33 universities, compared on the things that matter

Filter by region, degree level, discipline and teaching language. Every entry carries an indicative tuition band, its Chinese-language requirement and whether it hosts CSC students directly.

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Tsinghua University

Beijing · est. 1911 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

China's strongest engineering, computer science and design brand, with a large English-taught graduate portfolio.

Tuition: CNY 26,000–40,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Peking University

Beijing · est. 1898 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Broadest humanities and pure-science offering in the country, plus a top-ranked medical centre.

Tuition: CNY 26,000–40,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 5 for most Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Fudan University

Shanghai · est. 1905 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Strong in clinical medicine, economics, journalism and international relations; large international cohort.

Tuition: CNY 26,000–42,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai · est. 1896 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Engineering and medicine powerhouse; one of the largest English-taught master's catalogues in China.

Tuition: CNY 28,000–45,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Zhejiang University

Hangzhou · est. 1897 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Very wide discipline coverage on a large modern campus, close to Hangzhou's tech employers.

Tuition: CNY 24,000–40,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Nanjing University

Nanjing · est. 1902 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Research-led university known for physics, chemistry, astronomy, environment and Chinese literature.

Tuition: CNY 22,000–35,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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University of Science and Technology of China

Hefei · est. 1958 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Small, intense, research-first campus; a leading choice for physics, chemistry, quantum and AI.

Tuition: CNY 26,000–38,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Wuhan University

Wuhan · est. 1893 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Best known for geomatics and surveying, plus law, hydrology and a famously scenic campus.

Tuition: CNY 22,000–35,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Wuhan · est. 1952 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Mechanical, electrical, optical and clinical programs with close industry ties in central China.

Tuition: CNY 22,000–36,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Sun Yat-sen University

Guangzhou · est. 1924 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Guangzhou's flagship, with affiliated hospitals that make it a strong clinical medicine option.

Tuition: CNY 24,000–38,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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South China University of Technology

Guangzhou · est. 1952 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Architecture, civil engineering, food science and materials, in the heart of the Greater Bay Area.

Tuition: CNY 22,000–34,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Xi'an Jiaotong University

Xi'an · est. 1896 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Energy, electrical and mechanical engineering with a long industrial research tradition.

Tuition: CNY 22,000–35,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Harbin Institute of Technology

Harbin · est. 1920 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Aerospace, robotics, civil engineering and materials; unusually generous funding for engineering researchers.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–32,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Tianjin University

Tianjin · est. 1895 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

China's first modern university; chemical engineering, instruments and civil engineering are its core.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–32,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Nankai University

Tianjin · est. 1919 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Chemistry, mathematics and economics with a compact, academically focused campus.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–32,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Tongji University

Shanghai · est. 1907 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

The reference point for architecture, urban planning, civil engineering and automotive in China.

Tuition: CNY 24,000–40,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Beijing Normal University

Beijing · est. 1902 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Education, psychology and Chinese-language teaching; a common first stop for future teachers.

Tuition: CNY 22,000–34,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Beijing Institute of Technology

Beijing · est. 1940 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Vehicle engineering, automation, aerospace and computer science with strong defence-adjacent labs.

Tuition: CNY 22,000–34,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Beihang University

Beijing · est. 1952 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Aeronautics, astronautics and software; the strongest aerospace brand outside Harbin and Xi'an.

Tuition: CNY 24,000–36,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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East China Normal University

Shanghai · est. 1951 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Education, psychology, geography and a well-regarded Chinese language centre for foreigners.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–32,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Beijing Language and Culture University

Beijing · est. 1962 · Double First-Class (language)

The specialist Chinese-language university: the largest intake of language students in the country.

Tuition: CNY 16,000–26,000 / yr
Chinese: Placement test on arrival · HSK 4 for degree entry
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Sichuan University

Chengdu · est. 1896 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Western China's largest comprehensive university, with a very large affiliated hospital system.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–32,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Xiamen University

Xiamen · est. 1921 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Economics, accounting, chemistry and oceanography on a coastal campus with lower living costs.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–30,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Shandong University

Jinan · est. 1901 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Clinical medicine and materials science across several campuses; mid-range tuition for a 985 university.

Tuition: CNY 18,000–30,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Central South University

Changsha · est. 2000 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Strong in clinical medicine, mining, metallurgy and rail transport; one of the better value 985s.

Tuition: CNY 18,000–30,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Soochow University

Suzhou · est. 1900 · Project 211 · Double First-Class

Medicine, materials, textiles and law, in a lower-cost city an hour from Shanghai.

Tuition: CNY 18,000–28,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Southeast University

Nanjing · est. 1902 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Architecture, civil engineering, electronics and biomedical engineering with a compact campus.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–34,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Jinan University

Guangzhou · est. 1906 · Project 211 · Double First-Class

Historically the university for overseas Chinese students; a well-established English-taught MBBS track.

Tuition: CNY 18,000–30,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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China Medical University

Shenyang · est. 1931 · Provincial key · medical specialist

A dedicated medical university with a long-running English-medium MBBS programme.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–32,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught MBBS · HSK 5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Capital Medical University

Beijing · est. 1960 · Beijing municipal key · medical specialist

Clinical training across Beijing's municipal hospital network, including several tertiary centres.

Tuition: CNY 22,000–36,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught MBBS · HSK 5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Chongqing Medical University

Chongqing · est. 1956 · Municipal key · medical specialist

One of the earliest English-taught MBBS providers in western China, with lower living costs.

Tuition: CNY 18,000–28,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught MBBS · HSK 5 for Chinese-taught

Programs →
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Southern University of Science and Technology

Shenzhen · est. 2011 · Double First-Class (new university)

New research university with an English-heavy faculty, strong in materials, physics and AI.

Tuition: CNY 24,000–36,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →
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Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Beijing · est. 1956 · Double First-Class (TCM)

The standard reference for Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture and Chinese pharmacy.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–32,000 / yr
Chinese: HSK 4–5 for TCM degrees · language year available
CSC host: yes — Type B

Programs →

33 universities shown. Fee bands are annual tuition for international students; confirm current amounts with each university.

By discipline

Where each field is strongest

A shortlist per discipline drawn from the same dataset. The cheapest option in each row is the lowest tuition band, not the lowest total cost.

DisciplineOptions listedFirst choicesLowest tuition band (CNY / yr)
Medicine & Health17Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang UniversityShandong University (18,000–30,000)
Engineering19Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, University of Science and Technology of ChinaShandong University (18,000–30,000)
Computer Science & AI9Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, University of Science and Technology of ChinaHarbin Institute of Technology (20,000–32,000)
Business & Economics13Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityBeijing Language and Culture University (16,000–26,000)
Sciences24Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Nanjing UniversityShandong University (18,000–30,000)
Humanities & Social Sciences13Peking University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, Wuhan UniversityBeijing Language and Culture University (16,000–26,000)
Chinese Language5Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, Beijing Language and Culture University, Jinan UniversityBeijing Language and Culture University (16,000–26,000)
Architecture & Design6Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, South China University of Technology, Tianjin UniversityTianjin University (20,000–32,000)
Law3Peking University, Wuhan University, Soochow UniversitySoochow University (18,000–28,000)
Agriculture & Food2Zhejiang University, South China University of TechnologySouth China University of Technology (22,000–34,000)

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.

Method

How to compare two universities properly

Rankings are the least useful variable for an international applicant. These six are the ones that change outcomes.

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Language of instruction

The difference between an English-taught and a Chinese-taught version of the same degree is a year of language study and an HSK certificate.

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CSC route

A Type B host university can offer you funding directly. A non-host cannot, which changes your funding odds entirely.

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Total cost, not tuition

A 6,000 CNY tuition difference is erased by six months of Shanghai rent. Compare city cost tables alongside fee bands.

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Hospital and lab access

For medicine, the affiliated hospital network matters more than the university's overall rank. Ask which hospitals you will rotate through.

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International cohort size

A programme with eight international students gets attention; one with two hundred is efficient but anonymous.

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Post-study options

Employer recognition in your home country, professional accreditation and local internship access differ sharply between cities.

Want a shortlist for your profile?

Tell us your grades, budget, target field and preferred city type. We will narrow the list down to three that fit and flag the funding attached to each.