Tsinghua University was founded in 1911 and is one of China’s two most prestigious universities, best known for engineering and the sciences but strong in economics, management, law and the arts too. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 14th in the world and second in mainland China. Its campus is in Haidian district in northwest Beijing.
Tsinghua offers degrees taught in Chinese and English and a small number taught entirely in English, and its first application round for 2027 is open now. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Tsinghua University’s own guidance and official Chinese government information.
1. Choose between Chinese-English and English-taught programmes
Tsinghua has 93 undergraduate majors, most of them taught in both Chinese and English. For 2027, its fully English-taught degrees are the Zijing College Global Talents in Science and Engineering Program, the Zijing College Urban Regeneration and Design Program, the Zhishan College Politics, Economics and Sociology for Global Leaders in Smart Society Program, and the Tsinghua–Chinese University of Hong Kong Dual Undergraduate Degree in Economics. Most degrees take four years, but Architecture and Sculpture take five and Clinical Medicine eight, leading to a Doctor of Medicine.
2. Apply by 20 November 2026 or 28 February 2027
There are two rounds for 2027 entry. The first round is open from 30 September to 20 November 2026 (5 p.m. Beijing time), with results by January 2027, and it’s the only round for Design and Fine Arts programmes. The second round runs from 21 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, with results in early May 2027, and it’s the only round for the Tsinghua–CUHK economics degree. Most other programmes accept applications in either round. Tsinghua University: undergraduate admission schedule.
3. Show your Chinese level, if you need it
For Chinese-English programmes, you need HSK level 5 or above, with more than 60 in each of listening, reading and writing. If Chinese is your native language, or your high school taught in Chinese, you can ask for an HSK waiver. You don’t need any Chinese for the English-taught programmes.
4. Prove your English
All applicants need strong English, and if English isn’t your native language you must send an official test result, such as TOEFL or IELTS. Tsinghua doesn’t publish a minimum score, so aim high, particularly for the English-taught degrees, where every class is in English. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
5. Send evidence of outstanding academic results
Tsinghua looks for outstanding academic performance. You can show it with your high school transcripts, your national school-leaving or university entrance exam (such as the ATAR, Abitur, French baccalaureate, Korean CSAT, UEC or STPM), international tests such as the new China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA), the SAT, ACT, A Levels, AP or IB, and awards from international or national Olympiads in maths, physics, chemistry, biology or informatics. The stronger your evidence in maths and science, the better, especially for engineering.
6. Check that you’re eligible
You must be a foreign national without Chinese nationality, hold a high school graduation certificate earned through full-time, in-person study and be at least 18 by 1 September 2027; younger applicants need a guarantee statement from a guardian in China. Applicants with a Chinese parent, or who used to be Chinese citizens, must also meet extra rules on nationality and residence abroad, and Tsinghua checks these several times during the process.
7. Prepare for the Comprehensive Assessment
You apply online, upload your documents and pay a non-refundable fee of RMB 800. If you pass the document screening, you’ll be invited to a Comprehensive Assessment, and Tsinghua will tell you how and when it takes place. Your final result is based on your academic record, language ability, supporting materials and the assessment.
8. Understand the fees and scholarships
Tuition for Chinese-English programmes is RMB 30,000 a year for engineering, computer science and science-based programmes, RMB 26,000 for economics, finance and management, law and some colleges, and RMB 40,000 for the arts. The English-taught programmes cost RMB 100,000 a year, and insurance is RMB 800 a year. In 2026, about 45 per cent of international freshmen received the Tsinghua University International Undergraduate Freshmen Scholarship. You can also apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship through the Chinese embassy in your country, usually between November 2026 and April 2027, choosing Tsinghua as your first preference; you can hold only one of these scholarships. Tsinghua University: fees.
9. Get your X1 visa and residence permit
Once you’re admitted, Tsinghua University sends you an Admission Notice and a Visa Application for Study in China form (JW201 or JW202). You take these with your passport to the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country to apply for an X1 student visa. Within 30 days of arriving in China, you must apply, through the university, to convert it into a residence permit for study. If you live off campus, you must register with the local police within 24 hours of moving in. You also have to buy the compulsory Comprehensive Insurance for International Students (about RMB 800 a year) before you can register, and the university will check your original passport, diploma and other documents when you arrive. National Immigration Administration of China.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
A student residence permit doesn’t let you work freely. To do an internship or part-time job off campus, you need approval from Tsinghua University and an internship annotation added to your residence permit by the immigration authorities, and working without it can lead to fines or removal from China. After graduating, international students with a master’s or doctoral degree from a Chinese university and good grades can apply for a work permit within a year of graduating without the usual two years’ work experience; bachelor’s graduates usually need work experience, although some cities run their own schemes for talented graduates. Fluent Chinese makes a big difference to your job prospects. Peking University: internship and employment policies for international students.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Tsinghua?
Tsinghua’s graduate programmes admit international students separately, and it offers many English-taught master’s programmes, including Schwarzman College’s one-year master’s in global affairs. Applications usually open in the autumn for the following September, and research degrees usually need contact with a supervisor first. The Chinese Government Scholarship is also available for graduate students. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Tsinghua is one of the most selective universities in Asia, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University. Our guide to studying in China explains how the Chinese system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from Tsinghua University’s official international undergraduate admissions website, including its 2027 schedule, eligibility, fees and scholarship pages and its 2027 English-taught programme guides, Chinese government information and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on Tsinghua’s international undergraduate admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Tsinghua University.