Welcome to the Canadian International School of Guangzhou! During our inquiry sessions with families, we’ve heard you ask some common questions. To help you, we’ve collated all the responses onto a handy post! We hope these CIS Guangzhou Application FAQs will help you find the information you need. Of course, you're always welcome to contact our friendly admissions team for a personalized tour. After all, nothing beats seeing us in person and finding out why CIS is your RIGHT CHOICE!
1：Who is eligible to apply to CIS?
According to our Guangzhou International School Admission Requirements, CIS welcomes all international families (including China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) to apply for admission. Join our family today!
2：Which grade levels/age does CIS teach?
Early Childhood Education (ECE): Pre-Kindergarten 2 - 4 (Age 2 - 4)
Elementary: Kindergarten (Age 5) to Grade 6
Junior High: Grade 7-9
High School: Grade 10-12
3：What curriculum is CIS offering?
CIS offers the Canadian (Alberta) Curriculum for Kindergarten-Grade 12. CIS is also an IB PYP Authorised School (Students aged 3-12). Our ECE to Elementary school follows the IB PYP framework.
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses are offered to High School students.
Focusing on innovation and critical-thinking, Alberta’s world-class Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system has an excellent reputation and is recognized as one of the best in the English-speaking world. CIS is the first Alberta (Canada) accredited K-12 international school that is monitored by both Canadian and Chinese government in China (mainland). Once students complete Grade 12, they will receive the highly-coveted Alberta High School Diploma and can apply directly to top-ranking universities around the world!
4：Are teachers qualified?
Our teachers are Alberta certificated, trained in IB teaching and have proven teaching and assessment practices. Through individualized learning methodologies, they are able to meet the needs of a diverse range of learners and promote a high level of student engagement. CIS employs highly qualified teachers with degrees in education, with an average of 8 years of experience from Canada and internationally.
5：When can we visit CIS?
ANYTIME! We know nothing beats seeing a school in action, so we encourage you to visit us when school is in operation. Simply make an appointment with us. We start school from 8:20am till 3pm every day. After school activities take place from Monday to Thursday, from 3-4pm and 4:15-5:15pm, and on Fridays from 3-4pm. On Fridays, our unique Grizzly teams play a variety of sports.
6：How can I make an appointment to visit CIS?
Please click here and fill in your information, We will contact you to arrange an appointment. Or if you want to clear some questions before visit, please feel free to connect our friendly admissions team by:
Calling us on our dedicated hotline:
Contact us by Email: info@cisgz.com
OR
Scanning our WeChat ID:
7：Does CIS have a boarding program?
Yes, we do! Our boarding program is optional, and caters to students from Grade 7 to Grade 12, from Monday to Friday. Students return to campus on Sunday evening for a fresh start to a week ahead.
8：Does CIS have any Open Days or school events for new families?
Yes, indeed! EVERY DAY IS AN OPEN DAY at CIS! We welcome all families to our CIS Guangzhou Open Day, including our monthly open days (admission sessions) and school events. Come experience and learn more about our school. Please follow CIS on our social media channels so you can get first-hand information about our open days and events.
9：What are the admission procedures?
STEP 1
Contact Admissions to complete an Application Form or make a school tour appointment.
STEP 2
Submit the application documents; Pay application processing fee; and confirm your appointment for an assessment.
STEP 3
One-on-one interview and assessment (in English).
For families that are currently outside of Guangzhou, assessment and interview will be conducted online.
STEP 4
Receive assessment results/offer letter.
STEP 5
Complete tuition payment and secure placement.
10：When can I apply?
ANYTIME! Application is accepted at any time during the year, as long as we have spaces. We strongly suggest you to make an application as early as possible since our seats are limited in each grade level. Please consult with our admissions team to find out if there is a seat available in your child’s grade level.
11：We live overseas/outside of Guangdong. How can my child do the admissions assessment and interview?
If you are living overseas or outside of Guangdong, the admissions assessment and interview will be scheduled online for you at your convenience. The instructions will be shared with you before the assessment. You have nothing to worry about, and we aim to make it as simple as possible for you.
12：Can CIS help me apply for a student visa?
Unfortunately, we are not able to help students apply for a student visa. We can however, provide you with a ‘future student letter of enrolment’ once tuition fees have been paid, which can be used to prove that you will be a CIS family member. Please contact your relevant consulate/office for visa related services.
13：Does CIS offer a second language in the curriculum?
CIS offers Chinese (Mandarin) as a second language in our curriculum. Students are divided according to ability (native or non-native) and Mandarin classes are tailored to their language level. We also provide French, Spanish and Arabic in our After School Activities.
14：Does CIS have an ELL (English Language Learning) Program?
Yes, we do! CIS aims to meet the needs of students who are learning English as an additional language. If English is a condition of admission to CIS (above Grade 2), these students are referred to as ELL students.
Our ELL Program aims to proactively remove barriers that stand in the way of our ELL students’ learning and educational achievement, so that they can access the mainstream Alberta curriculum when they are ready. Students can participate as fully as possible in the Alberta curriculum i.e. teach within the classroom as much as possible and integrate/differentiate learning.
A CIS teacher will conduct the assessment (Alberta Curriculum tests) as part of the admissions process. If a student (above Grade 2) has been deemed as requiring ELL, this becomes a condition of his or her entry to CIS. A student on an ‘ELL Condition’ of entry must participate in ELL classes. ELL students will receive assessments from ELL teachers to discover their backgrounds, abilities and needs in order to work out the most suitable educational plan for them.
15：Does CIS offer After School Activities?
Our unique After School Activity (ASA) program helps students learn additional skills that focus on six major categories: Academics, Language, Sports, STEAM, Arts and Leadership. These activities are designed to continuously enhance the lifelong learning or our students. Students from Pre-K 2 all the way to Grade 12 can choose from plenty of ASAs.
16：What universities do CIS graduates go to?
Great question! Our students can apply to any university around the world!
Over the past years, with the strong and well-recognized Canadian (Alberta) curriculum, CIS graduates have entered top universities like Imperial College London, University of Washington, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, Boston University, University of Toronto and plenty more.
84% of our graduates received offers from top 100 universities in USA, Canada, UK, Australia and Hong Kong, majors in: Law, Management, Finance and Educational Studies, Marketing, Psychology, Arts and Music.
Our CIS University and Careers Guidance Office (U-GO) prepares students for university and future careers, and the process begins as early as Grade 9. U-GO also guides students on their academic pathways and university application process, providing them with opportunities to explore their options and discover their true passions in life.
17：Who do I contact if I have any questions?
Please do not hesitate to contact us via phone, WeChat or e-mail! We know that nothing beats seeing a school in person, so please do book a school visit with us. Let’s meet soon for a personal our, and explore our beautiful campus together! PS: We also serve delicious coffee.
Get in touch TODAY!
Phone: 020-3993 9920 / 139 2402 5321
Email: info@cisgz.com
WeChat:
