Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake is a British Curriculum / Pearson Edexcel IGCSE / BTEC Qualification school in Dongguan, China. Founded in 2021. Annual tuition ranges from $5,520 to $24,564 USD.
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Location & Getting There
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Key Details
Scholarships Available
Multiple scholarship types are offered: (a) A-Level and DSE one-year 'crash-course' scholarships (full or half tuition) based on gaokao/DSE scores and interview performance — e.g., full A-Level scholarship at gaokao 500+, half at 470+; (b) middle-school/new-student scholarships tied to Dongguan Zhongkao scores (full award at pure culture score 700, half at 650) with renewal conditions; (c) outstanding graduate awards and academic excellence awards ranging from RMB 20,000–50,000+ for high university placements or sustained performance. Scholarship value typically applies to tuition only, not boarding or extras.
Key facts
About
Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake (MAS) is a co-educational boarding school opened in September 2021, situated in Songshan Lake Park, Dongguan, adjacent to Huawei's European Village. The school offers British-style 14–19 education through IGCSE, A-level and BTEC pathways in partnership with Pearson/Edexcel, with instruction in English and Mandarin. As part of the wider Merchiston group affiliated with Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, MAS combines UK curriculum rigour with boarding provision, pastoral care, and co-curricular programmes in sport, performing arts and STEM.
School data verified by NanaSays. Last updated: April 2026.
Why Families Choose
- Sport
- Performing Arts
- STEM
Fees & Financials
| Grade / Year | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| DeQin (domestic + Xingzhi) | RMB 40,000 |
| ZiJing Programme (national + DSE) | RMB 98,000 |
| QingTeng Programme (national + AP) | RMB 178,000 |
| Songshan Lake Programme (national + A-Level) | RMB 158,000 |
Conversions to USD use exchange rates as of April 2026.
Original currency: RMB 40,000 - 178,000. Application fee: $138.
Admissions Process
- 1Follow the school's official WeChat account for updates and application links. 2) Pay a non-refundable application fee of RMB 1,000 and retain proof of payment. 3) Complete and submit the application form with supporting documents and payment receipt to [email protected]. 4) Attend a face-to-face (or online) interview with both parents and student; sit entry assessments including CAT4 and WIDA. 5) Provide required documents: ID/passport, recent photo, application form, two years of academic transcripts; optional CVs and award certificates. 6) Receive an offer letter within five working days; accept within five working days; complete fee payment, medical check on entry and year-group placement.
Admissions Details
Where applications exceed available places, candidates are placed on a waiting list. The school does not publish ordering criteria or typical wait times; parents should contact admissions directly. Declined applicants may reapply after six months.
Boarding Life
Three age-appropriate boarding houses with live-in houseparents and resident tutors. Room options include 6-person rooms (RMB 18,000/year) and 3-person rooms (RMB 30,000/year). A fully staffed medical centre supports boarders. Structured evening homework periods and supervised weekend activities are provided.
Three age-appropriate boarding houses accommodate students, each cared for by a Houseparent who lives on site alongside resident Tutors. Boarding students follow the same school day; after evening meals they have structured homework time overseen by duty staff, followed by social time and bedtime. A fully staffed medical centre supports boarders, and weekends include organised activities or independent study.
School Day
Exact start and finish times are published in the school's Academic Calendar and timetable (作息表) rather than in prominent public text. Boarders follow the same working day as day students and have a structured evening homework period and supervised weekend activities.
Student Life
Three age-appropriate boarding houses for MAS Songshan Lake students; no house names are published on the school's public website.
All students wear school uniform on school days, on school buses, on school property and on school trips; exceptions may be allowed in special circumstances. Full dress uniform is required from October to April and during the school rally.
Boarding includes meals; boarders have evening meals as part of the daily routine. Meals, bedding and room setup are charged separately from tuition.
Facilities & Programmes
Wellbeing & Safety
The school has staff with psychology and mental health roles, including Richard Yu (Psychology & University Guidance Teacher with mental health teacher qualification). A university counselling team provides student guidance. Houseparents and resident tutors provide responsive pastoral care, supported by ongoing in-service welfare training. A fully staffed medical centre is on campus.
The school describes boarding supervision with live-in houseparents and resident tutors, ongoing in-service staff training, and a fully staffed medical centre as practical safeguarding provisions. Boarding pages reference principles of dignity, inclusion and responsive care. No standalone child protection or safeguarding policy document is published, and no designated safeguarding lead is named on the public website.
Student Demographics
School Background
Part of the wider Merchiston group, sharing resources with Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, Scotland, and other Merchiston campuses.