Painted interpretation inspired by Nankai University’s Balitai main building and leafy Tianjin campus
Nankai University official seal

NKUTianjin, China

International undergraduate study

Nankai University

南开大学

A century of scholarship in Tianjin

  • Founded 1919
  • Project 985
  • Project 211
  • Double First-Class
Verified official sourcesUpdated 29 October 2026
QS ranking#=329
LocationTianjin
Teaching languageChinese / English
Degree length4–5 years
Tuition guideRMB 20k–35k
Application statusOpen · fall 2027

01/ 11Overview

A remarkable place to begin.

Founded in 1919. A comprehensive research university with a strong science and humanities tradition. This guide covers the 2027 international undergraduate catalogue at Balitai and Jinnan, both in Tianjin.

Explore NKU’s story and strengths

History & identity

Founded in 1919 by Yan Xiu and Zhang Boling, Nankai is a public Ministry of Education university and a member of the Project 985, Project 211 and Double First-Class initiatives. It joined Peking and Tsinghua in the wartime National Southwest Associated University.

Academic strengths

Nankai combines a strong mathematics and chemistry tradition with economics, humanities and social sciences. Its international undergraduate catalogue includes mathematics, chemistry, business economics, finance and Chinese studies, alongside selected engineering and health degrees.

Your campus and first year

The 2027 catalogue assigns undergraduate majors to Balitai and Jinnan, both in Tianjin. Under the 1+3 model, most students spend Year 1 at the School of International Education before three years of specialist study; the medical degrees last five years. Campus and room allocation follow university arrangements.

  • Science with a wider perspective

    Study mathematics, chemistry or finance within a comprehensive research university with a strong humanities tradition.

  • A supported first year

    The 1+3 model starts with a year of broad study at the School of International Education before specialist classes.

  • Tianjin beyond the classroom

    Explore the Haihe waterfront, historic streets and northern Chinese food from a major university city.

02/ 11Language requirements

What language do you need?

Chinese language HSK 4–6 · by major Required for every undergraduate major Scores, alternatives & exam details
HSK 4 · 180+
General entry minimum; the higher requirements below apply to the named majors.
HSK 5
Information and Communication, Sociology, Philosophy, Chinese Language and Literature, and Business Economics. No separate minimum score is stated for these groups.
HSK 5 · 210+
Electronic information and optical engineering majors; good high-school Mathematics and Physics results are also required.
HSK 6 · 180+
Finance, Insurance, Ophthalmic Medicine and Optometry, and Stomatology.

Accepted alternatives

  • Malaysian independent Chinese high-school graduates do not need a Chinese-language proficiency certificate under the 2027 general guide. This is a certificate waiver, not a waiver of Chinese-medium study.

All Chinese-taught international undergraduates must reach HSK 6 · 180+ before graduation. Scholarship language conditions may be higher than degree entry.

English language No general score published Three majors use Chinese and English Scores, alternatives & exam details
Chinese–English teaching
Business Administration, Biological Sciences and Biotechnology use both languages. The 2027 catalogue does not publish the teaching split or a course-by-course language breakdown.
English evidence
Business School applicants need excellent Mathematics and English results. The 2027 guide gives no undergraduate-wide IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo minimum.

Accepted alternatives

  • No undergraduate-wide English-test waiver policy is published. English-medium schooling does not remove the Chinese entry requirement.

Chinese is required; no fully English-taught undergraduate degree is listed. English, Japanese and French majors are language degrees, not additional bilingual study routes.

03/ 11Entry requirements

Your grades. Your starting point.

Compare the published requirement with a competitive target.

Official requirementPublished by NKU

Competitive estimateChinaStudyGuide target

Our competitive estimate is planning guidance, not an official admission requirement.

04/ 11CSCA

Do you need CSCA?

General admissionRequired
Chinese Government ScholarshipRequired
Which CSCA subjects do you need?
Chinese

Humanities or STEM Chinese is accepted for the listed humanities, social science, language and business majors. Science, engineering, pharmacy and medicine require STEM Chinese. The two College of Chinese Language and Culture majors are exempt with HSK 4.

By major
Mathematics

Required for every major in the 2027 catalogue, including the two Chinese-language majors.

Required
Physics

Required for all listed mathematics, statistics, science, engineering, pharmacy and medical majors.

STEM & health
Chemistry

Required alongside Physics for chemistry, chemical biology, new energy, biology, biotechnology, resource recycling, pharmacy and both medical majors.

Selected majors

HSK and CSCA Chinese are separate requirements. The catalogue exempts Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages and Chinese Language (Business Chinese) from CSCA Chinese when HSK 4 is held; Mathematics remains compulsory.

Take the required papers in Chinese. Before your test takes place, you may upload proof of successful CSCA registration, then add the electronic results promptly. Official CSCA registration

05/ 11Admission routes

Find your way in.

One application route, with scholarship channels alongside it.

Application dates & eligibility
Official route details

06/ 11Application process

From application to arrival.

Step 01

Register for CSCA

Register for the papers required by your intended majors. If the test has not yet taken place, upload successful registration proof and add your results promptly afterwards.

Documents that deserve an early start

Application materials

Personal statement

All applicants · Chinese

Write at least 800 Chinese characters covering your learning background, reasons for applying and personal strengths.

Recommendation letter

All applicants · one letter

Ask a high-school teacher for one signed recommendation with their telephone number and email address. Use the university’s application-materials instructions.

CSCA results

All applicants

Register early for the papers required by your chosen majors. Upload the CSCA score report; if the test has not taken place, submit successful registration proof and add your electronic results promptly afterwards.

All other required documents

  • Passport and current immigration status

    Ordinary passport valid until at least 1 September 2028. Applicants already in mainland China also upload the current visa or residence permit; passport details cannot be changed between admission and completion of registration.

  • High-school certificate and transcripts

    Upload the graduation certificate, or a school-issued expected-graduation certificate, plus transcripts for every high-school course.

  • Financial guarantee

    Provide the financial guarantee and supporting evidence required by the university’s application-materials instructions.

  • Chinese-language evidence

    Upload the HSK score required for your major. Malaysian independent Chinese high-school graduates have the published certificate waiver.

  • Physical examination

    Complete every item on the Foreigner Physical Examination Record in Chinese or English. The 2027 guide accepts examinations after October 2026.

  • Non-criminal record

    Provide the required non-criminal record certificate; follow the university’s application-materials instructions.

  • Nationality and residence history, where applicable

    Former Chinese citizens provide renunciation, household-registration cancellation and foreign-naturalisation evidence. Applicants born abroad with Chinese parentage need nationality-at-birth and the Chinese parent’s prior permanent-residence evidence. Both groups supply entry and exit records for 30 April 2023 – 30 April 2027.

  • Under-18 documents, where applicable

    Applicants under 18 on 1 September 2027 submit the university’s under-18 application documents and guardian authorisation.

  • Supporting achievements, where available

    Add awards, published work or other evidence of academic ability and wider strengths.

Submit documents through the online platform. Certificates and records outside Chinese or English need notarised Chinese or English translations; mailed or emailed application files are not processed.

Nankai application portal Email admissions Application materials and templates

07/ 11Subjects

What will you study?

45 majors
Browse all 45 majors

NKU undergraduate admission catalogue

MajorSchool / departmentCampusLanguage
JournalismSchool of Information and CommunicationJinnanChinese
Library ScienceSchool of Information and CommunicationJinnanChinese
Internet and New MediaSchool of Information and CommunicationJinnanChinese
Data Resources and Data IntelligenceSchool of Information and CommunicationJinnanChinese
SociologySchool of SociologyJinnanChinese
Social WorkSchool of SociologyJinnanChinese
PhilosophySchool of PhilosophyJinnanChinese
Chinese Language and LiteratureSchool of LiteratureBalitaiChinese
HistorySchool of HistoryJinnanChinese
Cultural Heritage and MuseologySchool of HistoryJinnanChinese
World HistorySchool of HistoryJinnanChinese
EnglishCollege of Foreign LanguagesBalitaiChinese / English
JapaneseCollege of Foreign LanguagesBalitaiChinese / Japanese
FrenchCollege of Foreign LanguagesBalitaiChinese / French
International PoliticsZhou Enlai School of GovernmentJinnanChinese
Public AdministrationZhou Enlai School of GovernmentJinnanChinese
Political Science and Public AdministrationZhou Enlai School of GovernmentJinnanChinese
Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other LanguagesCollege of Chinese Language and CultureBalitaiChinese
Chinese Language (Business Chinese)College of Chinese Language and CultureBalitaiChinese
Business EconomicsSchool of EconomicsBalitaiChinese
Financial ManagementBusiness SchoolBalitaiChinese
Business AdministrationBusiness SchoolBalitaiChinese / English
MarketingBusiness SchoolBalitaiChinese
Big Data Management and ApplicationsBusiness SchoolBalitaiChinese
Tourism ManagementCollege of Tourism and Service ManagementJinnanChinese
FinanceSchool of FinanceJinnanChinese
InsuranceSchool of FinanceJinnanChinese
Mathematics and Applied MathematicsSchool of Mathematical SciencesBalitaiChinese
Information and Computing ScienceSchool of Mathematical SciencesBalitaiChinese
StatisticsSchool of Statistics and Data ScienceJinnanChinese
Data ScienceSchool of Statistics and Data ScienceJinnanChinese
ChemistryCollege of ChemistryBalitaiChinese
Chemical BiologyCollege of ChemistryBalitaiChinese
New Energy Science and EngineeringCollege of ChemistryBalitaiChinese
Biological SciencesCollege of Life SciencesBalitaiChinese / English
BiotechnologyCollege of Life SciencesBalitaiChinese / English
Resource Recycling Science and EngineeringCollege of Environmental Science and EngineeringJinnanChinese
Optoelectronic Information Science and EngineeringCollege of Electronic Information and Optical EngineeringJinnanChinese
Electronic Information Science and TechnologyCollege of Electronic Information and Optical EngineeringJinnanChinese
Electronic Science and TechnologyCollege of Electronic Information and Optical EngineeringJinnanChinese
Microelectronics Science and EngineeringCollege of Electronic Information and Optical EngineeringJinnanChinese
Communication EngineeringCollege of Electronic Information and Optical EngineeringJinnanChinese
PharmacyCollege of PharmacyJinnanChinese
Ophthalmic Medicine and OptometrySchool of MedicineJinnanChinese
Stomatology (Dentistry)School of MedicineJinnanChinese

How you choose your majorChoose up to two majors, considered in order; Business Economics and Business Administration accept first choices only. Most degrees use the 1+3 model; medicine lasts five years. Chinese is required for every major, including the three with Chinese–English teaching. Campus labels identify the major’s home campus, not a guaranteed first-year placement.

Official admission catalogue

08/ 11Annual budget

What will one year cost?

Estimated annual total · RMB52,445

Tuition

RMB / year20,000Published tuition reference

Accommodation

RMB / year12,045Living-cost estimate

Food

RMB / year14,400Living-cost estimate

Transport

RMB / year1,200Living-cost estimate

Other costs

RMB / year4,800Living-cost estimate
What’s included in the estimate?

Tuition

Annual tuition for the selected subject group.

Accommodation

A planning allowance using a published Balitai bed rate.

RMB 33/person/day × 365 days; actual room and campus allocation vary.

Food

Campus meals, groceries and occasional meals out.

ChinaStudyGuide estimate: RMB 1,200/month × 12.

Transport

Local public transport and occasional short trips.

ChinaStudyGuide estimate: RMB 100/month × 12.

Other costs

Insurance, books, phone and modest personal spending.

RMB 800 published annual insurance + RMB 4,000 planning allowance.

Tuition and insurance: 2027 guide; bed rates: official housing schedule. Living costs are ChinaStudyGuide estimates for 12 months. Flights, visa/residence-permit costs, deposits and the one-time RMB 400 application fee are excluded.

09/ 11Scholarships

Big ambitions. Extra support.

National scholarship

Chinese Government Scholarship

FundingFull or partial award
Competition*Very high

Coverage

  • Full awards normally cover tuition, accommodation, insurance and a living allowance.
  • Partial Type A awards depend on the bilateral arrangement.

The 2026 Silk Road full award included RMB 2,500/month for undergraduates. Its countries, majors, HSK 5 · 210+ rule and amounts are reference only until the 2027 call.

Application
Type A: apply through the Chinese embassy/consulate and Nankai; local deadlines govern, generally November to early February. Type B Silk Road: obtain Nankai pre-admission and nomination, then apply in the CSC portal using agency 10055. The 2027 country, major and deadline rules are due in April 2027.
CSCA
Required for undergraduate admission, including scholarship applicants.
Selection
Type A follows national nomination and CSC selection. Type B recommendations depend on interview performance; CSC makes the final decision.
Official scholarship details
Municipal scholarship

Tianjin Government Scholarship

FundingTuition support
Competition*High

Coverage

  • Tuition support under the 2027 award notice.

The award-specific notice guarantees no fixed amount. The degree guide mentions wider benefits collectively; the Tianjin notice itself specifies tuition support.

Application
Tick the scholarship option in your Nankai application; no separate municipal form is required. Submit by 30 May 2027 to meet the degree guide’s earlier date; the award notice closes on 31 May.
CSCA
Required for undergraduate admission.
Selection
Self-funded undergraduate applicants must be non-Chinese and no older than 25. Pre-admission is required; documents and interview determine nomination and level, subject to final Tianjin approval.
Official scholarship details
University scholarship

Study at Nankai Scholarship

FundingAward-dependent support
Competition*High

Coverage

  • Tuition support.
  • Living and insurance subsidies may form part of the awarded package.

The 2027 guide names this award, but does not publish fixed amounts or a guaranteed package.

Application
Tick “apply for scholarship” in the undergraduate application and obtain pre-admission. Follow the 2027 degree guide’s 30 May deadline; the linked university award page is still titled 2026.
CSCA
Required for undergraduate admission.
Selection
For non-Chinese self-funded applicants. Award levels, amounts and final results follow Nankai’s annual decision; a multi-year award is not promised.
Official scholarship details
Chinese language education

International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship

Funding2027 package pending
Competition*High

Coverage

  • Available for Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages.
  • 2027 financial terms and test thresholds are not yet published by Nankai.

The degree guide confirms this scholarship route; a separate 2027 award notice has not yet published its funding amounts, duration or test thresholds.

Application
Complete the Nankai application, obtain pre-admission and also apply through the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship portal. Strong candidates can receive a Nankai recommendation; the separate 2027 scholarship deadline is unpublished.
CSCA
Mathematics is required. The degree catalogue exempts this major from CSCA Chinese with HSK 4; any additional scholarship test condition must follow the 2027 call.
Selection
Nankai may provide a scholarship recommendation for applicants with strong results. The separate 2027 award notice must confirm its language scores, age rules and selection conditions.
Official scholarship details

Competition levels are ChinaStudyGuide estimates; Nankai publishes no undergraduate award acceptance rates. Funding is conditional on the final award. Aim to submit scholarship applications early; the May dates do not replace embassy or separate award deadlines.

Explore the scholarship guide

10/ 11Accommodation

Find your Tianjin base.

On campus

University residences

Stay close to campus services, with your building allocated by Nankai.

Book onlineLocations & practical details
Balitai
Yiyuan Buildings 2, 3 and 4 offer different room types. Published rates range from RMB 23/person/day for a twin with shared bathroom to RMB 60 for a single with private bathroom; several other types cost RMB 33.
Jinnan
Building B has single rooms with private bathrooms at RMB 50/person/day. Buildings C and D have twins with private bathrooms at RMB 23/person/day.
Booking & facilities
Reserve through the international student service system. Campus allocation follows the year’s policy and your major. All listed rooms have air conditioning; the rates include electricity, internet and water. Shared kitchens and paid laundry are available.
Off campus

A rental near your campus

Choose a location around your assigned campus before committing to a lease.

Backup optionLocations & practical details
If a room is unavailable
Nankai provides off-campus housing information when online campus booking is unsuccessful.
Location & costs
Balitai and Jinnan are in different parts of Tianjin. Compare the journey to your actual teaching campus, rent, deposit, bills and lease term; private rent is not included at a guaranteed university rate.
Arrival planning
Follow your offer and accommodation notices for booking and arrival arrangements. Budget for a temporary stay until your room is confirmed.

Have a housing backup. Reserve online and wait for confirmation. If booking is unsuccessful, the university provides off-campus housing information; choose it around the campus assigned to your major.

11/ 11Student life

A campus to call home. A city to discover.

Painted interpretation of an imagined Nankai-inspired campus lake, willow trees and pale academic buildings in Tianjin
A quiet campus afternoon
Painted interpretation inspired by Tianjin’s Haihe river promenade and Tianjin Eye ferris wheel
Beyond the campus gates

Tianjin after class

Tianjin combines Haihe river walks, historic architecture and a lively food culture. Balitai offers an established urban setting; Jinnan has a larger campus setting in the city’s education district.

Campus routine

Balance classes and Chinese study with libraries, campus dining and student activities. The School of International Education organises cultural events and opportunities to meet students from different backgrounds.

Around your campus

Balitai sits on Weijin Road in Nankai district; Jinnan is on Tongyan Road in the Haihe Education Park. Build your everyday routine around the campus where you study.

Weekends in Tianjin

Spend an afternoon along the Haihe, explore historic streets or try local breakfast food. Museums, riverside neighbourhoods and city parks make easy themes for a weekend.

Keep exploring

More universities. More possibilities.

Official sources & latest updates

Checked 29 October 2026. Admissions, programmes and tuition refer to fall 2027. QS World University Rankings 2027: tied #329.

The brochure states 46 majors, while its linked spreadsheet contains 45 named entries; all 45 are included here. The spreadsheet’s bilingual labels take precedence over the brochure’s general “all Chinese” wording. Tianjin’s award notice closes on 31 May; the undergraduate guide advises 30 May, which is the planning date used here. Some separate 2027 scholarship conditions remain unpublished.