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Universities in Guangzhou and Shenzhen for International Students: SYSU, Shenzhen University, CUHK-Shenzhen and Shenzhen MSU-BIT

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Guangzhou and Shenzhen are the two main university cities of Guangdong Province in southern China. Guangzhou is home to established comprehensive universities such as Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) and South China University of Technology. Shenzhen is younger and closer to the technology industry, with Shenzhen University, the English-taught CUHK-Shenzhen and the Russian–Chinese Shenzhen MSU-BIT University. A Chinese-taught bachelor's here costs $3,880–7,160 (CNY 26,000–48,000) a year at 2026/27 rates, noticeably more than in the north, and English-taught CUHK-Shenzhen charges $24,170 (CNY 162,000) a year for 2027/28.

This guide compares the universities by language, price and requirements, explains how Guangzhou differs from Shenzhen, and covers provincial and city scholarships and housing. For China's strongest universities overall, see universities in China for international students and study in China.

Aerial view of a modern campus among green hills under clouds
The campus of the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen. Photo: Dinkun Chen / source, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Comparing universities in Guangzhou and Shenzhen

University City Bachelor's language Annual tuition Requirements Notes
Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) Guangzhou, plus Zhuhai and Shenzhen Chinese $3,880 (CNY 26,000) humanities, $5,040 (CNY 33,800) science, engineering and agriculture, $7,160 (CNY 48,000) medicine; 2026/27 academic year HSK 5 at 180+, CSCA Five campuses in three cities; no on-campus housing for self-funded students
Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) Guangzhou Chinese and English Published in an annex to the admission rules HSK 5 at 180+ or TOEFL 70 / IELTS 5.5; age normally up to 30 English-taught students must pass HSK 4 before graduating
Shenzhen University (SZU) Shenzhen Chinese, some English $3,880 (CNY 26,000) liberal arts, $4,480 (CNY 30,000) science and engineering, $5,970 (CNY 40,000) medicine, arts and sport; 2026/27 academic year HSK 4–5 at 180+ or IELTS 5.5; age 18–25 Campus housing is limited; city scholarship
CUHK-Shenzhen Shenzhen English (20+ programmes) $24,170 (CNY 162,000); 2027/28 academic year Own academic and English requirements 2+2 double-major programmes with CUHK in Hong Kong
Shenzhen MSU-BIT University Shenzhen Russian, English, Chinese $10,440 (CNY 70,000), arts programmes $13,430 (CNY 90,000); 2026 intake Russian EGE results plus MSU's additional exam for dual-diploma programmes; internal exams for MSU-BIT-only programmes Founded by Moscow State University, Beijing Institute of Technology and the Shenzhen government

SYSU and SZU charge at least a third more than Harbin's universities, roughly in line with Beijing and Shanghai. If your budget is tight and your field is not tied to the south, compare them with universities in Harbin.

Guangzhou: established universities

Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU)

Founded in 1924, SYSU operates five campuses in Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Shenzhen and ten affiliated hospitals. Bachelor's programmes for international students are taught in Chinese: the 2026 rules list the HSK as the only language requirement. The 2026 rules required HSK 5 at 180+ (HSK 4 at 180+ for Chinese Language), CSCA subjects listed per programme and an application fee of $60 (CNY 400). The first round ran from 1 January to 28 February 2026 and the second from 1 March to 30 April, accepting CSCA scores from sessions held by 1 March and 1 May respectively. Applicants under 18 on 1 September need a guardian commitment letter with notarised documents from an adult living in Guangdong Province.

One budget detail matters: on-campus housing is scarce, and self-funded students arrange their own accommodation. Campus rooms go to Chinese Government Scholarship and SYSU scholarship holders. See our Sun Yat-sen University profile for programmes, campuses and scholarships.

Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS)

GDUFS suits students of languages, international trade and economics. For the autumn 2026 intake, bachelor's applications ran from 1 March to 20 June, with decisions sent from late June to early August. Chinese-taught programmes need HSK 5 at 180+; first-year Chinese Language students need no certificate but should have basic Chinese. English-taught bachelor's programmes accept TOEFL 70 or IELTS 5.5 but require HSK 4 before graduation. The age limit is normally 30, the CSCA is required, and minors need a guardian who lives in China. GDUFS's own scholarship covers first-year tuition in full or by half.

Other universities in Guangzhou

South China University of Technology (SCUT), which has its own school of international education, and South China Normal University also admit international students. They publish 2027/28 fees and programme lists themselves; compare them with SYSU on teaching language and price before choosing.

Shenzhen: young universities near the technology industry

Shenzhen University (SZU)

SZU is Shenzhen's municipal university. For 2026 it required age 18–25 (under 18 on 31 August needs the university's power-of-attorney form), HSK 4 at 180+ for science and engineering and HSK 5 at 180+ for liberal arts, medicine and arts, and for English-taught programmes IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80 or Duolingo 100. Chinese Language and Literature and Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages need no HSK. The second application round ran from 20 March to 31 May, with decisions in June.

Tuition is $3,880 (CNY 26,000) for liberal arts, $4,480 (CNY 30,000) for science and engineering and $5,970 (CNY 40,000) for medicine, arts and sport. Housing on the Yuehai campus costs $360–1,190 (CNY 2,400–8,000) a semester, a four-bed room on the Lihu campus $110 (CNY 750) a semester, and insurance $60 (CNY 400) a semester. The university warns that campus places are short and some students may be housed off campus.

CUHK-Shenzhen

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen teaches in English, with more than 20 bachelor's programmes, a bilingual environment and 2+2 double-major programmes with CUHK in Hong Kong. It is the region's most expensive option: for 2027/28, tuition is $24,170 (CNY 162,000), housing $360 (CNY 2,400), insurance $120 (CNY 800), a one-off study fee $75 (CNY 500) and the residence permit about $180 (CNY 1,200). Adding the university's estimate of around $300 (CNY 2,000) a month for living costs, a nine-month academic year comes to about $27,580 (CNY 184,900). Scholarships can offset part of the tuition.

Shenzhen MSU-BIT University

The joint university was founded by Lomonosov Moscow State University, Beijing Institute of Technology and the Shenzhen government. Teaching is in Russian, English and Chinese, and in the biology faculty most teachers are Moscow State University staff on secondment. For the Russian-taught Biology bachelor's, the faculty lists two diplomas, from Moscow State University and from MSU-BIT, with admission based on MSU's biology entrance exam; the English-taught programme uses an interview. Quotas for Russian citizens are small: in 2025 Biology offered 12 Russian-taught and 5 English-taught places. Across the university, bachelor's tuition for 2026 entrants was $10,440 (CNY 70,000) a year; dual-diploma programmes admit on Russian EGE results plus MSU's additional exam, and MSU-BIT-only programmes use internal exams. Rules and numbers change each year, so check the MSU-BIT admissions site.

Guangdong and Shenzhen scholarships

Besides the Chinese Government Scholarship, the region offers provincial, city and university awards.

Scholarship Value Where listed
Guangdong Provincial Government Scholarship $1,490 (CNY 10,000) for bachelor's students: a one-off payment at SYSU and GDUFS, listed per year at Shenzhen University Shenzhen University, GDUFS, SYSU
Shenzhen Universiade Scholarship $4,480 (CNY 30,000) a year Shenzhen University
SZU Liyuan Scholarship First class: tuition waiver plus $150 (CNY 1,000) a month; second: tuition waiver; third: 50% off Shenzhen University
GDUFS Scholarship Full: first-year tuition waived; half: 50% GDUFS
SYSU Scholarship Value published separately; candidates need a recommendation from an organisation or recruitment ambassador recognised by SYSU; holders get campus housing Sun Yat-sen University

At GDUFS, for example, you can apply for a scholarship only after the university has confirmed your admission application; values and renewal rules are published separately. Our guide to Chinese universities for international students lists national scholarship routes.

Guangzhou or Shenzhen?

Criterion Guangzhou Shenzhen
Type of university Long-established comprehensive universities with a wide range of humanities and medical programmes Young research universities; engineering, computing, English-taught programmes
Language Mostly Chinese; GDUFS offers English-taught bachelor's degrees Chinese at SZU, English at CUHK-Shenzhen, Russian at MSU-BIT
Tuition $3,880–7,160 (CNY 26,000–48,000) at SYSU From $3,880 (CNY 26,000) at SZU to $24,170 (CNY 162,000) at CUHK-Shenzhen
Housing Self-funded SYSU students find their own SZU places are short; CUHK-Shenzhen housing is in the budget

Both cities are subtropical and warm for most of the year, a real change for students from the north but no reason to pass up a strong university. The main practical difference from Harbin or Beijing is housing: budget for private rent unless the university offers you a room.

Applying: deadlines and the CSCA

SYSU and GDUFS require a CSCA score from bachelor's applicants. Shenzhen University's 2026 admission rules did not mention the test, and CUHK-Shenzhen and MSU-BIT run their own admission procedures, so check their 2027 rules. CSCA sessions for 2026/27 fall on 14–15 November, 19–20 December, 23–24 January, 13–14 March, 24–25 April and 26–27 June. SYSU's first round, which closed on 28 February in 2026, needs a November–January score; for GDUFS, which accepted applications to 20 June, spring sessions work, though you should keep a retake in reserve. See our CSCA exam guide and our guide to applying to Chinese universities.

Common mistakes when choosing a southern university:

  • Ignoring the teaching language. All SYSU bachelor's programmes are in Chinese, so applying without HSK 5 is pointless.
  • Budgeting without rent. SYSU does not house self-funded students on campus, and SZU is short of places.
  • Confusing CUHK-Shenzhen with CUHK in Hong Kong. They are different universities with different admission and visa procedures.
  • Relying on last year's MSU-BIT quotas. Places for Russian citizens change and are announced separately.

University and programme selection in Guangzhou or Shenzhen, a CSCA and HSK plan, documents and application support are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission is decided by the university, scholarships by the China Scholarship Council, the province, the city or the university, and visas by the Chinese consulate.

FAQ

The best known is Sun Yat-sen University, with a wide range of programmes including medicine; all its bachelor's teaching is in Chinese and requires HSK 5. GDUFS suits languages and international trade and also offers English-taught bachelor's degrees. South China University of Technology and South China Normal University admit international students as well.

At 2026/27 rates, a SYSU bachelor's costs $3,880–7,160 (CNY 26,000–48,000) a year and Shenzhen University $3,880–5,970 (CNY 26,000–40,000). English-taught CUHK-Shenzhen costs $24,170 (CNY 162,000) a year for 2027/28. Budget separately for housing, because SYSU does not house self-funded students on campus.

Yes, at Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, the joint university of Moscow State University, Beijing Institute of Technology and the Shenzhen government. It teaches in Russian, English and Chinese, and its Russian-taught Biology programme awards two diplomas, from MSU and MSU-BIT. Study is fee-paying: bachelor's tuition for 2026 entrants was $10,440 (CNY 70,000) a year. Quotas for Russian citizens are small, and admission rules are published each year.

For bachelor's study at SYSU and GDUFS, yes: in 2026 SYSU accepted scores from sessions held by 1 March for its first round and by 1 May for its second. Shenzhen University's 2026 rules did not mention the CSCA, and CUHK-Shenzhen and MSU-BIT have their own admission procedures. Check each university's 2027 rules.

Besides the Chinese Government Scholarship, there is the Guangdong Provincial Government Scholarship of $1,490 (CNY 10,000) for bachelor's students (paid once at SYSU and GDUFS), Shenzhen's Universiade Scholarship of $4,480 (CNY 30,000) a year, and university awards: up to a full tuition waiver with a monthly allowance at SZU, and a full or 50% first-year waiver at GDUFS.

Choose Guangzhou for an established comprehensive university with a broad range of programmes, including medicine and the humanities. Choose Shenzhen for engineering, computing, English-taught degrees or Russian-taught programmes at MSU-BIT. On a tight budget, compare both with Harbin, where tuition is roughly a third lower.

Sources

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