Study in China 🇨🇳
The Ultimate Guide for International Students

study in china guide for international studentsDo you want to study in China? Chinese universities are still recruiting international students for program admissions.

✈️ China is Open for International Students

China is open for international students, explore our platform for more information for international students.

You can register for updates here, and also make sure to click subscribe to our Youtube channel! Explore some of our online events to meet universities online in near you.

Get ahead of the rest and give your career a head start by building a greater understanding of China.

Studying in China will be an adventure that you will never forget, and it will put you in good stead for China’s economic rise, while also providing you with sought-after transferable skills and cultural experience that will give you an edge in the job market.

This guide is designed to give you all the information you need to find the most suitable programs and so you can make one of the most important decisions of your life: choosing where to study.

👍 8 Reasons to Study In China in 2024:

  1. Get quality education: Chinese universities are rising in global rankings.
  2. Affordable tuition fees
  3. High employability rate
  4. The center of the world is shifting east – be at the heart of the world’s most modern cities and booming economies!
  5. China is growing in regional ang global importance–knowledge of language and culture is essential for future business, politics, and travel!
  6. Learn Mandarin Chinese to communicate with over 1 billion speakers
  7. Broaden your network: connect with classmates and professionals from around the world
  8. Challenge yourself, grow, become a better version of you

Read more and about Why study in China in our 8 reasons to study in China!

👎 6 Reasons You Shouldn’t Study in China in 2024!

When deciding whether to study in China or not, it’s good to consider both pros and cons.

🌏💡How Will Studying Abroad in China Transform Your Future?

Studying in China will provide you with unparalleled growth opportunities and amazing adventures! You will…

  1. Learn a new language
  2. Make friends from around the world
  3. Get new business and career opportunities
  4. Experience a totally new culture
  5. See a modern and advanced culture building the future
  6. Enjoy traditions and history preserved from the past
  7. Become more confident and independent

Read more details about how studying abroad in China can change your life!

👩‍🏫Can You Study in China in English in 2024?

Can you study in China in English? Yes–there are programs taught in English at Bachelor, Master, PhD, and non-degree levels. Most Chinese universities will offer some courses taught in English specifically for international students. There are thousands of high-quality English-taught programs in a variety of subjects, from medicine to literature to engineering.

If you want to study in China in English, you will need to prove your English proficiency. You can do this by taking the IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo English Test. If you are a native English speaker or have studied a previous degree in English, you may not need to take these exams.

Whether you want to take a short-term Chinese language program or complete a formal degree in Economics, Business, Finance, Law, or Chinese, Chinese universities have available programs for every student. You can also study for one semester, one year, or take a master’s or PhD program.

What kind of international student are you? What is your perfect program? Take the short quiz here to find your perfect program!

🎯 Choose a Program

There are three main ways that students choose where to study. 1) By Subject, 2) By Level, and 3) By City

📚 Choose a Subject

Check out some of the most popular subjects below.

           

You can see more subjects here.

🎓Choose by Level

       

You can also choose Online Programs here.

There are also dual-degree programs, programs that allow you to graduate with 2 diplomas! Learn more about dual degrees in China here.

🌆 Choose By City

Some of the most popular programs in China include:

      

  

  

There are many cities available with excellent Chinese language programs as well. Learn more here:

📈 Chinese Universities are Rising in the Rankings

China is developing fast and Chinese universities are rising very rapidly up the international rankings

With over 2,000 universities, and over 7 million Chinese students graduating from university each year, China has the largest network of universities and most graduates in the world.

There are two different kinds of universities in China. Chinese universities, and International Universities. There are choices for everyone. Tsinghua University has recently been ranked as No.1 for Computer Science in the world.

See our list of the top 10 Chinese universities and Top 16 International Universities.

Which are the most popular universities? We also have a list of the top 100 most popular universities in China for international students.

From the beautiful campus and cherry blossoms of Wuhan University, to studying at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in the bustling streets of Shanghai, and studying Chinese at the Central Academy of Drama in the old city of Beijing – you are sure to have a unique experience in China. For more information on Chinese Universities, click the university page here.

Cherry blossoms at Wuhan University in China’s central Hubei province.

Preparing Foreign Firms in China for the Next Ten Years - SJTU EBA

Shanghai Jiao Tong University has been regarded as the fastest developing university in the country for the last decade.

🔝How Are Chinese Universities Ranked?

Chinese universities are ranked by five organizations, three are from China and two are international. ARWU, CUAA, and Wu Shulian Rankings are from China while QS World and Times Higher Education Rankings are international organizations.

Chinese universities are internationally recognized. China also produces one of the largest bodies of graduates every year with the majority excelling in different fields, especially in science and technology, engineering, medicine, and information technology. More information on Chinese university rankings here.

🙋‍♂️🎬 Student Experiences In China

What is life like in China for international students? We interviewed a bunch of our students to get their perspectives!

Did you know that almost 500,000 foreign students are studying in China? and this number is increasing by 10% each year. China is becoming one of the most popular study-abroad destinations in the world. In fact, it has overtaken the United Kingdom in international student population.

Most of the international students are from South Korea, the remaining are from Asia. Africa is one of the fastest-growing. There are also many international students from Europe and the Americas.

Read more about students from these countries below:

 

Living in China is a fascinating experience and can suit many different types of people. With China’s rapid economic growth, there are many opportunities for work or business.

Chinese people are generally very welcoming and friendly to foreigners. Students can learn Chinese, Kung Fu, table tennis, and visit the many tourist sites in China and the surrounding region.

You can also enjoy the many varieties and specialties of Chinese cuisine, from hotpot to dumplings and roast duck. Studying in China makes for a rich life, and huge opportunities for personal growth.

Frederick Leclarcq from the UK studied the Master of Laws (LLM) Program at China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), here is what he said about his experience.

Frederick-Leclarcq-150x150

“CUPL has an excellent reputation in the legal world. It is interesting and exciting studying law here in Beijing. Studying law in China is an excellent opportunity and I can’t think of any better place to do it than CUPL. My classes here are always interesting, students from different cultures and legal backgrounds discuss law in China with insightful and helpful professors.”

Read more student experience here.

 

💰Costs of Studying in China

Chinese university tuition fees are lower compared to Western Universities. This is the reason why many international students are attracted to studying in China.

The cost of living is also fairly low compared to other countries. With a wide variety of accommodation options, there is something available to suit different budgets. Food is also affordable. Check out our cost of living breakdown. You can check here also!

You can also try our cost calculator here to find out how much it will cost based on your budget.

We also have some blog articles to help you find affordable universities for your budget:

💸 Scholarships to Study in China 2024

China offers a wide range available scholarships for international students. Students need to be sponsored by an institution in order to get a scholarship. The institution can be the Chinese embassy in your country or university. You can learn more about scholarships to study in China here.

📮 How To Apply?

China Admissions is an online platform authorised by top Chinese Universities. You can find the information about the programs, choose courses and apply online. We also have a support team available to help answer your questions. You can apply in one form, in one place, and we will submit to your chosen university.

China Admissions online platform is free, fast and easy.

 

3-Step Application Process
  1. Choose a course.
  2. Complete the application form.
  3. Pay the application fee.

You can find more details about the application process here.

🤝👩‍💼Internships in China

Are you interested in getting an internship in China? Check out our Internships guide here.

If you want to learn about finding full time-employment in China, you can also check out this article: Find a Job in China.

🛬🍜 Arriving in China Guide

We wrote an arrival guide for international students. You can download the guide here.

🤔 Questions about Studying in China

Which Application Documents Do I Need?

The documents you need varies according to each university and the program and you can see on the application form when you apply on China Admissions. You can also see the full list here. For Chinese language programs you normally need the fewest documents, normally you need to submit your passport, highest and academic transcript and a personal statement.

For PhD you need to find a supervisor and you will need to write a proposal. You can find more information about the application documents here.

If you don’t have all the application documents ready, you can still apply, and then send the other documents later when you have it. The recommendation letter, for example, can take some time. We also have a recommendation letter tool which you can use.

Do You Need An English Language Certificate?
For native English speakers who want to study an English-taught program in China, a certificate is not necessary. Otherwise you need to provide a certificate to show your language level. You can use IELTs, TOEFL or the IET (International English Test) which you can take online here.
How To Get The Student X Visa?

You can get the X visa after you have been accepted by the university. They will normally send you the acceptance letter by email first. Then, they will ask you to send an advance deposit towards your tuition fee.

After you have paid this they will then send you the acceptance letter and visa documents to your home country. You will get a form called a JW202 form. Take this form to the Chinese embassy in your home country. More information about the student visa is here.


If you have other questions such as about the entrance requirements for each university, you can find the information on our support center here.

About China Admissions

China Admissions is an online platform for international students to choose courses and apply to Chinese universities. Founded by Richard Coward from UK, he was previously a student in Peking University. China Admissions has received investment, and funding from Beijing City Government. China Admissions has been ranked as one of the top 100 Edtech companies in China, and the CEO as a top 30 Foreign CEO in China.

Learn more about us here.

China Admissions has a free service, because we are funded by Chinese universities, you can also use our Quiz to find the perfect program for you. We also have guaranteed and VIP service to help students get into the top universities and for competitive MBBS and MBA programs. Learn more about our services.

Would you like more updates about studying in China? Information about scholarships, and to join free online classes from Chinese universities?

💌 Register for Updates

You can register for updates here, and also make sure to check out our Youtube channel!

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