Introduction
Stellart International School of Arts (SISA) is a unique high school. It focuses on art, music, film, and design. These subjects are core, not extras. They're the whole point. SISA is in Foshan City, South China. It offers a full international high school diploma. The program focuses on serious creative study. Your child doesn't have to choose between a strong academic path and a real creative career. Here, both come together.
Most schools follow a familiar model. Core subjects come first. Art gets squeezed into a single period. Creative students wait a long time to grow their talent. They deserve better chances. By the time they reach university, they're already behind.
SISA flips that model completely. From Day One, students create professional portfolios. They work with visiting professors from leading global art and design schools. Students also dive deep into fashion, film, music, or business. The curriculum helps students get ready for competitive universities. These include schools in the UK, US, Europe, and Asia. Graduates consistently receive strong offers from world-ranked creative institutions.
For families in Asia looking for the right school, options can feel narrow. SISA changes that.
What does the right school actually look like for a creative student? That's exactly the question Alifa Education Services helps families answer. We support families in finding and applying to international schools in China. Their consultants know the admissions process. They give free advice. It's honest and helpful from start to finish. Book your free consultation with Alifa today.
Key Takeaways
- Stellart International School of Arts (SISA) is the only school in China. It has both Cambridge and Edexcel accreditation. It also has an on-campus Pearson English test center in Foshan.
- More than 250 graduates received over 1,300 offers from top schools worldwide. These include Oxford, NUS, UCL, and Berklee College of Music.
- Fashion Design students can access Parsons School of Design programs. This includes the famous Paris Summer Intensive.
- The 1:6 student-teacher ratio changes to 1:10 in Grade 12 art classes. Many professional courses offer one-on-one instruction.
- BTEC Level 3 and A-Level qualifications offer two choices. Students can take exams or do coursework. Both paths lead to over 200 universities.
- Film students can join ESRA's degree program right after finishing SISA's film track. This way, they skip all entry exams.
- Classes of 2024 and 2025 won over RMB 31 million in scholarships. They earned these awards at top creative institutions worldwide.
Stellart International School of Arts (SISA)
SISA opened in September 2020. The school sits at No. 28 Shugang Road, Sanshan New City, Nanhai District, Foshan City. It's in China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area — one of the most connected regions in Asia.
The school was developed and funded by Gaw Capital Partners, a global investment firm. That's a serious amount for a new school. It signals a genuine intent to build strong facilities, hire expert staff, and achieve rapid growth.
By March 2023, SISA achieved full accreditation as a private secondary school. Students can now follow a Chinese National Curriculum (CNC) or an International Curriculum track — or both. This dual-track system is rare. It gives your family options if plans change.
Two big names, Cambridge Assessment and Pearson Edexcel, accredited SISA. Over 160 countries accept Cambridge. Edexcel is the UK's largest exam body. SISA is also the only preferred Pearson Test of English test center in Foshan. Students can sit their English exam right on campus.
KingLead ranked SISA among China's top 10 art-focused schools for three years running. In 2025, it won the Hurun Award for Distinctive Schools.
The campus covers 32,000 square meters. There's a six-storey academic block and a seven-storey dorm. It holds up to 600 full-time high school students. Getting there is easy. Take a high-speed train to Guangzhou South Station. Then hop on Metro Line 2 and catch a shuttle near the school. Light rail stations nearby make weekend trips simple, too.
What Programs Does SISA Offer for Aspiring Artists?
SISA takes 240 students per year. Art Design and Production gets 160 seats. Music Performance gets 80. Within these two areas, there are over 30 paths to choose from.
Art Design and Production includes six tracks.
- Fashion Design — This is SISA's flagship. Students go from concept to finished garment. They learn fabric choice, model sketching, draping, and final production. SISA has a direct tie with Parsons School of Design, the top-ranked fashion school in the US. Top students can attend the Parsons Paris Summer Intensive
- Graphic Design — Students learn digital drawing, branding, and layout. They use Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office Suite tools to build real design skills
- Product Design — Hands-on work with 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC tools. Students make real objects, not sketches
- Animation and Digital Media — Covers 2D and 3D animation, game design, and VR. Students use Maya, Blender, and Unreal Engine
- Architecture — Studio projects from site visits to full design builds. Many graduates go to UCL Bartlett or the Architectural Association.
- Art History and Curation — For students who want to work in museums, galleries, or arts management
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Music Performance has four tracks: instrumental, vocal, music production, and music business. The music business track is an art-business program. It blends musical skills with real management training.
Film and Media includes Filmmaking and Photography. SISA's film track runs through a tie with ESRA Film School — ranked No. 1 in Europe.
Key qualifications:
- IGCSE (Cambridge and Edexcel) — foundation level, Grades 9–10
- Advanced Level Certificate (A-Level) — the main entry ticket for most top schools
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design — 100% coursework, no final exams, equivalent to three A-Levels, accepted by over 200 universities
- NCUK IFY — a one-year path with direct entry access to 17 UK schools, including Manchester, Bristol, and Birmingham
How Does Stellart International School of Arts Teach Art and Design?
SISA uses project-based learning in every grade. Students don't sit through lectures; they work on real-world briefs. They research, design, build, and present their work from start to finish.
The student-teacher ratio is 1:6. That's far better than most schools. Teachers know each student well. Grade 12 art classes cap at 10 students. Many professional courses run one-on-one.
Over 80% of art and music teachers went to top schools abroad. Think Royal College of Art, The University of the Arts London (UAL), Parsons, The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD, and Yale. The leadership team mixes British, Hong Kong, and mainland Chinese staff. Students get global methods and local cultural support.
The timetable includes cross-subject work. A fashion student might team up with a music production student on a fashion show. An architecture student might join an animation student to build a VR space. These are real projects, not optional add-ons.
SISA holds a deep respect for Chinese heritage. All students must take at least one Chinese art elective. Choices include calligraphy, paper-cutting, or traditional painting. The aim is to build students who know their roots and can work anywhere in the world. Chinese language classes are free for students from abroad.
The English Programme is solid. Teachers teach all core subjects in English. Teachers split ESL support by level. Students get help with English writing, literature appreciation, and essay structure. They built in IELTS prep. SISA students have scored IELTS 8.0 and 7.5.
Portfolio making, digital drawing, and model sketching are part of every student's routine. These aren't exam tools; they're professional learning habits that go far beyond school.
What Opportunities and Outcomes Can Students Expect at SISA?
The numbers are strong.
In six years, over 250 graduates collected more than 1,300 offers from top schools worldwide.
Key results:
- First school in Guangdong Province to place students at both Oxford (Music) and NUS (Music)
- 100% acceptance to Berklee College of Music for four classes in a row
- 97% of the Class of 2025 who applied to UAL got in — 86 total UAL offers by 2025
- 100% of Music Business students from the Class of 2025 got into QS Top 50 schools
- Total scholarships won: over RMB 31 million across the classes of 2024 and 2025
Other strong placements: UCL, University of Edinburgh, University of Toronto, HKU, CUHK, RMIT, and NUS.
Top professors from global art schools visit campus for Master Workshops. Some students walk away with early offers or letters of support. Honors Courses, built with schools like Parsons, offer first-year college content and credits that count toward future studies.
Film students should look at the École Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle (ESRA) Direct-Entry path. Finish the program with the right grades and you go straight into ESRA's degree program. You do not need any extra entry exams.
For Japan, the Japan Art Study Program covers language, EJU prep, and TOEFL training. At RMB 108,000 per year, it is one of the most affordable options for pursuing an art education.
What Should Parents Know Before Applying to SISA?
Who can apply: SISA takes students from Grade 9 upward. You don't need a professional portfolio. The school looks at past grades, creative potential (portfolio, videos, or a statement), English ability, and personal drive. Students can join for one, two, or three years based on where they are in school.
Stellart International School of Arts Fees
To qualify, students need to rank in the top 5% at their current school. They may also hold a strong award in art or music. Scoring well on the SISA entry test counts too. An IELTS score of 5.5 or above helps.
Dorms: Rooms hold four students in hotel-style suites. Each room has its own bathroom, air conditioning, and a desk per student. Shared lounges and quiet study spots are on every floor. A mentor lives on each floor to handle day-to-day needs.
Support for families from abroad: The school runs a full welcome for new students. It covers transport, local shops, medical care, and safety. On-campus counseling is available. Students also have peer support groups — and yes, campus cats for stress relief.
Each student gets a personal college advisor from Day One. The school handles all the details: shortlists, personal statements, portfolio prep, tracking, interview coaching, visa steps, and post-offer help.
Conclusion
SISA is not a general school with an art department. The team built it from scratch for creative students. Strong results, real faculty, and a care for each student set it apart, not in the Pearl River Delta — but across South China and beyond.
For parents in Southeast Asia and India, placing a child in Foshan City may feel like a stretch at first. But the school is easy to reach. A high-speed train goes straight to Guangzhou South Station. Light rail stations and metro links are close by. Many families find the trip simpler than they expected.
The big question isn't whether SISA is a good school. The results speak for themselves. The real question is whether it's the right match for your child — and whether you have support for the process.
Alifa Education Services is here to help. We work with families in Southeast Asia and India. We assess fit, build strong applications, and manage every step of school placement in China. You don't have to work it out alone. Book a free consultation today
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