APPLICATION PROCESS AND CRITERIA

Applications for entry in August 2019 are still open but there are limited spaces in some year groups. Please contact the Admissions Office to check availability for Nursery to year 4. 

From 7th October 2019, Wellington College International Shanghai will accept applications for entry in August 2020. There is no application deadline but as spaces are very limited in many year groups, we recommend you apply early to avoid disappointment. 

Applications to join Wellington during the current school year are received all year round on a rolling basis, though spaces are subject to availability. 

Further details of how to apply can be found in the Applying to Wellington brochure. 

Application process and criteria

APPLICATION PROCESS 

Step 1.

VISIT THE COLLEGE

This is optional but highly recommended – you can arrange a visit here

Step 2.

COMPLETE AND SUBMIT AN ONLINE APPLICATION FORM VIA OPEN APPLY

Submit the online application, upload all available supporting documents as outlined in the application checklist and pay the non-refundable RMB 3,000 application fee. The admissions team will confirm receipt.

Step 3.

ADMISSIONS ASSESSMENT

  • For August 2020 applications: the admissions team will contact you in January 2020 to invite you to an assessment in February or March 2020.  Assessment will take place at Wellington College International Shanghai (or remotely if you are currently living outside of Shanghai).
  • For applications to start prior to August 2020: the admissions team will contact you within three days of your application date to schedule an earlier assessment.
Step 4.

ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE REVIEW APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENTS

Decision to be communicated by email within five working days.

 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Admissions requirements on identity

In line with policies made by the Shanghai Education Bureau, Wellington College International Shanghai can only accept families meeting the criteria in one of the four categories set out below.

*Please note that identity documents required are subject to the updated policy made by the Shanghai Education Bureau.

  • Type A. Children of foreign citizen(s)
  • Type B. PRC citizen parents – B1 child born overseas, B2 child born in Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan
  • Type C. Children of Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan residents
  • Type D. SHMEC waiver letter holders

The following is a checklist of documents required by different types, please carefully check before completing application form and make sure you have all the documents accordingly.

Please submit all of the documents listed below to register your child. Applications will not be processed until all documents and the application fee have been received.

CATEGORIES

Families must meet the criteria in one of the four categories set out below as determined by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (SHMEC). Please choose the appropriate category and submit all relevant documentation in support of your application.

A Children of foreign citizen(s)
B PRC citizen parents – B1 child born overseas, B2 child born in Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan
C Children of Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan residents
D SHMEC waiver letter holders

Wellington College International Shanghai documents (Please tick)
A B C D
Completed and signed application form
RMB 3,000 non-refundable application fee (payable in cash or by bank transfer, bank details overleaf )
Official School Reports for the past two years in English (translated if required)
Supporting documents for any special learning needs (if applicable)
SHMEC Government-mandated documents (Please tick)
A B C D
Passport copy for pupil and both parents
Birth certificate of the child (with notarized translation for Type B)
Residence permit/visa issued in Shanghai for all non-PRC pupil and parents B1
Mainland Travel Permit (回乡证) and Permanent ID card (永久性居民身份证) for HK/Macau residents,or Mainland Travel Permit (台胞证) for Taiwan residents B2
Shanghai Hukouben (上海户口本) or 12 months Shanghai personal tax payment records (一年以上上海个人纳税清单), for at least one parent
Shanghai work permit: Foreign Experts Certificate (外国专家证) or Alien Employment Permit (外国人就业证),for at least one parent
Employment certification letter and business license of the company based in Shanghai*
Proof of residence in Shanghai: Either Hukouben (上海户口本) or rental agreement or certificate of real estate ownership, for at least one parent
Waiver letter from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission

Notes

  • If a family has parents with different nationalities, they can choose which application route to follow. Each family must complete all requirements of one column.
  • All government documentation is required for families already living in Shanghai to start the application process.
  • If a family is living overseas they must produce the residency permit and proof of residence in Shanghai within 30 days of their pupil starting at the College.
  • The College requires all pupils who are foreign passport holders to have a valid long term visa to stay in China.
  • Please note that the College follows the eligibility criteria set by SHMEC which may be subject to change.

 

* The employment certification letter is required for at least one parent and must include: employee name, date of birth and position, period of employment, registered company name, address, and telephone number. The certification letter needs be signed by department head and stamped with company chop on letterhead.


Click here to download the Application Checklist

Assessment requirement

Nursery children will join us for a one-hour session during which the teachers will assess the child on how they play and interact with other children. Nursery parents will stay with their child in the play-based setting and will have an opportunity to discuss their child’s developmental milestones and whether their child is ready to join Wellington.

Children applying for a place in Reception will go to a classroom setting with a teacher where they will be informally assessed on their basic literacy, communication and language skills. Their ability to follow instructions, some basic numeracy and their ability to express themselves through drawing will also be assessed. While the child is in the classroom, a member of the admissions team will meet individually with parents to discuss their child’s developmental milestones and whether their child is ready to join Wellington.

The child will join us for a one-hour session in a classroom setting where the teacher will assess the child’s ability to interact with their peers, to listen, to demonstrate independent skills and respond positively to instructions. During the session, the teacher will spend some one-on-one time with each child to review their reading, writing, phonics and speaking skills. While the child is in the classroom, a member of the admissions team will meet individually with parents to discuss their child’s developmental milestones and whether their child is ready to join Wellington.  

The assessment comprises:

– A computer-based cognitive ability test involving various abilities such as verbal reasoning ability, non-verbal reasoning ability, spatial perception and quantitative reasoning ability.

– An English comprehension, grammar and creative writing task.

– A one-on-one session with a member of the Prep School leadership team or admissions committee. Children applying for years 3 to 5 are invited to bring a meaningful object that they are prepared to talk about (for 15 minutes).

The length of the assessment varies between 2 to 3 hours, according to the age of the child.

The assessment comprises:

– A computer-based cognitive ability test involving various abilities such as verbal reasoning ability, non-verbal reasoning ability, spatial perception and quantitative reasoning ability (90 minutes).

– An English comprehension task (75 minutes).

– A creative writing task (30 minutes)

– An interview with the Head or Deputy Head of the Senior School (30 minutes).

The assessment comprises:

– A computer-based cognitive ability test involving various abilities such as verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, spatial perception and quantitative reasoning (90 minutes).

– An English comprehension test (90 minutes).

– A creative writing task (30 minutes)

– A one-on-one interview with the Head or Deputy Head of Senior School (30 minutes).

The applicant should be prepared to talk about their interests, why they would like to come to Wellington and their attitude to their studies. If applying for year 10 or year 12 they should also be prepared to talk about the options they would like to take for IGCSE or the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme.