Painted AI illustration inspired by Tsinghua University's white Second Gate among sunlit trees
Tsinghua University official seal

THUBeijing, China

International undergraduate study

Tsinghua University

清华大学

Engineering, science and innovation at a global leader

  • Founded 1911
  • C9 League
  • Project 985
  • Project 211
Verified official THU sourcesUpdated 2 September 2026
QS ranking#14
LocationBeijing
Teaching languageChinese / English
Degree length4–8 years
Tuition guideRMB 26k–100k
Application status2026 closed

01/ 11Overview

A remarkable place to begin.

Founded in 1911 as a school preparing students for study abroad, Tsinghua has grown into a leading research university with a strong engineering tradition.

Explore THU’s story and strengths

History & identity

Founded in 1911 as Tsing Hua Imperial College, Tsinghua began as a preparatory school for study in the United States and became a national university in 1928. Its engineering identity took shape after the 1952 university restructuring. Since 1978, it has rebuilt a broader range of disciplines while retaining its historic garden campus in Beijing’s Haidian district.

Academic strengths

Engineering is central to Tsinghua’s academic identity, with extensive opportunities in computing, technology, and interdisciplinary research. Students can also pursue architecture, science, and a wider range of subjects through its schools and residential colleges. The English-taught options include engineering, urban design, social sciences, and a joint economics degree.

  • Academic and research excellence

    Study engineering, science and wider disciplines in a demanding research environment.

  • International opportunities

    Explore partnerships and exchanges offered through your school or programme.

  • A historic garden campus

    Make Beijing’s green university district your base for campus life and cultural discovery.

02/ 11Language requirements

What language do you need?

Chinese language HSK 5+ · over 60 in each section For Chinese programmes; no HSK certificate for fully English programmes Scores, alternatives & exam details

Accepted alternatives

  • HSK 4 with over 60 in each section, progressing to HSK 5 in year one. Native Chinese speakers and Chinese-medium high-school graduates may request a waiver.

Chinese-taught programmes require Chinese proficiency. No Chinese-language certificate is required for fully English-taught programmes.

English language TOEFL / IELTS or equivalent Required for Chinese and English programmes; no general minimum score published Scores, alternatives & exam details

Accepted alternatives

  • Other English proficiency tests are accepted. Native English speakers do not need a test report.

English evidence is required for both Chinese-taught and English-taught programmes. No university-wide minimum score is published; the THU–CUHK Economics degree has separate score guidance.

03/ 11Entry requirements

Your grades. Your starting point.

Compare the published requirement with a competitive target.

Official requirementPublished by THU

Competitive estimateChinaStudyGuide target

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

The THU–CUHK Economics degree has separate published competitive guidance. View the programme requirements ↗

04/ 11CSCA

Do you need CSCA?

General admissionNot required
Chinese Government ScholarshipRequired
Which CSCA subjects do you need?
Chinese

Humanities Chinese or STEM Chinese for the intended degree.

Required
Mathematics

All undergraduate CSC scholarship applicants.

Required
Physics

Required only where the scholarship programme specifies it.

By programme
Chemistry

Required only where the scholarship programme specifies it.

By programme

Mathematics, physics, and chemistry are offered in Chinese or English. THU has not published a separate scholarship science-paper list. For optional CSCA submissions with a university application, THU recommends mathematics and physics.

Official exam details

05/ 11Admission routes

Find your way in.

Chinese, English, or the THU-CUHK Economics dual degree.

Application dates & eligibility
Official route details

06/ 11Application process

From application to arrival.

Step 01

Complete the online application

Create an account, choose your programme or admission category, and upload your documents in THU’s international application system.

Documents that deserve an early start

Application materials

Personal statement

Chinese or English

Explain your academic interests and preparation, using examples from your studies or projects to show why your chosen programme suits you.

Self-introduction video

Up to 3 minutes

Introduce yourself, your academic interests, and why you want to study at THU. Include Chinese and English, and keep the video file below 20 MB.

Official video instructions

Recommendation letters

Two letters required

Choose two referees who can describe your academic ability and potential. Enter their email addresses in your application so they can submit their recommendations directly.

All other required documents

  • Passport and nationality evidence

    Applicant and parents’ passport pages, plus visa, entry stamps, and additional citizenship evidence where applicable.

  • Graduation and transcripts

    Diploma or expected-graduation proof, high-school transcripts, and university records if applicable.

  • Academic test results

    National, regional, or international examination results relevant to your application.

  • Language evidence

    HSK or approved waiver for Chinese-taught programmes; English evidence for both teaching routes unless you are a native English speaker.

  • Curriculum vitae

    A CV in Chinese or English.

  • Financial sponsor documents

    Sponsor form and employment or income evidence.

  • Portfolio, awards, and additional materials

    Portfolio for Architecture or Design/Fine Arts; include relevant awards and any other requested evidence.

  • Guardian documents, if under 18

    For 2026 registration, a legal guardian living in Beijing with an income is required.

Upload colour scans in Chinese or English. Documents in another language need the original plus a notarised translation. Follow any additional instructions in your programme guide.

THU application portal Email admissions

Applying through CUHK for the Economics dual degree? Use CUHK’s application guide for its forms, fee, and documents ↗

07/ 11Subjects

What will you study?

82 options
Browse all 82 options

THU undergraduate admission catalogue

MajorAdmission categorySchool / departmentLanguage
Aerospace Engineering (Engineering Mechanics, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Energy and Power Engineering)College admissionDushi CollegeChinese
ArchitectureArchitectureSchool of ArchitectureChinese
ArchitectureUrban Regeneration and DesignZijing CollegeEnglish
Art HistoryArtsAcademy of Arts and DesignChinese
Artificial IntelligenceCollege admissionWuqiong CollegeChinese
AutomationAutomationDepartment of AutomationChinese
Biological ScienceChemistry and Life ScienceSchool of Life SciencesChinese
Biomedical EngineeringCollege admissionWeixian CollegeChinese
Building Environment and Energy EngineeringCollege admissionZiqiang CollegeChinese
Carbon Neutrality and New EnergyCollege admissionZiqiang CollegeChinese
Chemical BiologyChemistry and Life ScienceDepartment of ChemistryChinese
Chemical Engineering and Industrial Biological EngineeringChemistry and Life ScienceDepartment of Chemical EngineeringChinese
ChemistryChemistry and Life ScienceDepartment of ChemistryChinese
Chinese Language and LiteratureCollege admissionRixin CollegeChinese
Choose your major after Year 1College admissionXinya CollegeChinese
Civil Engineering and SystemsCollege admissionShuimu CollegeChinese
Civil Engineering and SystemsGlobal Talents in Science and EngineeringZijing CollegeEnglish
Clinical Medicine (Outstanding Physician-Scientist Program)Clinical MedicineSchool of MedicineChinese
Computer Science and TechnologyComputer ScienceDepartment of Computer Science and TechnologyChinese
Creative Design and Intelligent EngineeringCollege admissionXinya CollegeChinese
DesignArtsAcademy of Arts and DesignChinese
EconomicsCollege admissionZhishan CollegeChinese
EconomicsPolitics, Economics and Sociology for Global Leaders in Smart SocietyZhishan CollegeEnglish
Economics (dual degree)THU–CUHK EconomicsTsinghua University / CUHKEnglish
Economics and Finance (International Program)Economics, Finance and ManagementSchool of Economics and ManagementChinese
Electrical Engineering and AutomationCollege admissionZiqiang CollegeChinese
Electrical Engineering and AutomationGlobal Talents in Science and EngineeringZijing CollegeEnglish
Electronic Information Science and TechnologyElectronic Information; College admissionDepartment of Electronic Engineering; Shuimu CollegeChinese
Electronic Information Science and TechnologyGlobal Talents in Science and EngineeringZijing CollegeEnglish
Energy and Power EngineeringCollege admissionZiqiang CollegeChinese
Energy MaterialsCollege admissionZiqiang CollegeChinese
Energy Storage and Hydrogen EnergyCollege admissionZiqiang CollegeChinese
Engineering ManagementCollege admissionShuimu CollegeChinese
English Language (Class of World Literatures and Cultures)College admissionRixin CollegeChinese
Environmental Systems and Information TechnologyCollege admissionXiuzhong CollegeChinese
Fine ArtsArtsAcademy of Arts and DesignChinese
Fundamental Sciences (Mathematics and Physics)Mathematics, Physics and Modern EngineeringDepartment of PhysicsChinese
Green Economy and Global GovernanceCollege admissionXiuzhong CollegeChinese
HistoryCollege admissionRixin CollegeChinese
Industrial EngineeringCollege admissionDushi College; Shuimu CollegeChinese
Information Management and Information SystemsAutomation; Economics, Finance and ManagementSchool of Economics and ManagementChinese
Information TechnologyCollege admissionWeixian CollegeChinese
Intelligent Power EngineeringCollege admissionZiqiang CollegeChinese
Interdisciplinary EngineeringCollege admissionWeixian College; Xiuzhong College; Dushi College; Ziqiang College; Shuimu CollegeChinese
Interdisciplinary EngineeringGlobal Talents in Science and EngineeringZijing CollegeEnglish
International PoliticsCollege admissionZhishan CollegeChinese
International RelationsPolitics, Economics and Sociology for Global Leaders in Smart SocietyZhishan CollegeEnglish
Japanese LanguageCollege admissionRixin CollegeChinese
Landscape ArchitectureArchitectureSchool of ArchitectureChinese
Landscape ArchitectureUrban Regeneration and DesignZijing CollegeEnglish
LawLawSchool of LawChinese
Life Sciences and HealthCollege admissionWeixian CollegeChinese
Low-Carbon EnergyCollege admissionWeixian CollegeChinese
Materials Science and EngineeringCollege admissionWeixian CollegeChinese
Measurement, Control Technology and InstrumentsCollege admissionWeixian CollegeChinese
Measurement, Control Technology and InstrumentsGlobal Talents in Science and EngineeringZijing CollegeEnglish
Mechanical EngineeringIntelligent Manufacturing and EquipmentDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringChinese
Mechanical EngineeringGlobal Talents in Science and EngineeringZijing CollegeEnglish
Mechanical Engineering (Elite Program)Intelligent Manufacturing and EquipmentDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringChinese
Mind, Brain & MachineCollege admissionXinya CollegeChinese
PhilosophyCollege admissionRixin CollegeChinese
Philosophy, Politics and EconomicsCollege admissionXinya CollegeChinese
PhysicsMathematics, Physics and Modern EngineeringDepartment of PhysicsChinese
Political SciencePolitics, Economics and Sociology for Global Leaders in Smart SocietyZhishan CollegeEnglish
Politics and Public AdministrationCollege admissionZhishan CollegeChinese
Polymer Materials and EngineeringChemistry and Life ScienceDepartment of Chemical EngineeringChinese
Power Semiconductor Devices and TechnologyCollege admissionZiqiang CollegeChinese
Pure and Applied MathematicsMathematics, Physics and Modern EngineeringDepartment of Mathematical SciencesChinese
Resources, Energy, and Climate ChangeCollege admissionXiuzhong CollegeChinese
Smart EngineeringCollege admissionWeixian CollegeChinese
Smart GridCollege admissionZiqiang CollegeChinese
SociologyCollege admissionZhishan CollegeChinese
SociologyPolitics, Economics and Sociology for Global Leaders in Smart SocietyZhishan CollegeEnglish
Software EngineeringCollege admissionDushi College; Shuimu CollegeChinese
StatisticsMathematics, Physics and Modern Engineering; College admissionDepartment of Statistics and Data Science; Zhishan CollegeChinese
Sustainable Cities and Ecological SpacesCollege admissionXiuzhong CollegeChinese
Traffic EngineeringGlobal Talents in Science and EngineeringZijing CollegeEnglish
Transportation EngineeringCollege admissionShuimu CollegeChinese
Urban and Rural PlanningArchitectureSchool of ArchitectureChinese
Urban PlanningUrban Regeneration and DesignZijing CollegeEnglish
Vehicle EngineeringIntelligent Manufacturing and Equipment; College admissionSchool of Vehicle and Mobility; Ziqiang CollegeChinese
Vehicle EngineeringGlobal Talents in Science and EngineeringZijing CollegeEnglish

How you choose your majorMost division entrants choose their major after a shared first year. Xinya students also choose after Year 1, from across THU except eight-year Clinical Medicine and Academy of Arts & Design programmes. Colleges may follow different curricula and selection rules, even for the same major. Chinese options require Chinese proficiency and may include some English courses; English options can be completed in English.

Official admission catalogue

08/ 11Annual budget

What will one year cost?

Estimated annual total · RMB111,000

Tuition

RMB / year26,000Published tuition reference

Accommodation

RMB / year48,000Living-cost estimate

Food

RMB / year24,000Living-cost estimate

Transport

RMB / year5,000Living-cost estimate

Other costs

RMB / year8,000Living-cost estimate
What’s included in the estimate?

Tuition

Choose the subject group for your degree

Accommodation

Room type and location make the biggest difference

About RMB 4,000 a month

Food

Campus dining plus everyday meals

About RMB 2,000 a month

Transport

Metro, buses, and occasional taxis

Local travel across the year

Other costs

Insurance, books, phone, and everyday essentials

Personal spending will vary

Official tuition: division and college rates ↗ · English-taught programme guides ↗. The RMB 26,000 group includes Xinya, Rixin, and Zhishan’s Chinese-taught routes. Living costs are planning estimates. For THU–CUHK Economics, this budget covers a year at THU; CUHK sets separate fees for study in Hong Kong.

09/ 11Scholarships

Big ambitions. Extra support.

National scholarship

Chinese Government Scholarship

FundingFull or partial scholarship
Competition*Very high

Coverage

  • Tuition
  • Accommodation
  • Insurance
  • Living allowance
Application
Home-country authority · Type A; THU as first choice
CSCA
Required
Selection
University assessment, nomination, and CSC decision
Official scholarship details
University scholarship

Tsinghua University Institutional Scholarship

FundingFull, half, or partial award
Competition*High

Coverage

  • First academic year
  • Award-specific coverage
Application
Follow THU’s freshman scholarship instructions
CSCA
No separate requirement published
Selection
Outstanding international freshmen
Official scholarship details

Competition levels are ChinaStudyGuide estimates. CSC coverage shown is for a full award; partial awards differ. CSC eligibility for THU’s English-taught degrees is not specified in its published guides. THU’s institutional award is for year one, so plan how you will fund later years.

Explore the scholarship guide

10/ 11Accommodation

Find your Beijing base.

On campus

International student dormitories

Closest to classes, libraries, dining halls, and campus services.

Limited availabilityLocations & practical details
Locations
Zijing International Student Apartments; designated college residences for some programmes
Best for
First-year students who want a simpler, campus-based routine
Plan for
Book within the announced window; confirm room type, price, and any college-specific arrangements
Off campus

Private rental in Beijing

More choice and independence, with greater responsibility for cost and commuting.

More flexibilityLocations & practical details
Locations
Haidian, Wudaokou, or another neighbourhood with a practical journey to campus
Best for
Students who know Beijing or want more independence than a dormitory
Plan for
Rent near THU, a deposit, contract checks, commuting time, and local address registration

Have a housing backup. Rooms are subject to booking availability. The general housing guide lists double and triple rooms; residential colleges may use designated buildings. Arrange a private-rental backup if you do not secure a room.

11/ 11Student life

A campus to call home. A city to discover.

Painted AI interpretation inspired by Tsinghua University's historic domed Great Auditorium in Beijing
Tsinghua's Great Auditorium
AI city illustration combining traditional and modern Beijing
Beyond the campus gates

Beijing after class

Haidian and Wudaokou put university life, cafes, restaurants, and study spaces close to campus. Further across Beijing, you can explore imperial landmarks, galleries, live music, parks, and neighbourhood food streets.

Campus routine

Classes, laboratories, libraries, dining halls, sports, and student societies shape the week on a spacious campus.

Around Haidian

Nearby universities and Wudaokou’s cafes and restaurants create a lively student neighbourhood.

Weekends in Beijing

The Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan are nearby; the wider city offers museums, hutongs, concerts, and galleries.

Keep exploring

More universities. More possibilities.

Official sources & latest updates

Checked on 2 September 2026 against THU’s 2026 undergraduate admissions material. The QS figure is from the 2027 ranking edition.

Published THU-channel deadlines for 2026 have passed. Use the next intake’s notice when it is released. THU’s scholarship overview still contains old application dates; obtain your current country deadline from the relevant embassy or authority. Grade targets, competition levels, and living costs on this page are ChinaStudyGuide estimates.