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Studying Chip Design and Integrated Circuits in China: Programs and Requirements
Where international students can study microelectronics and integrated circuits (chips) in China: real programs, teaching language, HSK and CSCA, and tuition.
3 min read · Updated 30 Oct 2026 · Verified
Chips are one of the fields China is building up fastest at its universities. In a notice published in January 2021, China's State Council Academic Degrees Committee and Ministry of Education created Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering (集成电路科学与工程, code 1401) as a first-level discipline, in a new Interdisciplinary Studies category. Several universities now have schools of integrated circuits that teach international students, including Sun Yat-sen and Zhejiang.
What the programs are called
| Level | Program names |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | Microelectronics Science and Engineering (微电子科学与工程), Integrated Circuit Design and Integrated Systems (集成电路设计与集成系统) |
| Master's and PhD | Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering (集成电路科学与工程), Electronic Science and Technology |
Programs in our database
From each university's own admission catalog (2026, or 2027 for Nankai). Tuition is per year.
| University | Program | Level and language | Tuition | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nankai University | Microelectronics Science and Engineering (College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering), 4 years | Bachelor's, Chinese | 25,000 CNY | HSK 5 (210+); CSCA mathematics, physics, professional Chinese (science) |
| Sun Yat-sen University | Microelectronics Science and Engineering (School of Integrated Circuits), 4 years | Bachelor's, Chinese | 33,800 CNY | HSK 5 (180+); CSCA mathematics, physics, professional Chinese (science) |
| Sun Yat-sen University | Microelectronics Science and Engineering (School of Microelectronics Science and Technology), 4 years | Bachelor's, Chinese | 33,800 CNY | Same as above |
| Zhejiang University | Microelectronics Science and Engineering (College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering), 4 years | Bachelor's, Chinese | 24,800 CNY | HSK 5 (180+); CSCA mathematics, physics, professional Chinese (science) |
| Zhejiang University | Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering (School of Integrated Circuits), 3 years | Master's, English | 36,800 CNY | See the catalog |
| Zhejiang University | Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering (School of Integrated Circuits), 4 years | PhD, English | 42,800 CNY | See the catalog |
Our program search lists every engineering program we have. We are adding more universities' catalogs.
Universities known for it
- University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu: specializes in electronics, telecommunications and computer science
- Xidian University, Xi'an: specializes in electronics, communications engineering and cybersecurity
- Tsinghua University, Beijing: internationally known for engineering and computer science
How to get in
Bachelor's (taught in Chinese): expect HSK 5, and at Nankai a score of at least 210. If you are starting out, plan a language year first (see Learn Chinese first, then start your degree). You also need the CSCA in mathematics, physics and professional Chinese (science); see our CSCA guide.
Master's and PhD (taught in English at Zhejiang): a bachelor's in electronics, physics, materials or computer engineering is the usual background. Read the school's lab pages and contact possible supervisors before you apply. The Chinese Government Scholarship covers master's and PhD students.
Tips
- Physics matters. Device physics and semiconductor physics are at the core of microelectronics, and the CSCA for these programs includes physics.
- Two schools, one program name. Sun Yat-sen teaches Microelectronics Science and Engineering in two different schools; compare their courses before you choose.
- Related names to search for: Electronic Science and Technology, Electronic Information Engineering and Optoelectronic Information Science also lead into the chip industry.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study chip design in China in English?
Yes, at master's and PhD level. Zhejiang University teaches Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering in English at its School of Integrated Circuits. The bachelor's programs in microelectronics in our database are taught in Chinese.
What is the difference between microelectronics and integrated circuits?
At bachelor's level the usual program is Microelectronics Science and Engineering (微电子科学与工程). At graduate level, Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering (集成电路科学与工程) has been its own first-level discipline since China created it in a notice published in January 2021.
What do I need for a microelectronics bachelor's?
For the Chinese-taught programs in our database: a high-school diploma, HSK 5 (Nankai asks for at least 210 points, Sun Yat-sen and Zhejiang for 180) and CSCA scores in mathematics, physics and professional Chinese (science).