Two Pathways, One Destination: How NAIS Pudong Students Reach the World's Top Universities

At Nord Anglia International School Shanghai, Pudong, families choose between two rigorous, globally respected routes to university: the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and an accredited American high school diploma. Both pathways are designed with the same outcome to develop students to earn places at top-choice universities around the world, whether that destination is in Europe, North America, or beyond.

This year's results, and the journeys of four of our graduating students, show exactly why families across Shanghai are choosing NAIS Pudong for both routes.

The IB Route: NAIS Pudong Students Among Nord Anglia's Global 1-in-7

As part of Nord Anglia Education,  the world's largest provider of the IB Diploma Programme, NAIS Pudong students sit alongside more than 2,600 IB candidates across 51 schools worldwide. In 2026, one in seven Nord Anglia students achieved a 40+ IBDP score, and NAIS Pudong was among the Shanghai schools contributing to that global result.

A 40+ score is a genuinely rare achievement. IB's own worldwide data shows that only around 5-10% of all diploma candidates cross the 40-point threshold in any given session. Nord Anglia's 1-in-7 rate significantly outperforms the global norm, and NAIS Pudong students are part of the reason why.

Nina — IB Diploma Score: 40

Nina's 40-point IBDP score places her in the top 5-10% of IB Diploma candidates globally, broadly comparable to four A* grades at A Level. Her result reflects exactly the kind of academic rigor that draws Shanghai families to the IB Diploma Programme at NAIS Pudong: a curriculum built to prepare students not just to meet university requirements, but to exceed them.

Annabelle — IB Diploma Score: 36, now attending LMU Munich (Germany)

Annabelle transferred to NAIS Pudong from another Shanghai school and made the most of every opportunity available to her. Her 36-point IBDP score secured her a place at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich); ranked among Germany's top five universities and #34 in World University Rankings with the Times Higher Education in 2026. Founded in 1472, LMU counts dozens of Nobel laureates among its alumni and is recognized globally for its research excellence across the humanities, law, medicine, and natural sciences.

The American Route: Accredited, Recognized, and Delivering Results

For Shanghai families weighing the IB Diploma or an accredited American high school diploma with AP courses, NAIS Pudong's American courses track offers the same university-pathway strength through a different, equally rigorous learning experience. Two of our recent graduates show what that pathway can achieve.

Joey — American High School Diploma track, now at OCAD University (Canada)

Joey came to NAIS Pudong with a clear ambition: study art in Canada. Through the school's accredited American high school diploma route, Joey built the academic foundation and portfolio needed to secure a place at OCAD University in Toronto — Canada's oldest and largest dedicated institution for art and design, founded in 1876. Joey's path from Shanghai to Toronto is a model for art-focused students considering the American diploma track: a curriculum flexible enough to support serious creative development alongside strong academics.

Damon — American High School Diploma track, now at UMass Amherst (USA)

Damon's American high school diploma from NAIS Pudong led him to the University of Massachusetts Amherst - the #1-ranked university in the United States for Agricultural Sciences, according to U.S. News & World Report's Best Global Universities rankings, a title UMass Amherst has now held for seven consecutive years, ranking #8 globally out of 500 institutions worldwide.

Two Accredited Pathways, One Standard of Excellence

Whether through the IB Diploma Programme or an accredited American high school diploma, NAIS Pudong students in Shanghai's Pudong district are reaching top-choice universities across Germany, Canada, the United States, and beyond. For families in Shanghai comparing international school pathways — IB or an accredited American diploma, Nina, Annabelle, Joey, and Damon's outcomes this year reflect what both tracks at NAIS Pudong continues to deliver.