Autumn is when most Shanghai international schools open their doors. October is the busiest month, November is quieter, and some schools only post their December dates a few weeks ahead. Almost every school asks you to register first, and popular sessions fill quickly.
An open day is a few hours on campus, but it can tell you more than a prospectus ever will. Here's how to use that time well, followed by the dates confirmed so far.
Which kind of visit is right for you?
- Open morning or open house. A presentation from the head or admissions team, then a guided tour. Good for a first look at a school you're seriously considering.
- Early years discovery session. Your young child joins a short class while you watch or meet staff. Useful for seeing how teachers work with children the same age as yours.
- Private tour. Booked on a weekday, usually one family at a time. Slower and more personal, and often the best option once you've narrowed your list.
- Online information session. A quick way to rule schools in or out before you travel across the city.
- Education fair. Many schools in one hall. Good for comparing, not for judging a school's culture.
Before you go
Check eligibility first. The schools listed below are schools for children of foreign nationals. In China that generally means your child holds a foreign passport, or a Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan residence document. Bilingual schools that admit Chinese nationals run their own open days, often combined with an entrance assessment. If you're unsure which kind of school your child can attend, ask admissions before you book.
Shortlist three to five schools. Use the NovaEd directory to filter Shanghai schools by curriculum, age range and district. Visiting ten schools usually blurs them together.
Test the journey. Shanghai is large. A Qingpu campus and a Pudong campus can be more than an hour apart at school-run time. Try the drive or the metro at 7:30 on a weekday before you fall in love with a campus.
Decide whether your child comes. Some sessions are for parents only; others welcome children. For older children, their own impressions matter, so bring them if the school allows it.
Write your questions down. You'll be given a lot of information in a short time. A list keeps you focused on what matters to your family.
On the day
Watch the everyday things, not only the showcase:
- How adults speak to students in corridors and at lunch, not just in the presentation.
- What's on the walls. Is it the children's own work, or polished displays?
- Ordinary classrooms. Ask to see a regular lesson, not only the new science wing.
- Students' answers when they speak to you. Do they talk about their learning with confidence?
- Current parents. If there's a coffee corner, ask them what they wish they'd known before joining.
The NovaEd Campus Culture Check gives you eight things to look for and a simple way to rate each one while you walk around.
Questions worth asking
- How big are classes in my child's year, and how many teachers and assistants support each class?
- How long do teachers usually stay? What is this year's turnover?
- What support is there for children still learning English, and how is Chinese taught?
- How do you settle new students who join mid-year?
- What does the admissions process involve: assessment, interview, previous school reports?
- Which costs sit outside tuition: application fee, deposit, building or development fee, bus, lunch, uniform, trips?
- Is there a waiting list for my child's year, and how does it work?
Afterwards
Write down your impressions the same evening, while they're fresh. Compare schools on the same points rather than on overall feeling. Then check each school's application deadlines: many schools are already taking applications for August 2027, and popular year groups can fill well before spring.
Confirmed open days in Shanghai, October to December 2026
Download the NovaEd School Visit Guide
| Date | School | Campus | Who it's for | How to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 12 Oct, 9:30 | Lycée Français de Shanghai | Yangpu | Prospective families | Register on the school's open day page |
| Sat 17 Oct | Concordia International School Shanghai | Pudong | Preschool to Grade 5 | Register on the school website |
| Mon 19 Oct, 9:00 | Lycée Français de Shanghai | Qingpu | Prospective families | Register on the school's open day page |
| Tue 27 Oct | Concordia International School Shanghai | Pudong | Grades 6 to 12 | Register on the school website |
| Thu 29 Oct | Britannica International School | Xuhui | Prospective families | Register on the school website |
| Thu 26 Nov | Britannica International School | Xuhui | Prospective families | Register on the school website |
More Shanghai schools are expected to publish November and December dates. We'll add them here once they're confirmed on the school's own website.
Free NovaEd guides for your visits
- NovaEd School Visit Guide: what to do before, during, and after a school visit, with a question list you can print.
- NovaEd Campus Culture Check: eight things to look for on campus, with a simple rating sheet.
- International schools in Shanghai: browse and compare schools on the NovaEd directory.
Dates are as published by each school on 27 September 2026. Schools do change dates and sessions do fill, so please confirm with the school before you go. NovaEd doesn't organise these events.