Back in the 1990s, Professor Fu Tengxiao, a senior professor of Shenzhen University and executive vice president of the Normal College of Shenzhen University, started the project of running schools of China-Britain cooperation in Shenzhen.

In the mid-1990s, Professor Fu Tengxiao participated in the preparation for the establishment of "Shenzhen Normal University College". At the same time, he also participated in the work of international education and school running of this college. In 1998, Shenzhen University and Queen's University jointly launched the "Queen's class" (full name: the basic course jointly organized by Shenzhen University of China and Queen's University of Britain), which was a great sensation in Guangdong Province. With China's reform and opening up policy and great economic development, studying abroad became increasingly popular.

This is not only an important event for Shenzhen University but also an essential step for the development of Shenzhen's international education. In a sense, today's Shenzhen International Foundation College is the "natural" result of the "Queen's Class" back then.

At the beginning of the new century, with full passion for international education, the educator found his second prime year of his career and began to prepare for the establishment of a new type of school in Guangdong Province specializing in overseas study and international foundation education——Shenzhen International Foundation College, so the pure British foundation education officially landed in China.

When naming Shenzhen International Foundation College, the founders thought for a long time. Today, some people are still curious about the name of "Shenzhen International foundation college". What is "foundation college"? In fact, in the United States, many famous private schools and academic high schools will be named Preparatory Academy, which means that their graduates will be admitted to famous universities in the future. This is how they distinguish themselves from ordinary American high schools. Many famous universities in the UK have directly affiliated "international foundation colleges", whose purpose is to provide pre-admission training for students who are interested in entering the university. It can be seen that the "International Foundation College" is an authentic international school.

In June 2004, Shenzhen Education Bureau approved the establishment of Shenzhen International Foundation College after nearly two years‘ investigation. It is known that there are only three schools in the whole country that are allowed to use "international foundation college" in their name, and the other two are in Beijing and Nanjing.

Shenzhen International Foundation College is a private international school, and her growth is unique and extraordinary.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the continuous heating up of the "fever to study in the United States" had a great impact on our society. Through a survey of students studying in the United States, we found that students benefit greatly from a U.S. education.

In 2010, Professor Fu Tengxiao established the first American high school in Shenzhen on the basis of the original school. Running the school for 20 years, generational of students have set out from here to realize their dreams of studying in world-renowned universities.

Today's world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, but we believe that the trend of globalization is irreversible, and the internationalization of education will not stop. In the post-epidemic era, it is necessary to look at studying abroad with a more open mind and make rational education plans.

"No matter how the situation changes, American universities are still American universities, namely: Harvard is still Harvard, Stanford is still Stanford."

Since the new era, China has been accelerating and expanding the opening of education to the outside world. We will further ensure the smooth running of Shenzhen International Foundation College, so that more graduates will have the opportunity to study in well-known overseas universities, not only acquiring advanced scientific and technological knowledge, but also expanding their horizons. They can also truly become the messengers of Chinese civilization and Chinese culture, passing on real and vivid Chinese stories and deepening the friendship with young students and people from all over the world.

From the principal’s message: from "you will fly to the world" to “running with giants”, from " It takes ten years to grow trees and a hundred years to cultivate people " to "for the awakening of every life", we can see that what has been achieved is not only a glorious international education, but also a road to "awakening and developing" China's educational reform and opening up.

⚪2004

Officially approved by the Education Bureau and established with university preparatory courses, bringing authentic British-style pre-university education to Shenzhen, China.

⚪2005

The first national school program "master's preparatory program" received a warm response. A long article about SIFC’s Bachelor Foundation and Pre-master’s program reported by Shenzhen Evening News is a sensation.

⚪2006

The Business School of Macquarie University in Australia awarded SIFC graduate scholarship, which was very rare among overseas students in Shenzhen then.

⚪2007

The relaxation of study visas in the United States has heated the upsurge of studying there. Accompanied the representative of the commercial office of the US Consulate General in Guangzhou, the representative of Dade College in Miami, met with the leaders of SIFC and the Golf College of Shenzhen University to jointly discuss the education cooperation between China and the United States.

⚪2008

Three graduates from the bachelor foundation program were admitted by Durham University. It marks that our preparatory graduates are among the top 10 universities in the UK.

In response to the upsurge of domestic fever studies in the United States, SIFC began to deeply study the curriculum system of American high schools to prepare for the transformation of American high schools in advance. SIFC participated in the Global Education Annual Meeting in the U.S, we visited more than 30 famous American universities.

⚪2009

Graduates were admitted by Sydney University and the London School of Economics and Political Science. SIFC’s pre-masters graduates were formally accepted by super-premium universities worldwide.

⚪2010

SIFC officially introduced AP courses developed by the College Board and other native American high school courses. These marked SIFC’s transformation from the Commonwealth Foundation Education System into a complete American High School Education System.

⚪2011

SIFC American High School students volunteered to teach in Inner Mongolia, they founded the first “High School Students Aid Education Association” in China. It belongs to the “Mountain Flower” Project of the Chinese Culture Promotion Society.

⚪2012

To keep steps with native American High School, SIFC began the four-year high school program. Different from the former three-year system, the new system provides enough time for students’ university applications.

⚪2013

The first 15 graduates of American High School were all admitted by famous American universities, including the University of California Berkeley, Boston College, the University of Washington, the University of California San Diego, etc.

⚪2014

The second American High School graduates made another achievement with the first SIFC high school graduate accepted by the Ivy League School Cornell University. As relevant media in Shenzhen pointed out, SIFC was the top choice for students who intend to study in America.

"Credited Overseas Brand of the Year" Award

⚪2015

SIFC Principal and Professor Fu Tengxiao won the top of the "Top Ten Leaders of Shenzhen Education in 2015".

The First President Unit in Shenzhen Education and Training Industry Association

⚪2016

The “Global Alumni Association” of SIFC was established. The 2007 alumni Sun Jinglei sent a plaque to SIFC.

"Education Star+" Best Social Value Award

⚪2017

The College Board authorised SIFC and became a member of AP International Schools.

⚪2018

SIFC started using the campus close to the Xili University Town in Nanshan District.

⚪2019

Graduate of the 2019 class was admitted to the University of Chicago. Shenzhen's No. 1 undergraduate admission to an American university belongs to our school. (After graduation, he was admitted to the Harvard Graduate School.)

Shenzhen Education Reform and Innovation Award “Annual International Model School"

KingLead “China International School Competitiveness Ranking” American high school program, National No.24, Shenzhen No.3

⚪2020

Baoan campus officially opened.

Authorized by Pearson Edexcel (Edexcel), it has become the global testing center of IGCSE / A Level. In addition to the American curriculum, SIFC restarted the British curriculum and provide IGCSE / A Level courses.

SIFC Art Design Center and International Music Center were established in cooperation with teams of famous artists.

SIFC aims to build a leading international art high school in the Greater Bay Area.

Cooperated with Jeremy Lin-Li Qun Basketball League to establish Jeremy Lin-Li Qun international basketball training center".

"Best International Schools in China" (Among all the international schools in Shenzhen, we are one of the only two that are on the list)

KingLead “China International School Brand Value Top 100” National No.26, Shenzhen No.2.

⚪2021

Become the official registration center of UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

Co-operating with the world champion Wang Guan and his team, SIFC established its modern pentathlon center.

The class of 2021 received admission letters from the Rhode Island School of Design, the Parsons School of Design, and the Cooper Union. Since then, SIFC has achieved the "Grand Slam" of top art universities in the United States.

“Private Education Innovation Modeling School”

“Forbes China - Outstanding International School”

⚪2022

SIFC has obtained the official accreditation of Cognia.

The " Art & Design Center " has been upgraded, featuring "Art + Technology," aligning with world-class interdisciplinary cutting-edge programs to cultivate native artists of the artificial intelligence era.

The PBL Innovation  Education Center, Tencent AI Lab, SIFC- TAL International Teaching and Research Center (Shenzhen), the Workshop of the Master Mind, Student Holistic Development Consultation Center are set up in SIFC.

SIFC' first group of A-Level graduates achieved great results with the admission of World TOP10 University College London.

“Executive Office of International Schools Committee of China Private Education Association”

⚪2023

The Oxford AQA officially authorised SIFC and became its authorised partner school.

The Pearson Edexcel officially authorised SIFC and became its authorised BTEC center.

The Boarding School Association authorized SIFC and became its International Affiliated Member School.

SIFC ACT Center was officially authorized by the FabLab (Fabrication Laboratory).

SIFC has developed the campus version of ChatGPT—'Study Abroad GPT,' becoming the first international high school that has independently developed a generative AI product domestically.

"HKPEP Top 100 China International Schools in Education Competitiveness", ranking No.7 in Shenzhen, and the top 100 schools in Greater China (the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau).

Forbes China Outstanding Leader Team Award”

⚪2024

The first Victory Class graduates has achieved a 100% acceptance rate into the top 30 universities in the United States, the G5 group in the United Kingdom and Top three universities in Hong Kong, demonstrating their strong academic performance and leading the way for international high schools in the Greater Bay Area in 2024.

SIFC set up the entrepreneurship support award, and the "AI Linguistic Project" was the first student science and technology innovation project to receive the venture fund.

“Forbes China Innovative International School of the Year Award”

“Forbes China- International School Annual Selection” National Top 20, Shenzhen Top 3

⚪2025

Students from SIFC Victory Class successfully secured three offers from University of Cambridge, ranking second in Shenzhen and making history for the school.