Fudan University

Fudan University is a research university in Shanghai, founded in 1905, ranked 26th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and third among mainland Chinese universities. International students can take a Chinese-taught bachelor's or one of five English-taught bachelor's programmes, master's degrees in either language and doctoral study. The big recent change is the CSCA exam: without it you cannot apply for any Fudan bachelor's programme, including the English-taught ones, and the application windows are very short. In the 2026 cycle the first window lasted two weeks, from 1 to 15 January. The 2027 notices have not yet been published.

Who Fudan suits, and who should look elsewhere

Fudan suits applicants heading into economics, finance, international relations, journalism, medicine or the sciences who want to study in Shanghai. If the CSCA timing or short windows do not fit, look at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which runs two rounds for its English-taught engineering bachelor's, or Tongji University. For a city overview see universities in Shanghai.

Which programmes are taught in Chinese and English

Chinese-taught bachelor's

The 2026 catalogue lists more than 60 bachelor's majors for international students across humanities (Chinese language and literature, history, philosophy, foreign languages, law, journalism, international politics), economics and management, sciences and engineering (mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, software engineering, artificial intelligence, microelectronics, materials, aircraft design) and medicine (medicine, stomatology, pharmacy, nursing). There is also a "Chinese Language for Foreigners" programme in language and culture or business Chinese.

English-taught bachelor's

Changing major is not allowed on these programmes. MBBS does not accept applicants with colour blindness, and Fudan advises checking licensing rules in the country where you plan to practise; see studying medicine in China.

English-taught graduate programmes

English-taught master's include Global Public Policy, Chinese Politics and Diplomacy, International Public Policy, BRICS Countries and the Global South, International MPA, International MBA, Finance, School of Economics master's, Theoretical Physics, Chinese History and Culture, Chinese Philosophy and Culture, Chinese Society and Public Policy, Electronic Information, Environmental Science and Engineering, and Materials and Chemical Engineering. English-taught PhDs exist in international politics, public policy, digital communication, mathematics, physics and environmental science. Other master's programmes are taught in Chinese.

How to apply to Fudan: requirements for international applicants

Applying to Chinese-taught bachelor's

The 2026 process was:

1. Take CSCA, the China Scholastic Competency Assessment run by the China Scholarship Council. Subjects depend on the major, and maths, physics and chemistry papers must be taken in Chinese for Chinese-taught programmes. Window one in 2026 accepted December results; window two accepted December and January results.
2. Apply at istudent.fudan.edu.cn/apply for one programme and pay CNY 800. Fudan recommends Windows and Chrome rather than a Mac or phone.
3. Interview, assessing overall ability and Chinese.
4. Pre-admission (from 15 February and 10 April in 2026), then pay the first year's tuition within two weeks.
5. Download the admission notice from 1 June.

Documents: a passport valid beyond 1 March of the year after entry, a school diploma or expected-graduation certificate, full high-school transcripts, the CSCA report, a non-criminal record certificate and a statement of financial capacity or sponsorship. HSK 5 at 210+ or HSK 6 at 180+ can be added but is not mandatory. Applicants under 18 on 1 September submit a guarantee from an adult guardian living in mainland China with stable income.

Applying to English-taught bachelor's

The same steps and CSCA apply, plus:

• English: TOEFL iBT 90, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110 or PTE Academic 61 (graduates of English-medium schools may be exempt);
• two recommendation letters in English;
• a sponsor's bank certificate showing at least CNY 100,000 ($14,910).

TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, PTE, HSK, SAT and AP results are valid for two years from the test date.

Master's and doctoral

• A bachelor's degree (a master's for PhD) and full transcripts, as originals or notarised copies with Chinese or English translation.
• Chinese-taught programmes: humanities and social sciences need HSK 5 at 240+ or HSK 6 at 180+; sciences, engineering and medicine need HSK 5 at 210+ or HSK 6 at 180+. Graduates of Chinese-taught degrees are exempt.
• English-taught programmes: TOEFL 90, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110 or PTE 61; some programmes require IELTS 7.0, GRE or GMAT.
• Two signed recommendation letters from professors or associate professors, non-criminal record, financial documents and, for scholarships, the foreigner physical examination form.
• The school decides after reviewing the file, sometimes with an interview.

Step-by-step plan for 2027

1. September–November 2026. Register for CSCA (from 2026 it runs five times a year, in January, March, April, June and December; the fee is CNY 450 for one subject and CNY 700 for two or more) and pick a programme; check which CSCA subjects it requires.
2. October–December 2026. Graduate applicants: if 2026 timing repeats, window one opens in mid-October and closes in mid-December, and only this window gives access to CSC Type B and the Shanghai scholarship.
3. January–March 2027. Bachelor's applications in one of two short windows; have translated documents ready in advance.
4. February–April 2027. Interview, pre-admission and payment of year one within two weeks.
5. June–July 2027. Admission notice, JW202 form (JW201 for CSC scholars) and X1 visa.
6. Late August–early September 2027. Registration, Ping An insurance and residence permit.

When to apply: the latest published cycle

Fudan published its 2026 notices on 29–30 September 2025, so the 2027 documents are likely to appear soon; always confirm dates in the new notice.

What studying at Fudan costs

Fudan calls these figures indicative; the exact fee is confirmed on enrolment, and professional master's fees (MBA, finance and others) come from the school. Bachelor's students prepay year one within two weeks of pre-admission, by WeChat Pay, Alipay or international Visa, Mastercard or JCB cards.

What living in Shanghai costs

These are long-term rates; short stays cost more (up to CNY 150 a night). The Handan dorms house more than 1,600 students and Fenglin 160, but places are limited and booked online in a set period. The CSC figure is what a scholar receives on top of free housing, so self-funded students need to add accommodation. Ping An insurance for international students is compulsory. See the cost of studying in China. Dollar figures use the ECB rate of 23 September 2026 ($1 ≈ CNY 6.71), rounded to $10.

Which scholarships are available: CSC Type A and B, Shanghai and Fudan

• CSC Type A (bilateral programme). Applied for through the Chinese embassy or your country's agency; Fudan lists it among scholarships for Chinese-taught bachelor's programmes.
• CSC Type B for master's and doctoral study. Under the High Level Graduate and Silk Road programmes, available only in window one (by 12 December 2025 last cycle). Fudan's CSC agency number is 10246, and you may choose only one university.
• Shanghai Government Scholarship. Graduate applicants apply in window one; at bachelor's level it is awarded to top applicants after selection.
• Coverage published by Fudan for these graduate awards: tuition, a dorm or housing allowance, insurance and CNY 3,000 ($450) a month for master's or CNY 3,500 ($520) for doctoral students. Age limits: under 35 for master's and under 40 for PhD.
• Fudan International Students' Scholarship. Awarded to the strongest applicants after selection.
• International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship. Applied for through the Center for Language Education and Cooperation.

See our guide to scholarships abroad in 2026. Awards are decided by CSC, the Shanghai authorities or Fudan.

How to get the X1 visa, JW202 form and residence permit

Admitted students receive an admission notice and JW202 form (JW201 for CSC scholars) and apply for an X1 visa. After arrival they need a health check at the Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center, temporary residence registration and an introduction letter from the International Students Office, then a residence permit from the Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau. For self-funded students on a two-year programme the permit runs to 20 September of the following year and is renewed. See our China student visa guide.

What helps and what gets in the way for applicants from Russia, Kazakhstan and the CIS

• No HSK is needed in advance for a Chinese-taught bachelor's: CSCA plus an interview in Chinese are enough.
• Standard tuition of $3,430–3,880 a year for humanities and science bachelor's programmes.
• You cannot apply for a programme in your own native language, so a Russian citizen cannot choose the Russian major.
• The very short windows are easy to miss if translations are not ready in advance.
• Fees are paid in yuan online or by international card; find out early which legal payment route is available to your family.
• Off-campus work and internships need approval from the Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration on a university referral, and you may not start before approval; see work and internships for students in China.

Which mistakes to avoid

• Taking CSCA too late. In 2026, window one accepted only the December session.
• Taking CSCA in English for a Chinese-taught programme. Maths, physics and chemistry must be in Chinese.
• Missing the payment deadline. You have two weeks after pre-admission to pay year one or the place lapses.
• Applying for a master's in window two and hoping for CSC. CSC Type B and the Shanghai scholarship are only open in window one.
• Filling in the form on a Mac or phone. Fudan recommends Windows and Chrome.

Where teaching takes place: campus and city

The main Handan campus is at 220 Handan Road in Yangpu District, north-east Shanghai, and houses the main international dorm. A second international dorm is on the Fenglin campus. According to its QS profile, Fudan has four campuses in Shanghai with programmes spread between them, so check your programme's location before choosing housing.

How Fudan ranks

FAQ

Can I apply to Fudan without HSK?

For a Chinese-taught bachelor's, formally yes: HSK is optional, but your Chinese is tested at interview and CSCA is taken in Chinese. English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes need English rather than Chinese.

Is CSCA mandatory at Fudan?

Yes, for every bachelor's programme including English-taught ones. It is not required for master's programmes.

How much does Fudan cost?

Chinese-taught bachelor's: $3,430–6,260 a year (CNY 23,000–42,000); English-taught: $11,180–14,910 (CNY 75,000–100,000). Chinese-taught academic master's: $3,880–7,160 a year; English-taught master's: $7,450–40,240 a year.

When should I apply for 2027?

The notices are not out yet. In 2026 bachelor's windows were 1–15 January and 23 February–6 March, and graduate windows were 13 October–12 December and March. Check iso.fudan.edu.cn from late September.

Is there housing for international students?

Yes, at Handan and Fenglin: long-term rates run from CNY 65 to 120 per person per night, and AYC rooms cost CNY 9,000 per term. Demand exceeds supply, and rooms are booked online in a set period.

What English score do I need?

TOEFL iBT 90, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110 or PTE Academic 61; some master's programmes ask for IELTS 7.0, GRE or GMAT.

Can StudyU help me apply to Fudan?

Under contract we choose a programme, plan CSCA timing, prepare documents and support the application, scholarship and visa stages. Fudan decides on admission, CSC, the Shanghai authorities or Fudan on scholarships and the Chinese consulate on the visa.

Sources

• 2026 Admission Information on Chinese-taught Undergraduate Programs
• Tuition Standards for 2026 Chinese-taught Undergraduate Programs (XLSX)
• 2026 List of English-taught Undergraduate Programs
• 2026 UIPE admission information
• 2026 MBBS admission information
• 2026 English-taught Postgraduate Programs
• 2026 Chinese-taught Postgraduate Programs
• English-Taught Programs list
• Fudan: Dorm
• Fudan: FAQ
• Shanghai: CSCA FAQs
• QS: Fudan University
• THE: Fudan University
• ARWU 2026
• ECB reference rates, 23 Sep 2026

For more on Shanghai as a study city, see universities in Shanghai and studying in China. If you want to check whether you can fit CSCA into the 2027 windows, apply for a consultation.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.