Beijing's large research university admits international students through two undergraduate rounds and a graduate portal. What each route requires, what it costs and how funding works.
Tsinghua University is a large research university in Beijing's Haidian District, with 33 schools and more than 63000 students. For international students it is really two universities in one. Most undergraduate programmes are taught in Chinese and English and expect HSK 5, the upper-intermediate level of China's standard Chinese test. A small group of English-taught colleges costs several times more but needs no Chinese at all. At graduate level the choice is wider: dozens of master's and doctoral programmes run fully in English. Funding matters too: in 2026 about 45% of international freshmen received a first-year scholarship.
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Tsinghua University at a glance
Location
Haidian District, Beijing; graduate school in Shenzhen (Tsinghua SIGS)[1]
Size
63132 registered students and 33 schools with 54 departments (end of 2025)[2]
International students
784 undergraduates, 1397 master's and 450 doctoral students (end of 2025)[2]
English-taught degrees
28 master's and 9 doctoral programmes; several undergraduate programmes in residential colleges[3]
Undergraduate tuition
3,539-4,084 USD a year (Chinese-English programmes); 13,612 USD a year (English-taught programmes)[4]
30 September — 20 November 2026 and 21 November 2026 — 28 February 2027[5]
Graduate applications, 2027 intake
Mid-September 2026 to February 2027, deadlines vary by programme[3]
Strengths and limitations of Tsinghua
Advantages of Tsinghua University
Generous first-year scholarships for undergraduates
In 2026 about 45% of international undergraduate freshmen received the Tsinghua International Undergraduate Freshmen Scholarship[6], which covers full, half or part of the first year's tuition. It is assessed with the application, so a strong file can reduce the real cost of the first year noticeably.
Graduate degrees in English without Chinese
Tsinghua runs 28 English-taught master's and 9 English-taught doctoral programmes[3], and most doctoral programmes in science and engineering are conducted in English. For a researcher, Chinese is helpful in daily life but not a condition for the degree.
Low tuition for the main undergraduate programmes
Chinese-English undergraduate programmes cost 3,539-4,084 USD a year[4], far below private universities in the UK or USA. On-campus housing starts at 5 USD a day for a bed in a double room[7].
A wide international network
Tsinghua reports partnerships with over 290 universities and institutes and 50 dual and double degree programmes[1], plus flagship programmes such as Schwarzman Scholars.
Drawbacks and limitations of Tsinghua
Most undergraduate programmes require HSK 5
Chinese-English programmes ask for HSK level 5 or above, with more than 60 points in listening, reading and writing[8]. Without a year or two of serious Chinese study, the choice narrows to the English-taught colleges.
English-taught undergraduate degrees cost 13,612 USD a year
The English-taught programmes in Zijing and Zhishan colleges, and the dual degree with The Chinese University of Hong Kong while studying in Beijing, all cost 13,612 USD a year[4]. That is roughly three to four times the Chinese-English tuition.
Few international places and a selective assessment
With 784 international undergraduates across the whole university[2], each year's intake is small. Admission combines document review with a comprehensive assessment whose format is announced each round[5].
Foreign degrees need official authentication for graduate study
Master's and doctoral applicants with a degree from outside mainland China must obtain an authentication report from the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) before registration[9]. Start this early: without it, an offer cannot turn into enrolment.
The first decision for an undergraduate applicant is language. Chinese-English programmes cover most of the 93 undergraduate majors[10] and are taught alongside Chinese students. They need HSK 5 and, for applicants whose native language is not English, an English test such as TOEFL or IELTS[8]. Applicants who studied at a Chinese-medium high school may ask for an HSK waiver.
The English-taught route is a short list: Global Talents in Science and Engineering and Urban Regeneration and Design in Zijing College, and Politics, Economics and Sociology for Global Leaders in Smart Society in Zhishan College[4]. No Chinese test is required[8], but strong English is. Xinya and Zijing are residential colleges where Chinese and international students live together[4], which helps with language and integration whichever route you take.
Tuition and living costs
Item
Cost
Chinese-English undergraduate programmes
3,539-4,084 USD a year
Arts programmes
5,445 USD a year
Clinical Medicine (by stage)
5,445 USD / 8,167 USD / 9,528 USD a year
English-taught undergraduate programmes
13,612 USD a year
Insurance
109 USD a year
On-campus bed, double room
5 USD a day
On-campus single or AB room
11 USD a day
Tuition and insurance are set out on the undergraduate fees page[4], and room rates on the student housing page[7]. Graduate tuition differs by programme and is published in a separate list linked from the graduate admission guide[11].
Housing is the cost to plan carefully. Campus places are limited and must be reserved in advance; students who rent off campus have to register their address at the local police station after signing the lease[7]. A double room at 5 USD a day comes to roughly 1,987 USD a year.
Applicants must be foreign nationals, hold a high school certificate from full-time, in-person study and submit transcripts in Chinese or English[8]. They may add national exam results (for example ATAR, Abitur or BAC), international tests such as SAT, ACT, A-Level, AP or IB, and Olympiad awards. Applicants under 18 on 1 September 2027 need a guardian guarantee in China.
Round, 2027 intake
Applications
Results
First round
30 September — 20 November 2026
By January 2027
Second round
21 November 2026 — 28 February 2027
By early May 2027
Both rounds accept all Chinese-English and English-taught programmes, but Design and Fine Arts programmes open only in the first round, and the dual degree with The Chinese University of Hong Kong only in the second[5]. If you need a scholarship decision early, the first round gives you an answer by January.
Master's and doctoral admission
Graduate applicants apply online through the graduate portal; a master's needs a bachelor's degree and a doctorate a master's degree, although 39 schools and departments accept bachelor's graduates straight into a doctorate[12]. The file includes two recommendation letters from scholars at associate professor level or above, and doctoral applicants add a research plan. Documents not in Chinese or English need notarised translations.
Each applicant may choose up to two programmes per cycle, but they are sequential: the second opens only if the first does not admit you[3]. Rank them deliberately. The application fee of 109 USD is non-refundable and cannot be covered by the Chinese Government Scholarship[12]. After admission, students apply for an X1 student visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate and for a residence permit within 30 days of arrival[12].
Freshmen Scholarship for international undergraduates: full, half or partial tuition for the first year; about 45% of freshmen received it in 2026[6].
Chinese Government Scholarship: a full award usually covers tuition, a dormitory place or accommodation subsidy, a stipend and medical insurance[12]. Graduate applicants should complete the online application by mid-December 2026[3].
Beijing Government Scholarship: usually tuition and medical insurance for one academic year[12]; undergraduates can apply for it from the second year[6].
First-year scholarships are mutually exclusive: holding one rules out another of the same type[6]. Scholarship applications may also ask for HSK results even when the programme does not[9]. Our guide to the Chinese Government Scholarship explains that application separately.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at Tsinghua without knowing Chinese?
Yes, through an English-taught undergraduate programme or most English-taught master's and doctoral programmes. Chinese-English undergraduate programmes need HSK 5; see our page on the HSK exam for how the levels work.
Which undergraduate round should I choose?
The first round suits applicants who want results by January and need Design or Fine Arts. The second round is the only one for the dual degree with The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Does Tsinghua work with admission agents?
The graduate admissions office states that it has never cooperated with intermediary agencies or companies for graduate admissions[9]. Applications are submitted by the applicant through the official portals.
Is Tsinghua the only option for science and engineering in China?
