More University Acceptances From our Class of 2025!

We’re thrilled to congratulate the Class of 2025 on their outstanding university acceptances to date, including offers from top institutions worldwide—among them, 6 students being admitted to Ivy League universities, including Cornell University, Brown University (2 students), Dartmouth College Columbia University. In addition, one student was admitted to the Sciences Po-Columbia University Dual Degree program, which required her to be accepted to an Ivy League institution and a top French university. In addition, our students have received admissions offers from the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, the London School of Economics, Duke University, the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Hong Kong and many other highly regarded institutions. These results reflect our students’ dedication not only to academic excellence, but to pursuing their unique passions with purpose. 

Their success isn’t just about grades. At DCB, it’s about how they’ve stretched themselves to pursue their passions, both in and beyond the classroom.

What Universities Really Look For

At Dulwich College Beijing, our commitment to a well-rounded education from DUCKS to Senior School goes beyond sterling grades; it is also putting students first by empowering them to follow their passions and to Live Worldwise, using their education to one day make a positive difference in the world. 

This ethos was echoed by our Head of College Anthony Coles on our Open Day on 27 March. “School is a great opportunity for kids to explore their interests, and here at DCB there’s such a wide variety. Opportunity is important, because when students get into the higher years of senior school, they can say, "I’ve tried all these subjects—which one do I really want to focus on as my major?

And as parents, we all want good grades. But the final value of university isn’t just the degree. After graduation, there’s work, and then the rest of life. What’s more important is finding your purpose."

This alignment matters because university admissions vary globally. While many countries still prioritise academic metrics, top US institutions prefer a more holistic approach. As Dr Gavin Hornbuckle, our Head of University and Careers Counselling, emphasised, universities don’t just want students who score well; they want students who will thrive in their programmes.

As our graduates have shown—from their university years to their careers— students interested in selective US universities often also hinges on:

• Authentic, long-term commitment to pursuing one's interests (such as Women’s Health and Menstruation)
• Making a tangible impact in one’s school, local community, or even the world such as Project Visionary
• Evidence of being a resilient, inclusive, open-minded, confident, and kind person, something embedded from young through our Dulwich Values

Why DCB Students Stand Out — And Where They’re Headed

Clare Anderson-Au, our Head of Senior School, puts it plainly: "You know that we have excellent examination results, and we're really proud of those results. With examination results like that you can handle, of course, highly selective universities." But she's quick to add the crucial caveat: "We don't just want to get them in the door; we want them to thrive, too."

This philosophy comes to life through stories like Project Visionary, where five DCB students collaborated to create a financial literacy guide for visually impaired youth—now distributed to schools across China. "These students have outstanding grades," she noted, "but what made them memorable was how they articulated their journey: the challenges they overcame, the teamwork required, and the real-world difference their project made. This goes beyond grades and shows universities the type of student, the type of person they are getting into the university. Those are the stand-out moments that universities love."

This ethos permeates every aspect of DCB. When Carmen de Z, a former Head Prefect, first joined DCB, she saw herself pursuing History. But through active participation in leadership roles and other activities including organizing her own mock trials, she discovered a passion for Law that’s taking her to Oxford. She “Here at DCB, I found the passion for what I liked and got the confidence for it.” 

Sophie S, also a former Head Prefect, believes that, alongside her strong academics, her holistic experience at DCB that included several leadership roles, bravely pursuing her passions in traditionally male spaces and the opportunity to create new traditions such as Pi Day helped her stand out.

Evelyn Li, DCB graduate, Cornell University and Harvard Graduate School of Education alumna, dwelt on how embracing opportunities at DCB such as forming the Pyschology Club in Year 11 also helped, as well as how the teacher support also made the difference. “I had really good teachers who supported and encouraged me and helped me gain confidence (throughout my time at DCB). DCB didn’t just support me academically, but also in becoming a good leader and better person overall.”

As we celebrate this year's university acceptances so far, we're reminded that true success comes from this powerful combination: outstanding academics paired with the courage to pursue passions, the resilience to overcome challenges, and the vision to make a difference. We look forward to hearing more good news from our students!