Universities in Beijing: Where International Students Study, What It Costs and How to Choose

Beijing has 92 regular higher education institutions (adult-education colleges excluded), 69 of which award bachelor's degrees (Ministry of Education list, 17 June 2026). The city hosts more Double First-Class universities than any other: over 30 of the 147. Two Beijing universities lead China's rankings: Peking University (13th in QS 2027) and Tsinghua (14th). Under the 2026–2027 fee lists, a Chinese-taught bachelor's at a strong Beijing university costs about $3,400–4,600 (RMB 23,000–31,000) a year, and a dorm bed $75–220 (RMB 500–1,500) a month. Beijing also runs its own scholarship for international students, applied for through the university.

Below: how Beijing's universities differ, which to choose for your field, what study and housing cost at eight universities, how admission for 2027 works and the conditions of the Beijing Government Scholarship. If you have not chosen a city yet, start with our overview of universities in China or the study in China page.

Studying in Beijing: pros and cons

• Density of strong universities. Two national leaders plus Renmin, Beijing Normal, Beihang, Beijing Institute of Technology and specialised universities for languages, finance, media and the arts.
• Most campuses are in Haidian. Peking, Tsinghua, BLCU, BFSU and many others sit close together in the north-west of the city, but some universities have outer campuses: BIT has two, Zhongguancun and Liangxiang, and a dorm bed at Liangxiang costs a third to a half less.
• International environment. According to the Beijing municipal government, about 58,000 international students study in the city.
• City scholarship. The Beijing Government Scholarship has three categories (see below).
• Easy transport. According to China's central government, Beijing was the first mainland city to let passengers tap foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard cards at metro gates. Cards issued by Russian banks generally do not work abroad, so Russian students will need another method.

The downsides are worth planning for:

• High entry bar at the top two. Peking University selects bachelor's students through a written test and interview, and Tsinghua requires HSK 5 with 60+ in each section for 2027 entry. Almost everyone needs back-up choices.
• Central campuses cost more to live on. A bed in a double at BIT's Zhongguancun campus costs $200 (RMB 1,350) a month, against $135 (RMB 900) at the suburban Liangxiang campus, which means a longer commute.
• Early deadlines. Tsinghua closes bachelor's applications on 28 February, and most Peking University applications are also due by the end of February, months before school ends.
• English-taught bachelor's degrees at the top are expensive. Tsinghua charges $14,920 (RMB 100,000) a year, against $3,880–4,480 (RMB 26,000–30,000) for its Chinese-English programmes.

Which Beijing universities international students choose and why

The "strengths" column lists the disciplines the Ministry of Education included for each university in the Double First-Class programme.

For the arts, Beijing has the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the Central Conservatory of Music and the Central Academy of Drama, all on the Double First-Class list.

Which Beijing university fits your goal

What study costs in Beijing

The fees below are those the universities publish for international students. The year is the one stated in each university's document: a 2026 figure may change for 2027 entry.

Peking University does not publish its undergraduate tuition in the admission rules; it is announced after approval. Use only the official notice for your budget.

The table shows that fees for Chinese-taught programmes at strong Beijing universities usually differ by no more than $1,200 (RMB 8,000) a year. The language of the programme, the dorm campus and a scholarship change the budget far more.

Extras: application fee of $120 (RMB 800) at Peking and Tsinghua, $100 (RMB 660) at UIBE, $90 (RMB 600) at BIT and USTB, $75 (RMB 500) at Beijing Normal and $60 (RMB 400) at Beihang (Peking's graduate admission charges $120 (RMB 800) per programme, up to two); a non-refundable tuition deposit of $600 (RMB 4,000) at UIBE, credited against tuition; insurance of $120 (RMB 800) a year at Tsinghua and USTB, $120–270 (RMB 800–1,800) at BIT and a four-year policy of $480 (RMB 3,200) at Beihang; residence permit of $60 (RMB 400) a year at BIT.

Where to live: Beijing university dorms and prices

Dorm places for international students are allocated by online booking within a set window. Tsinghua states that students who miss the booking must find off-campus housing themselves.

If you live off campus, you must register with the local police within 24 hours of moving in. See student life and housing in China and the cost of studying in China.

Can you study in Beijing in English?

For 2026 entry, Tsinghua offered four English-taught bachelor's programmes: Global Talents in Science and Engineering, Urban Regeneration and Design, Politics, Economics and Sociology, and a dual economics degree with the Chinese University of Hong Kong; each costs $14,920 (RMB 100,000) a year under the current fee list. BIT offers an English-taught bachelor's for $4,480 (RMB 30,000) a year and accepts IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 85 or Duolingo 110. Beihang listed 11 English-taught bachelor's majors for 2026 (communication engineering, aircraft design, low-altitude technology, computer science, mechanical engineering, robotics, safety engineering, quality and reliability, AI, biomedical engineering, international trade) at the same $4,480 (RMB 30,000), with TOEFL 90 or IELTS 6.0. BFSU's English-taught programmes cost $3,880–5,950 (RMB 26,000–39,900), the top end at its international business school.

Master's options are broader: at Tsinghua, English-taught programmes cover computing, electronics, materials, environment, international construction management, business journalism, public administration and Chinese law. The one-year Schwarzman Scholars master's in global affairs at Tsinghua and the Yenching Academy's China Studies programme at Peking University are fully funded; Yenching applications for 2027 close on 30 November 2026. See English-taught degrees in China.

How to apply: steps and deadlines

1. Choose level and language. For Chinese-taught bachelor's programmes, strong universities usually ask for HSK 5 with 180+ (BIT, Beihang, Beijing Normal), while USTB and UIBE accept HSK 4. Peking University's master's programmes require HSK 6 with 200 (science and engineering) or 210 (humanities). English-taught programmes require IELTS or TOEFL.
2. Take the CSCA for bachelor's entry. BIT, USTB, Beihang, Beijing Normal and UIBE required it for 2026 entry, Peking from Chinese Government Scholarship applicants; Tsinghua accepts it alongside SAT, A-Level and IB. Beihang wanted the score uploaded by 30 May.
3. Apply on time. Latest cycle:

1. Receive the admission letter and JW202 form and apply for an X1 visa; see the Chinese student visa.
2. Within 30 days of arrival, apply for a study residence permit.

Age limits apply: Peking University's exam route generally admits applicants aged 18–25, Beihang 18–22 and Beijing Normal 18–40. Document lists are in applying to Chinese universities. The university decides on admission, the Chinese consulate on the visa and the funder on scholarships.

What scholarships are available for study in Beijing?

• Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) through an embassy or a university.
• Beijing Government Scholarship (regulations published on the city portal in January 2026): category A covers tuition, housing, insurance and a monthly allowance; B tuition, housing and insurance; C tuition and insurance. You apply to your chosen university, which selects recipients and reviews them every year.

A scholarship is competitive and the university decides; if Beijing is unaffordable without one, prepare a back-up in a cheaper city. - University scholarships, for example Peking University's award, which waives all or part of tuition and provides insurance and a monthly allowance.

Mistakes to avoid when choosing a Beijing university

• Applying only to Peking and Tsinghua: add BIT, Beihang or Beijing Normal to your list.
• Ignoring the campus: an outer campus is cheaper but far from the centre.
• Missing the dorm booking window.
• Confusing BLCU and BFSU: the first is mainly Chinese for foreigners, the second foreign languages and international relations.
• Counting on part-time work: off-campus work requires university approval and a residence-permit annotation. See work and internships for students in China.

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