How to Study in Beijing for International Students
Beijing, one of the beautiful cities in China, is a city that needs to be considered when planning on studying abroad. Here, you can immerse yourself in a rich local culture and learn about its history and the factors that make it unique.
When it comes to the choices that are available, Beijing currently has 59 universities, from which 58 universities are a part of the public sector and 1 universities are private institutions.
Suppose you’re not just looking for any school but a well-performing school. In that case, the top universities in Beijing you should definitely check out are Tsinghua University, Peking University, and University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Being able to study in Beijing as an international student starts with planning ahead of time, as the process of researching your institution, filling out forms, and completing your paperwork can take a vast amount of time. In this article, you will find out the application process to study in Beijing, along with information on tuition, language requirements, and visa applications. So, let’s dig in!
1. Cost of Studying in Beijing
When choosing a university, you also need to consider the tuition fees and your budget. Before applying to a university in Beijing, it’s best to have a general knowledge of the tuition fees there. The annual tuition fees for international undergraduate students range from 11,800 RMB to 52,000 RMB, while for master’s degree studies, the yearly tuition fees are between 13,800 RMB and 128,700 RMB.
Cost of Studying in Public Universities in Beijing
To give you an idea of how much it costs to study in Beijing, here are the tuition fees in these public and private universities:
| Institution | Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee | Master’s International Tuition Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Minzu University of China | 20,000 RMB - 28,000 RMB | 22,400 RMB - 28,000 RMB |
| China Youth University for Political Sciences | 27,000 RMB | |
| Capital University of Physical Education and Sports | 22,000 RMB | 28,000 RMB |
| The Central Academy of Drama | 36,000 RMB | 42,000 RMB |
| Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology | 26,000 RMB - 36,000 RMB | 30,000 RMB - 48,000 RMB |
| University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences | 30,000 RMB | |
| Beijing Film Academy | 43,000 RMB - 51,000 RMB | 51,000 RMB - 60,000 RMB |
| Capital University of Economics and Business | 22,000 RMB | 27,000 RMB - 37,000 RMB |
| Beijing Sport University | 25,000 RMB - 28,000 RMB | 30,000 RMB - 34,000 RMB |
| China Foreign Affairs University | 24,000 RMB | 25,000 RMB - 30,000 RMB |
| Beijing International Studies University | 22,000 RMB | 27,000 RMB - 30,000 RMB |
| China Women’s University | 16,000 RMB - 24,000 RMB | |
| Beijing University of Technology | 21,000 RMB | 23,000 RMB - 40,000 RMB |
| Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications | 20,000 RMB - 24,600 RMB | 30,000 RMB |
| Beijing City University | 30,000 RMB | |
| Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology | 18,000 RMB - 20,000 RMB | 23,000 RMB - 25,000 RMB |
| China Central Academy of Fine Arts | 52,000 RMB | 60,000 RMB |
| National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts | 35,000 RMB | 38,000 RMB |
| Communication University of China | 21,200 RMB - 24,000 RMB | 27,000 RMB |
| Beijing Jiaotong University | 24,800 RMB - 33,800 RMB | 29,000 RMB - 35,000 RMB |
| Capital Medical University | 50,000 RMB | |
| Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture | 20,000 RMB | 25,000 RMB - 30,000 RMB |
| Beijing University of Chinese Medicine | 35,000 RMB - 45,000 RMB | |
| Beijing Technology and Business University | 21,000 RMB - 24,000 RMB | 26,000 RMB - 34,000 RMB |
| China University of Geosciences, Beijing | 26,000 RMB - 39,000 RMB | 28,000 RMB - 42,000 RMB |
| Beijing Dance Academy | 40,000 RMB | 50,000 RMB |
| China University of Political Science and Law | 20,000 RMB | 43,500 RMB |
| University of International Business and Economics | 49,800 RMB | 85,000 RMB - 128,700 RMB |
| University of Science and Technology Beijing | 23,300 RMB | 31,600 RMB - 37,600 RMB |
| Central Conservatory of Music | 38,000 RMB | 43,000 RMB |
| Beijing Forestry University | 24,800 RMB | 29,800 RMB - 33,000 RMB |
| China University of Petroleum | 25,000 RMB | 29,000 RMB - 31,000 RMB |
| Central University of Finance and Economics | 22,000 RMB | 26,000 RMB - 40,000 RMB |
| Beijing Foreign Studies University | 26,000 RMB - 39,900 RMB | 30,000 RMB - 50,000 RMB |
| North China University of Technology | 19,600 RMB - 29,600 RMB | 25,000 RMB - 30,000 RMB |
| Renmin University of China | 24,000 RMB - 26,000 RMB | 20,000 RMB - 89,000 RMB |
| Capital Normal University | 11,800 RMB - 14,500 RMB | 13,800 RMB - 16,000 RMB |
| Beijing Normal University | 24,000 RMB - 27,700 RMB | 25,300 RMB - 32,300 RMB |
| North China Electric Power University | 22,000 RMB | 30,000 RMB |
| Beijing Language and Culture University | 25,800 RMB - 35,000 RMB | 30,000 RMB - 48,000 RMB |
| Beihang University | 30,000 RMB | 35,000 RMB |
| Peking University | 26,000 RMB - 30,000 RMB | 29,000 RMB - 33,000 RMB |
| Tsinghua University | 26,000 RMB - 40,000 RMB | 28,000 RMB - 75,000 RMB |
| Beijing Institute of Technology | 23,000 RMB - 30,000 RMB | 32,000 RMB - 49,000 RMB |
Cost of Studying in Private Universities in Beijing
| Institution | Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee | Master’s International Tuition Fee |
|---|
If you’re looking for the most affordable universities in Beijing, check out the Cheap Universities in Beijing!
Besides tuition fees, you also need to consider other expenses like books, accommodation, and living expenses.
2. Requirements to Study in Beijing for International Students
Once you have an idea of how much tuition fees are to study in Beijing, it’s time to consider preparing the paperwork to apply to those universities. Academic institutions have varying admission requirements, but the ones you should always prepare in advance are your academic records, such as a transcript of records or diploma from a previous academic level, and travel documents, such as your passport and visa.
Some institutions that offer master’s programs might also ask for a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and letters of recommendation. There are also degree programs where you need to take an admissions test before you can apply. Besides these, universities might also require you to submit proof of language proficiency.
In Beijing, English and Chinese are the languages of instruction. If you’re looking to study in any of the academic institutions here, you might need to prove language proficiency by taking standardized tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo for English. Depending on the institution and the language of instruction for your program, you might also have to prove your language proficiency by submitting HSK for Chinese.
To give you an idea, here are some universities in Beijing and their required minimum scores for each program level.
Beijing Wuzi University
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
The Central Academy of Drama
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
Typically, you can find information about language requirements on the admissions requirements page of the university. You can also check out if the university has a dedicated language requirements page for international students.
Application Procedure to Study in Beijing
The specific admission process may vary depending on the university. The good news is that most institutions in Beijing have online applications available on their websites, like Tsinghua University and Peking University. To help you with this, we also compiled the official websites and admission pages of some of the top institutions in Beijing.
Tsinghua University
Peking University
University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Make sure to gather all the information you need for the admission process. As you apply to these institutions, expect that they may ask for additional requirements depending on your nationality, degree, or program. So, it’s best to keep your lines active.
After completing your academic and language requirements, it’s time to apply!
The admission process in Beijing differs from one university to another, so it’s best to contact your chosen school beforehand. Please note that the admission process for international students may take some time, so be sure to know the application dates and apply early.
The application process may take weeks or months, depending on your timing, nationality, degree, and other factors. To make the most of your application, make sure to completely follow the admission steps and submit the necessary requirements to ensure that you’ll be accepted to your chosen university in Beijing.
The key to being admitted to your chosen school will depend on your punctuality and the quality of your application. So make sure to complete the requirements beforehand and follow the steps in applying. After this, you’ll wait for a week or a month for the results.
4. Visa Application for International Students in Beijing
If you’re going to study in Beijing, you will need to apply for a student visa in China
In this section, let’s briefly discuss the requirements needed and how you can apply for a student visa in China. If you’re going to stay here for your studies, you will need to obtain a X visa .
To start your student visa application in Beijing, you will need to present the following:
- Original passport
- Completed application form
- Recently taken passport photo
- Approved application for Foreign Student Visa
- Admission notice from the university
Kindly take note that these requirements may vary depending on your nationality. So, please expect that may ask for additional requirements. Moreover, you will be required to pay a student visa application fee. The visa application fee in China is 1021 CNY.
After preparing your requirements and application fees, it’s time to apply for a student visa! The first steps in getting your student visa are:
- Submit your application and requirements to the Visa Office of the Consulate General in the place where you reside
- Pay for the necessary visa fees
For more information regarding the specific steps in applying for a student visa, visit or contact the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country. They are the ones responsible for processing your student visa application.
That’s it! After getting your student visa, you can now officially study in Beijing. Make sure to book a flight early, before your classes start, so that you’ll have ample time to explore and familiarize yourself in your new place!