Online School & Homeschool in Shenzhen & the Greater Bay

International curriculum information for Shenzhen families

For Shenzhen and Greater Bay families — the mainland position, and what changes across the border.

This page sets out the regulatory position rather than making an offer. Shenzhen anchors the technology and manufacturing economy of the Pearl River delta with a young professional population and border crossings to Hong Kong, and it sits under the same mainland framework as Beijing and Shanghai: the Double Reduction policy bans for-profit tutoring in academic subjects for students in compulsory education and places a strict ban on foreign teachers physically based outside China teaching students in China. We do not enrol compulsory-education-age students resident in mainland China for subject teaching. What differs here is proximity — Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions with their own education systems, and families who move across follow a different framework entirely.

Challenges Shenzhen & the Greater Bay families face

The Double Reduction policy bans for-profit academic tutoring for students in compulsory education.
It places a strict ban on foreign teachers physically based outside China teaching students in China.
Families with connections on both sides of the boundary need to know which framework applies to them.
Institutions may not use foreign curricula, and overseas education materials are subject to review.
Mainland international schools operate under their own enrolment rules, which families must confirm directly.

Why Shenzhen & the Greater Bay families choose Smartious

Residence decides the framework, and we say so: Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have different education systems. Which applies to a family turns on where they legally reside, not on where they work or cross to.
The constraint stated before the offer: The Double Reduction policy is in our opening paragraph rather than a footnote.
Full provision across the boundary: Families resident in Hong Kong or Macau are served in the ordinary way, with no waiting list.
Continuity for an international move: Technology and manufacturing careers move. A single pathway continues unchanged wherever the next country is.
No claim we have assessed your position: We have not. Take your own advice before contacting us if you believe your circumstances differ.

The mainland position is set out in full on our Shanghai page and applies identically in Shenzhen and across Guangdong: the Double Reduction policy of 24 July 2021 bans all forms of for-profit tutoring in academic subjects for students receiving compulsory education, places a strict ban on foreign teachers physically based outside China teaching students in China, and prohibits institutions from using foreign curricula. We are a for-profit provider with teachers based outside China teaching a foreign curriculum, so we do not enrol compulsory-education-age students resident in mainland China for subject teaching. The Greater Bay area does raise one distinction more sharply than anywhere else, and it is worth stating precisely: Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions with their own education systems, curricula and regulators, separate from the mainland framework. Which applies to a family is determined by where they legally reside, not by where they work or which boundary they cross. Families resident in the SARs are served in the ordinary way; families resident in the mainland are subject to the constraints above. A household with a foot on each side should establish which describes them before enquiring, and that is a question for their own advisers rather than for us.

Not offered in mainland China. Available in the ordinary way for Hong Kong and Macau residents.

Where a family's circumstances permit, live online delivery runs on a five-hour offset with evening classes falling in our afternoon. In mainland China this is subject to the constraints set out above.

Shenzhen anchors the technology and manufacturing economy of the Pearl River delta with a young professional population and border crossings to Hong Kong — within a mainland regulatory framework for off-campus subject teaching that directly constrains providers based outside China, and adjacent to two Special Administrative Regions with separate education systems. Mainland China runs UTC+8, five hours ahead of our teaching base.

Family situations we work with

Families seeking to understand the regulatory position before making enquiries.
Households with connections in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
Technology and manufacturing professionals who may relocate internationally.
Families relocating to Hong Kong or Macau, where the education systems are separate.
Households whose circumstances may fall outside the policy and who intend to take their own advice first.

Shenzhen & the Greater Bay communities and nearby areas

Futian · Nanshan · Bao'an · Guangzhou · Dongguan · Zhuhai · the Hong Kong boundary

Common questions from Shenzhen & the Greater Bay families

We live in Shenzhen but work in Hong Kong — which framework applies?

Your country or territory of legal residence rather than where you work or cross to. Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have separate education systems, and this is a question for your own advisers before you enquire.

Can our child in Shenzhen study with Smartious?

If they are of compulsory-education age and resident in mainland China, we do not enrol them for subject teaching. The full reasoning is on our Shanghai page.

What if we move to Hong Kong?

Then you are served in the ordinary way, with no waiting list and evening classes that fall in our afternoon.

Guides for families in China

What parents say

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 130+ reviews. Read our Google reviews

“I'm very much pleased by the teaching methods at Smartious eschool, the tutors are caring, they never fail to reach out to their students in any need. Highly recommend!” — Valentine M., Google review