33 universities compared on tuition, language of instruction and scholarship access. Real cost tables by city. And a funding guide that tells you which scholarship you can actually win.
Most candidates work backwards from a university name. Working forwards from these four answers produces a shortlist that actually fits.
City, discipline strength, teaching language and whether the university hosts CSC students directly.
Compare universities →Ten discipline families with duration, language, tuition band and the language certificate each one actually requires.
Browse programs →CSC Type A and B, ten provincial schemes, university awards and research fellowships — with the eligibility rules that filter people out.
Map the funding →X1 or X2, the JW201/JW202 distinction, and the 30-day window to convert your visa into a residence permit.
Read the visa guide →Tuition bands are annual and indicative. The three universities listed are the strongest matches in our dataset for that field, not a ranking.
| Field | Example programme | Tuition / yr (CNY) | English-taught available | Strong matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine & Health | Clinical Medicine (MBBS) | 18,000–45,000 | Yes | Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
| Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | 18,000–36,000 | Yes | Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University |
| Computer Science & AI | Computer Science | 20,000–45,000 | Yes | Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University |
| Business & Economics | Business Administration (BBA) | 18,000–90,000 | Yes | Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University |
| Sciences | Physics | 18,000–36,000 | Yes | Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | Chinese Language & Literature | 16,000–34,000 | Yes | Peking University, Fudan University, Nanjing University |
| Chinese Language | Intensive Chinese (long-term) | 3,000–30,000 | Yes | Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, Beijing Language and Culture University |
| Architecture & Design | Architecture | 20,000–40,000 | Yes | Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, South China University of Technology |
| Law | Chinese Law (LLB) | 18,000–38,000 | Yes | Peking University, Wuhan University, Soochow University |
| Agriculture & Food | Food Science & Engineering | 14,000–30,000 | Yes | Zhejiang University, South China University of Technology |
Figures are indicative reference ranges compiled by EduTourChina for planning purposes. Tuition, stipends and requirements are set by each university or awarding body and change annually — confirm current amounts before you commit.
| City | Dorm | Food | Realistic total / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 800–1,800 | 1,200–2,200 | 2,500–4,700 |
| Shanghai | 900–2,000 | 1,300–2,400 | 2,800–5,200 |
| Shenzhen | 800–1,800 | 1,200–2,200 | 2,400–4,500 |
| Guangzhou | 700–1,600 | 1,000–1,900 | 2,100–3,800 |
| Hangzhou | 700–1,500 | 1,000–1,900 | 2,000–3,600 |
| Nanjing | 600–1,400 | 900–1,700 | 1,800–3,200 |
| Suzhou | 600–1,300 | 900–1,700 | 1,700–3,000 |
| Tianjin | 600–1,300 | 900–1,600 | 1,700–3,000 |
Full 15-city table on the campus life page. Figures in CNY per student per month.
Applicants usually only know about the first layer. The second and third are smaller but far less contested.
Tuition, accommodation, insurance and a monthly stipend. Type A through your embassy, Type B directly to a host university.
CSC routes →Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong and six more run their own awards, usually 50–100% tuition.
Provincial schemes →First-year tuition waivers, merit awards and fully funded programmes such as Schwarzman and Yenching.
University awards →ANSO and CAS-TWAS fellowships fund master's and PhD research outside the CSC system, often with fewer applicants.
Research funding →Decide level and field. Check whether you need HSK or IELTS, because that determines everything downstream.
Shortlist two to four universities and one realistic fallback. Note each one's scholarship deadline, not its admissions deadline.
Sit or book the language test, request references, and start notarising your diploma and transcripts.
Submit scholarship and admission applications. For PhD, contact supervisors before you submit anything.
Accept an offer, pay any deposit, and receive the admission letter with your JW201 or JW202 form.
Visa application, physical examination, accommodation booking and airport pickup request.
Tell us your background, budget and target intake. We will send back a shortlist of universities, the funding you qualify for, and the documents you need to start collecting.