Painted interpretation inspired by Northwestern Polytechnical University’s Chang’an entrance, university name stone and Qinling foothills
Northwestern Polytechnical University official seal

NPUXi’an, China

International undergraduate study

Northwestern Polytechnical University

西北工业大学

An aerospace tradition in Xi’an

  • Founded 1938
  • Project 985
  • Project 211
  • Double First-Class
Verified official sourcesUpdated 2 November 2026
QS ranking#=425
LocationXi’an
Teaching languageEnglish and Chinese
Degree length4 years
Tuition guideRMB 22k–25k
Application statusOpen · fall 2027

01/ 11Overview

A remarkable place to begin.

Founded in 1938. An engineering-led Project 985 / 211 university with a distinctive aerospace tradition. This guide covers 2027 international undergraduate study at Youyi and Chang’an in Xi’an.

Explore NPU’s story and strengths

History & identity

Founded in 1938, NPU is a public research university under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It belongs to Project 985, Project 211 and the Double First-Class initiative, with aeronautics, astronautics and marine engineering at its core.

Academic strengths

Aeronautical and astronautical science, materials science and mechanical engineering are NPU’s national Double First-Class disciplines. International undergraduates can choose two distinct Aerospace Engineering programmes, alongside materials, computing, engineering, biotechnology, business and languages.

Your campus

Youyi is the urban Xi’an campus; Chang’an is near the Qinling foothills. Academic schools are based across both. Your admission and registration arrangements determine your teaching and residence location; the international catalogue does not promise a campus choice.

  • Aerospace at the centre

    Explore internationally listed Aerospace Engineering degrees through the School of Aeronautics or the School of Astronautics.

  • A global engineering community

    Join international classmates at a university with a worldwide network of academic and research partners.

  • An ancient city, two campus settings

    Combine life in historic Xi’an with the urban Youyi campus or the greener Chang’an setting near the Qinling hills.

02/ 11Language requirements

What language do you need?

Chinese language HSK 5 · 180+ For the three Chinese-taught options Scores, alternatives & exam details
Chinese-taught degrees
International Economics and Trade, Software Engineering and German require HSK 5 with at least 180 points.
Scholarship pre-admission
China Scholarship Council (CSC) Type A pre-admission requires HSK 3 · 180 or equivalent. The Chinese-degree entry requirement still applies.

Accepted alternatives

  • Native Chinese speakers applying for Chinese-taught programmes may have the language certificate waived.

HSK and CSCA Chinese are separate. The required CSCA Chinese paper still depends on your major.

English language IELTS 6.0 · TOEFL 80+ For the 11 English-taught options Scores, alternatives & exam details
IELTS Academic
Overall 6.0+, with no component below 5.5.
TOEFL
80+; iBT, iBT Home Edition and MyBest Scores accepted. NPU institution code: C317.
Other tests
Duolingo 115+; Cambridge International A-Level English grade A; FCE 169+ or CAE 180+. CPE is accepted, but its minimum score is not specified.
English-medium schooling
An English-medium school certificate alone is not a published waiver.

Accepted alternatives

  • Native English speakers applying for English-taught programmes may have the certificate waived; use NPU’s published country list.

The 2027 English foundation course is a separate preparatory programme; it does not guarantee a degree place.

03/ 11Entry requirements

Your grades. Your starting point.

Compare the published requirement with a competitive target.

Official requirementPublished by NPU

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 Chinese for International Economics and Trade and German; STEM Chinese for Software Engineering. English-taught options do not list a Chinese paper.

Chinese-medium
Mathematics

Required for all 14 programme choices, including business and language degrees.

Required
Physics

Required for both Aerospace Engineering programmes, mechanical design, mechanics, electronics, automation, computing and Software Engineering. Materials permits Physics or Chemistry.

Engineering
Chemistry

Required for Biotechnology. Materials Science and Engineering permits Chemistry or Physics, alongside Mathematics.

Biotechnology / materials

For Materials, the programme-specific bilingual preparation guide permits Mathematics + Chemistry or Physics; the general admissions table lists Chemistry only. The specific Chinese wording and preparation guide support the alternative.

Take fundamental papers in your degree’s teaching language. Submit valid results before the interview and no later than 20 May 2027. No minimum CSCA score is published. NPU’s CSCA guide · Official test registration

05/ 11Admission routes

Find your way in.

Apply directly to NPU, or through the CSC Type A scholarship channel.

Application dates & eligibility
Official route details

06/ 11Application process

From application to arrival.

Step 01

Prepare your documents

Choose your programme, arrange the required CSCA papers and prepare your certified records. Match your language evidence to the degree’s teaching language.

Documents that deserve an early start

Application materials

Personal statement

All applicants · official template

Complete NPU’s personal-statement template with your background, motivation and study goals. Type A pre-admission also requires a study plan.

Curriculum vitae

All applicants

Prepare a clear academic CV covering your education, activities and achievements. Add an optional talent-demonstration video only when it supports your application.

CSCA & language tests

All applicants · test results

Prepare your official CSCA report and the Chinese or English certificate required for your programme. Eligible native speakers may have the language certificate waived.

All other required documents

  • Passport and current immigration documents

    Passport valid through at least 31 October 2027; if currently in mainland China, include your valid visa or residence-permit page.

  • High-school diploma and full transcripts

    Provide officially certified or notarised records. You must hold the graduation certificate or equivalent diploma by 1 September 2027.

  • Financial evidence

    Obtain personal or sponsor bank statements for the latest six months, with a remaining balance of at least USD 5,000 or equivalent.

  • Non-criminal record

    An official certificate issued within the six months before application.

  • Foreigner Physical Examination Form

    Valid for six months. Complete every item, with your photograph, hospital cross-seal over the photo, physician signature and hospital seal.

  • Guardian guarantee · under-18 applicants

    Use NPU’s template if you will still be under 18 on 1 November 2027; this is the date printed in the 2027 guide.

  • Nationality and residence evidence · where applicable

    Provide nationality-at-birth, renunciation and household-registration cancellation evidence as applicable. Former Chinese citizens must also demonstrate the required overseas residence history.

  • Awards and supporting achievements · where applicable

    Include certified awards or research-achievement certificates, and any additional documents NPU requests.

Documents must be in Chinese or English; other languages require notarised translations. Keep all originals for registration.

NPU application portal Email admissions Official document templates

07/ 11Subjects

What will you study?

14 options
Browse all 14 options

NPU undergraduate admission catalogue

MajorSchool / departmentLanguage
Aerospace Engineering (Aeronautics)School of AeronauticsEnglish
Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics)School of AstronauticsEnglish
Materials Science and EngineeringSchool of Materials Science and EngineeringEnglish
Mechanical Design & Manufacturing and its AutomationSchool of Mechanical EngineeringEnglish
Engineering MechanicsSchool of Mechanics and Transportation EngineeringEnglish
Electronics and Information EngineeringSchool of Electronics and InformationEnglish
Electrical Engineering and AutomationSchool of AutomationEnglish
Computer Science and TechnologySchool of Computer ScienceEnglish
Business AdministrationSchool of ManagementEnglish
International Economics and TradeSchool of Public Policy and AdministrationChinese
Software EngineeringSchool of SoftwareChinese
BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesEnglish
EnglishSchool of Foreign StudiesEnglish
GermanSchool of Foreign StudiesChinese

How you choose your majorThe two Aerospace Engineering choices belong to different schools and remain separate. Select your major and teaching language carefully: changing them after admission requires special approval. The 2027 list has 11 English and three Chinese options; older Chinese-medium Materials and Biotechnology listings are not part of this intake.

Official admission catalogue

Artificial Intelligence · Kazakhstan 2+2 route

For Kazakh citizens: study in English for two years at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, then two years at NPU in China. The 2026 intake is closed; 2027 entry is not yet confirmed. This route has separate admissions, fees and scholarships. Official route details

08/ 11Annual budget

What will one year cost?

Estimated annual total · RMB50,800

Tuition

RMB / year25,000Official tuition

Accommodation

RMB / year5,400Official triple-room rate

Food

RMB / year14,400Planning estimate

Transport

RMB / year1,200Planning estimate

Other costs

RMB / year4,800Planning allowance
What’s included in the estimate?

Tuition

Official 2027 annual tuition for your teaching language.

Accommodation

Published triple-room rate in the 2027 undergraduate guide.

RMB 5,400/year; room allocation follows NPU arrangements.

Food

Campus meals, groceries and occasional meals out.

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

Transport

Local transport and occasional city trips.

ChinaStudyGuide estimate: RMB 100/month × 12.

Other costs

Insurance, books, phone and everyday essentials.

ChinaStudyGuide allowance: RMB 4,800/year, including published insurance of RMB 800–1,800.

Tuition, room and insurance: 2027 undergraduate guide. Living allowances cover 12 months before scholarships. Flights, visa and residence-permit fees, deposits and the one-time RMB 600 application fee are excluded.

09/ 11Scholarships

Big ambitions. Extra support.

National scholarship

Chinese Government Scholarship · Type A

FundingFull or partial award
Competition*Very high

Coverage

  • Full package: tuition, campus housing and insurance.
  • Undergraduate stipend: RMB 2,500/month.
  • Partial packages depend on the sending agency.

Five majors are starred in the 2027 catalogue. Mechanical Design & Manufacturing and Electronics and Information Engineering are labelled English there, while Type A normally funds Chinese undergraduate study. Their scholarship teaching medium is not reconciled in the notices.

Application
Apply through your dispatching authority and the CSC system, using that authority’s agency number. NPU’s institution code is 10699. For pre-admission, email passport, school certificate and transcripts, CSCA results, study plan and HSK 3 · 180 or equivalent to admission-ug@nwpu.edu.cn.
CSCA
Required; submit the papers for the approved major and teaching medium.
Selection
Country nomination, NPU assessment and final CSC approval. Deadlines and quotas follow the sending agency; awards are subject to annual review.
Official scholarship details
Municipal scholarship

Xi’an Belt and Road International Students Scholarship

Funding25–100% tuition + stipend
Competition*High

Coverage

  • First Prize: 100% tuition.
  • Second Prize: 50% tuition; Third Prize: 25%.
  • Each tier: RMB 1,500/month for ten months.

Campus housing is not listed in this award’s 2027 package. The 2026 guide limited it to the first year; the 2027 guide does not restate a fixed duration, so do not budget four years of guaranteed funding.

Application
Seek consideration through your NPU undergraduate application in the four published batches. No separate 2027 city application form or nationality list is published in the degree guide.
CSCA
Required for undergraduate admission and scholarship assessment.
Selection
Merit-based selection; early applicants receive priority. Funding is subject to review and cannot be combined with another NPU or Chinese government scholarship.
Official scholarship details
University scholarship

NPU Presidential Scholarship

Funding25–100% tuition
Competition*High

Coverage

  • Elite: full tuition, campus housing and RMB 1,500/month × ten months.
  • First Prize: full tuition.
  • Second Prize: 50% tuition; Third Prize: 25%.

Only Elite includes accommodation and a stipend in the published 2027 table. A single award applies; the package and continuation depend on your award letter and annual review.

Application
Seek consideration in the NPU undergraduate portal; scholarship results are emailed after selection in roughly four batches.
CSCA
Required for undergraduate admission and scholarship assessment.
Selection
Merit-based review of the application and assessment. Annual comprehensive review can downgrade or cancel funding; upward tier adjustment is not allowed under the 2027 guide.
Official scholarship details

Competition levels are ChinaStudyGuide estimates; NPU does not publish award acceptance rates. The 2027 tiers supersede older pages. Awards cannot be combined and continuation depends on annual review.

Awards after you enrol

The 2027 guide also names the Chinese Government Outstanding International Student Scholarship, NPU President Scholarship, Shaanxi Government Scholarship and Wu Yajun Alumna Scholarship for current students. Eligibility, amounts and selection follow later university notices; these are not guaranteed entry awards.

Explore the scholarship guide

10/ 11Accommodation

Find your Xi’an base.

On campus

International student dormitories

NPU allocates campus rooms to new students after registration.

University allocatedLocations & practical details
Locations
Youyi and Chang’an campuses in Xi’an. Your school and arrival arrangements determine your accommodation location.
Best for
The normal undergraduate arrangement, with campus services nearby. Rooms are allocated after arrival; freshmen do not need a separate room reservation.
Plan for
The 2027 guide quotes RMB 5,400/year for a triple room. Pay the required annual fee and housing deposit; Elite scholarship housing follows the award terms.
Off campus

Private rental in Xi’an

Off-campus living requires university approval for undergraduate students.

Exception onlyLocations & practical details
Locations
Choose a rental around the campus where you actually study, after written approval; Youyi and Chang’an are in different parts of Xi’an.
Best for
Students whose exceptional circumstances are approved. Current guidance restricts off-campus living in Years 1 and 2.
Plan for
Budget separately for rent, deposits, bills and commuting. Complete local accommodation registration and tell the International College your new address.

Plan your arrival. Follow NPU’s arrival and room-allocation instructions. Undergraduates should plan to live on campus; arrange an approved temporary stay if arriving outside the registration window, and do not sign a private lease without permission.

11/ 11Student life

A campus to call home. A city to discover.

Painted interpretation inspired by NPU’s curved Chang’an library beside a landscaped campus pond
Chang’an’s waterside library
Painted city illustration inspired by Xi’an’s historic architecture
Beyond the campus gates

Xi’an after class

Xi’an brings together its historic city wall, lively neighbourhood food streets and a large university community. Youyi offers a central city base; Chang’an is further south, with a greener setting towards the Qinling mountains.

Campus routine

Build your week around classes, library study, campus dining and student activities. Chang’an’s waterside library and landscaped grounds give the campus a different character from the established urban Youyi site.

Around your campus

Youyi is on West Youyi Road in Beilin district. Chang’an is on Dongxiang Road in Chang’an district; choose everyday shops and meeting places around your assigned campus.

Weekends in Xi’an

Walk beside the city wall, explore neighbourhood food streets or visit the city’s museums and historic sites. Plan longer outings towards the Qinling foothills around your timetable.

Keep exploring

More universities. More possibilities.

Official sources & latest updates

Checked 2 November 2026. Degree admissions, subjects, tuition and entry scholarship tiers refer to September 2027. QS World University Rankings 2027: tied #425.

The 2027 catalogue takes precedence over older programme pages. For Materials CSCA, the specific bilingual preparation guide permits Physics or Chemistry. The CSC teaching-medium conflict, Xi’an award duration and unscored CPE alternative remain explicit publication gaps. Housing guidance uses the current FAQ and linked 2025 arrival rules until a 2027 arrival guide is issued.