There are two kinds of schools for children of foreigners to get enrolled by schools in in Suzhou:
i.Apply for schools dedicated to children of foreigners
For children of foreigners legally residing in the Jiangsu province, their parents can submit applications and relevant application materials directly to the schools for children of foreigners in Suzhou. After the application materials are reviewed and approved as long as there are vacancies, the school will organize an entrance exam for the applicants. Offers will be given to the children who pass the exam.
Application materials include.
1、student's and parents' passports and visas (copy, originals available for inspection)
2、student's birth certificate (copy, original available for inspection)
3、student's academic transcript from the previous school (copy, original for inspection)
4、student's vaccination record book (copy, original for inspection)
* subject to the requirements announced by each school for children of foreigners.
ii.Apply for public primary and secondary schools (kindergartens) in Suzhou
(A) Preschool education stage (Guidance to apply for public and private kindergartens)
1. The principle of enrolling children of foreigners into kindergarten
The preschool enrollment follows such principles as assigning students to the schools closer to their residing places and students whose residing place is the same as his/her household registration residences will be given a priority. Students who meet admission requirements would be accepted in order according to the availability of school places. The kindergarten entrance age for students to study at the beginning-level class should be at least 3 years old. Provisions of the enrollment documents issued that year shall prevail.
2. Required documents include
(1) valid identification(passports) of parents and child(copy) valid identification such as "Residence Permit for Foreigners in the People's Republic of China".
(2) birth certificate of the school-age child(original); valid vaccination certificate(original).
(3) title deed or purchase contract of legal fixed residence in Suzhou(original); housing lease contract.
(4) employment certificate of parents or guardians(original).
(5) Health examination certificate issued by the designated medical institution in Suzhou (health examination certificate will be collected at the beginning of the school year).
3. Enrollment process
(1) In principle, at the first weekend in early June of each year, parents or guardians of foreign children can apply for kindergartens in Suzhou according to the enrollment requirements of each city or district that year. Parents or guardians can consult with the kindergartens for foreign children or the kindergartens near their residence, or phone the enrollment consultation telephone number announced by the education department of the district or the city of their residence.
(2) After kindergartens issue enrollment announcement, parents or guardians of foreign children can bring the required materials to the kindergarten to apply for registration.
(3) According to the kindergarten enrollment arrangement, from July to August, those who are admitted will receive an admission notice by the receiving kindergarten, and the child can report to the kindergarten after passing the medical examination required by the admission notice.
(B) Compulsory education stage (guidance to application for public and private primary and junior high schools)
Suzhou Singapore International School
School website: http://www.suzhousinternationalschool.com
Tel: 0512-62580388
Eton House International School Suzhou
School website: http://suzhou.etonhouse.com.cn
Tel：0512-68255666
Japanese School of Suzhou
School website: http://www.jsscn.org/
Tel：0512-68070080
Dulwich College Suzhou
School website: https://suzhou.dulwich.org/
Tel：0512-62959500
Canadian International School Kunshan (CISK)
School website: http://www.ciskunshan.org/
Tel：400-828-0084
Suzhou Korean School
School website: http://suzhouks.kr/?main
Tel：0512-68336525
3. If one of the parents is a foreigner, the other is Chinese and the child was born abroad and has a foreign nationality, can the child be enrolled in a school for children of foreigners?
A: Yes. If one of the parents is a foreigner and the child has a foreign nationality, the child can apply directly to a school for children of foreigners.
4. If one parent is a foreigner and the other is a Chinese, the child was born in China but has a foreign passport, can the child be enrolled in a school for children of foreigners?
A: According to the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, the People's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality of Chinese citizens. Therefore, if parents want to apply for a school for children of foreigners, they need to apply for renunciation of their child's Chinese nationality to the competent department of the Chinese parent’s household registration residence and then submit the application materials to the school. The school will submit the application materials to the education department for review.
5. As a Korean expatriate working in Suzhou, which school for children of foreigners in Suzhou can my children attend?
A: All six schools in Suzhou for children of foreigners can accept Korean students, and students with special language requirements can apply to the Suzhou Korean School.
6. As a Japanese expatriate working in Suzhou, which school for children of foreigners in Suzhou can my children attend?
A: All six schools in Suzhou accept Japanese students. If students have special language requirements, they can apply to Eton House International School Suzhou (Japanese kindergarten) for kindergarten and Japanese School of Suzhou for elementary and secondary school.
7. Is it possible for the child to transfer to a school for children of foreigners in another district or city of Suzhou if the parents have changed their residence address due to a job transfer in Suzhou?
A: Yes, but you need to check with the school in advance to see if there are vacancies available.
8. I love Chinese culture and hope my children could take related classes when studying at a school for children of foreigners, could it offer such an opportunity?
A: All six schools for children of foreigners in Suzhou offer Chinese language and culture courses and activities to help students understand Chinese culture, which can meet the needs of parents.
9. If a foreign child has some basic knowledge of Chinese and parents want him/her to better integrate into the Chinese society and decide to choose a public or private elementary school in Suzhou for him/her. How can they get access to the information of the schools in Suzhou?
A: They can read the enrollment column of the official website of Suzhou Education Bureau (http://jyj.suzhou.gov.cn/), follow the weChat account “Suzhou Education“ or follow the official website and weChat account of the education bureau of their residence district or city in Suzhou.
10. If a foreigner's child chooses to attend a Chinese elementary or secondary school at the beginning year of each education stage, can the child obtain a student status certificate from local educational department?
A: Yes.
