Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong

Located in the Jinqiao area of Pudong, the main Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong campus is at 266 Lan An Road (DUCKS Early Years is nearby at 425 Lan An Road); the site gives GPS coordinates and a phone contact. The campus is within the international Jinqiao neighbourhood and is about a 15-minute walk from Lantian Road (Line 9) metro station; the school's driving directions and local transport notes are on the contact and visitor pages.

The College educates children from Toddler through Year 13 (roughly ages 2–18) and is organised as DUCKS (Early Years and Years 1–2), Junior School (Years 3–6) and Senior School (Years 7–13). Admissions and assessment procedures are published by year group on the school's admissions pages.

Dulwich Pudong is a co-educational day school for international (foreign‑passport) families; instruction is in English with Mandarin taught from the early years. The College runs a short-term residential programme (Ignite: Switzerland) for a specific year group, but the main campus operates as a day school.

The school runs a Learning Support and English-as-an-Additional-Language (EAL) provision and says it admits only students whose needs it can meet; assessments and review of previous reports form part of the admissions process. DUCKS and Senior School pages note in-class and small-group support options and named Learning Support staff.

The school is part of the Dulwich College International family and was founded in partnership with Dulwich College (London); its governance and affiliations reflect that British heritage rather than formal national government control.

The College is non-denominational; it does not have a religious affiliation.

Typical published hours are: DUCKS 08:00–15:00; Junior School 08:00–15:30; Senior School 08:15–15:30. The admissions FAQ links to the full daily routines and the school calendar for term dates and more detailed timetables.

The school operates a paid bus service for families; route maps and stop information are published to parents (routes are shown via the school's parent/app links). The FAQ directs parents to view Main Campus and DUCKS route listings and the Admissions team handles route enrolment and practical details.

Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong's DUCKS Early Years (Toddler–Reception) follows the UK Early Years Foundation Stage and includes a dual‑language Mandarin immersion pathway from the start. From Year 1 through Year 9 the school delivers a modified English National Curriculum with topic‑based learning and specialist lessons (Mandarin, PE, art, design technology, music) alongside expanding STEAM and technology provision. Students in Years 10–11 study a two‑year IGCSE programme (International General Certificate of Secondary Education). Years 12–13 follow the two‑year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), including the IB core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS) and options for a bilingual diploma. Across all stages the College embeds Mandarin pathways (Chinese native, second and foreign language), a whole‑school STEAM initiative, an extensive co‑curricular activity programme, and structured wellbeing and physical‑literacy provision to support holistic development.

Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong embeds social and emotional learning across its curriculum, beginning with a self-care framework in Early Years and continuing with age-appropriate topics such as relationships, body and mind, mental health, digital intelligence and growth mindset in Junior and Senior schools. Students have formal leadership opportunities (Prefect and Ambassador programmes) and are invited to co‑create wellbeing initiatives and contribute feedback that informs the wellbeing curriculum. The school runs parent workshops to extend SEL learning into the home and involves parents in wellbeing planning. The programme explicitly links safeguarding policy to wellbeing provision. Source: Dulwich Pudong Wellbeing Programme.

The college states it enrols students only when the admissions process indicates the student's learning needs can be met by the services the school provides; the admissions team consults families, reviews previous records and conducts assessments as required. The school refers to an on‑site Learning Support function (including named Learning Support staff in DUCKS) that works with teachers, parents and students to provide additional support. The admissions FAQ and school pages indicate they accept students with learning challenges where they can provide appropriate support, but the site does not list a definitive catalogue of specific diagnoses or needs the school will or will not support. The school does not publicly describe itself as a specialist SEN institution. Sources: Admissions FAQ; DUCKS Learning Support profile.

The college says it can support a percentage of non‑native English speakers and that applicants may be assessed for academic English readiness during admissions. The school also lists an "English as Additional Language (EAL) Service" among additional services/fees, and DUCKS communications note Learning Support and EAL staff being available to support children and families. The website asks parents to provide prior language records and indicates EAL provision is considered during the admissions review. Sources: Admissions FAQ; Fees & Admissions page; DUCKS communications.

The college's Wellbeing Programme states mental health and healthy living are embedded in curriculum content and that students receive age‑appropriate lessons on mental health and related topics. The school runs parent workshops, student leadership roles related to wellbeing, nutritional/food committees and physical literacy programmes as part of a whole‑school approach to wellbeing. The site also highlights a Digital Wellbeing focus and a partnership with the National Online Safety organisation and a student Digital Safety Leader programme. Safeguarding policy is cited as underpinning the mental wellbeing work. Source: Dulwich Pudong Wellbeing Programme.

Dulwich Pudong states that safeguarding and child protection are of paramount importance and that its approach is child‑centred and informed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The college references a Dulwich College International Safeguarding Policy and training programme, safer‑recruitment procedures for new staff, regular refresher training, age‑appropriate student lessons in safeguarding and annual safeguarding audits. The school provides downloadable Safeguarding Policy documents (e.g., Safeguarding Policy 2025–26) on its site. Source: Dulwich Pudong Safeguarding page and policy materials.

1. Initial enquiry and online application: Start by submitting an online enquiry or the College application form on the Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong website; the school operates rolling admissions for the coming academic year and opens applications for the next year on a published date (for example, applications for 2026/27 open from 1 September 2025). Include the required supporting documents at this stage (passport copies, proof of parents' work and residence permits in Shanghai, and the child's birth certificate) because the College checks eligibility against the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission rules. Note that the application fee is RMB 3,500 and is non‑refundable and valid for the year of application, so budget for that when you apply.

2. Eligibility check and documentation review: After you submit an application the Admissions team will review whether the child meets the SMEC eligibility requirements (for example, foreign passport or qualifying parental documentation) and whether Dulwich can meet the child's educational needs. Parents should be ready to provide passport pages, residence/visa documents, work permit pages, and any recent school reports; missing or inconsistent paperwork can delay processing. If both parents are PRC nationals, the College notes that a waiver from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission may be required — contact Admissions early to clarify your family's status.

3. Assessment / interview stage: Dulwich Pudong assesses applicants by year group: Early Years applicants attend a meeting with an Early Years teacher, Year 1–2 assessments are typically 20–30 minutes, Years 3–6 assessments run about two to three hours, and Years 7–13 assessments usually last three to four hours. Parents should expect the assessment to include observation, age‑appropriate literacy and numeracy activities and, for older applicants, classroom tasks and interviews; bring recent school records and be prepared for the school to request additional information where English language support is needed. Admissions guidance on the site explains that applications to Year 11 are considered case‑by‑case and Year 13 entry is very rarely accepted (applicants must usually be transferring from a nearly identical IB Diploma programme).

4. Offer, resource fee and acceptance: If the College offers a place you will be given formal offer paperwork and instructions for payment. For new pupils parents should expect to pay a Resource Fee (RMB 15,000) which is held against school property and refunded after the return of College property subject to deductions, and a one‑time Capital Development Fee for new entrants (RMB 15,000) which is non‑refundable; the Resource Fee will be forfeited if a child is withdrawn before the first day of school in some circumstances. Read the offer letter carefully for exact payment deadlines and refund conditions, and ask Admissions about timelines for confirming the place to avoid losing it.

5. Tuition invoicing, payment options and additional costs: Tuition fees are invoiced separately and may be payable annually or by term; annual prepayment typically carries a more favourable rate. Parents should plan for additional costs outside basic tuition — the College lists items such as school lunches, bus services, uniforms, EAL support, technology and optional trips as extra charges. Confirm the tuition amount for your child's year group with Admissions (published fee schedules vary by year and year group) and check the deadline for tuition payment to avoid late payment administration charges.

6. Enrollment, onboarding and starting school: Once required fees are received (resource fee and the first tuition instalment as specified in the offer), the Admissions team will send onboarding information and guidance about start‑of‑term procedures, timetables and any required health or enrolment forms. Parents should complete any outstanding medical and emergency contact forms and, if relevant, arrange school bus or lunch accounts before the child's first day to ensure a smooth start. If you are relocating from overseas, ask the College about assessment arrangements at your child's current school so testing can be completed before arrival if necessary.

Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong's public admissions and fees pages do not list an active scholarship programme on the Pudong campus; the College's published fee pages describe the application fee, resource fee and capital development fee but do not advertise campus scholarships. Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi (the sister campus) does publish a scholarship programme (selection process, eligible year groups and potential tuition reductions) — if you are interested in financial support or merit awards, contact Dulwich Pudong Admissions directly to ask whether any scholarships, bursaries or fee‑relief arrangements are offered at the Pudong campus or whether cross‑campus schemes apply. The Admissions office can confirm current availability, eligibility rules and application deadlines.

Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong operates waiting lists for year groups where demand exceeds places. If a year group is full, applicants who meet the entry requirements are placed on a waiting list and offered places as they become available; the College's published priorities give preference to siblings of currently enrolled students, returning Dulwich students, and children transferring from another Dulwich College campus. Parents should apply early because availability varies by year and term, and being on the waiting list does not mean there is no chance of an offer — the school advises families to maintain contact with Admissions for updates.