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Bachelor's Degree in China: How to Apply for the 2027 Intake

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You can start a bachelor's degree in China straight after secondary school. Chinese universities accept a school-leaving certificate from Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan or most other countries if it was earned through full-time study and gives access to university in your home country. The biggest recent change is the CSCA test: the China Scholarship Council made it mandatory for the 2026 and 2027 intakes for undergraduate applicants to the 289 universities that host Chinese Government Scholarship students, and for anyone applying for the scholarship itself. Universities apply the rule differently, so check each programme page. Most programmes are taught in Chinese and ask for HSK 4 or higher. English-taught programmes are fewer and cost more: Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) charges $2,982 (CNY 20,000) a year in Chinese and $3,876 (CNY 26,000) in English, while Tsinghua's fully English-taught programmes cost $14,909 (CNY 100,000) a year.

The 2027 cycle is already open: Tsinghua's first round runs from 30 September to 20 November 2026. This guide covers entry requirements, the CSCA, choosing a language of instruction, the calendar, real fees at three universities and the mistakes that cost applicants a year.

Red-brick facade of Tsinghua University's No. 2 Teaching Building with three arches, columns and an ornate balustrade
The historic No. 2 Teaching Building of Tsinghua University with its arched loggia, Beijing, China. Photo: HoweyYuan / source, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Bachelor's in China at a glance

Item What applies Example from an official source
Length 4–5 years; medicine longer HIT: 4–5 years; Fudan stomatology: 5 years
Who can apply Foreign nationals with a secondary school-leaving certificate Tsinghua accepts only certificates earned in full-time, in-person education
Selection Documents, CSCA at many universities, interview or holistic assessment Fudan: interview; Tsinghua: comprehensive assessment, portfolio for architecture
Language Chinese (HSK) or English (IELTS, TOEFL) HIT: HSK 4 with 210+ or IELTS 6.0
Age Usually 18 by 1 September; under-18s need guardianship documents HIT: notarised guardianship certificate; Tsinghua: guardian living in China
Tuition From $2,982 a year in Chinese in the examples below HIT, Fudan, Tsinghua
Application fee $60–119 (CNY 400–800) HIT 400, Fudan and Tsinghua 800
Insurance $119 (CNY 800) a year HIT, Tsinghua

Dollar amounts use ECB reference rates for 23 September 2026 ($1 = CNY 6.7074) and are rounded.

Who a Chinese bachelor's suits

  • Future engineers and IT students willing to learn Chinese: technical universities offer many programmes, and the Chinese-taught track is cheaper.
  • Students building a career around China in trade, logistics, translation or international relations. Four years of study in Chinese give you working fluency that evening classes at home take far longer to build.
  • Families on a limited budget. Chinese-taught tuition at the public universities in this guide ranges from $2,982 to $6,262 a year.
  • Strong school students with olympiad results or top maths grades: Tsinghua explicitly considers national and international olympiad awards.

It is harder if you do not want to learn Chinese and hope for a cheap English-taught option. Such programmes exist, but there are few of them and some cost as much as in Europe. You also apply to a specific major, and switching later is difficult: Tsinghua, for instance, does not accept transfer students at all.

Chinese or English: the key decision

The language of instruction determines everything else: the list of universities, the exams, the price and the preparation time.

Chinese-taught programmes English-taught programmes
Choice Almost every major A limited list, mainly business, economics, engineering, medicine
Language HSK 4–5, higher at top universities IELTS around 6.0, TOEFL 80+; no Chinese required
Price HIT $2,982, Fudan $3,429–6,262 HIT $3,876, Tsinghua $14,909
Risk Without HSK you need a preparatory year A class may not open if too few students enrol

In practice:

  • HIT teaches all bachelor's programmes in Chinese by default; only marked majors can be taught in English, and an English-taught class opens only with at least 20 students.
  • Tsinghua teaches most programmes in both Chinese and English. You need HSK 5 with more than 60 points in listening, reading and writing. HSK 4 is accepted conditionally, but students must reach HSK 5 within the first year or leave. Four programmes are taught fully in English.
  • Fudan (2026 intake): an HSK 5 (210+) or HSK 6 (180+) certificate was welcome but not mandatory; Chinese was assessed at the interview.

If you apply within a year and have no Chinese, you have two realistic options: an English-taught programme or a preparatory year in China. Our guide to the foundation year in China compares university foundation courses, the scholarship preparatory year and language programmes. For programmes where English really is the main language, see English-taught degrees in China.

The CSCA test: what it is and who needs it

The CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) is a standardised test for international applicants to Chinese bachelor's programmes, run by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). For the 2026 and 2027 intakes it is mandatory for undergraduate applicants to universities in the Chinese Government Scholarship programme, and scholarship applicants need a score in every case. Universities use it for both admission and scholarship decisions.

Subject Language Format Who needs it
Professional Chinese (humanities or STEM) Chinese 90 minutes, 80 questions Applicants to Chinese-taught programmes and all Chinese Government Scholarship applicants; not needed by self-funded applicants to fully English-taught programmes
Mathematics Chinese or English 60 minutes, 48 questions Everyone
Physics, chemistry Chinese or English 60 minutes, 48 questions As the university requires; science, engineering, medicine and agriculture usually need at least one

All questions are multiple choice, each subject is scored out of 100, and each university sets its own minimum. Registration and payment are on csca.cn: $67 (CNY 450) for one subject, $104 (CNY 700) for two or more. For 2026 the CSC scheduled five sessions: January, March, April, June and December. You sit the test at a test centre (computer- or paper-based) or at home under remote proctoring. The home format is offered only where no centre is available and needs a Windows computer (macOS is not supported) plus a second device, a phone or tablet. Computer-based and home results arrive within 7 working days, paper-based within 14.

Three more rules from the official site: a score is valid for two years, retakes are unlimited (each one paid), and once registered you cannot change the subject, date or format.

How it works at specific universities:

  • HIT required the CSCA from all bachelor's applicants for 2026 and listed the subjects for each major in a separate table.
  • Fudan accepted scores from the December and January sessions for its Chinese-taught programmes, with subjects depending on the major.
  • Tsinghua did not require the CSCA for 2026; its 2027 requirements list it as one possible proof of academic level alongside SAT, A-Levels and IB. If you submit it, Tsinghua recommends at least maths and physics.

For a September 2027 start, aim for the December 2026 session: the score will be ready for winter and spring deadlines and leaves time for a retake. The CSC publishes the 2027 schedule on csca.cn.

Academic and nationality requirements

The core package is the same everywhere: the school-leaving certificate (or a certificate of expected graduation), full transcripts, passport, language certificate and, at many universities, the CSCA. China does not require an academic bridge year for 11-year school systems. Tsinghua requires a certificate earned through full-time study and does not accept substitutes such as the GED; Tsinghua also states that vocational diplomas and equivalency certificates cannot replace a school-leaving certificate, so college graduates without one should get written confirmation from the university before applying.

You may have heard of a "four years of foreign citizenship" rule. It comes from Ministry of Education Notice No. 12 (2020) and covers two groups: applicants with one or both parents who are Chinese citizens living abroad, and applicants who were themselves Chinese citizens (including residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) before acquiring another nationality. They need a foreign passport for at least four years and at least two years of actual residence abroad within the last four. It does not affect a citizen of Russia, Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan without Chinese family ties.

If you will be under 18 on 1 September of your intake year, you need guardianship documents. HIT asks for a notarised guardianship certificate; Fudan and Tsinghua want a guarantee from an adult guardian who lives in China and has an income.

Application calendar for September 2027

There is no national deadline: each university runs its own admissions and rounds.

When What to do Reference points from official sources
September–November 2026 Shortlist 4–6 programmes, choose the language, book HSK or IELTS and the CSCA Tsinghua round 1: 30.09–20.11.2026 (the only round for design and fine arts)
December 2026–January 2027 Sit the CSCA, start apostilles and translations Tsinghua round 2: 21.11.2026–28.02.2027, results in early May 2027
January–April 2027 Apply to universities and scholarships Fudan accepted applications on 1–15 January and 23 February–6 March 2026; Type A government scholarship applications go through the Chinese embassy or your country's dispatching authority
Spring 2027 Interviews, pre-admission, payment Fudan asked admitted students to pay first-year tuition within two weeks
Until mid-summer 2027 Last self-funded rounds HIT accepted self-funded applications for 2026 until 15 July
June–August 2027 Receive the admission notice and JW202 form (JW201 for CSC scholars), apply for an X1 visa See our guide to the Chinese student visa
September 2027 Arrival and enrolment Apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entry

The Fudan and HIT dates refer to the 2026 intake; universities usually publish 2027 dates in the autumn.

Step-by-step plan

  1. Pick the language and field. For a Chinese-taught track, compare your HSK with university thresholds; for an English-taught track, check that your major is actually offered in English.
  2. Build a shortlist of 1–2 reach, 2–3 target and 1–2 safer universities. Our overviews of universities in China, Beijing and Shanghai help here.
  3. Schedule exams. Take HSK or IELTS before applying (see our HSK guide) and the CSCA subjects your university lists for your major.
  4. Prepare documents: apostille where needed, notarised translation into Chinese or English, the foreigner physical examination form and a police certificate no older than six months. The full list is in our guide to applying to Chinese universities.
  5. Apply through each university's online system; each application fee is separate and non-refundable.
  6. Attend the interview and wait for the decision. If the university asks for payment to confirm the place, pay on time.
  7. Get the visa and book housing. Tsinghua allocates campus rooms online on a first-come, first-served basis; students who miss out find housing themselves.

How much a bachelor's in China costs

University Chinese-taught, per year English-taught, per year Dormitory Application fee
Harbin Institute of Technology, 2026 $2,982 (CNY 20,000) $3,876 (CNY 26,000) $119–149 (CNY 800–1,000) per bed per month, utilities extra $60 (CNY 400)
Fudan University, Shanghai, 2026 $3,429 humanities, $3,876 sciences, $6,262 medicine (CNY 23,000 / 26,000 / 42,000) Separate programmes with their own brochures Online booking, $119 (CNY 800) deposit $119 (CNY 800)
Tsinghua University, Beijing, 2027 $3,876–4,473 (CNY 26,000–30,000); arts $5,964 (CNY 40,000) $14,909 (CNY 100,000) Limited places, online booking $119 (CNY 800)

Sources: HIT, Fudan, Tsinghua. Insurance at HIT and Tsinghua is $119 (CNY 800) a year.

Four years of Chinese-taught tuition come to about $11,900 (CNY 80,000) at HIT and about $17,900 (CNY 120,000) for engineering at Tsinghua, before housing and living costs. A full first-year budget with housing, visa, residence permit and living expenses is in our guide to the cost of studying in China.

Scholarships for bachelor's students

Unlike most Western countries, China funds international first-year undergraduates too. The three main sources:

  • Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC): tuition, housing, insurance and a monthly stipend. Undergraduate scholars study in Chinese and, if they lack the required HSK, first complete a mandatory preparatory year.
  • University scholarships. For 2026 HIT offered 100%, 50%, 30% and 20% tuition waivers with a 15 July deadline. Applying for both the CSC and the HIT scholarship at the same time leads to rejection. Tsinghua awards full, half or partial first-year scholarships to strong freshmen.
  • Provincial and city scholarships, such as the Shanghai Government Scholarship at Fudan, awarded by the university after selection.

Your family budget should work without a scholarship: the decision belongs to the funding body or university, not to the applicant or an agency. See also our overview of scholarships abroad.

Is a Chinese bachelor's recognised at home?

Russia. Russia and China have had an agreement on mutual recognition of education documents and academic degrees since 1995. According to Rosobrnadzor, education covered by an international mutual recognition treaty is recognised in Russia without a separate procedure. The agreement covers state-standard documents or those approved by Chinese education authorities. To use the diploma in Russia, get an apostille in China and a Russian translation.

Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan also has a mutual recognition agreement with China. Under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education rules, documents from such countries go through simplified recognition: authenticity and the institution's licence are checked, and a recognition certificate is issued. Graduates of universities in the top 250 of two of the three global rankings (QS, ARWU, THE) only need an authenticity check. Applications go through the e-government portal or a public service centre.

Uzbekistan. The Agency for Assessment of Knowledge and Qualifications handles recognition and nostrification of foreign diplomas through my.gov.uz: 10 working days, a fee of 2.7 base calculation units (UZS 1,188,000, about $100). The expert commission may recognise the diploma, require a test or refuse.

Under Ministry of Education rules in place since 2011, Chinese universities register international graduates' diplomas electronically in the national CHSI database, so authenticity can be verified online. Medicine and other regulated professions need extra steps; see studying medicine in China.

Life, work and what comes next

A few rules worth knowing before you leave.

  • Residence permit. The X1 visa lets you enter; living and studying requires a residence permit, applied for within 30 days of entry. The fee is $60 (CNY 400) for up to one year.
  • Part-time work. Students may work or intern off campus only with the university's consent and an immigration endorsement on the residence permit stating the place and period. Do not build your budget on it; see work and internships for students in China.
  • Online services. Some foreign websites and apps are unavailable in China. Chinese services matter from day one: Fudan accepts payment via WeChat Pay and Alipay, and BLCU runs placement interviews for its online Chinese courses over WeChat, so install these apps in advance.
  • Dormitory and daily life. Campus places are limited and utilities are sometimes charged separately. See student life and housing in China.

Many graduates go on to a master's, in China or elsewhere, and arrive with fluent Chinese and first-hand knowledge of how admission works. See our guide to the master's in China.

Common mistakes

  • Counting on "I'll get the HSK later". Tsinghua admits HSK 4 holders only on condition they reach HSK 5 in year one; elsewhere an application without the required level is simply not reviewed.
  • Taking the wrong CSCA subjects. Universities list subjects per major; chemistry does not replace a required physics score.
  • Expired documents. The medical form and police certificate are valid for six months, so certificates obtained in September will not work for a July deadline.
  • Two scholarships at once. At HIT, applying for both CSC and the university scholarship leads to rejection.
  • Choosing an English-taught programme without checking enrolment rules. A class may not open if too few students enrol, as at HIT.
  • Applying only to top universities. With high language thresholds and competition, you can end up without an offer.
  • Relying on visa-free entry. Russian citizens can enter China visa-free until 31 December 2027, but only for trips of up to 30 days, which does not cover study. A degree programme requires an X1 visa.

How StudyU helps

Only the initial consultation is free. University selection for your certificate and language, a CSCA and HSK plan, the application calendar, document preparation and application support are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission is decided by the university, scholarships by the CSC, provincial authorities or the university, visas by the Chinese consulate and residence permits by China's immigration authorities. Our country overview is on Study in China; university profiles include Harbin Institute of Technology, Shanghai International Studies University, University of Science and Technology Liaoning, Tsinghua, Peking University and Fudan. Hong Kong universities admit students under their own rules; see Study in Hong Kong.

FAQ

Yes. Chinese universities accept a school-leaving certificate that gives access to university in your country and was earned through full-time study. No academic bridge year is required. An extra year may be needed only for language if you choose a Chinese-taught programme without HSK 4.

Under CSC rules for the 2026 and 2027 intakes, it is mandatory for applicants to the 289 universities in the Chinese Government Scholarship programme and for every scholarship applicant. In practice universities differ: HIT and Fudan required it in 2026, Tsinghua did not and for 2027 accepts it as one of several proofs of academic level. Check the requirement and subject list on your programme page.

HSK 4 is the typical minimum. HIT requires HSK 4 with at least 210 points, Tsinghua HSK 5 with more than 60 in each section. Fully English-taught programmes require IELTS or TOEFL instead.

Yes, on a fully English-taught programme. These are fewer and more expensive: $14,909 (CNY 100,000) a year at Tsinghua. HIT's English-taught classes are cheaper but open only with at least 20 students.

In the official examples, Chinese-taught tuition runs from $2,982 (HIT) to $6,262 (medicine at Fudan) a year. Add a dormitory ($119–149 a month in Harbin), insurance of $119 a year, an application fee of $60–119 and living costs.

Yes, if guardianship documents are ready by enrolment. HIT asks for a notarised guardianship certificate for those under 18 on 1 September; Tsinghua and Fudan want a guarantee from an adult guardian living in China.

Yes. Both countries have mutual recognition agreements with China. In Russia the diploma is recognised without a separate procedure; in Kazakhstan it goes through simplified recognition with an authenticity check. Regulated professions need extra steps.

Sources

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