Studying in China can bring together academic learning and a powerful experience of living somewhere different. You might explore environmental research, study economics in an international classroom, or combine a degree with a growing understanding of Chinese language, business and culture.
There is no single Chinese university experience. The course, campus, teaching language and city can change both your daily routine and your budget considerably. This guide focuses on finding bachelor’s and master’s programmes taught in English and planning the practical side of a move.
レビュー：2026年10月18日。. This guide covers mainland China. For Hong Kong, see our separate Hong Kong study guide. Fee examples and application dates below identify the published schedule or intake where available.
Studying in China at a glance
- 通貨： renminbi, usually quoted as RMB or Chinese yuan.
- English-taught options: available at Chinese universities and international partnership institutions, at both bachelor’s and master’s level.
- Course length: varies by programme and entry route; some bachelor’s options include a preliminary year.
- Costs: tuition and accommodation vary substantially, so compare the full programme rather than a national average.
- Work: a student visa does not provide unrestricted permission to take a job or internship.
Can you study in China in English?
Yes. The useful distinction is between a programme taught fully in English, a bilingual programme and a Chinese-taught course with an English information page. Read the teaching-language statement for the particular degree, including practical work and assessment.
There are several ways to approach the search. You can look for a specialist English-taught master’s within a Chinese university, explore an international partnership campus, or choose a programme that combines academic study with learning about China itself.
Mandarin can add a great deal to an English-taught education. It helps you participate more fully in daily life and understand people and ideas beyond the classroom. You do not have to arrive fluent, but a regular language-learning routine can become one of the most valuable parts of your experience.
English-taught programmes to explore
China Studies at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
について BA China Studies at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, or XJTLU, is taught in English in Suzhou. Its current page advertises September 2027 entry and a four-year structure, with direct entry to Year Two possible for international applicants who meet the academic and English requirements.
The programme connects study of China’s society, economy and culture with the experience of living there. Its options include economy and global affairs, Chinese language, and teaching Chinese as an international language. It is a useful example for someone interested in understanding a country deeply rather than simply taking a degree in a different location.
Economics at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China
について BSc Economics at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China offers a three- or four-year route depending on entry qualifications. The preliminary year supports academic and language preparation where required, and the course page lists a September start.
The degree develops economic reasoning and quantitative skills. When comparing it with a business degree, look at the balance of mathematics, economic theory, data analysis and applied projects. The best choice depends on which kinds of questions you enjoy tackling.
Environmental study at Tsinghua University
Tsinghua’s 2027 English Master Program in Environmental Science, Engineering and Management combines coursework and research around environmental problems. It is an example of a specialist English-taught postgraduate route within a Chinese university.
The programme’s published application schedule has a first-round deadline of 15 December 2026 at 17:00 Beijing time, followed by a second round from 1 January to 27 February 2027, closing at 17:00 Beijing time. Applicants need the relevant previous degree and English-language evidence described by the school.
These programmes are examples, not a ranking. Look at what you will study, the work you will produce, who will support you and how the location fits your goals.
Choosing a campus and a city
The university name alone is not enough to picture daily life. Find the exact campus and look at housing, transport and the surrounding neighbourhood. A large city’s name on a prospectus does not necessarily mean your accommodation or classrooms are close to its centre.
The examples above offer different settings: Suzhou, Ningbo and Tsinghua’s university environment. Other programmes may use campuses in different cities or include periods at a partner institution. Read the study location for every stage of the degree.
Ask yourself what you want outside class. Would you enjoy a strongly campus-based routine, or do you want to spend more time exploring the city? How much independence do you want in your first year? How easy will it be to reach friends, sports facilities, shops and the places you expect to use every week?
Tuition fees: compare the right category and year
Fees differ widely. A specialist master’s at a public university, an international undergraduate programme and an MBA can have very different prices. Keep annual fees separate from whole-programme totals.
- Tsinghua, 2027 international graduate fee schedule: the English Environmental Science, Engineering and Management master’s is RMB 78,000 for the full programme, split into RMB 39,000 in the first year and RMB 39,000 in the second. See the official 2027 fee list.
- University of Nottingham Ningbo China, international undergraduate category: the current fee page lists RMB 120,000 a year. Its 2026 international guide uses the same figure.
- UNNC international taught postgraduate category: the published general fee is RMB 130,000 a year, with specified exceptions including Supply Chain Management and the MBA.
- XJTLU international undergraduate category: the fee page reviewed lists RMB 93,000 per academic year. Its discount deadlines refer to 2026, so obtain the confirmed fee and award terms for a 2027 offer rather than assuming the old discount continues.
Do not use the international price for a different applicant category. Universities may publish separate arrangements for mainland Chinese applicants and applicants from Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan. If your course includes study in another country, ask how tuition and living costs change during that period.
Living costs and a first-year budget
Housing is the first number to establish. Ask whether a university room is available, the room type, the length of the contract and whether utilities are included. An on-campus offer and an independently rented apartment can produce very different budgets.
UNNC’s undergraduate fee page gives overseas-student campus accommodation examples of RMB 11,000–20,000 per academic year. It estimates a total annual undergraduate cost of roughly RMB 150,000–190,000 including tuition, accommodation, compulsory insurance and living in Ningbo, before scholarships. This is a university-specific estimate, not the cost of studying anywhere in China.
Illustrative alternative calculation: if your own housing and everyday spending plan comes to RMB 4,500 a month, 12 months costs RMB 54,000. Adding RMB 39,000 in first-year tuition gives RMB 93,000 before any separately charged insurance, application costs, visa and residence fees, travel and initial deposits. The monthly amount is a planning assumption, not an official minimum or a quotation for a named city.
Build the budget in RMB first, then convert it to your home currency. Leave room for exchange-rate changes and for several payments arriving together. UNNC, for example, says new students must pay the full year’s tuition before registration rather than relying on an instalment plan.
For a programme lasting several years, consider the full duration. A funded first year or a discounted entry fee is helpful, but the later years also need a workable plan.
Scholarships and financial support
Funding can come from universities, government schemes and other partnerships. The amount covered may range from a partial fee reduction to a more comprehensive award. Read the tuition, accommodation, insurance and living-support elements separately.
Chinese Government Scholarship applications use the official Campus China portal. The application route and deadline depend on the scheme and the relevant university or nominating authority. A 2026–27 embassy call, for example, had a February 2026 deadline and required pre-admission information. That is a past, country-specific call, not an open worldwide deadline.
For undergraduate applications, ask whether the China Scholastic Competency Assessment, or CSCA, is required for your route. The scholarship call cited above included it for bachelor’s applicants. Allow time for any required test alongside the university application rather than discovering it at the end.
XJTLU’s published undergraduate funding information includes entry awards of up to 50% of tuition, with annual renewal linked to continued academic performance. Obtain the terms applicable to your intake. An award reducing tuition does not automatically pay for accommodation, food or travel.
Use our growing scholarship directory as another way to discover opportunities, then follow the official application route for each award.
Admissions and planning for 2027
Begin with the course’s academic and language requirements. Bachelor’s applicants should identify the route for their school qualification, including whether a preliminary year is needed. Master’s applicants should look at the required subject background and any project, research or professional preparation.
Documents commonly include qualification certificates, transcripts, language evidence and a personal statement or study plan, with references or other material where requested. Universities can apply different requirements to different nationalities and education systems, so use the instructions for your own route.
XJTLU’s current admissions page gives 31 May 2027 as the closing date for most undergraduate programmes starting in September 2027, with a separate 30 April deadline for Year Three transfer applications. Some courses or applicant categories may follow different arrangements.
Plan scholarship, admission and housing dates together. A university may still be accepting applications after a particular scholarship has closed. Early preparation also leaves more time to ask thoughtful questions about teaching and student support.
Student visas and arrival
The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre distinguishes X1 study visas for stays longer than 180 days and X2 visas for stays of no more than 180 days. The relevant consular or visa-centre instructions depend on where you apply and your circumstances.
For an X1 route, the published visa guidance explains that a residence permit must be arranged within 30 days of entry. Your university will advise on its admission and study-visa documents and the local arrival process.
There is no single visa fee that applies to every student worldwide. Use the official centre serving your application for its document list and charges. Organise arrival around the university’s registration arrangements, including accommodation and any required health or residence appointments.
Part-time work and internships
A study visa or residence permit does not give unrestricted permission to work. China’s entry and exit regulations require the relevant information to be recorded on a study residence permit before off-campus work-study or an internship can take place. Beijing’s practical guidance describes the supporting university and employer documentation.
Ask the international office how a proposed placement can be arranged within your course and residence conditions. Do not assume an informal job offer or a general business-visit visa solves the process. Equally, there is no universal two-year post-study work entitlement attached to every degree.
Experience can come through much more than paid work: a research group, a student enterprise, a collaborative project, fieldwork or an organised internship. Think about the skills and relationships you want to develop. Your budget should stand on its own while you explore those opportunities.
Preparing for everyday life
Ask the university for its current arrival guide before travelling. It can help you organise your first night’s accommodation, local phone service, payments, transport and access to the digital systems used in class. Make sure you can reach important documents and contacts while you are in transit.
Allow some adjustment time. Food, classroom routines, social expectations and the pace of a city may feel unfamiliar at first. Orientation activities and student groups are useful places to ask ordinary questions without feeling that you should already know everything.
Try to make room for both international and local friendships. Shared interests, a language exchange or a project can start conversations that continue long after the course. Learning to work across cultures is valuable in its own right, whatever career or business direction you eventually choose.
Common questions about studying in China
Do I need Mandarin before starting?
English-taught programmes have their own language requirements, and some do not require prior Mandarin. Chinese-taught and bilingual programmes are different. Learning Mandarin during your stay can still greatly enrich daily life.
Is China an inexpensive place to study?
Some programmes may be financially attractive, but costs vary widely. Compare tuition, housing and the full course duration. International partnership campuses can have substantially higher fees than other options.
Can a scholarship or a job cover everything?
Only a confirmed award can tell you what is funded. Work and internships require the appropriate arrangements and are not guaranteed sources of income. Plan with secured funds and treat additional opportunities as a benefit.
Explore our guide to English-taught study, compare tuition and living costs, or read about 日本, 韓国 and other 目的地.