Dulwich College Seoul: Curriculum, Facilities, and Educational Approach

Dulwich College Seoul (DCSL) offers a British-style international education to expatriate students aged 4 to 18. As part of the Dulwich College International (DCI) network, DCSL combines the traditions of Dulwich College in London with a global perspective, fostering a positive impact on society and the planet. This article delves into the curriculum, facilities, fees, and overall educational philosophy that define Dulwich College Seoul.

A Legacy of Excellence

Founded in 2010, DCSL quickly established itself as a leading international school in Seoul. It operates at its maximum capacity of 700 students, who range in age from three to 18 years, and represent over 40 different countries. As part of a growing family of Dulwich schools in Asia, DCSL is committed to nurturing students who can make a positive impact on society and the planet. EiM empowers, connects and supports extraordinary staff to nurture the next generation of outstanding global citizens. As an employer of choice, EiM offers exceptional employee experiences with inspirational leadership.

Campus and Facilities

Dulwich College Seoul is situated on a purpose-designed city campus just south of the Han River in the centrally located Seocho District. The site in Seocho-gu, specifically the Banpo area of southern Seoul, was selected for its central accessibility, proximity to major business districts in Gangnam, and potential to attract international families and investment. The campus spans a single plot of approximately 10,548 square meters, purpose-built to serve students aged 3 to 18 with cohesive, integrated facilities across nursery to Year 13 levels.

The campus boasts modern and comprehensive facilities designed to support a wide range of academic, artistic, and athletic pursuits:

Outdoor play areas
An all-weather sports field
A futsal astro court area
An indoor gymnasium
A 25-metre indoor swimming pool

Accessibility is enhanced by excellent public transport links, including a two-minute walk to Sinbanpo Station on Seoul Metro Line 9 (Exit 1), as well as connections to major roads like Olympic-daero and the Expressway.

Read also: Future-Focused Learning at Dulwich

Technology-Enhanced Learning

Dulwich College Seoul features a modern campus equipped with specialized facilities to support interactive and technology-enhanced learning. Classrooms are designed as wireless environments with integrated IT resources, including laptop trolleys that facilitate hybrid and collaborative teaching across subjects.

Science and STEAM

Science laboratories enable hands-on experimentation, complemented by a dedicated SE21 STEAM room for integrated science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics activities, as well as a Food Technology room for practical design and nutrition education.

Sports and Physical Education

Sports amenities at the school promote physical development through a variety of indoor and outdoor options. An indoor gymnasium supports activities like basketball and volleyball, while an outdoor sports field accommodates football, athletics, and other team sports.

Arts and Performance

The arts infrastructure fosters creative expression with dedicated performance and studio spaces. The Alleyn Theatre serves as a venue for drama productions and assemblies, supported by rehearsal performance areas. Music education occurs in self-contained suites of practice rooms equipped for individual and group sessions. Visual arts are housed in workshops for design projects, including a kiln room for ceramics and sculpture work.

Curriculum Overview

Dulwich College Seoul offers an exemplary British-style international education for 700 expatriate students aged 4 to 18 from over 40 different countries. The curriculum follows the best practice of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and English National Curriculum. With our Cambridge International Examination (CIE) accreditation, we offer the IGCSE programme and our International Baccalaureate World School status enables students to proceed thereafter with the IB Diploma programme. The curriculum is designed to be rigorous and comprehensive, with a focus on developing well-rounded individuals who are prepared for success in higher education and beyond.

Read also: Dulwich College in Singapore

Early Years and Junior School

The DUCKS programme, for students aged 3 to 7 (Nursery through Year 2), provides a play-based introduction to learning rooted in the EYFS and Key Stage 1 frameworks. In the Junior School (ages 7 to 11, Years 3 to 6), the curriculum shifts to topic-based, cross-curricular studies that integrate subjects like English, Mathematics, Mandarin, Physical Education, Art, Design Technology, and Music under thematic umbrellas.

Senior School and IGCSE

In the Senior School, students follow the English National Curriculum, culminating in the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations. The IGCSE is a globally recognized qualification that prepares students for the IB Diploma Programme. Dulwich College Seoul employs a rigorous assessment framework aligned with international British standards, emphasizing both external examinations and internal evaluations to support student progression through its Senior School stages. IGCSE assessments combine written examinations, coursework, and practical components, graded from A* to G, with a focus on developing analytical and practical skills.

IB Diploma Programme

Dulwich College Seoul is an International Baccalaureate World School, offering the IB Diploma Programme to students in Years 12 and 13. The IB Diploma is a challenging and comprehensive pre-university course that is highly regarded by universities worldwide. The IB Diploma is assessed through a combination of internal and external evaluations, culminating in a total score out of 45 points, including up to 3 points from the core components. Students must achieve at least 24 points for the diploma, with no grade below 2 in any subject.

Assessment and Support

Assessments vary by entry level to ensure students can access the English-medium curriculum. Dulwich College Seoul integrates sports and physical education into its compulsory curriculum, ensuring all students from early years through senior school engage in tailored programs that promote physical, social, and emotional development.

Extracurricular Activities and Sports

Dulwich College Seoul offers a wide range of extracurricular activities (ECA) to complement its academic program. After school activities are free of charge 2 days a week for older children, 1 day for younger children. Some paid activities are offered such as ballet and taekwondo. The PE curriculum is progressive and age-specific, with primary school units focusing on net games, invasion games like football, health-related fitness, gymnastics, athletics, striking and fielding, swimming (one lesson per week), and lifelong physical activities.

This curriculum seamlessly blends with an extensive extracurricular activities (ECA) program, where competitive teams form from Year 4 onward, selected on merit across age groups such as U9, U11, U13, Middle School, Junior Varsity, and High School. Team sports like football, basketball, and volleyball are central, with inclusive options ensuring participation regardless of ability or gender; for instance, basketball and football ECAs welcome all students, while volleyball teams emphasize skill-building.

Students compete in inter-school leagues through affiliations with the Korean International School Activities Conference (KISAC), Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference (KAIAC), and Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA), participating in events across South Korea and internationally. Seasonal schedules align with the academic terms-Term 1 (August-December) features swimming, football, and volleyball; Term 2 (January-March) includes basketball and FOBISIA preparations; Term 3 (April-June) emphasizes basketball and athletics-with year-round swimming and trips like U11 football to China or U13 FOBISIA Games in Thailand.

Facilities such as the on-site 25-meter indoor pool, astroturf field, gymnasium, and nearby athletics stadium support these activities, enabling local and regional fixtures. The programs emphasize health and wellbeing, incorporating fitness challenges, inclusive sports for all abilities, and a "sport for all" ethos that teaches resilience through success and graceful loss.

Fees and Payment

Understanding the financial aspect of enrolling in Dulwich College Seoul is essential for prospective parents. Here's a breakdown of the fees structure:

Application and Initial Fees

Application Fee: KRW 400,000 (non‑refundable and non‑transferable).
Capital Levy (new students only): KRW 4,000,000 (refundable in the first year subject to the College's terms and conditions; non‑transferable).
Placement Deposit (on acceptance): KRW 3,000,000 (refundable subject to the College's terms and conditions; non‑transferable). The Placement Deposit will be used as a credit for any unpaid fees or other sums due when a student leaves the College; the Placement Deposit is not refundable if you cancel your admissions.

Annual Tuition Fees (2025/26)

Nursery to Reception: Annual KRW 40,700,000 (Termly: KRW 14,250,000).
Year 1 to Year 6: Annual KRW 41,000,000 (Termly: KRW 14,350,000).
Year 7 to Year 9: Annual KRW 42,400,000 (Termly: KRW 14,840,000).
Year 10 to Year 11: Annual KRW 43,600,000 (Termly: KRW 15,260,000).
Year 12: Annual KRW 44,800,000 (Termly: KRW 15,680,000).
Year 13: Annual KRW 44,800,000. Fees for Year 13 students may only be paid annually (no termly payment for Year 13).

Additional Fees

Bus (transport) fees:
- Annual round trip bus fee: KRW 4,720,000 (Termly: KRW 1,890,000).
- Annual one‑way bus fee: KRW 3,780,000 (Termly: KRW 1,520,000).
Other costs: The cost of school lunches and school uniforms are additional costs borne by families. Parents are expected to purchase the required uniform items for Nursery through Year 11; Year 12-13 students wear business attire as specified by the College.

Payment Options and Discounts

Tuition and bus fees may be paid either annually or by term. A 5% discount is applied for annual payment.
Families with three or more children enrolled in full‑day programmes are eligible for a 5% tuition discount per student.

Important Notes

Dulwich College Seoul does not offer boarding facilities.
Included in tuition: most extra‑curricular activities (excluding private lessons) and CAS activities. Fees for Year 3 to Year 12 include an annual residential trip. Fees for Year 10 to Year 13 include standard IGCSE and IB Diploma examination entry fees.
Not included in tuition: private lessons, optional trips or activities outside the standard programme, personal items, and any third‑party vendor charges (these are typically charged separately).
The published School Fee Schedule and the Admissions Overview set out payment timing, deposits and invoice obligations but do not list specific accepted payment channels (for example: bank transfer, credit card, local cheque, online gateway) in the fee schedule document itself. Payment instructions and accepted methods are typically provided on the individual invoice or by the College's Finance team; the invoice will indicate the payment deadline. For confirmation of accepted payment methods, contact the College's Finance or Admissions office using the published school contact details.

Refunds and Deposits

Capital Levy: refundable in the first year subject to the College's terms and conditions.
Placement Deposit: described as refundable subject to terms and conditions in the fee schedule, but the College's admissions terms state that the Placement Deposit is not refundable if you cancel your admissions; the Placement Deposit will be used as credit for unpaid fees when a student leaves. Tuition refund rules and deposit refund procedures are set out in the College's Terms and Conditions Governing Enrolment and Admissions.

Billing and Payment Terms

Invoices are issued and fees must be paid on or before the due date indicated on the invoice. Tuition and bus fees may be paid annually or by term; Year 13 fees must be paid annually. All sums for which the parent/guardian is liable (tuition, deposits, capital levy, bus, etc.) must be settled before a student is permitted to attend classes. Specific invoice due dates and detailed refund terms are set out in the College's Terms and Conditions Governing Enrolment and Admissions.

Dulwich College International Network

Within the DCI network, Dulwich College Seoul actively participates in shared initiatives that foster collaboration among its campuses. Dulwich College Seoul plays a key role in advancing DCI's mission of cultivating global citizenship, encapsulated in the "Live Worldwise" ethos, through participation in collective sustainability and cross-campus activities.

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