In YCIS's globally recognised Chinese Language and Culture Studies Programme, all students' language and cultural competency skills are heightened and refined. Our Chinese Language courses are divided into two sections: Chinese as an Additional Language (CAL) and Chinese as a First Language (CFL). Students are grouped into different classes according to their language background and their particular needs, helping them to develop their abilities in Mandarin Chinese to a greater extent during their daily language lessons. Furthermore, Secondary students deepen their connection with the culture of their host country while participating in regular cultural activities and their weekly Chinese Culture Studies courses.

The Character Education programme for students in Years 7-9 helps foster positive values and principles and educates the whole child. Through lessons and a wide range of activities, students gain practical knowledge and skills to help them live healthy lives and learn to manage any moral, social, and cultural challenges that they may face as they approach adulthood.

At YCIS, we believe that art and culture should play an essential role in the lives of our students, both inside and outside our classrooms. Through our Secondary Art courses, students become knowledgeable about different materials, processes, and practices. They also engage confidently with art, craft, and design, both from the contemporary world as well as different cultures and periods of history.

In our Performing Arts programmes, our Years 7-9 Secondary students focus on listening, performing, and creating. They are encouraged to discern music from different styles, genres, and parts of the world. Throughout the year, YCIS students participate in a wide range of music and drama activities and learn to evaluate their own and others' contributions. Our students are encouraged to work both individually and in groups, with the aim of gaining confidence as creators and performers. Our Secondary campuses also offer a wide range of opportunities for Performing Arts as Co-Curricular Activities, including: instrumental and vocal ensembles, orchestras, rock bands, recitals, as well as plays and musical theatre productions.

In our Physical Education (PE) course in Secondary, learning areas are interrelated and contribute to the development of healthy, active lifestyles for students. They also build interpersonal skills such as communication and conflict resolution, and decision-making skills’ tactics and strategies. Our Secondary campuses also offer a wide range of sports teams, and students can compete in leagues against other international schools, both locally and across China.

In addition to regularly scheduled class field trips, YCIS students in Years 7-9 travel to key cultural areas in China through our Education Outside of the Classroom (EOTC) programme. The EOTC helps students gain cultural appreciation through trips to different regions in China, with recent locations including Xi'an, Shandong, and Fujian.

More than just school trips, EOTC trips help to broaden YCIS students' understanding of their host country and lead to increased cultural respect, while also helping students to develop a sense of purpose and perspective in their own lives. As YCIS, students learn Chinese language daily in class; these real language and cultural experiences are essential to helping them apply and reinforce their well-rounded education. These trips also include learning activities that reinforce and extend skills and concepts from our Lower Secondary curriculum.

All IGCSE students at YCIS take one class period of Chinese language lessons daily, tailored to their ability. In these high school years, classes focus on high-level vocabulary and topics, such as global issues. Our students also participate in a variety of Chinese cultural events throughout the year and are encouraged to engage deeply with the local Shanghai community.

As our students enter Upper Secondary, it is of great importance that they build the character values and skill sets necessary for success and independence in adulthood. Therefore, our IGCSE students develop and reflect on Learner Attributes such as responsibility, communication, balance, and confidence. As a school community, we seek to help our students cultivate the academic, personal, social, character, and moral life skills they will need to be successful in all of their future pursuits.

The IGCSE programme, paired with the YCIS International Curriculum, offers engaging compulsory and elective courses for our students. Based on their interests and focus, students are able to choose from a broad selection of elective subjects, including Art & Design, Business Studies, Design & Technology, Drama, Economics, Geography, History, Computer Science, Music, and Physical Education Studies.

IGCSE students have an abundance of community service opportunities and take educational and service trips within China. In Years 10-11, many of our students embark on a visit to one of our Seeds of Hope Schools - local Primary schools located in small, rural villages in regions throughout China which are supported by the YCIS charity programme - in order to complete service and volunteer projects in the classrooms.

All of our IB Diploma candidates take daily Chinese lessons in addition to their IB elective courses. Our Upper Secondary Chinese courses are offered at various levels to cater for students' language abilities, and provide students with perspectives and class discussions on important global and cultural topics. Our students also participate in a variety of Chinese cultural events throughout the year and are encouraged to make deeper connections within the local community.

Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) is a core component of the IB Diploma Programme for our Years 12-13 students. The IB Diploma CAS component aims to help students balance the rigour of their academic programme and encourages them to engage in experiential learning and reflection. IB Diploma students are expected to stretch themselves in meaningful ways through creative endeavours, physical challenges, and service for their communities and beyond.

As our students proceed to Years 12 and 13, it is of great importance that they are building the character, values, independence, and skill sets needed to prepare them for tertiary education and beyond. Therefore, our IB students develop and reflect on Learner Profile Attributes including being principled, communicative, balanced, and a risk-taker. As a school community, we seek to help our students cultivate the academic, personal, social, character, and moral life skills they will need to be successful in their future pursuits. We are also firmly committed to ensuring that our students receive comprehensive well-being support.

The IB Diploma Programme is a holistic programme; paired with YCIS's international focus, it allows our students to graduate with a keen and progressive global view in comparison to their worldwide peers. As a result, graduates earning the IB Diploma at YCIS receive offers from leading universities around the world across a very broad range of subjects, including: economics, music, film, engineering, science, art, hospitality management, business studies, and more.

In YCIS's globally recognised Chinese Language and Culture Studies Programme, all students' language and cultural competency skills are heightened and refined. Our Chinese Language courses are divided into two sections: Chinese as an Additional Language (CAL) and Chinese as a First Language (CFL). Students are grouped into different classes according to their language background and their particular needs, helping them to develop their abilities in Mandarin Chinese to a greater extent during their daily language lessons. Furthermore, Secondary students deepen their connection with the culture of their host country while participating in regular cultural activities and their weekly Chinese Culture Studies courses.

The Character Education programme for students in Years 7-9 helps foster positive values and principles and educates the whole child. Through lessons and a wide range of activities, students gain practical knowledge and skills to help them live healthy lives and learn to manage any moral, social, and cultural challenges that they may face as they approach adulthood.

At YCIS, we believe that art and culture should play an essential role in the lives of our students, both inside and outside our classrooms. Through our Secondary Art courses, students become knowledgeable about different materials, processes, and practices. They also engage confidently with art, craft, and design, both from the contemporary world as well as different cultures and periods of history.

In our Performing Arts programmes, our Years 7-9 Secondary students focus on listening, performing, and creating. They are encouraged to discern music from different styles, genres, and parts of the world. Throughout the year, YCIS students participate in a wide range of music and drama activities and learn to evaluate their own and others' contributions. Our students are encouraged to work both individually and in groups, with the aim of gaining confidence as creators and performers. Our Secondary campuses also offer a wide range of opportunities for Performing Arts as Co-Curricular Activities, including: instrumental and vocal ensembles, orchestras, rock bands, recitals, as well as plays and musical theatre productions.

In our Physical Education (PE) course in Secondary, learning areas are interrelated and contribute to the development of healthy, active lifestyles for students. They also build interpersonal skills such as communication and conflict resolution, and decision-making skills’ tactics and strategies. Our Secondary campuses also offer a wide range of sports teams, and students can compete in leagues against other international schools, both locally and across China.

In addition to regularly scheduled class field trips, YCIS students in Years 7-9 travel to key cultural areas in China through our Education Outside of the Classroom (EOTC) programme. The EOTC helps students gain cultural appreciation through trips to different regions in China, with recent locations including Xi'an, Shandong, and Fujian.

More than just school trips, EOTC trips help to broaden YCIS students' understanding of their host country and lead to increased cultural respect, while also helping students to develop a sense of purpose and perspective in their own lives. As YCIS, students learn Chinese language daily in class; these real language and cultural experiences are essential to helping them apply and reinforce their well-rounded education. These trips also include learning activities that reinforce and extend skills and concepts from our Lower Secondary curriculum.