Study In China
With more than 3.000 universities and university colleges, approximately 45 million students and more than 240 million university graduates, higher education appeals to sizable masses in China. Every year, thousands of international students choose Chinese universities to further their education and Chinese universities, such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and China University of Science and Technology, which are in the top 100 in world university rankings, produce more than 7 million graduates every year. Universities in China, hosting more than 500.000 international students and offering several undergraduate and graduate degree programs in English, excel at economics, commerce, international trade, accounting, finance, law, engineering and computer science.
University Education in China
In China, higher education is provided by universities, technical universities, higher education institutions focusing on a specific group of study fields, vocational education institutions, military institutions, schools of medicine and health sciences and other smaller higher education institutions.
Programs offered under the Chinese university education system, analogous to the rest of the world, grant associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, PhDs, non-degree certificates and diplomas.
Although the medium of teaching may vary depending on the region and university, courses are usually offered in English and in Cantonese and Mandarin (dialects of Chinese). While Mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore speak Mandarin, the official and literary dialect of Chinese, Hong Kong and Guangdong speak Cantonese.
Bachelor’s Degree, How Long Does It Take?
The majority of bachelor's degree programs offered in Chinese universities take 4 years to complete with the exception of programs related to the field of medicine. For instance, programs like the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Clinical Medicine can be completed in 6 years. For international students who want to apply to bachelor's degree programs taught in Chinese, there are some Chinese universities offering a 1-year preparatory program prior to bachelor's degree studies.
Master’s Degree, How Long Does It Take?
Most of the master's degree programs offered in Chinese universities can be completed in 1-2 years, though master's degree programs focusing on clinical studies may take 2-3 years to complete. Even though semester dates may change depending on the duration of the summer break and Chinese New Year, an academic year in China usually begins with the spring semester, which starts in March and ends in mid July, while the fall semester begins in mid September and ends in January.
Cost of Studying in China
Tuition fees at Chinese universities are lower compared to the universities in the west. The high quality of education along with low tuition fees are some of the factors that make universities in China popular among the international students. Annual tuition fees at Chinese universities, similarly to many countries, vary depending on the program and the university.
Annual tuition fees at Bohai, Chengdu, Wuhan and Shenzhen Universities range between ¥14.400 ($2.000) and ¥26.000 ($3.600). On the other hand, annual tuition fees at China's leading public research universities, also known as the C9 League, are slightly higher than other universities in the country.
The C9 League comprises Fudan University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Nanjing University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tsinghua University, University of Science and Technology of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Zhejiang University, where annual tuition fees range between ¥21.600 ($3.000) and ¥33.800 ($4.700).
Programs related to the fields of medicine, veterinary science, engineering, law, and business both at bachelor's and master's levels are in the lead when it comes to annual tuition fees, and although annual tuition fees of master's degree programs vary depending on the program and university they range between ¥11.000 and ¥610.000.
Cost of Living in China
With a population of 1.4 billion people spread over 9.5 km2, China is a fairly large country, so living costs can vary greatly from one region to another. Analogous to other countries in Asia, accommodation costs make up the largest part of monthly expenses, followed by food, transportation and utilities. While cities like Beijing, Guangdong and Shenzhen have the highest cost of living in the country, these cities are followed by Hangzhou, Harbin, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Wuhan with slightly lower cost of living.
Monthly expenses, which include but not limited to food, transportation, utilities and other personal expenses may amount to ¥6.650 on average in Beijing and Shanghai, ¥6.050 in Wuhan, Shenzhen, and Nanjing, while they can go up to ¥10.200 in Hong Kong.
Accommodation in China
While monthly average cost of accommodation in cities such as Beijing, Guangdong, and Shenzhen range between ¥5.750 ($800) and ¥7.250 ($1.000), in cities like Hangzhou, Harbin, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Wuhan monthly cost of accommodation ranges between ¥1.600 ($225) and ¥4.000 ($550) on average. Alternatively, residence halls of Chinese universities cost between ¥450 and ¥3.900 per month.
Why Study in China?
Studying in China offers a plurality of advantages. Developing international skills, getting to know a different culture and learning a new language, building up a network, and getting a quality education for low tuition fees are only some of the advantages. Many universities in China offer programs taught in English for international students, and all the programs offered by Chinese universities are internationally recognized. Having an economy that grows at an unprecedented pace and hosting dozens of conglomerates competing in the international arena make China a world leader in many industries. Therefore, you will be able to find many internships during your university studies as well as near endless job opportunities after your graduation.
How to Apply as an International Student?
While it can be quite difficult to get into Chinese universities for students who are citizens of the People's Republic of China, it can be quite easy for international students. To be able to apply to universities in Belgium, international students are required to meet certain academic and language requirements. Although these requirements may vary depending on the university and the program, general admission requirements may be summarized as follows;
Admission Requirements - Academic (Bachelor’s Degree)
- To Have Completed 11 or 12 Years of Primary and Secondary Education
- Certificate of Secondary Education
- Please note that a certificate of secondary education awarded by a foreign institution requires an equivalency review by the relevant authorities in China.
- A High Grade Point Average
or - International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
or - GCE A-Level / International A-Level Diploma
or - SAT/ACT Test Score
or - Advanced Placement (AP)
- To have taken the Advanced Placement (AP) courses directly related to the program that you will choose at the university.
- In addition, some universities in China may require you to submit International STEM Test (THUSSAT, TIST, etc.) scores for specific programs.
Admission Requirements - Academic (Master’s Degree)
- Bachelor’s Degree (of a 3 or 4-year undergraduate program)
- High Grade Point Average
- Official Transcripts (showing the courses, grades, and credit points you have acquired during your university studies)
- Letters of Recommendation
Please note that you may be asked to submit GRE or GMAT test scores depending on the admission requirements specific to the program you are applying to.
Admission Requirements - Language
- Certificate of Proficiency in English (for programs taught in English)
- You will be asked to submit the scores of at least one of the internationally recognized proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, CAE, CPE, etc.
- Certificate of Proficiency in Chinese (for programs taught in Chinese)
- You will either be asked to submit the scores of a Chinese proficiency test or to take proficiency tests like HSK administered by language centers and institutes of Chinese universities.
Please note that some universities in China may require you to submit a certificate of proficiency for another foreign language in addition to English.
Application Deadlines
The demand for Chinese universities is constantly rising, therefore to be able to begin your studies in the fall semester of the upcoming academic year you need to submit your application no later than December or January of the previous year. If you want to begin your studies in the spring semester, your application needs to reach the university you will apply for no later than July of the previous academic year. Note that submitting your application as early as possible will give you the time to complete any missing documents in your application as well as to gather additional information that the university may require from you.
Top Universities in China
Top universities in Mainland China according to World University Rankings 2023
- Peking University
- Tsinghua University
- The University of Hong Kong
- Fudan University
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Zhejiang University
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- City University of Hong Kong
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
C9 League
- Fudan University
- Harbin Institute of Technology
- Nanjing University
- Peking University
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Tsinghua University
- University of Science and Technology of China
- Xi'an Jiaotong University
- Zhejiang University
