> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://blog.alifaedtech.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Shenzhen Academy of International Education (SAIE): The Complete Guide for ASEAN Families - URL: https://blog.alifaedtech.com/shenzhen-academy-of-international-education-saie/ - Published: 2026-07-15T00:31:40.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-15T16:43:09.000Z - Description: Everything ASEAN families need to know about Shenzhen Academy of International Education (SAIE): four accreditations (WASC, College Board, ACT GAC, Pearson Edexcel), three curricula (AP, HKDSE, International Arts), 2026-2027 fees, foreign-passport eligibility from Grade 6, and where graduates go. - Author: Emmanuel Usang - Tags: International Schools in China, International Schools Shenzhen, AP Schools China, HKDSE Schools China ## Introduction [Shenzhen Academy of International Education (SAIE)](https://alifaedtech.com/schools/shenzhen-academy-of-international-education) is a private school located in Nanshan District, Shenzhen. Its Chinese name is 深圳市博纳学校. Dr. Simon Chen founded the school in 2014\. He has two PhDs. One is from Boston University. The other is from the University of California, Santa Barbara. SAIE delivers a full international curriculum across three programs running at the same time. They are AP, Hong Kong’s HKDSE, and an international arts program. It holds four international accreditations, an unusual combination for one Shenzhen school. Here is the detail that matters most for ASEAN families. China’s enrollment rules reserve seats at SAIE for middle school and early high school. Only students with foreign passports can apply. Most ASEAN applicants already qualify. This guide covers what SAIE teaches, what it costs for 2026–2027, who can enroll, and how to apply from abroad. **🏅 Scholarship alert:** SAIE is now running an online scholarship entrance exam for international students. There’s no application deadline. See **Win a Scholarship to SAIE Shenzhen** for details. **Experience Excellence.** *Embrace Opportunity.* [🏫 Browse School List](https://alifaedtech.com/schools) [📅 Book a Free Consultation](https://tidycal.com/publisher) ☰ Table of Contents [1Introduction→](#introduction) [2Key Takeaways→](#key-takeaways) [3SAIE At a Glance→](#saie-at-a-glance) [4What Is SAIE? History and Accreditation→](#history-and-accreditation) [5Three Academic Pathways at SAIE→](#three-academic-pathways) [6Beyond the Classroom→](#beyond-the-classroom) [7Who Can Enroll? Admissions Eligibility for International Families→](#admissions-eligibility) [8Tuition Fees (2026–2027)→](#tuition-fees) [9Where Do SAIE Graduates Go? University Outcomes→](#university-outcomes) [10Faculty and Teaching Team→](#faculty) [11Campus, Boarding, and Daily Life→](#campus-boarding) [12Is SAIE Right for Your Family?→](#is-saie-right) [13Frequently Asked Questions→](#frequently-asked-questions) [14How Alifa Helps ASEAN Families Apply→](#how-alifa-helps) ## Key Takeaways [**SAIE holds four accreditations: WASC, College Board (CEEB code 694141), ACT GAC, and Pearson Edexcel.** Few Shenzhen schools hold all four.](https://www.scie.com.cn/our-college/affiliations/) **Foreign-passport students can enroll from Grade 6.** SAIE keeps Grade 9 and below for foreign nationals, including holders of Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan passports. **Three curricula run side by side:** AP (including the AP Capstone Diploma), HKDSE, and a full International Arts Academy. [**Tuition fees for 2026–2027 range from RMB 188,000 to RMB 288,000 per year**, depending on the division.](http://www.usapschool.com/archives/2717) Additional costs include boarding, uniforms, and dining charges. **Since 2016, nine graduating classes have received offers** from Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, Amherst, and UC Berkeley. **Boarding is priced by weekday only.** Families without a local guardian need a weekend and holiday plan. The campus sits in **Nanshan District**, Shenzhen’s core technology and business corridor. ## SAIE At a Glance | Field | Details | | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Chinese Name | 深圳市博纳学校 | | Founded | Planned 2012, opened 2014 | | Founder & Principal | Dr. Simon Chen (陈晓民), dual PhD — Boston University (Physics) and UC Santa Barbara (Electrical & Computer Engineering) | | Location | No. 13 Zhongxiang Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen | | Divisions | Middle School (Grades 6–8) · High School (Grades 9–12) · International Arts Academy (Grades 9–12) · HKDSE (High School) | | Curricula | AP · HKDSE · International Arts (A-Level Art & Design, AP Art & Design) | | Accreditations | WASC · College Board (CEEB 694141) · ACT GAC · Pearson Edexcel (Centre 94558) | | 2026–2027 Tuition | RMB 188,000–288,000/year depending on division | | Enrollment Note | Grade 9 and below: foreign-nationality or Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan passport holders only | | Admissions Phone | 0755-26602340 / 18300008200 | | Admissions Email | [zsb@usapschool.com](mailto:zsb@usapschool.com) | | Official Website | [usapschool.com](https://www.usapschool.com) | ## What Is SAIE? History and Accreditation Dr. Simon Chen founded SAIE. He is a physicist and engineer, not a teacher. The school relies on his background in its story. [Dr. Chen has two PhDs. He earned one in physics from Boston University. He got the other in electrical and computer engineering from UC Santa Barbara.](https://learning.sohu.com/a/545314512%5F100002058) He studied under two Nobel laureates along the way. ![Shenzhen Academy of International Education (SAIE) clock tower and campus grounds](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/81/c28166d6-22ce-4cad-9c10-4defbc55a069/content/images/2026/07/collage-45.jpg) Shenzhen Academy of International Education (SAIE) clock tower and campus grounds Before going back to China, he worked as a researcher at Bell Labs. There, he won the President’s Award. He then founded a technology company that a US-listed firm later acquired. Forbes China has since named him one of its “Top 10 Outstanding International School Principals.” Sina named him its “Annual Influential Principal.” He still personally teaches SAIE’s AP Capstone course today. SAIE opened in the fall of 2014, with prior approval from the Shenzhen Bureau of Education. The school calls its Nanshan District site a “garden campus.” Nanshan is Shenzhen’s central technology and business corridor. Two years later, SAIE’s first graduating class posted strong results. [80% won acceptance into the world’s top 100 universities.](http://www.usapschool.com/archives/2717) [100% won acceptance into the top 75 U.S. universities.](http://www.usapschool.com/archives/2717) The school still points to this as its founding proof of concept. SAIE’s accreditation stack is what sets it apart on paper. It has four different international authorizations. #### WASC SAIE gained WASC candidacy in July 2016 and full accreditation in June 2019 — among the first international schools in Shenzhen to do so. Reaccredited in 2025 for another **six years**. Only a small number of Shenzhen schools hold WASC accreditation of this kind. #### College Board Authorized to teach AP courses under **CEEB code 694141**. Universities around the world fully accept the exam results. #### ACT GAC (Global Assessment Certificate) Official ACT test center. Students can sit the ACT **on campus** instead of traveling elsewhere. #### Pearson Edexcel Holds **Centre Code 94558**, supporting the school’s A-Level and HKDSE-adjacent offerings. SAIE ranks in the top ten [international schools in Shenzhen](https://blog.alifaedtech.com/international-schools-in-shenzhen/) and in the top twenty in Guangdong Province. The school’s own materials don’t name the ranking body behind these figures. Yixiao’s 2021 nationwide ranking put SAIE at 146th place, which is outside the top 70\. Rankings change based on the method and year. It’s a good idea to ask the admissions office which ranking they use. ![SAIE Shenzhen video](https://img.youtube.com/vi/afXvokK9s1Y/hqdefault.jpg) ![SAIE Shenzhen video 1](https://img.youtube.com/vi/afXvokK9s1Y/mqdefault.jpg) ![SAIE Shenzhen video 2](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xWczAF0uBr0/mqdefault.jpg) ![SAIE Shenzhen video 3](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nP8Vw751B2I/mqdefault.jpg) ## Three Academic Pathways at SAIE Most Shenzhen international schools commit to one curriculum. SAIE runs three in parallel, and unusually, it lets students cross-register between them. ### AP Program SAIE’s AP division has almost 30 courses. They include math, science, computer science, English, history, social science, and the arts. Classes are small. This helps teachers track each student’s progress closely. The highlight is the **AP Capstone Diploma**. It’s a two-year program made up of two courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. The College Board created this as its most research-focused AP credential. [SAIE is one of the few schools in Shenzhen that offers it.](https://alifaedtech.com/schools/shenzhen-academy-of-international-education) Dr. Chen teaches the course himself. In 2025, two SAIE students earned the school’s first AP Capstone diplomas — among the first in all of Shenzhen. ### HKDSE Program SAIE relaunched its HKDSE (HK DSE) track in 2024, marking the school’s tenth anniversary. The program pairs experienced local teachers trained in Hong Kong with SAIE’s international teachers who follow the American curriculum. Compulsory Subjects [Chinese Language](https://blog.alifaedtech.com/chinese-language-learning/) English Language [Mathematics](https://blog.alifaedtech.com/american-mathematics-competitions-amc/) Citizenship and Social Development Electives Physics Chemistry · Biology World History Visual Arts Economics Business Accounting & Financial Studies Chinese Literature · Others Chinese language support is available for students whose first language is not Chinese. Universities across mainland China, Hong Kong, and beyond recognize HKDSE results — SAIE names Cambridge, Yale, NYU, Sydney, Toronto, NUS, HKU, and Tsinghua as examples. The school achieved a “Grand Slam” with its last nine HKDSE graduating classes: every class got into all five top universities in Hong Kong. ### International Arts Academy Professor Pan Hua leads SAIE’s arts division. He is a film studies professor at the Communication University of China. The arts program runs alongside SAIE’s academic tracks, not as an afterthought. Students in Grades 6 to 10 learn Music-Art-Dance (MAD), design, and technology. From Grade 9, students can specialize in AP Art and Design (2D and 3D), AP Art History, or Honors Music. The professional program includes [IGCSE and A-Level](https://blog.alifaedtech.com/igcse-a-level-china/) exams covering A-Level Art and Design and IGCSE Art and Design, alongside fashion design studio work and courses in film or theater following an IBDP-aligned syllabus. A university application portfolio course rounds out the senior years. [Arts-track alumni have gained admission to top schools including Berklee College of Music, Parsons School of Design, the Rhode Island School of Design, and the art programs at UC Berkeley and USC.](https://www.isixue.com/school/detail/136393/) ### Cross-Program Flexibility SAIE lets students borrow courses across its three tracks. An AP-track student can take an A-Level course. An HKDSE student can explore arts electives. The school sees this as a way to create a unique university application — and a way to avoid tying students to a single system at enrollment. ## Beyond the Classroom SAIE belongs to Global Online Academy (GOA), a private-school consortium. Membership offers students access to over 50 extra online courses. These courses include topics such as computer science, global studies, health sciences, psychology, and business. That’s a wider range than a single campus could offer alone. ![Shenzhen Academy of International Education student life: music, study and graduation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/81/c28166d6-22ce-4cad-9c10-4defbc55a069/content/images/2026/07/collage-3.jpg) Shenzhen Academy of International Education student life: music, study and graduation Project-based learning (PBL) is a standing part of SAIE’s model, not an occasional add-on. Past student projects include making kimchi in a food-science unit, dissecting frogs, and building a rooftop garden. SAIE reports ten or more interdisciplinary courses running each semester. One recent example paired the French language with vocal music. Another paired economics with English composition. Students must complete CAS, which stands for Creativity, Activity, and Service, to graduate. It’s based on the framework used by [IB schools](https://blog.alifaedtech.com/ib-schools-in-china/). Students must complete 150 hours from Grades 9 to 11\. This time is split evenly among all three categories. Recent CAS projects feature a wildlife documentary in Western Australia — ASDAN-certified. There’s also a rural outreach program in Hainan. SAIE students take part in academic contests. These include the American International Public Policy Forum Essay and Debate Contest, the Brain Bee, and the [Euclid Math Contest](https://blog.alifaedtech.com/euclid-mathematics-contest/). Since 2025, SAIE has formally rolled out Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) across daily teaching. The school also runs a continuous, parent-visible feedback system, built around four steps: review the last feedback cycle, acknowledge progress, set the next goal, and loop parents into the conversation. ## Who Can Enroll? Admissions Eligibility for International Families This detail matters most for ASEAN families weighing SAIE. Look at the school’s own 2026–2027 enrollment table. **Grade 9 and below is open only to students holding a foreign passport or a Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan passport.** This rule reflects Chinese government policy on foreign schooling during compulsory education years. ![Shenzhen Academy of International Education students in class, library and graduation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/81/c28166d6-22ce-4cad-9c10-4defbc55a069/content/images/2026/07/collage-2.jpg) Shenzhen Academy of International Education students in class, library and graduation In practice, this works in ASEAN families’ favor. Most ASEAN applicants already hold a foreign passport. That means they can apply to SAIE’s middle school division (Grades 6–8) or to high school starting at Grade 9\. For many mainland Chinese families, that same pathway is closed until Grade 10\. The policy can change each admission cycle. So, check the current rule before you apply. One more detail to confirm: some admission cycles limit new students to Grade 11, not Grade 12\. A division’s grade range can still run through 12 for continuing students. Ask the admissions office. Find out which grades are open for new applicants in your target year. | Division | Enrollment Grades | | -------------------------- | ----------------- | | Middle School | Grade 6–8 | | High School | Grade 9–12 | | International Arts Academy | Grade 9–12 | | HKDSE | High School | Application Process Submit a completed admission application form Provide a copy of the applicant’s passport or ID Pay a **RMB 500 registration fee** (non-refundable) Entrance Assessment **AP, A-Level, and Arts-track applicants** sit a 90-minute Math and English test (the MAP) **HKDSE-track applicants** sit a 120-minute Chinese, Math, and English test Every applicant completes a **20-minute interview** and a **10-minute character and skills assessment** Families applying from outside China can also email [zsb@usapschool.com](mailto:zsb@usapschool.com). ## Tuition Fees (2026–2027) SAIE publishes tuition fees separately for each of its four divisions. All figures below are per academic year, in RMB, from the school’s own 2026–2027 fee schedule. | Division | Grades | Tuition (RMB/year) | Boarding | Uniform | Dining | | -------------------------- | ----------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | Middle School | 6–8 | 208,000 | RMB 16,800/year (weekdays only) | RMB 1,880/set (summer + winter) | Billed per actual consumption via smart cafeteria system | | High School | 9–12 | 228,000 | Same as above | Same as above | Same as above | | International Arts Academy | 9–12 | 288,000 | Same as above | Same as above | Same as above | | HKDSE | High School | 188,000 | Same as above | Same as above | Same as above | At a rough exchange rate of RMB 7.2 to USD 1, that puts tuition at roughly **USD 26,000 to USD 40,000 a year**. That range excludes boarding, uniform, and dining. This figure is illustrative only — check current rates before budgeting. The boarding fee’s weekday-only scope deserves its own mention. The published 2026–2027 rate, **RMB 16,800**, covers Monday through Friday only. In past years, SAIE offered a boarding option for weekends at about **RMB 19,800 each year**. Ask the admissions office whether that option is still available for your intake year. Families without a local guardian need a plan for weekends and school holidays. ## Where Do SAIE Graduates Go? University Outcomes SAIE has graduated nine cohorts since its first class in 2016\. [The school has an 80% admission rate to top global universities.](http://www.usapschool.com/archives/2717) [SAIE’s breakdown shows that this category includes the top two universities in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.](https://www.scie.com.cn/university-admissions/) It includes all eight campuses of the University of California. It also has the top five public universities in the US. The list includes top art and music schools and the five best universities in Hong Kong. SAIE’s alumni records list top schools, including Ivy League universities such as Yale, alongside Amherst, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College. UCLA and UC Berkeley belong on that list. UC Berkeley had a three-year admission streak starting in 2019\. Include USC, NYU, Toronto, and Waterloo. Add Sydney and Melbourne. Don’t forget the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. On the arts side, alumni have gone on to Berklee College of Music, Parsons School of Design, the Rhode Island School of Design, and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. The HKDSE track has its own highlight. SAIE reports a “Grand Slam” — students got into all five top universities in Hong Kong across the last nine graduating classes. Alex Bai is a 2024 graduate. He was accepted into Cambridge’s history department. This is SAIE’s first admission to Cambridge. Per the school, it was also the only offer into that department nationwide that year. In a recent snapshot for 2025, SAIE’s graduating class has 36 students. Together, they received 216 university offers. That works out to **six offers per student**, on average. One key point: these figures come from the school’s own materials. They are not from an independent audit. Keep that in mind when comparing schools. The range and consistency of named placements across nine cohorts matter more. They are a stronger signal than just one standout year. ## Faculty and Teaching Team SAIE has more than 50 teachers. They come from eight countries and regions — the United States, Canada, Australia, France, and China among them. More than **75% hold master’s degrees**, with many from UC Santa Barbara, the University of Rochester, and Imperial College London. The average teaching tenure for the entire faculty is **over nine years**. Many teachers have been in the classroom for more than twenty years. Class sizes stay small in practice: typically **15 to 18 students**, never more than 25\. The student-teacher ratio has recently been cited between **1:4 and 1:5**. Dr. Chen leads a small senior team rather than running the school alone. Dr. Wei Zhizhang is the academic principal. He is a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School and has a biomedical PhD from the University of Montreal. Administrative Principal Fan Wu has an MBA and experience in operations management at large institutions. The most notable name on staff is **Professor Pan Hua**. He runs the International Arts Academy and teaches film studies at the Communication University of China. China’s Ministry of Education called his course a top course. Student films he supervised have won over thirty awards, both in the US and abroad. ## Campus, Boarding, and Daily Life SAIE runs as a small, close-knit campus by design. For the 2023–2024 school year, total enrollment was **over 240 students** across all divisions. ![Shenzhen Academy of International Education facilities: gym, cafeteria and dorms](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/81/c28166d6-22ce-4cad-9c10-4defbc55a069/content/images/2026/07/collage-1.jpg) Shenzhen Academy of International Education facilities: gym, cafeteria and dorms Boarding costs are based on weekdays only. This is typical for Chinese day-and-boarding hybrid schools. But it puts real weight on a family’s weekend and holiday plan. For a family with relatives already in Shenzhen, that’s a non-issue. A family arriving from Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, or Manila with no local contact has a logistics issue. Resolve it before enrollment, not after. ## Is SAIE Right for Your Family? SAIE has a three-track structure. The best choice often depends on your target university system. #### AP Track Best for families targeting US universities. AP Capstone strengthens applications and gives students a credential that travels well across American institutions. #### HKDSE Keeps options open across Hong Kong, mainland China, and schools that accept this qualification. A useful hedge if you haven’t settled on one country yet. #### International Arts Academy For students with a strong interest in art, music, design, or film. The school’s placement record at Berklee and Parsons backs that pathway up. For ASEAN families, one detail makes a big difference. **Foreign-passport eligibility begins in Grade 6.** It opens a multi-year runway, not just a late, senior-high-only entry point. ## Frequently Asked Questions What is Shenzhen Academy of International Education (SAIE)? + SAIE is a private international school in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District. Dr. Simon Chen founded it in 2014\. It offers AP and HKDSE programs as well as international arts courses for middle and high school students. It holds **WASC, College Board, ACT GAC, and Pearson Edexcel** accreditation. Where is SAIE located? + SAIE’s campus sits at **No. 13 Zhongxiang Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen** — the city’s core technology and business corridor. Can students from ASEAN countries enroll at SAIE? + Yes. SAIE keeps its Grade 9-and-below seats for foreign nationals and passport holders from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. That covers most ASEAN applicants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. This lets students enroll as early as **Grade 6** — earlier than most mainland Chinese students at the same school. What curriculum does SAIE follow — AP, A-Level, or IB? + SAIE has three curricula: **AP, HKDSE, and a dedicated International Arts Academy**. The AP track offers 30-plus courses, including the AP Capstone Diploma. The Arts Academy includes [IGCSE A-Level](https://blog.alifaedtech.com/igcse-a-level-china/) examinations covering A-Level Art and Design and IGCSE Art and Design. SAIE does not offer the IB Diploma. How much does SAIE cost per year? + For 2026–2027, tuition fees range from **RMB 188,000** (HKDSE) to **RMB 288,000** (International Arts Academy). Middle school costs RMB 208,000 and high school costs RMB 228,000\. Boarding, uniforms, and dining are billed separately. Does SAIE offer boarding for international students? + Yes. SAIE has an on-campus student dormitory, but the published rate covers **weekdays only**. A weekends-included option was offered before at a higher rate. Ask admissions if it’s available for your intake year. Families without a local guardian need a plan for weekends and school holidays. What universities do SAIE graduates attend? + Since 2016, nine groups of SAIE alumni have graduated. Many have been accepted to Ivy League universities such as Yale, alongside Oxford, Cambridge, Amherst, Johns Hopkins, and UC Berkeley. Others have reached the University of Toronto and the University of Hong Kong. The list also includes specialist art schools like Berklee College of Music and Parsons School of Design. Is SAIE accredited? + Yes. SAIE got WASC candidacy in 2016 and earned **full accreditation in 2019**. In 2025, it was reaccredited for six more years. SAIE also has College Board authorization (CEEB code 694141) and ACT GAC status. It is a Pearson Edexcel exam center (Centre 94558). What is the AP Capstone Diploma, and does SAIE offer it? + AP Capstone is the College Board’s top research AP credential. It includes two courses: **AP Seminar and AP Research**. SAIE is one of the few Shenzhen schools offering it, taught personally by founder Dr. Simon Chen. The school’s first two recipients graduated in 2025. How do I apply to SAIE from another country? + Submit an application form, a copy of your child’s passport, and an **RMB 500 registration fee**. Then complete an entrance assessment — math and English, or Chinese, math, and English for the HKDSE track — plus a 20-minute interview and a short character assessment. Families from abroad can call **0755-26602340** or **18300008200**, or email [zsb@usapschool.com](mailto:zsb@usapschool.com). ## How Alifa Helps ASEAN Families Apply Alifa Education Services helps families in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and other ASEAN countries. Many are applying to a Chinese international school like SAIE for the first time. Two parts of the process tend to need outside help most. The first is navigating the application and assessment booking process from abroad. The second is arranging guardianship for weekends and school holidays — SAIE only provides boarding on weekdays, and families without a local contact need that resolved before enrollment. Alifa Education Services ### Your child’s future in SAIE deserves the right start. Choosing the right school is a big step. You have forms to fill, tests to plan, and many questions to answer. [Alifa Education Services](https://alifaedtech.com/schools) makes school placement in China simple for families like yours. We know the school campuses, the tracks, and the real costs. We match your child to the right fit, then guide you the whole way. [ 📱 WhatsApp +86 152 0107 9455 ](https://wa.me/8615201079455) 💬 WeChat larry9455 [ ✉ Email business@alifaedtech.com ](mailto:business@alifaedtech.com) [📅 Book a Free Consultation →](https://tidycal.com/publisher) 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.