Bachelor's in China 2027: After High School, CSCA, Fees

A bachelor's degree in China takes four years (longer for medicine), most programs are taught in Chinese, and you can apply straight after high school, usually up to the age of 25. For September 2027 there is one thing older guides do not mention: universities now ask for a score in the CSCA test.

Everything below comes from the 2027 undergraduate admission guides of four universities and from the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia's notice for the 2027/2028 Chinese Government Scholarship, all read on 13 November 2026. Every university sets its own rules, so use these as examples and read the guide of the university you choose.

Who can apply

• A high school diploma. If you are in your last year of school, you apply with a certificate of expected graduation from your school and show the diploma before you enrol. Dalian University of Technology and Xi'an Jiaotong University both say so in their guides.
• Age. 18 to 25 at Nankai University and Dalian University of Technology, under 25 at Xi'an Jiaotong University, and 17 to under 30 at Southwest University. See our age limits guide.
• Under 18? You can still apply, with a guardian. Nankai University asks for its under-18 application documents and a guardian's letter of entrustment, Xi'an Jiaotong University for a guardian authorization letter, and Dalian University of Technology for a guardian in China (Dalian).
• A foreign passport, good health and no criminal record.
• A CSCA score and a language score. Both are explained below.

If you have finished only 9th grade, a degree is not open to you yet: see studying in China after 9th grade.

The CSCA test

The China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) is organized by the China Scholarship Council on behalf of China's Ministry of Education. All four universities ask for a CSCA score report for 2027 entry. Xi'an Jiaotong University's foundation-program notice states it for the whole country: all applicants for undergraduate degree programs in China must take the test.

What the guides say about it:

• The subjects depend on your major. At Southwest University, humanities, arts and social science programs taught in Chinese need Chinese and Mathematics, and those taught in English need Mathematics only. Science, medicine, agriculture and engineering programs need Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, plus Chinese if taught in Chinese. At Xi'an Jiaotong University, its English-taught engineering programs need Mathematics and Physics, or Mathematics and Chemistry for Materials Science and Engineering.
• The test language follows the teaching language. Xi'an Jiaotong University tells applicants for Chinese-taught programs to take the Chinese version, and applicants for English-taught programs to take the English version.
• HSK can replace the Chinese paper. At Southwest University, a valid HSK 4 report with 180 points or more exempts you from the Chinese paper.
• You can apply before your score is out. Nankai University accepts your test registration page first and the score report later. Dalian University of Technology lets students who apply before 30 November 2026 add the score afterwards.

Test dates and registration are on csca.cn. Our CSCA test guide explains how the test works.

Chinese-taught or English-taught

Most bachelor's programs are taught in Chinese. All 46 undergraduate programs that Nankai University opens to international students are Chinese-taught. Xi'an Jiaotong University and Southwest University publish one list of Chinese-taught and one list of English-taught programs.

HSK for Chinese-taught programs

Graduation can need a higher level. Nankai University's Chinese-taught undergraduates must reach HSK 6 with 180 points before they graduate. See HSK requirements for admission.

Scores for English-taught programs

• Xi'an Jiaotong University: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80. Its English-taught engineering programs also accept the Duolingo English Test with 110.
• Southwest University: TOEFL 80 with no section below 20, IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or Duolingo 115.

Native speakers of English can be exempted at Xi'an Jiaotong University, if the university approves. More in our guide to studying in China without IELTS.

No Chinese yet: the 1+4 route

"1+4" means one year of foundation study and then the four-year degree. Xi'an Jiaotong University's 2027 foundation programs show how it works:

• The 36-week Basic Program starts in September 2027 and needs no Chinese. There are also an 18-week program for students with HSK 2 to 3 and an 11-week program for HSK 4 or above.
• The "1+4" Foundation-Bachelor Program asks for an average of 70% in high school, and the ordinary foundation program for 60%. Applicants must be under 24.
• Tuition for 36 weeks is 25,800 CNY.
• Students who finish the "1+4" program with Chinese at the level of HSK 4 and a qualifying CSCA score are eligible for direct admission to the university's undergraduate programs.
• Applications for the Basic Program run from 1 November 2026 to 15 July 2027.

For the more common route of a language year followed by a separate degree application, see learn Chinese first, then a degree.

How long it takes

Four years at Dalian University of Technology, Southwest University and Nankai University, and five years for Nankai's medical programs. At Xi'an Jiaotong University the engineering programs take four years and MBBS and dentistry (BDS) take six.

Nankai University uses a "1+3" model: international undergraduates spend the first year in its College of International Education and then three years in the school of their major.

Tuition and other costs

Tuition per year in the 2027 guides, for students who pay their own way:

The last line is not a typing mistake: Xi'an Jiaotong University's four English-taught engineering programs take at most 40 students worldwide, and the university offers scholarships that cover up to 100% of tuition plus a monthly allowance in the first year.

Other costs in the same guides:

• Application fee: 400 CNY at Nankai University, 500 CNY at Southwest University and at Xi'an Jiaotong University (self-funded), 800 CNY at Dalian University of Technology.
• Dormitory: 6,000 CNY (four-person room) to 12,000 CNY (single room) a year at Southwest University, 8,000 to 19,000 CNY a year at Xi'an Jiaotong University, 600 to 1,800 CNY a month at Dalian University of Technology, and 23 to 60 CNY a day at Nankai University.
• Medical insurance: 800 CNY a year at Nankai University and Southwest University. It is compulsory.
• Proof of funds: self-funded applicants to Dalian University of Technology show a bank deposit of at least 50,000 CNY.

Our tuition fees page lists the fees we have checked for more universities, and how much money you need covers the full budget.

Scholarships for a bachelor's

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC). For undergraduates it covers tuition, a dormitory place, medical insurance and a living allowance of 2,500 CNY a month (the rate Peking University lists for its CSC undergraduates). The embassy notice for 2027/2028 sets these conditions for a bachelor's:

• a high school graduate under 25;
• a valid CSCA score report, from a test taken after 1 March 2025;
• a study plan of at least 200 words;
• for applicants under 18, the documents of a legal guardian in China.

For a bachelor's, the usual way in is Type A, through the Chinese embassy in your country. Xi'an Jiaotong University accepts only Type A for its undergraduate programs. Nankai University's Type B for undergraduates is a "Silk Road" program limited to certain nationalities and majors, with details due in April 2027. Each embassy sets its own deadline: the embassy in Indonesia closes on 14 February 2027. Our CSC application guide explains the steps.

City and university scholarships. You ask for these inside the university's own application:

• Xi'an Jiaotong University: the International Undergraduate Freshman Scholarship and the Xi'an City Government Belt and Road Scholarship each cover the first year of study.
• Nankai University: tick the scholarship box in the online form for the Tianjin Government Scholarship or the Nankai scholarship, by 30 May 2027. Only applicants the university has pre-admitted can be nominated.

For how these compare, see scholarships in China compared.

Documents

The four guides ask for nearly the same set:

• high school diploma, or a certificate of expected graduation;
• transcripts of all your high school years. Xi'an Jiaotong University also asks for your country's national examination results, or A-Level or IB results;
• the CSCA score report;
• an HSK or English certificate;
• a personal statement or study plan: at least 600 words at Dalian University of Technology and Xi'an Jiaotong University, and at least 800 characters, written in Chinese, at Nankai University;
• a recommendation letter from your school principal or a teacher (two letters at Southwest University);
• passport, the Foreigner Physical Examination Form and a no-criminal-record certificate.

Documents that are not in Chinese or English need a notarized translation. Our documents checklist explains each one.

Deadlines for September 2027

The embassy route for the government scholarship closes much earlier, in the first months of the year.

Steps

1. Choose the major and the language. Open the university's 2027 program list and check which CSCA subjects your major needs.
2. Register for the CSCA on csca.cn and take it as early as you can.
3. Get your language score, HSK or English, or apply for a foundation year if you have no Chinese yet.
4. Prepare the documents: diploma or expected-graduation certificate, transcripts, personal statement, recommendation letter, medical form.
5. Apply in the university's own online system. If you want the government scholarship, apply through the Chinese embassy as well.
6. Watch your email for an interview. Nankai University and Xi'an Jiaotong University both interview applicants. Nankai sends admission letters in July.
7. Apply for your visa with the admission letter and visa form: see our student visa guide.

Free help from us

You can do all of this yourself, using the universities' own systems. If you would like help choosing a major and a university that match your school results, ask for free application help. Advice and application help are free for students, and we send your details to a university only after you agree.