HFI (华附国际部) International department of The Affiliated High School of South China Normal University

What HFI (华附国际部) International department of The Affiliated High School of South China Normal University does

HFI (华附国际部) is the international department of The Affiliated High School of South China Normal University, established in 2004 in Tianhe District, Guangzhou. It operates a Sino-foreign integrated high school curriculum designed to prepare Chinese students for admission to overseas universities, primarily in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The institution is the first AP (Advanced Placement) school in South China, authorized by the U.S. College Board in March 2009 under AP School Code 694293, and currently serves approximately 710 students drawn from across China.

The core product is the AP Program, which combines 22 AP courses spanning mathematics, sciences, humanities, and arts with 5 Chinese domestic high school required courses and 25 school-based electives (including TOEFL/SAT preparation, advanced calculus, philosophy, drama, film studies, dance, pottery, and multiple foreign languages through the Language Center). Supporting infrastructure includes a dedicated College Counseling Center that guides students through overseas university applications, the HFI Live Streaming Room (H直播间) on Xiaoeknow hosting 52+ annual broadcasts, a PowerSchool student information management system, a Smart Dormitory Assignment System, and an external psychology/mental health platform. The underlying technology is best characterized as a curriculum and service platform rather than a software product — instruction is delivered on campus by a faculty team in which 95% hold master's degrees or above, 90% have overseas study or work experience, and 7 hold PhDs, supporting a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The institution previously operated an NCUK IFY (International Foundation Year) UK/Australia preparatory program from 2004 to 2019.

HFI operates a direct-to-consumer B2C business model funded primarily by annual tuition of approximately 188,000 CNY per student, billed on an annual subscription cadence with additional fees for specific extracurriculars and examination registration. Admissions are conducted through the school's official website, on-campus information sessions, the online application portal, and WeChat/public social media channels, targeting Chinese middle-school graduates and their families. Outcomes are a primary marketing asset: documented results include 71% admission rates to U.S. Top 30 universities, 93% to U.S. Top 50 universities, 230+ Ivy League and Top 10 U.S. university admits, 28 Oxford/Cambridge admits, and over 2 billion CNY in cumulative overseas university scholarships received by graduates. The institution is part of a public educational entity (The Affiliated High School of South China Normal University), is not publicly traded, and operates exclusively from its Guangzhou campus with recruitment targeting domestic Chinese students.

Name

HFI (华附国际部) International department of The Affiliated High School of South China Normal University

Legal name

International Department, The Affiliated High School of South China Normal University

Website

https://gdhfi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HFI (华附国际部) is the international department of The Affiliated High School of South China Normal University, offering an integrated Sino-foreign AP curriculum to approximately 710 Chinese high school students seeking admission to overseas universities, primarily in the US, UK, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

AP Course Tutoring (AP-specific subjects) (EDANAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Under-18 / High School-to-University Foundation Pathways (EDAIAJAI)

Keywords

• International high school education
• AP curriculum programs
• College counseling services
• University preparation programs
• Foreign language instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Guangzhou

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Annual tuition from students enrolled in the AP and IFY programs. Historical mention of 188,000 CNY annual tuition for HFI. Revenue from academic program fees provides the primary funding for school operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HFI operates a three-year integrated international high school program combining a College Board-authorized AP (Advanced Placement) curriculum with Chinese national high school required courses and school-based electives. The school serves Chinese students seeking admission to overseas universities, supported by a dedicated College Counseling Center, Language Center, and mentorship programs. Tuition is approximately 188,000 CNY per academic year.

Product overview

HFI operates as a comprehensive international education institution offering integrated Sino-foreign curriculum programs. The core product is the AP Program — South China's first AP program (College Board AP School Code: 694293) — offering 22 AP courses combined with 5 Chinese domestic high school required courses and 25 school-based electives (TOEFL/SAT prep, advanced calculus, philosophy, drama, film studies, dance, pottery, and multiple foreign languages). The integrated AP curriculum is HFI's flagship offering, supplemented by the Language Center providing German, French, Spanish, and other language instruction. Supporting services include the College Counseling Center (升学指导中心) guiding students through overseas university applications with a dedicated knowledge base, the Smart Dormitory Assignment System (智能分寝系统) for student housing management, and the HFI Live Streaming Platform (HFI直播间) for remote broadcasts. The institution previously operated the IFY (International Foundation Year) UK/Australia preparatory program (2004–2019). The school also maintains over 100 student clubs spanning sports, academics, arts, competitions, community service, and comprehensive practice areas, and operates a digital publication platform (电子刊物).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AP Program (AP美式高中课程) The flagship AP (Advanced Placement) program, authorized by the College Board (AP School Code: 694293), offering 22 AP courses spanning mathematics, sciences, humanities, and arts combined with 5 Chinese domestic high school required courses and 25 school-based elective courses, for Chinese students seeking overseas university admission.
• Language Center (语言中心) Dedicated language instruction center providing foreign language training to support students' overseas university preparation, integrated into the broader academic program.
• College Counseling Center (升学指导中心) Dedicated center providing college application guidance, university selection support, and admissions counseling to help students gain admission to overseas universities, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom.
• Smart Dormitory Assignment System (智能分寝系统) Online platform that allows students to select dormitory beds and roommates based on personal preferences, supporting student life management on campus.
• HFI Live Streaming Platform (HFI直播间) Official live streaming channel on Xiaoeknow used to broadcast admissions information sessions, school events, and academic lectures to prospective students and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 71% admission rate to US Top 30 universities
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• 思楷卓越 (Sikai Zhuoyue)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2025, HFI and Sikai Zhuoyue formally partnered to establish the 'Life Sciences Joint Laboratory' (生命科学联合实验室). The unveiling ceremony was held at HFI's Knowledge City campus, representing HFI's expansion into science research cultivation for students.
• NCUK (Northern Consortium UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHFI operated as the authorized NCUK IFY (International Foundation Year) program center from 2004 to 2019, providing pathways to UK and Australian universities. HFI received NCUK's 2017 Academic Management Excellence Award.
• 美国大学理事会 (College Board)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollege Board authorized HFI to offer AP courses starting March 2009, making it the first AP school in South China (AP School Code: 694293). HFI also became an official ACT testing center in 2021.
• ACT官方 (ACT Official)coreTechnology or IntegrationACT officially authorized HFI as an ACT testing center in 2021, allowing students to take the ACT exam on campus.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Maple Leaf Educational Systems: China's largest operator of international schools with a multi-campus network spanning K-12 and offering Canadian/American/British curricula. Comparable as a Chinese international-education operator targeting similar families, though at much larger scale and with a private-operator model versus HFI's public-school affiliation.
• EtonHouse International Education Group: Singapore-headquartered premium international school operator with Chinese campuses offering IB and British curricula to affluent Asian families. Comparable as a regional premium international-education operator serving the same Chinese upper-middle-class demand.
• Nord Anglia Education (China campuses): Global premium international school group with multiple campuses in China offering IB and British curricula to affluent Chinese families. Comparable in targeting premium Chinese international-education demand, though at much broader geographic and curricular scale.

Direct peers

• Shenzhen College of International Education (SCIE): International department of a public high school in Shenzhen (Shenzhen Middle School) offering integrated AP/A-Level curricula with elite overseas admission outcomes. Directly comparable to HFI in structure (public-school international department), curriculum (AP), and target customer (Chinese families seeking overseas university admission).
• The Affiliated High School of Peking University — Dalton Academy: International department of Peking University High School offering AP and international curricula to Chinese students preparing for overseas universities. Direct structural and curricular peer to HFI as a public-school-affiliated AP provider.
• Shanghai American School (Pudong & Puxi): Long-established international school in Shanghai offering American-style college-prep curricula including AP, serving Chinese and expat families. Comparable in offering AP curriculum with strong overseas admission outcomes, though operates as an independent school rather than a public-school department.
• Keystone Academy Beijing: Beijing-based Chinese international school offering AP curriculum with strong overseas admission track record. Comparable premium positioning and AP delivery model to HFI, though operating as an independent private school rather than a public-school department.
• Beijing National Day School International Department: International department of a top Beijing public high school offering AP/A-Level programs with strong Ivy League admission track record. Comparable structure to HFI (public-school affiliated international department) with a similar integrated Chinese-foreign curriculum model.
• UWC Changshu China: United World College in Changshu offering IB curriculum to Chinese students aiming for elite overseas universities. Comparable as a premium residential international school targeting the same affluent Chinese family segment pursuing global higher education.
• Dulwich College International (Shanghai/Peking/Beijing): Network of premium British-curriculum international schools in China serving affluent Chinese families. Comparable in serving the same premium Chinese international-education segment, though primarily following the British curriculum path (IGCSE/A-Level/IB) rather than AP.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/hfi-%E5%8D%8E%E9%99%84%E5%9B%BD%E9%99%85%E9%83%A8-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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