Teaching in
International Schools in China

China is home to over 900 international schools (primarily British and North American) and a few dodgy institutions infamous for hiring inexperienced and hapless foreigners. Obviously, you’ll want to seek work with the former and steer clear of the latter.

Keep an open mind, however, as there are some exceptional Asian schools that give our Western-style institutions a run for their money. The key is to do a lot of research the international school options, specifically in China. This way, you’ll better understand what you’ll be signing up for.

International schools offer a greater variety of subjects than traditional schools: from English to music, art, literature, all manner of sciences, social awareness, sports and the arts. Priority in hiring is usually given to those with prior international school teaching and those with subject specialization. You’ll get even more ahead of the pack if you’ve previously worked with the same curriculum.

All this doesn’t mean your chances of scoring a job are nil if you haven’t, but it does mean your general teaching experience needs to be extensive and you need to show a willingness to undergo training. You’ll basically need to impress them, one way or another!

What do you need to teach in one of China’s international schools?

Requirements and regulations for international school teaching can vary greatly depending on the school. Some, like Beijing’s Canadian International School, will specifically insist on a teaching qualification from Canada. Most, however, require you to fulfil the requirements and qualifications detailed in our Am I Eligible? page.

There are also international schools that run on a Chinese curriculum, which usually means you’ll be privy to a few military-style exercises in the morning and a two-hour nap in the afternoon. We know it sounds weird, but also incredibly cool to experience.

It’s worth researching the specific school(s) you want to apply to. Because when we said China was unique…we meant it!

There is a caveat to the strict requirements for working in International Schools, which is quite unique to China. Considering the high demand for foreign teachers and the lack of enough applicants, requirement standards can be rather ‘fluid’ if you catch our drift. Apply to the right school at the right time (i.e., when they’re desperate for teachers), and they may overlook a lack of previous experience. This usually doesn’t happen with the best international schools. Still, it’s an option worth considering if you’re willing to forego prestige to get a look-in.

If you’re not fully qualified to teach in an international school, look for positions for substitute teaching, assisting, and internships. These roles aren’t too common, but they seldomly pop up. Your pay won’t be as high, BUT a secondary position can get your foot in the door of international schooling (of the prestigious kind). If this is your long-term goal, it could be worth your while.