How Much Money Do You Need to Study in China? A First-Year Budget

The most watched videos about studying in China are the ones that answer one question: how much money do I really need? Here is a first-year budget built from fees we have checked at 57 universities, plus the costs that come before and after you arrive. All amounts are in Chinese yuan (CNY), and fees are paid in yuan.

A typical first year

Other levels, at a typical university's cheapest program: master's 25,000 CNY, PhD 30,000 CNY and a Chinese language course 16,200 CNY a year in tuition. MBBS costs more: see the fee table in our MBBS guide.

Every university is different. Our tuition fees page lists each university's fees with a link to its official page, and each university profile adds up its own first-year total.

Costs before you fly

• Application fee: 200 to 800 CNY at the 39 universities whose fee we have checked, paid on the university's application system.
• Proof of funds: self-funded applicants show they can pay. Each university sets the amount:

• Tuition deposit: some universities ask you to pay before you arrive. Zhejiang University's pre-admitted bachelor's students pay the first year's tuition by a set date to confirm their place, and it is not refunded if they do not enrol. Nankai University's admitted bachelor's students pay the 400 yuan application fee and the full tuition by a set date. Pay only as the university's own notice says: see how to avoid agent scams.
• Visa: the fee for an X1 or X2 student visa depends on your nationality and is set by the Chinese embassy or visa center where you apply. See visaforchina.cn and our student visa guide.
• Documents: notarized diplomas, translations, a police certificate and the Foreigner Physical Examination Form all have local costs. See the documents checklist.
• Flight to China.

Costs after you arrive

• Insurance: compulsory for every international student. A university will not admit a student who does not buy it by the deadline (Order No. 42, Art. 40). Most universities sell a plan for 800 CNY a year; Northwestern Polytechnical University's 2026 Chinese language program, for example, lists 800 CNY a year or 400 CNY a semester.
• Health check: when you enroll, your Foreigner Physical Examination Form is verified by the local health quarantine authority, or you take the exam there (Art. 39). Ask your university what it costs in your city.
• Residence permit: X1 students apply within 30 days of arrival. In Beijing it costs 400 CNY for less than one year, 800 CNY for one to three years and 1,000 CNY for three to five years. See our residence permit guide.
• Dorm and first weeks: universities charge for dorm rooms by the day, month, semester or year, so check how yours bills. Until you have a Chinese bank account, which needs your residence permit, you pay with an international card linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay, or in cash. See your first 30 days.

Ways to spend less

• Apply for scholarships. The Chinese Government Scholarship covers tuition, a dorm room and insurance and pays 2,500 to 3,500 CNY a month. Some university and provincial scholarships cover only tuition, or tuition and insurance. See scholarships compared.
• Choose a lower-cost university. Among the universities we have checked, bachelor's programs start at 8,000 CNY a year at Ocean University of China in Qingdao, 10,000 CNY at Yunnan University in Kunming and 15,000 CNY at Hunan University in Changsha and Beihua University in Jilin.
• Learn Chinese where it costs less. Chinese language courses cost 11,000 CNY a year at Anhui Medical University in Hefei and 14,000 CNY at universities such as Nankai in Tianjin and Qingdao University.
• Live in the dorm. It is usually the cheapest option, and the university registers your address for you. See student life in China.
• Don't work illegally to cover costs. Illegal employment can bring a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 CNY and deportation: see part-time work and internships.

Help with a plan that fits your budget

Tell us your budget and what you want to study, and we will help you find universities and scholarships that fit. Ask for free application help: advice and application help are free for students. You can also apply to universities directly.