🇨🇳China

China has rapidly expanded its international student offerings, especially in medicine and engineering, at internationally-ranked universities like Tsinghua and Peking, often at a significantly lower cost than Western equivalents.

Popular Places

Great Wall of China

Near Beijing

Ancient defensive wall stretching thousands of kilometers.

Hotels from ~$40-150/night

Forbidden City

Beijing

Former imperial palace complex, now a major museum.

Hotels from ~$40-150/night

Shanghai Bund

Shanghai

Historic waterfront area with colonial-era buildings and skyline views.

Hotels from ~$50-180/night

Terracotta Army

Xi'an, Shaanxi

Thousands of life-sized terracotta soldiers guarding an ancient emperor's tomb.

Hotels from ~$35-120/night

Zhangjiajie

Hunan Province

Sandstone pillar mountains that inspired the film Avatar.

Hotels from ~$30-100/night

Universities in China

Beijing

Tsinghua University

Widely regarded as China's top university and a major producer of the country's political and technological leadership, Tsinghua is based in Beijing and particularly renowned for engineering and computer science. Located in Beijing, China. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: High school/university transcripts and graduation examination certificates, plus SAT/ACT/A-Level/AP/IB/CSCA or equivalent standardized test results. English language: GENERAL: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, no band below 5.5, or TOEFL iBT 80 Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Beijing

Peking University

Founded in 1898, Peking University (PKU) is one of China's two most prestigious universities, often paired with Tsinghua, based in Beijing, particularly strong in the humanities, law, and the sciences. Located in Beijing, China. International students: Approximately 3,574 international students out of about 42,655 total students (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Minimum overall GPA of 4.5 (on PKU's own scale). English language: UNDERGRADUATE: TOEFL 75 minimum or IELTS 6.5 overall minimum; POSTGRADUATE: TOEFL 100 minimum or IELTS 7.0 minimum; ENGLISH TAUGHT ALTERNATIVE: TOEFL iBT 100+ or GRE 315+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Beijing

Renmin University of China

Based in Beijing, Renmin University is particularly renowned for economics, law, and the social sciences, reflecting its historical role in training China's civil administration. Located in Beijing, China. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Bachelor's degree or above required, or a Certificate of Expected Graduation before August 31, 2026 for graduating students; applicants must not hold Chinese nationality. English language: ENGLISH TAUGHT PROGRAMMES: IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 90; exempt for native English speakers or graduates of fully English-medium degrees Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Beijing

Beijing Normal University

One of China's leading universities for education and teacher training, based in Beijing, Beijing Normal University also offers strong programmes in psychology and environmental science. Located in Beijing, China. International students: Approximately 1,000 international students out of about 38,700 total students (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Qualification equivalent to (or above) a Bachelor's degree from a Chinese university for Master's admission. English language: GENERAL: TOEFL 550 (PBT) / 80 (iBT) minimum, or IELTS 6.0 minimum Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Beijing

Beihang University

Formerly known as Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beihang is China's leading aerospace engineering university, based in Beijing. Located in Beijing, China. International students: Approximately 1,900 international students from 90+ countries, out of about 29,500 total students (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Undergraduate applicants must take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA), organized by the China Scholarship Council, and submit the transcript by May 30, 2026. English language: GENERAL: IELTS 6.0+ or TOEFL 90+ (or proof of English-medium secondary education) Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Shanghai

Fudan University

One of China's most prestigious universities, based in Shanghai, Fudan is particularly renowned for the humanities, medicine, and journalism. Located in Shanghai, China. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Application deadlines typically March-May for September intake, October-November for the February spring intake. English language: ENGLISH TAUGHT: TOEFL 80+ or IELTS 6.5+ (no Chinese language requirement) Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Shanghai

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

One of China's oldest and most prestigious universities, founded in 1896, based in Shanghai, SJTU is particularly renowned for engineering, medicine, and business, hosting students from nearly 100 countries. Located in Shanghai, China. International students: Over 7,000 international students from nearly 100 countries (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: GENERAL: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 90 minimum for English-taught courses; SOME PROGRAMMES: TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS 5.5+ Acceptance rate: International-applicant acceptance rate around 32%.

18%intl. students

Shanghai

Tongji University

Based in Shanghai and originally founded with German academic ties, Tongji University is particularly renowned for architecture, civil engineering, and urban planning. Located in Shanghai, China. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens, over 18, high school graduates or above, and in good health, holding an international passport. English language: GENERAL: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 for some programmes; IELTS 6.5 for general admission (varies by programme — verify per course) Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Shanghai

East China Normal University

Based in Shanghai, East China Normal University (ECNU) is one of China's leading universities for education and teacher training, alongside strong programmes in the sciences, ranking in China's mainland top 10. Located in Shanghai, China. International students: Around 6,000 international students from over 130 countries annually (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: UNDERGRADUATE: IELTS 6.0+ / TOEFL 85+ / Cambridge English B2+; GRADUATE: IELTS 6.0+ / TOEFL 80+ / Cambridge C1 Advanced 169+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Nanjing

Nanjing University

One of China's oldest and most prestigious universities, based in Nanjing, known for the sciences, humanities, and a strong research culture. Located in Nanjing, China. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Applicants must be 18+, in good health, hold a valid non-Chinese passport, and have completed high school or above. English language: ENGLISH TAUGHT: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 85, or Duolingo 100; CHINESE TAUGHT UNDERGRADUATE: IELTS 5.5+ or TOEFL 70+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Nanjing

Southeast University

Based in Nanjing, Southeast University is particularly renowned for architecture, civil engineering, and biomedical engineering, hosting students from over 100 countries. Located in Nanjing, China. International students: Approximately 1,600 international students from over 100 countries (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: ENGLISH TAUGHT: TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.0; UNDERGRADUATE GENERAL: TOEFL 500+ or IELTS 5.0+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Wuhan

Wuhan University

Based in Wuhan on the banks of the Yangtze River, Wuhan University is known for one of China's most scenic campuses, famous for its cherry blossoms, and strong programmes in law and remote sensing/surveying. Located in Wuhan, China. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Applicants must be 18-30 years old as of September 1, 2026. English language: ENGLISH TAUGHT: TOEFL 80+, TOEFL Essentials 8+, or IELTS 6.0+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Wuhan

Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Based in Wuhan, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) is a leading engineering and medical university, particularly renowned for optoelectronics and mechanical engineering. Located in Wuhan, China. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Bachelor's applicants must hold a non-Chinese passport for 4+ years, have completed their last 2 years of education outside China, and be under 30; Master's applicants need a Bachelor's degree; Doctoral applicants need a Master's degree. English language: GENERAL: TOEFL 80+ or IELTS 5.5+ (Duolingo also accepted) Acceptance rate: International-applicant acceptance rate around 30% (2024).

18%intl. students

Guangzhou

Sun Yat-sen University

Named after the founding father of modern China, Sun Yat-sen University is based across campuses in Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen, particularly renowned for medicine and the social sciences. Located in Guangzhou, China. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: GENERAL: TOEFL iBT 79 minimum (no section below 15), or IELTS Academic 6.5 minimum (no component below 5.5); MBBS CLINICAL MEDICINE: TOEFL iBT 105+ or IELTS 7.5+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Guangzhou

South China University of Technology

Based in Guangzhou, South China University of Technology (SCUT) is particularly renowned for engineering, materials science, and architecture. Located in Guangzhou, China. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Applicants must be 18+ and high school graduates or above. English language: UNDERGRADUATE: TOEFL 68/190/520 or IELTS 5.5, or a passing score on SCUT's own placement test; MASTERS: TOEFL iBT 80/CBT 210/PBT 550, or IELTS 6.0+; DOCTORATE: TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0, or SCUT English Placement Test 60+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Hangzhou

Zhejiang University

One of China's most comprehensive and highly-ranked universities, based in Hangzhou, particularly renowned for engineering, agriculture, and medicine, having welcomed over 25,000 international students since 1979. Located in Hangzhou, China. International students: Over 25,000 international students cumulatively since 1979 (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Foreign citizens of Chinese origin must have held a valid foreign passport for 4+ years and resided abroad for 2+ of the past 4 years. English language: GENERAL ENGLISH TAUGHT: IELTS 5.5+ or TOEFL iBT 80+; GRADUATE: TOEFL 90+ or IELTS 6.5+ (except native English speakers) Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Xi'an

Xi'an Jiaotong University

One of China's oldest universities, tracing to 1896, based in Xi'an, a member of the elite 'C9 League' of Chinese universities, particularly renowned for engineering and management. Located in Xi'an, China. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Chinese proficiency equivalent to HSK Level 4 or above also expected for broader campus integration, even in English-taught programmes. English language: UNDERGRADUATE: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 80, or Duolingo 110+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students