International School of Tianjin

IST is located at 22 Weishan Nan Lu, Shuanggang, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China. The campus sits in the Shuanggang area of Jinnan District, within the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. The site is accessible by road and IST operates a bus service for students and staff. (Addresses: 22 Weishan Nan Lu; Chinese listing references Weishan South Road in the same district.)

IST is structured into Elementary School (Nursery/KG1–Grade 5) and Secondary School (Grade 6–12). Elementary is authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), while Secondary offers the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the IB Diploma Programme (DP).

IST is a co-educational day school. It serves both boys and girls across its two main sections, with no boarding facilities indicated.

IST provides a Student Services department with English Language Acquisition (ELA), Individual Needs (I.N.), Counseling, and a fully staffed school clinic. ELA supports English learners from the Elementary level, and the school offers first language classes in English, French, German, and Chinese, with Korean available in Secondary; I.N. supports students needing additional assistance.

IST has no formal country affiliation; it is presented as a genuine non-profit, parent-governed international school serving a diverse expatriate community.

IST has no religious affiliation publicly stated; admissions policies indicate no discrimination based on religion.

Elementary days run from 8:10 to 15:15, with eight 40‑minute periods, a 20‑minute morning recess (9:45–10:05) and a 60‑minute lunch (12:10–13:10); Wednesdays finish early at 14:15. Secondary days run from 8:10 to 15:15, with a 60‑minute lunch (13:10–14:10 or 13:10–14:10 depending on cycle) and Wednesdays also feature an early finish at 14:15.

IST offers a campus bus service for students and staff. Buses include a Chinese helper, seat belts, a first‑aid kit, and a mobile phone. Fees are RMB 14,200 per year (RMB 7,100 per semester) for city locations and RMB 15,300 per year (RMB 7,650 per semester) for TEDA, with pick‑ups at designated housing gates and schedules designed to keep travel time under about 45 minutes for most routes. A bus routes document is available for current stops.

IST is divided into Elementary (0 years to Grade 5) and Secondary (Grade 6–12), with the Elementary School offering the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB-PYP) via PYP Early Years (KG1–KG2) and PYP (KG3–Grade 5). The Secondary School is a fully authorized IB World School offering the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP, Grades 6–10) and the IB Diploma Programme (DP, Grades 11–12). In the DP, students study six subjects from the six groups (Studies in Language and Literature; Language Acquisition; Individuals and Societies; Sciences; Mathematics; The Arts), with 3 Higher Level and 3 Standard Level, plus the core Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). IST also offers the IST Diploma, a fully accredited course of study equivalent to a US high school diploma. The instruction is English, supported by English Language Acquisition, and DP language offerings include English, Chinese, French, German and Korean. Service learning is embedded across the IB continuum, with PYP Action, MYP Action and DP CAS guiding student engagement with communities.

IST supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a structured Counseling program that promotes the overall wellness of students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The School Counseling program is described as comprehensive, preventative, and accessible, covering academic, personal/social, career, and global-perspective domains. The Counseling Department offers services across Academic Development (study skills, organization, tutoring), Career Development (PSAT/SAT prep, university planning, and visits), and Personal/Social Development (individual and group counseling, grief management, peer conflict resolution, new student orientation, and transition presentations). Counselors are described as holding Master's level credentials and providing support for academic, social, and career concerns, while referrals to external professionals may be made for diagnoses or specialized needs. A designated Counseling contact is provided for inquiries: StudentServices@istianjin.org.cn.

IST provides Learning Support and an Individual Needs (I.N.) program to assist students who require additional help to participate in school programs. The Learning Support/I.N. framework supports in-class or small‑group instruction and may include classroom modifications, with a focus on enabling participation in regular classes. The Student Services Department emphasizes collaboration with classroom teachers to design curriculum and implement diverse teaching strategies, and it explicitly values mother tongue and culture while supporting English language development. English Language Acquisition (ELA) and I.N. work together to support students with language and learning needs, with ELA incorporating pull‑out and push‑in approaches in the Elementary School and alignment to MYP/DP in Secondary. First language offerings include English, French, German, and Chinese (English and mother-tongue maintenance are supported), with Korean available in Secondary, and Mandarin offered to all students. The information published does not enumerate a detailed taxonomy of Special Educational Needs; SEN support is described in general terms through Learning Support and the IN program.

IST provides English Language Acquisition (ELA) as part of its Student Services to develop academic English proficiency and enable access to the mainstream curriculum. ESL teachers collaborate with homeroom and subject teachers to support students. In Elementary (Grades 1‑5), ELA uses a combination of pull‑out and push‑in support, with up to two pull‑out lessons per day for foundational language needs. In Secondary, ELA aligns with MYP and DP English language acquisition courses, with placement based on the WIDA framework and grouped by proficiency level; students may take English Language and Literature once proficient enough. IST also offers First Language classes in English, French, German, and Chinese (Korean in Secondary), plus Mandarin for all students, and actively supports mother tongue maintenance and development.

Mental wellbeing at IST is embedded in the School Counseling program, which aims to promote the overall wellness of K‑12 students and provides preventative, accessible support across academic, personal/social, career, and global perspectives. Counseling services cover Academic Development, Career Development, and Personal/Social Development, including offerings such as group counseling, grief management, peer conflict resolution, new student orientation, and transition planning. Professional School Counselors hold Master's level credentials; they assist with concerns in academic, social, and career areas but do not diagnose, with external referrals arranged as needed. The Student Services Department also comprises ELA and IN programs, which support students' language and social needs and contribute to overall wellbeing. For contact or referrals, the Counseling team can be reached at StudentServices@istianjin.org.cn.

IST operates a Community Safeguarding Framework that centers on promoting the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of the entire IST community. Safeguarding policies are guided by the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1990) and are reinforced by the IST School Philosophy. The framework comprises Eight Essential Domains, each with defined Mission and Objectives, to govern safeguarding scope and the wellbeing of all community members. Details of the framework are available as IST Community Safeguarding Framework materials, including an overview PDF, which can be downloaded from the school's safeguarding resources. The framework and related policies reflect the IST Board of Governors' Community Safeguarding Policy 5.1j, underlining a formal, school‑wide commitment to child protection and welfare.

1. Step 1 — Determine grade placement and eligibility. Student placement is age-based with a September 30 cut-off; the minimum admission age is two years and nine months, and exceptions may be considered for near-cut-off birth dates. For example, some near-cut-off cases may join KG1a or KG1b under specific age rules, and placement continues upward from KG3. The director may specify exceptions as needed. This age framework guides which grade your child would enter before formal application.

2. Step 2 — Prepare and submit the Student Admissions Application Package. To initiate formal enrollment, you submit a copy of the Student Admissions Application Package for each child online, by email, post, or delivery to the school. The admissions forms are provided in writable PDF format and can be completed after download; Form F must be printed and filled by a doctor. You submit the completed forms by pressing the Submit button at the bottom right of each form.

3. Step 3 — Complete and gather the required application forms. The available documents include the Admissions Application Package (writable) and Application Forms A-C (writable); a Korean translation of Form C is available; D (School Transfer), E (General Health), and F (Doctor) forms are also provided. You can download and print these forms or request the package by email if needed. Ensure all forms are completed and ready for submission.

4. Step 4 — Contact the school to discuss enrollment and next steps. The school invites prospective families to engage in person, by telephone, or by email to learn more about IST and the admission process. You can reach out to discuss your child's needs, placement, and the documentation required. This initial contact helps clarify expectations and timelines.

5. Step 5 — Admissions decision and panel process. The decision to admit a student is made by the Principals in consultation with the Director and relevant academic staff. This decision takes into account the student's fit with IST's academic program and environment. All decisions are made through this process and communicated accordingly.

6. Step 6 — Complete applications and processing. IST does not discriminate in admissions but uses a structured review. Remaining applicants are processed by the date of receipt of a fully completed application; incomplete applications will not be processed unless special arrangements are made. It is essential that all components of the application are provided to move forward.

7. Step 7 — Attendance and enrollment prerequisites. Students may not attend class until all parts of the application package are received by the school office. This ensures that enrollment can be properly scheduled and that the school has all necessary records before a student begins.

8. Step 8 — Fees and final enrollment steps. If admitted, families will be invoiced according to IST's fee schedule. A non-refundable Registration Fee of 2,000 RMB applies to new students; there are components A (non-refundable) and B/C (pro-rated) that determine total tuition at different grade levels. The schedule includes tuition per grade, currency options (RMB or USD), and payment guidelines (deadlines, potential quarterly payment options, early payment discounts, and IB-related fees). Additional details cover language-tongue fees, family discounts for multiple children, and refunds under various scenarios. For example, Component A fees are non-refundable and paid annually; Component B is pro-rated; there are tiered tuition figures by grade; and IB Diploma exam fees are payable to the IB with timing rules. See the Fees page for the full schedule and the Payment Guidelines section for timing.

IST offers scholarships for students in their final two years (Grades 11–12) under a 2026/2028 Scholarship Program. Scholarships can be Full (covering all tuition: components A & B), Tuition (covering tuition only: component B), or Bursaries (covering half of tuition: half of component B). Scholarships are awarded for up to two years (Grades 11–12) and may be granted to current IST students with demonstrated financial need or to non-IST students with exceptional talent to enrich the IB Diploma Programme. Selection allows a maximum of three IST scholarships or bursaries for current IST students each year and a similar number for external candidates. The process includes examinations, a formal interview, and final selection by the IST Scholarship Committee of the IST School Board of Governors. Eligibility requires English proficiency and a track record of strong academic performance; families may not receive more than one full scholarship at a time. Applicants should contact the school to obtain an application package. The closing date is February 13, 2026, with scholarship examinations on February 28, 2026 and interviews around March 4; awards are announced by late March 2026.

IST does not publish a formal waitlist or waiting pool. Admissions are described as being processed by date of receipt of a fully completed application, with priority admissions given to certain groups. The policy outlines Priority Admissions (for Capital Levy holders/Associate Members, siblings, and ESL-resource considerations) and states that remaining applications are processed in order of receipt. In short, IST relies on a date-of-receipt process with explicit priority rules rather than a public waitlist.