Are you thinking about the costs involved in relocating to China for the duration of your studies? Since reopening its doors to foreign students in 2023, China has experienced a huge wave of international students. This nation is one of the most demanding in the world for higher education. The cost of studying abroad is always the top concern for an international student. We are therefore prepared to help you with this. You will have a comprehensive understanding of the living and educational expenses that international students incur while studying in China by the end of this article. Now let’s proceed!

Is it Expensive to Study in China?

Living and studying in China have never been too expensive. The costs were consistently lower than those of other high-demanding nations, including the USA, UK, Canada, and others. Living expenses are always reasonable, and tuition at each level is quite reasonable. However, graduate-level tuition is always more costly than undergraduate-level tuition.

In China, a bachelor’s student needs to budget between 20,000 and 80,000 yuan, and a master’s student should spend between 25,000 and 90,000 yuan or more on average for tuition fees. There isn’t a set policy on tuition-free degrees for citizens of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland. Though not as much as overseas students, they still have to pay. The tuition cost, however, may differ based on the school and the subject. You must therefore select your desired school and verify the tuition cost before applying.

Costs of Studying in China

We will now talk about how much it costs for overseas students to study in China.

Academic Costs / Tuition Fees

In China, there is no set range for tuition costs. However, the cost of tuition may change based on the subject you’re applying for and the university you decide on. The range will be higher for the medical courses. Now, we’ll discuss five universities and the ranges of fees associated with each level.

UNIVERSITY NAME TUITION FEE
1. Tsinghua university Bachelor’s: 26,000.00 – 70,000.00 yuan/ Year
Master’s: 28,000.00 – 209,000.00 yuan/ Year
Ph.D.: 32,000.00 – 50,000.00 yuan/ Year
2. Zhejiang University Bachelor’s: 19,800.00 – 42,800.00 yuan/ Year
Master’s: 22,800.00 – 32,800.00 yuan/ Year
Ph.D.: 29,800.00 – 39,800.00 yuan/ Year
3. Shanghai Jiao Tong University Bachelor’s: 80,000.00 yuan/ Year
Master’s: 28,900 yuan/ Year
Ph.D.: 45500 yuan/ Year
4. Tongji University Bachelor’s: 20,000.00 – 45,000.00 yuan/ Year
Master’s: 22,960.00 – 104,000.00 yuan/ Year
Ph.D.: 30,00.00 – 68,000.00 yuan/ Year
5. Nanjing University Bachelor’s: 21,000.00 – 42,000.00 yuan/ Year
Master’s: 25,000.00 – 48,000.00 yuan/ Year
Ph.D.: 30,00.00 – 54,000.00 yuan/ Year

Other Student Costs

An international student may also pay for their application fee, health insurance, and other educational expenses in addition to their tuition. An application fee, often ranging from 700 to 800 yuan, is required for admission to the majority of Chinese institutions. For instance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University charges a 75 USD application cost for both undergraduate and graduate programs, whereas Zhejiang University needs a nonrefundable 800 yuan application fee for all applicants.

Costs of Living in China

The expense of living in China for international students will now be discussed. We will talk regarding the cost based on the cities.

1. Shanghai

Shanghai, home to more than 25 million people, is situated on the southern bank of the Yangtze River. Depending on the university and the kind of room, the cost of on-campus housing for an international student might vary between RMB 2,500 to RMB 4,000 each semester. However, on-campus living is more expensive than off-campus housing. In addition, the cost of food and other expenses might not exceed RMB 2000. Shanghai is one of the principal hubs for business and economics worldwide, selecting it may cost you a little bit more than other places.

2. Beijing

The capital and most demanding city of China is Beijing. As such, it is yet another pricey city for students from abroad. However, students from all around the world can receive the highest caliber education from these institutions. For housing, an international student may have to pay between RMB 2,700 and RMB 4,500 per month. An additional 2,500 RMB may be needed for other costs like transportation and food.

3. Hangzhou

The next most populous city in China is Hangzhou, where an international student should budget between RMB 1,500 and RMB 3,000 per month, with additional expenses like transportation and food reaching up to RMB 2000.

4. Shenzhen

One of the most well-known cities in China is Shenzhen. The city is renowned for its customs, culture, and employment prospects, which welcome international students seeking higher education. A monthly budget of RMB 4500 should be sufficient for overseas students studying in Shenzhen to cover all expenses, including lodging, transportation, food, and other expenses.

5. Chengdu

Due to its lower cost of living when compared to other Chinese cities, Chengdu is a popular destination for overseas students. Chengdu’s cost of living is either less expensive than Shenzhen’s or nearly identical. All expenses in Chengdu City should be covered by an international student with a monthly budget of RMB 2000 to RMB 3000.

Lower Your Academic Costs by Applying for Scholarships in China

International students can apply for large scholarships and funding from the Chinese government and certain private individuals. International students can easily take advantage of these special chances and cover their stay in China. For instance, students from all over the world are eligible to apply for the undergraduate and graduate Chinese Government Scholarship (CGS) Type A. On the other side, overseas students attending institutions in Shanghai may be eligible for Shanghai Government Scholarships, which provide up to RMB 59,200.

You can also explore this list of 20 Best Scholarships in China for International Students to find out more about paying for your study expenses in China.

One of the greatest places to pursue an effective career is China. So, seize your opportunity as it’s still affordable to live and study here.

 

We hope you make use of this article once you decide to Study in China. If you would like to know the academic and living expenses of different countries, go visit our Cost of Studying and Living by Country page to compare and contrast the countries of your choice! Also, go over our list of Available Programs for International Students for more study options!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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