Dulwich College Beijing

Admissions Culture at Dulwich College Beijing

Who Can Apply?

DCB admits students holding non-Chinese passports only — this includes Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan passport holders. Chinese nationals (PRC passport holders) are not eligible to apply. This makes DCB exclusively an expatriate and international community school.

The school accepts students from age 3 (Nursery/DUCKS) through to Year 13 (age 18), with places available at most year groups subject to availability.

Assessment and Selection Process

Admissions are highly selective and structured by school division:

Nursery (ages 2–3): Informal play/observation session; focus on age-appropriate readiness rather than formal assessment.

Reception & Years 1–2 (ages 3–7): School reports and a group session with teachers; light literacy/verbal screening.

Junior School (Years 3–6, ages 7–11): Two years of school reports, teacher reference, entrance assessments (non-verbal, verbal, and mathematical reasoning), a short writing task, and a student interview.

Senior School (Years 7–11, ages 11–16): Two years of reports, teacher/principal recommendation, computerised reasoning tests (verbal, quantitative, non-verbal), a written assessment, an English test for non-native speakers, and a personal interview with senior school leaders.

Sixth Form (Years 12–13): Entry primarily via progression from Year 11 at DCB; external Year 12 applicants are assessed based on strong IGCSE results.

English Language

All instruction is in English. Applicants must demonstrate age-appropriate English proficiency. Non-native English speakers undergo an EAL assessment, and if admitted, receive English as an Additional Language (EAL) support. At least one parent is expected to communicate effectively in English.

Waiting Lists and Fees

DCB is oversubscribed at many year levels. Students not immediately placed are added to a one-year waiting list, with priority given to siblings of current students and transfers from other DCI campuses.

The application process requires a one-time application fee of ¥2,900 CNY, followed by a refundable deposit of ¥18,000 CNY upon acceptance, and a Capital Development Fee of ¥15,000 CNY for new students.

Academic Excellence at Dulwich College Beijing

Dulwich College Beijing has established itself as one of China's — and the world's — leading IB Diploma schools. In 2025, the school ranked #18 globally among over 5,900 IB schools, topping both the China and Beijing IB rankings.

IB Diploma Results

The Class of 2025 achieved a group average of 38.6 points out of a maximum of 45, with 49% of candidates scoring 40 or above — nearly double the global IB average of approximately 30. The cohort of 71 candidates achieved a 100% pass rate, with two students achieving the perfect score of 45 points. An impressive 29 students earned the Bilingual Diploma, reflecting the school's strong Chinese–English dual-language programme.

In 2024, results were similarly strong: an average score of 36, a pass rate of 97.1%, and 56% of students scoring 35 or above. Two students scored 45, two scored 44, and five scored 43.

IGCSE Performance

At IGCSE level (Years 10–11), the Class of 2025 achieved 35.4% A grades* across 878 entries from 86 students, with 82.6% A–B grades*. In 2024, 67.0% of entries were graded A*–A, with particularly outstanding results in First Language Chinese (100% A*–C) and First Language English (99% A*–C).

University Destinations

DCB places 100% of its graduates in universities worldwide, with a growing track record of admissions to elite institutions. In 2025, the cohort secured six Ivy League offers (Cornell, Brown ×2, Dartmouth, Columbia), plus admissions to Oxford, Imperial College London, LSE, Duke, University of Chicago, and Johns Hopkins. Graduates regularly gain places at Russell Group, US top-50, Canadian, and Asian universities.

Teaching Approach

The school follows the British National Curriculum in primary years, transitions to IGCSE in Years 10–11, and offers the full IB Diploma in Years 12–13. All Year 12–13 students sit the IB DP — there is no A-Level or AP alternative. Class sizes are deliberately small (12–22 students in most year groups; maximum 14 in Sixth Form), supporting individual attention and deep engagement with subject matter.

The combination of rigorous academics, a bilingual diploma option, and a strong pastoral system makes DCB one of the most academically demanding international schools in China.

The Dulwich Philosophy: Live Worldwise

At the heart of Dulwich College Beijing's educational approach is the motto 'Live Worldwise' — a commitment to nurturing students who are not only academically capable but also globally aware, resilient, and compassionate.

Vision and Values

The school's official vision states: "Our vision is to nurture students to Live Worldwise — to become confident, compassionate, and future-ready global citizens with the skills and character to make a positive difference in the world." This underpins every aspect of school life, from curriculum design to extracurricular offerings.

DCB's core values are:

• Resilience — building persistence in the face of challenge
• Responsibility — instilling a sense of personal and communal duty
• Respect — fostering inclusive, considerate communities
• Inclusiveness — welcoming diversity of background and perspective
• Adaptability — preparing students for a rapidly changing world
• Global Citizenship — encouraging active participation in the wider world

Holistic British Education

DCB delivers a British-style curriculum that balances strong academic rigour with broad personal development. The school explicitly avoids a purely exam-focused model; instead, students are encouraged to engage in arts, sports, service, and leadership alongside their academic studies. The IB Diploma Programme — which requires Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) alongside six academic subjects and Theory of Knowledge — is particularly well-aligned with this philosophy.

The school's dual-language Early Years programme (English and Mandarin) reflects a commitment to multilingualism as a foundation for global citizenship. Students progress through a bilingual environment before consolidating English as the primary medium of instruction.

The Dulwich Difference

As part of the broader Dulwich College International group (founded 1619 in London), DCB inherits a tradition of character-based education. The 'Dulwich Difference' — as articulated on the school's website — emphasises living with strength of character, making connections across cultures, and thriving holistically rather than narrowly.

DCB's History: Two Decades of Growth

Founding (2005)

Dulwich College Beijing opened in August 2005 as the second campus in the Dulwich College International (DCI) group, following the founding London institution established in 1619. The school was established through a joint initiative of Dulwich College and Chinese partners, with the explicit goal of bringing a world-class British education to Beijing's growing expatriate and international community.

The school opened on the Legend Garden Campus in Shunyi District — strategically located near Beijing Capital International Airport to serve the large expatriate community in that area. A second, smaller campus (the Riviera Campus in Chaoyang District) serves the Early Years programme for younger children.

Growth and Expansion

From its initial cohort of a few hundred students, DCB grew steadily over two decades. By 2025, enrollment had reached over 1,600 students from more than 40 nationalities. The school received IB World School authorisation in 2007, just two years after opening, signalling rapid academic development. Accreditations from CIS and WASC followed, establishing DCB's credentials as a top-tier international institution.

Awards and Recognition

Over the years, DCB accumulated significant recognition:

• British International School Award 2016: Teaching Initiative of the Year
• Diplomat's Choice 'Best International School' 2016
• Expat Life 'Best International School' 2017
• British Schools Awards 2021: Holistic Education Award and Science & Technology Award
• Forbes China #1 International School in China 2024
• Top 150 private schools globally; top 10 in China (Carfax, 2024)
• #18 globally among IB schools (2025)

20th Anniversary (2025)

In May 2025, DCB celebrated its 20th anniversary with a Founders' Day event themed 'Celebrating Excellence', bringing together the school community to reflect on two decades of achievement and look forward to the next chapter.

Campus Life and Facilities at Dulwich College Beijing

The Legend Garden Campus

DCB's main campus in Shunyi District spans approximately 115,322 square metres — a vast, purpose-built international school campus. Its facilities are notably comprehensive, even by the standards of elite international schools globally.

Sports Facilities:

• Two air-supported sports domes (multi-purpose indoor courts)
• FIFA Two-Star football pitch (one of Beijing's premier school pitches)
• Natural grass rugby pitch
• Cricket ground (the only cricket pitch in Beijing)
• Six tennis courts
• 25-metre, 8-lane indoor swimming pool
• Ice-skating rink (year-round)
• Multi-purpose gymnasium and fitness centre

Performing Arts:

• Wodehouse Theatre (602-seat proscenium theatre)
• Edward Alleyn Theatre (300-seat theatre)
• Two black-box drama studios
• Spacious music studios, practice rooms, and recording facilities
• Multiple art and design studios with natural lighting

Academic Facilities:

• Two libraries with 70,000+ volumes and digital resources
• Ten fully equipped science laboratories
• Two computer labs including a multimedia lab
• Radio and broadcast studio for student-produced media
• STEAM and Innovation Centre with 3D printers and robotics equipment

Wellbeing and Dining:

• School clinic staffed by a United Family Hospital nurse
• Sodexo-run cafeteria with international food options
• Dedicated wellbeing and counselling spaces

The Riviera Campus

The smaller Riviera Campus in Chaoyang District caters exclusively to DUCKS (Early Years, ages 3–6). It features large outdoor sports fields, play courts, gardens, and outdoor classrooms specifically designed for young children's learning and exploration.

House System and Community

Students are assigned to one of five Houses — Alleyn, Johnson, Owens, Soong, and Wodehouse — which serve as the backbone of pastoral care and inter-house competitions. This traditional British house system fosters a sense of belonging and friendly competition across year groups.