools in Shanghai.
Sources
Shanghai Foreign Language School — International Curriculum
China Government Procurement Network — Anshun Road campus services
SFLSID school fee disclosure, 2 March 2026.
SFLSID University Destinations
SFLSID publishes annual university-offer summaries for its IB/AP students. For 2026, the school reported 47 offers across 28 institutions. Confirmed
The largest share came from the United States:
| Destination | 2026 Offers |
|---|---|
| United States | 30 |
| Hong Kong | 5 |
| United Kingdom | 5 |
| Japan | 3 |
| Canada | 2 |
| Art & Design | 2 |
Named universities included Cornell, Northwestern, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Wisconsin–Madison, UIUC, UCL, Edinburgh, Toronto, Keio and Waseda .
The 2025 destination list also included Johns Hopkins, Swarthmore, UCLA, Rice, Vanderbilt, Oxford, Toronto and Kyoto University , showing that SFLSID students apply across the United States, UK, Canada, Japan and Hong Kong. Confirmed
How Should Parents Read These Results?
The school states that its IB class achieved a 100% admission rate to US Top 30 universities for two consecutive years . However, this is a school-reported claim, and SFLSID does not publish the size of the graduating cohort.
The 47 figure represents university offers, not 47 individual students . One student receiving several offers may therefore appear multiple times in the total.
SFLSID also does not currently publish an average IB Diploma score, the number of students scoring 40+, or a destination list for the joint-examination stream . Not currently confirmed
Families comparing university pathways can also read our guide to international schools in Shanghai .
Sources
SFLSID 2026 University Destination Summary — official SFLSID WeChat, 25 June 2026.
SFLSID 2025 University Destination Summary — official SFLSID WeChat, 10 April 2025.
What Changed at SFLSID in 2025–2026
SFLSID changed significantly during 2025–2026, especially in its campus structure, programme information and where families now find current admissions updates.
1. Changning Campus Opened
SFLSID's Changning campus at 109 Anshun Road officially opened on 8 September 2025 . The division now operates across Hongkou and Changning, with the international IB/AP stream based at Changning.
2. International Chinese Stream Is Unclear
The International Chinese Course for Grades 10–12 appeared in the 2025 brochure but is not listed in the 2026 admissions brochure .
However, the March 2026 fee disclosure still includes textbook charges for Chinese-for-foreigners courses. SFLSID has not announced that the programme has closed, so its current admissions status remains unclear.
Families interested in this pathway should confirm availability directly with the admissions office before applying.
3. SFLSID Is Still IB Diploma Only
SFLSID previously described itself as an IB Middle Years Programme candidate, but the current IB registry confirms authorisation for the Diploma Programme only.
There is currently no confirmed MYP authorisation for Grades 6–9.
4. Current Information Has Moved to WeChat
Much of SFLSID's latest information now appears through its official WeChat channels rather than the International Division website.
The 2026 admissions brochure, Changning campus updates and university destination results were all published through WeChat, while the website's International Division section contains older material.
Families should therefore check both the official website and the SFLSID WeChat account when confirming current admissions information.
Families comparing recent changes across Shanghai schools can also read our guide to international schools in Shanghai .
Sources
SFLSID 2025 and 2026 admissions brochures; SFLS Changning Campus opening announcement; SFLSID March 2026 fee disclosure; International Baccalaureate school registry ; official SFLSID WeChat updates.
What Alifa Verified, and What We Could Not
Alifa Education checked the key SFLSID facts below against primary sources. Where current official information could not be verified, we label it clearly rather than relying on third-party school directories.
| Claim | Verified Value | Status | Primary Source | Source Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual tuition | RMB 38,000 per semester; RMB 76,000 per academic year. The same tuition applies across the three SFLSID streams. | Confirmed | SFLS school fee disclosure | 2026-03-02 |
| Year-one all-in cost | About RMB 83,500 for a senior-high boarding student and about RMB 79,000 for a junior-high day student. | Estimated | Calculated from published tuition, boarding, textbook, activity and uniform charges. Medical insurance and IB examination fees are excluded. | 2026-08-22 |
| Eligibility | Five eligible categories. For Category 3, the whole family must hold overseas permanent residency and the child must have studied in that country for the most recent two years or more. | Confirmed | Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and SFLSID 2026 admissions brochure | 2024-01-29 |
| Campus allocation | Hongkou: Synchronised Course G6–G9. Changning: International IB/AP G6–G12 and Joint-Examination Course G10–G12. | Confirmed | SFLSID 2026 brochure and Changning campus opening announcement | 2026-03-03 |
| IB and AP status | IB Diploma Programme only, school code 052556, authorised 3 April 2018. College Board school code 694121. | Confirmed | IB school listing and AP Course Ledger | 2026-08-22 |
| Boarding | Available at the Changning campus at RMB 1,300 per semester. | Confirmed | SFLS fee disclosure and government dormitory-management procurement record | 2025-08-06 |
| Admissions process | Document review takes place before the open day. For September 2026 entry, the open day and assessment were held on 16 May 2026 at the Changning campus. | Confirmed | SFLSID 2026 open-day invitation | 2026-04-30 |
| IB Middle Years Programme | Not authorised. SFLSID previously reported MYP candidate status, but the current IB registry lists Diploma Programme authorisation only. | Confirmed | International Baccalaureate registry | 2026-08-22 |
What We Could Not Confirm
- IB results: no published Diploma average score or number of students scoring 40 points or above.
- Graduating cohort size: the 2026 summary reports 47 university offers, but the number of individual students is not published.
- International Chinese Course: it disappeared from the 2026 admissions brochure but remains referenced in the 2026 fee disclosure. Not currently confirmed
- AP test-centre status: AP course authorisation is confirmed under school code 694121, but whether SFLSID hosts AP examinations is not published.
- Enrolment and class size: there is no current student headcount, nationality breakdown, class-size cap or teacher-student ratio.
- Joint-examination outcomes: no mainland university destination list has been published.
- Additional fees: application fee, deposit and IB examination fees are not stated in current published materials.
What Parents Should Confirm Before Applying
- The fee schedule for the semester in which the student will start.
- Whether the student's documents meet the relevant SFLSID eligibility requirements.
- Which campus the student will attend and what happens at the Grade 9 to Grade 10 transition.
- Whether boarding is available for the student's grade and curriculum stream.
- Whether the International Chinese Course is accepting new applicants.
- Which IB and AP subjects will run for the student's cohort and whether examination fees are charged separately.
Explore the verified SFLSID information
Read more about SFLSID eligibility, tuition and year-one cost, curriculum and exit routes, Hongkou and Changning campuses, and boarding and daily life.
Families comparing other options can also read our guide to international schools in Shanghai .
Last reviewed: 2026-08-22 by Alifa Education. Figures change. Reconfirm fees and eligibility with the school before making a financial commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions About SFLSID
These answers summarize the most important verified information about Shanghai Foreign Language School International Division, including tuition, eligibility, campuses, boarding, IB status and university outcomes.
How much is tuition at SFLS International Division?
Tuition is RMB 38,000 per semester, or RMB 76,000 per academic year, and the published tuition is the same across the current streams. Boarding adds RMB 1,300 per semester.
The figures come from the school's statutory fee disclosure dated 2 March 2026 rather than an admissions brochure. Alifa Education estimates a year-one total of about RMB 83,500 for a senior-high boarding student and about RMB 79,000 for a junior-high day student. See the full SFLSID fees and year-one cost section.
Does Shanghai Foreign Language School International Division accept foreign passport holders?
Yes. Foreign nationals are one of five eligible categories listed in the 2026 SFLSID admissions brochure.
Other eligible groups include Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan permanent residents and certain Chinese nationals with qualifying overseas documents or qualifying parents living and working in Shanghai. Foreign-national families may apply directly to the school, subject to the required Shanghai work and residence documentation.
Read the detailed SFLSID eligibility requirements before applying.
Can a mainland Chinese child with a local hukou apply?
A child holding only a mainland Chinese passport and mainland household registration, with no qualifying overseas document or qualifying parent status, does not fit the five International Division eligibility categories.
That family would normally apply to the main SFLS division through the local admissions system instead. The International Division and the school's local admissions route should not be treated as the same application pathway.
What is the 442 rule, and does it still apply?
The term 442 rule comes from wording used by SFLSID in a 2022 admissions document. It referred to an overseas permanent resident card held for more than four years and overseas schooling for more than two of the previous four years.
However, the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission's published requirement instead refers to the whole family obtaining foreign permanent residency and the child studying at a school in that country for the most recent two years or more.
The four-year card condition does not appear in the commission's current wording, and SFLSID stopped repeating the 442 wording after 2022. It should therefore be treated as historical school wording, not as the current legal test. Families should confirm individual cases with the relevant education authority.
Where is the International Division, and which campus will my child attend?
SFLSID now operates across two campuses approximately 10 kilometres apart.
The Hongkou campus at 295 Zhongshan North No.1 Road teaches the Synchronised Course for Grades 6–9.
The Changning campus at 109 Anshun Road officially opened on 8 September 2025. It teaches the Joint-Examination Course for Grades 10–12 and the International IB/AP Course for Grades 6–12.
Students in the international stream are based at Changning from Grade 6. See our Hongkou and Changning campus guide.
Does SFLSID offer boarding?
Yes. Boarding is available at the Changning campus and is charged at RMB 1,300 per semester.
The school's fee disclosure lists a boarding charge for registered International Division students, while a 2025 Chinese government procurement award also confirms dormitory-management services at the Anshun Road campus.
Whether boarding is available to every grade and curriculum stream is not currently stated, so families should confirm availability before applying. Read more in SFLSID Boarding and Daily Life.
Is SFLSID an IB World School, and does it offer the Middle Years Programme?
SFLSID is an IB World School for the Diploma Programme only. The International Baccalaureate lists the school with IB code 052556 and an authorisation date of 3 April 2018.
There is currently no confirmed MYP authorisation. SFLSID announced MYP candidate status in 2018, but the current IB registry lists only the Diploma Programme.
Families specifically seeking an authorised IB middle-years programme should therefore not assume Grades 6–9 are MYP-authorised. See the SFLSID curriculum and IB/AP pathway.
Where do SFLSID graduates go to university?
SFLSID's 2026 destination summary reported 47 offers across 28 institutions. This included 30 offers in the United States, five in Hong Kong, five in the United Kingdom, three in Japan, two in Canada and two art-and-design offers.
Named universities included UC Berkeley, Cornell, Northwestern, UC San Diego, UCL, Edinburgh, Toronto, Keio and Waseda. The 2025 summary also named institutions including Johns Hopkins, Swarthmore, UCLA, Rice, Vanderbilt and Oxford.
These figures are offers rather than student enrolments. SFLSID does not publish the graduating cohort size or an average IB Diploma score, so claimed admission percentages cannot be independently recalculated from public information. See the full SFLSID University Destinations section.
Before applying: fees, eligibility, boarding availability and programme details can change. Families should reconfirm current information with SFLSID before paying any application fee or deposit.
Parent Verdict
Is SFLSID Right for Your Family?
SFLSID can be a strong-value Shanghai option, but it is designed for a relatively specific type of student. Eligibility, Chinese-language ability and the university pathway your child wants matter more here than tuition alone.
Best fit: an eligible student with strong Chinese who wants either a mainland university route through the Joint-Examination Course or an IB Diploma / AP pathway within a Chinese state-school academic environment.
You want strong academics at a comparatively low tuition level
- Your child fits one of the five SFLSID eligibility categories .
- Your child reads and writes Chinese at a strong academic level.
- You want an IB Diploma / AP pathway within a Chinese academic environment.
- Your child may want a mainland Chinese university route through the Joint-Examination Course.
- Your family values tuition of RMB 76,000 per academic year.
You need an English-dominant or highly transparent international school
- Your child has limited written or academic Chinese.
- You specifically require an authorised IB Middle Years Programme. SFLSID is currently authorised for the Diploma Programme only.
- You need published IB averages, 40+ results or detailed graduating-cohort statistics when comparing schools.
- You require certainty about the International Chinese Course; its current admissions status is not currently confirmed.
- You expect all current admissions and programme information to appear on one regularly updated English-language website.
The main limitation: information is fragmented
Alifa Education could verify SFLSID's tuition, eligibility rules, campus allocation and boarding arrangements, but the evidence is spread across statutory fee disclosures, Shanghai education authority pages, government procurement records and official WeChat posts rather than one fully updated International Division webpage. Reconfirm important answers directly with the school and obtain them in writing before paying.
Before deciding, review SFLSID eligibility, fees and year-one cost, curriculum and IB/AP pathways, Hongkou and Changning campuses, boarding and daily life, and university destinations . You can also compare other options in our guide to international schools in Shanghai .
Alifa Education Services
Not Sure Whether SFLSID Is Right for Your Child?
Alifa Education Services helps international, expatriate and returning families find suitable schools in Shanghai and across China. Send us your child's passport status, current grade and Chinese language level, and we can help identify which schools your child can realistically apply to.
📅 Book a Free Consultation →Disclosure: Alifa Education Services is an independent education placement consultancy. We may earn a referral fee from partner schools when families enrol, at no extra cost to the family. Our recommendations are based on fit, not fee structure.
Research & Verification
Sources and Verification
Alifa Education checked SFLSID's tuition, eligibility, campus allocation, curriculum status, boarding and university outcomes against school publications, government records and official programme registries. Primary sources are listed below so families can independently review the evidence.
Verification approach: where official sources conflict or current information is not publicly available, this guide labels the claim as historical, estimated or not currently confirmed rather than presenting it as a verified fact.
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School Shanghai Foreign Language School — Fee Disclosure. 2025学年第二学期教育收费公示 . Second semester of the 2025 school year; document dated 2026-03-02, published 2026-03-01. Used to verify tuition, boarding, textbook, activity and uniform charges.
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School Shanghai Foreign Language School — Earlier Fee Disclosure. 2023学年第二学期教育收费网上公示 , published 2024-02-19. Used as an earlier official comparison showing the same tuition figure.
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Official WeChat SFLSID 2026 Admissions Brochure. 《2026年度上外附中国际部招生简章》 , published 2026-03-03. Used for eligibility, intake grades, curriculum streams, campus allocation and admissions contact information.
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Official WeChat Changning Campus Opening Announcement. 《上外附中国际部长宁校区揭牌仪式隆重举行》 , published 2025-09-18. Confirms the Changning campus opening ceremony held on 8 September 2025.
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Official WeChat SFLSID 2026 University Destination Summary. 《上外附中国际部2026届高三年级IB/AP课程升学情况汇总》 , published 2026-06-25. Used for the 47 university offers across 28 institutions.
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Government Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. Examination and Approval of Qualification of Study for Children of Foreigners in Shanghai . Published 2021-08-16 and updated 2024-01-29. Used to verify eligibility requirements.
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Government China Government Procurement Network. 上外附中国际部（长宁校区）物业服务中标公告 , dated 2025-08-06. Property-services procurement for the Changning campus, including dormitory management.
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IB International Baccalaureate Organization. Shanghai Foreign Language School — IB school listing 052556 . Checked 2026-08-22. Used to verify Diploma Programme authorisation and IB school code.
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College Board AP Course Ledger. Shanghai Foreign Language School — School Code 694121 . Checked 2026-08-22. Used to verify authorised AP courses.
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College Board K–12 School Code Search. College Board school-code search , checked 2026-08-22. Confirms code 694121 for Shanghai Foreign Language School and distinguishes it from the separate SISU-affiliated school in Hangzhou, code 694854.
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IB International Baccalaureate — Find an IB World School. IB World School Registry , checked 2026-08-22. Used to confirm that SFLSID currently shows Diploma Programme authorisation only.
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School SFLSID 2025 Admissions Brochure. 2025学年上外附中国际部招生简章 , published 2024-11-08. Used to compare earlier programme and admissions information with the 2026 brochure.
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Historical SFLSID 2022 Grade 10 and Transfer Admission Invitation. 2022年度国际部新高一及插班生邀请函 , published 2022-04-25. Source for the historical “442” wording and subject lists.
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Historical SFLSID Admission Brochure 2022. Admission Brochure 2022 , published 2021-10-14. English-language source describing the historical entrance assessment structure.
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School SFLS International Division Course Pages. Tongbu Class and International Curriculum , published 2021-10-14. Used for historical AP information and school-reported boarding, dormitory and canteen details.
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Historical International Chinese Course Brochure. 2022年度外汉课程招生简章 , published 2021-10-14. Used for the earlier spring/autumn intake and Japan/Korea pathway information.
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School / IB SFLSID IB Diploma Authorisation Announcement. 上外附中国际部喜获DP项目授权 , published 2018-04-10. Used for the division's 1999 establishment date, IB Diploma authorisation and historical MYP candidacy.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-22 by Alifa Education. Source availability and school information can change. Families should reconfirm time-sensitive admissions and fee information directly with SFLSID before applying.
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