Painted AI illustration inspired by the Song’en building and Jiageng architecture of Xiamen University

XMUXiamen, Fujian, China

International undergraduate study

Xiamen University

厦门大学

A century of learning, with the sea on your doorstep

Founded 1921
Double First-Class
Project 985
Project 211

Verified official XMU sourcesUpdated 28 September 2026

QS ranking#=303

LocationXiamen, Fujian

Teaching languageChinese & English

Degree length4–6 years

Tuition / yearRMB 24k–90k

Application status2026 closed

01/ 11Overview

A remarkable place to begin.

Founded in 1921 by Tan Kah Kee. A coastal research university where a distinctive academic tradition meets the sea, with strengths from economics to marine science.

Explore XMU’s story and strengths

A university with a founding purpose

Tan Kah Kee established Xiamen University in 1921, making it the first Chinese university founded by an overseas Chinese benefactor. Its red roofs and Jiageng architecture remain a distinctive part of the historic Siming campus.

Research across land and sea

Chemistry, marine science, biology, ecology, statistics and education are its six nationally designated Double First-Class disciplines. Economics, management, law and computing broaden the undergraduate choice.

Choose your campus as well as your subject

Programmes on this page are taught at Siming, Xiang’an or Zhangzhou in China. English-taught medicine is at Xiang’an; the three English-taught design programmes are at Zhangzhou. Xiamen University Malaysia has its own admissions arrangements.

Strong science and business options
Explore marine science and chemistry alongside accounting, economics, finance, law and technology.
Study in Chinese or English
A broad Chinese-taught catalogue, plus English-taught medicine and three creative design degrees.
A distinctive coastal setting
Subtropical greenery, red-roofed campus buildings and a city known for its waterfront and island heritage.

02/ 11Language requirements

What language do you need?

Chinese language HSK 4 or 5 · 210+ 210+ for most degrees; OEC Chinese Language has a separate threshold Scores, alternatives & exam details

Chinese-taught degrees · level and minimum score
Programme group	HSK requirement
Humanities, business, law & arts	HSK 5 · 210+
Science, engineering, medicine & physical education	HSK 4 · 210+
OEC Chinese Language · first-year entry	HSK 3 · 180+

Accepted alternatives

A high-school certificate confirming Chinese as the language of instruction

OEC Chinese Language also permits an application for second-year entry after enrolment with HSK 4 at 210+. The lower HSK threshold applies only to this degree. The Department of Chinese Language and Literature follows the general humanities requirement.

English language IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 80 For all four English-taught degrees; accepted alternatives below Scores, alternatives & exam details

Accepted alternatives

High-school proof of English-medium instruction
Exemption for applicants from countries where English is an official language
Equivalent English evidence recognised by XMU

Use IELTS Academic. The published TOEFL requirement is 80 on the 0–120 scale; the 2026 guide does not give a converted 1–6 score. XMU’s TOEFL institution code is C310.

03/ 11Entry requirements

Your grades. Your starting point.

Official requirementPublished by XMU

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

Chinese-taught degrees; Chinese Language applicants with valid HSK 4 are exempt.

Chinese-taught only

Mathematics

All degrees, including English design and MBBS.

Required

Physics

Science, engineering, agriculture and medicine: at least one of Physics or Chemistry.

One or both*

Chemistry

Science, engineering, agriculture and medicine: at least one of Chemistry or Physics.

One or both*

* Science, engineering, agriculture and medicine need at least one of Physics or Chemistry. English-taught design needs Mathematics only; MBBS also needs at least one science paper. An HSK exemption from Chinese does not remove the Mathematics requirement.

Take the papers in the teaching language of your programme. Official exam details

05/ 11Admission routes

Find your way in.

Application dates & eligibility

Official route details

06/ 11Application process

From application to arrival.

Step 01

Choose your programme

Check your teaching language, campus, academic background and funding route. An optional pre-acceptance letter stamped by the relevant college gives priority in admission.

Documents that deserve an early start

Application materials

Personal statement

Your preparation and study plan

Explain your background, academic preparation, study plan and career goals in your programme’s teaching language. Write at least 800 Chinese characters or 800 English words, as applicable.

Language & CSCA results

Your required test evidence

Prepare your HSK or English-language evidence and the CSCA papers for your degree. All applicants need Mathematics; Chinese-taught degrees normally also require Chinese, while science, engineering, agriculture and medicine require Physics and/or Chemistry. Take CSCA in your programme’s teaching language. Allow time to receive your results before applying. If you qualify for a language-test exemption, provide the required language-of-instruction certificate.

Recommendation letter

A referee who knows your academic work

Prepare HSK or English evidence and the CSCA combination listed above. Obtain results before applying; language-test exemptions need the required language-of-instruction certificate.

All other required documents

Passport and family identity documents
Passport photo page, birth certificate and parents’ identity documents. The 2026 guide requires passport validity beyond 31 October 2026; provide additional nationality and residence records when applicable.
Diploma and complete transcripts
Upload your high-school graduation certificate and academic record. Final-year students may use expected-graduation evidence, then provide the final diploma before enrolment.
Medical examination
Complete the official form with its required X-ray, ECG and laboratory reports, your photograph and the hospital stamp. The examination is valid for six months.
Financial guarantee
Complete the financial support guarantee and attach supporting evidence. Scholarship applicants must also provide it.
No-criminal-record certificate
Provide a valid report issued within the six months before you submit the application.
Art or design portfolio
Art applicants must provide a portfolio, such as artwork or videos. Include material relevant to your chosen design or performance subject.
Guardian and scholarship forms
Applicants under 18 need the guardian guarantee. Add the relevant scholarship application form and recommending-institution letter where the funding scheme requires them.
Optional supporting evidence
A college-stamped pre-acceptance letter receives admission priority. Awards, service and skills certificates can support your application.

Documents outside Chinese or English need notarised translations into either language. Bring originals to registration; postal submission is only needed if XMU requests it.

XMU application portal Email admissions

07/ 11Subjects

What will you study?

84 options

Browse all 84 options

Major	Programme details	School / department	Language
Materials Science and Engineering	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Materials · Siming	Chinese
Theater, Film, and Television Literature	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Film · Siming	Chinese
Electronic Information Engineering	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Electronic Science and Engineering · Xiang'an	Chinese
Electronic Information Science and Technology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Electronic Science and Engineering · Xiang'an	Chinese
Integrated Circuit Design and Integrated System	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Electronic Science and Engineering · Xiang'an	Chinese
Microelectronic Science and Technology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Electronic Science and Engineering · Xiang'an	Chinese
Law	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Law · Siming	Chinese
Public Administration	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Public Affairs · Siming	Chinese
Politics and Administration	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Public Affairs · Siming	Chinese
Medical Laboratory Technology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Public Health · Xiang'an	Chinese
Preventive Medicine	Chinese-taught · 5 years	School of Public Health · Xiang'an	Chinese
Financial Management	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Management · Siming	Chinese
E-Commerce	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Management · Siming	Chinese
Management Science	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Management · Siming	Chinese
Accounting	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Management · Siming	Chinese
Auditing	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Management · Siming	Chinese
Tourism Management	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Management · Siming	Chinese
Business Administration	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Management · Siming	Chinese
Human Resource Management	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Management · Siming	Chinese
Marketing	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Management · Siming	Chinese
International Politics	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of International Relations · Siming	Chinese
Chinese Language (Education)	Chinese-taught · 4 years	Chinese International Education College/Overseas Education College · Xiang'an	Chinese
Chinese Language (Trade)	Chinese-taught · 4 years	Chinese International Education College/Overseas Education College · Xiang'an	Chinese
Chinese Language (Culture)	Chinese-taught · 4 years	Chinese International Education College/Overseas Education College · Xiang'an	Chinese
Marine Science	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Ocean and Earth Sciences — Geological Oceanography; Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry; Marine Biological Science and Technology; Physical Oceanography · Xiang'an	Chinese
Marine Technology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Ocean and Earth Sciences — Marine Biological Science and Technology; Applied Marine Physics and Engineering · Xiang'an	Chinese
Aircraft Power Engineering	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Aerospace Engineering · Xiang'an	Chinese
Aircraft Design and Engineering	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Aerospace Engineering · Xiang'an	Chinese
Mechanical Design and Manufacturing and Automation	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Aerospace Engineering · Xiang'an	Chinese
Measuring and Control Technology and Instruments	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Aerospace Engineering · Xiang'an	Chinese
Automation	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Aerospace Engineering · Xiang'an	Chinese
Chemical Engineering and Technology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering · Siming	Chinese
Chemical Biology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering · Siming	Chinese
Chemistry	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering · Siming	Chinese
Chemistry Metrology and Technology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering · Siming	Chinese
Energy Chemistry	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering · Siming	Chinese
Environmental Science	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of the Environment and Ecology · Xiang'an	Chinese
Ecology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of the Environment and Ecology · Xiang'an	Chinese
Urban and Rural Planning	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Architecture and Civil Engineering · Siming	Chinese
Architecture	Chinese-taught · 5 years	School of Architecture and Civil Engineering · Siming	Chinese
Civil Engineering	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Architecture and Civil Engineering · Siming	Chinese
Public Finance	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Economics · Siming	Chinese
Taxation	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Economics · Siming	Chinese
International Economics and Trade	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Economics · Siming	Chinese
Financial Engineering	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Economics · Siming	Chinese
Finance	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Economics · Siming	Chinese
Economics	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Economics · Siming	Chinese
Archaeology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of History and Cultural Heritage · Siming	Chinese
History	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of History and Cultural Heritage · Siming	Chinese
Energy Storage Science and Engineering	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Energy · Xiang'an	Chinese
New Energy Science and Engineering	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Energy · Xiang'an	Chinese
Anthropology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Sociology and Anthropology · Siming	Chinese
Sociology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Sociology and Anthropology · Siming	Chinese
Biotechnology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Life Sciences · Xiang'an	Chinese
Biological Science	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Life Sciences · Xiang'an	Chinese
Statistics	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Mathematical Sciences · Siming	Chinese
Mathematics and Applied Mathematics	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Mathematical Sciences · Siming	Chinese
Information and Computational Science	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Mathematical Sciences · Siming	Chinese
French	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Foreign Languages and Cultures · Siming	Chinese
Russian	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Foreign Languages and Cultures · Siming	Chinese
Spanish	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Foreign Languages and Cultures · Siming	Chinese
Japanese	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Foreign Languages and Cultures · Siming	Chinese
English	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Foreign Languages and Cultures · Siming	Chinese
Astronomy	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Physical Science and Technology · Siming	Chinese
Physics	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Physical Science and Technology · Siming	Chinese
Communication	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Journalism and Communication · Siming	Chinese
Advertising	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Journalism and Communication · Siming	Chinese
International Journalism and Communication	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Journalism and Communication · Siming	Chinese
Journalism	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Journalism and Communication · Siming	Chinese
Computer Science and Technology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Informatics · Xiang'an	Chinese
Artificial Intelligence	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Informatics · Xiang'an	Chinese
Software Engineering	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Informatics · Xiang'an	Chinese
Communication Engineering	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Informatics · Xiang'an	Chinese
Pharmacy	Chinese-taught · 4 years	School of Pharmaceutical Sciences · Xiang'an	Chinese
Art	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Arts · Siming	Chinese
Music Performance	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Arts · Siming	Chinese
Musicology	Chinese-taught · 4 years	College of Arts · Siming	Chinese
Philosophy	Chinese-taught · 4 years	Department of Philosophy · Siming	Chinese
Chinese Language	Chinese-taught · 4 years	Department of Chinese Language and Literature · Siming	Chinese
Chinese Language and Literature	Chinese-taught · 4 years	Department of Chinese Language and Literature · Siming	Chinese
Environmental Design	English-taught · 4 years	Institute of Creativity and Innovation · Zhangzhou	English
Visual Communication Design	English-taught · 4 years	Institute of Creativity and Innovation · Zhangzhou	English
Digital Media Art	English-taught · 4 years	Institute of Creativity and Innovation · Zhangzhou	English
Clinical Medicine (MBBS)	English-taught · 6 years	School of Medicine · Xiang'an	English

How you choose your majorApply for your chosen programme. Early study includes shared courses before you continue in the admitted major. Marine Science and Marine Technology each combine several departmental destinations shown in the school column. The four English-taught options have separate language and tuition requirements; XMU Malaysia is outside this catalogue.

Official admission catalogue

08/ 11Annual budget

What will one year cost?

Tuition by subject

Estimated annual total · RMB80,800

Tuition

RMB / year24,000Published tuition reference

Accommodation

RMB / year30,000Living-cost estimate

Food

RMB / year18,000Living-cost estimate

Transport

RMB / year2,400Living-cost estimate

Other costs

RMB / year6,400Living-cost estimate

What’s included in the estimate?

Tuition

Humanities RMB 24,000; other Chinese-taught categories, including business, law, arts and OEC Chinese Language, RMB 26,000. MBBS RMB 38,000; English-taught design RMB 90,000.

Accommodation

Private-rental allowance; campus rooms can cost considerably less.

12 months × RMB 2,500, using XMU’s Siming-area rental reference

Food

Campus dining and everyday meals.

12 months × RMB 1,500, the upper end of XMU’s food estimate

Transport

Buses, metro and occasional local taxi journeys.

ChinaStudyGuide estimate: RMB 200 per month; flights excluded

Other costs

RMB 800 required medical insurance plus books, phone, utilities and everyday essentials.

RMB 800 insurance + RMB 5,600 planning allowance; deposits and visa fees excluded

Tuition is from the 2026 official guide. The total uses a 12-month private-rental budget; see Accommodation for published campus rates. Living allowances are estimates, not a university bill.

09/ 11Scholarships

Big ambitions. Extra support.

National scholarship

Chinese Government Scholarship

FundingFull or partial support

Competition*Very high

Coverage

Tuition
Accommodation support
Medical insurance
Living allowance: RMB 2,500/month for full awards

Application: Type A: home-country authority or Chinese embassy. Type B: CSC and XMU portals; agency 10384. The 2026 Type B deadline was 15 February.
CSCA: Required for undergraduate admission
Selection: Academic and language assessment, followed by CSC approval. Type B: under 25; undergraduate places depend on the approved programmes. Partial awards include only the benefits in the award notice.

Official scholarship details

Provincial scholarship

Fujian Government Scholarship

FundingRMB 30,000 / year

Competition*High

Coverage

Contribution to study costs
Contribution to living expenses

Application: XMU portal and scholarship form. The 2026 deadline was 10 April.
CSCA: Required for undergraduate admission
Selection: XMU nomination and provincial approval; under 30 with at least HSK 3-equivalent Chinese and the programme’s language standard. About 20 new-student awards across study levels. One year of funding; renewal requires review. Payment is normally near year-end.

Official scholarship details

University scholarship

XMU New International Students Scholarship

FundingTuition waiver

Competition*Very high

Coverage

Tuition
Accommodation and living expenses excluded

Application: XMU portal and scholarship form. The 2026 deadline was 10 April.
CSCA: Required for undergraduate admission
Selection: Academic merit, language and overall application. Five 2026 undergraduate awards for Chinese-taught applicants under 25; four or five years, subject to annual review.

Official scholarship details

Chinese language education

International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship

FundingFull support

Competition*High

Coverage

Tuition
Accommodation
Medical insurance
Living allowance: RMB 2,500/month

Application: Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship portal, with a recommending institution. The 2026 window was 1 March–15 May.
CSCA: Mathematics required; a valid HSK 4 certificate exempts Chinese Language applicants from Chinese
Selection: Language results, geographical distribution and teaching potential; priority for a confirmed teaching role after graduation. Normally under 25; HSK 4 at 210+ and HSKK Intermediate at 60+. Four years for the Chinese Language education degree.

Official scholarship details

* Competition levels are ChinaStudyGuide planning estimates, not published acceptance rates. The Tan Kah Kee Scholarship is suspended in the 2026 undergraduate guide.

Explore the scholarship guide

10/ 11Accommodation

Find your Xiamen base.

On campus

International student dormitories

Shared campus living, with rates and room types that vary by location.

Limited availabilityLocations & practical details

Locations: Siming: twin rooms, RMB 35–65/day. Xiang’an: twin rooms in shared suites, RMB 1,600–4,000/academic year. Zhangzhou: four-person rooms, RMB 1,100–1,200/academic year.
Best for: Students who want a campus routine, especially scholarship holders with funded housing
Plan for: Water, electricity and internet are extra. Funded scholarship housing receives priority; the standard academic-year stay ends on 31 July.

Off campus

Private rental in Xiamen

Independent living, with a lease, bills and a commute to organise.

More flexibilityLocations & practical details

Locations: Choose near your assigned campus. XMU gives around RMB 2,500/month as a reference near Siming; Xiang’an and Zhangzhou are separate locations with different rental markets.
Best for: Students who prefer more independence or do not receive a campus room allocation
Plan for: A rental deposit, utilities and a practical door-to-door commute. Confirm the teaching campus before signing a lease.

Have a housing backup. Self-funded students and scholarship students without funded housing receive only the remaining campus places. Arrange an alternative before travelling if a room has not been allocated.

11/ 11Student life

A campus to call home. A city to discover.

Painted AI interpretation of Furong Lake and red-roofed campus halls at Xiamen University

Furong Lake, reimagined

Painted AI interpretation of Gulangyu’s villas and the Xiamen waterfront

Beyond the campus gates

Xiamen after class

Xiamen pairs waterfront walks with cafés, Minnan food and historic arcaded streets. Explore Gulangyu on a free day, or stay closer to campus for seaside paths and neighbourhood meals. Xiang’an and Zhangzhou offer a different daily setting from central Siming.

Campus routine

Build your week around lectures, libraries, dining halls, sport and student activities. Siming’s lakeside paths and red-roofed architecture give the historic campus a distinctive character.

Around your campus

Siming is close to the city’s southern waterfront and Nanputuo Temple. Xiang’an is across the bay; Zhangzhou is another campus setting again. Your programme determines where you study.

Weekends by the sea

Walk along the coast, explore Zhongshan Road’s arcades or take a ferry trip to Gulangyu. Expect hot, humid summers and plan outdoor days around the weather.

Keep exploring

More universities. More possibilities.

Official sources & latest updates

Admissions checked on 28 September 2026 against the latest published 2026 undergraduate guidance. The 2026 cycle is closed; 2027 undergraduate dates were not yet published. QS ranking uses the 2027 edition.

Academic targets, competition levels and living allowances are ChinaStudyGuide estimates. The Chinese admissions guide takes precedence over the English translation.

Xiamen University

A university with a founding purpose

Research across land and sea

Choose your campus as well as your subject

Strong science and business options

Study in Chinese or English

A distinctive coastal setting

Accepted alternatives

Accepted alternatives

Official requirementPublished by XMU

Competitive estimateChinaStudyGuide target

Choose your programme

Documents that deserve an early start

Personal statement

Language & CSCA results

Recommendation letter

Passport and family identity documents

Diploma and complete transcripts

Medical examination

Financial guarantee

No-criminal-record certificate

Art or design portfolio

Guardian and scholarship forms

Optional supporting evidence

Tuition

Accommodation

Food

Transport

Other costs

Tuition

Accommodation

Food

Transport

Other costs

Chinese Government Scholarship

Coverage

Fujian Government Scholarship

Coverage

XMU New International Students Scholarship

Coverage

International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship

Coverage

International student dormitories

Private rental in Xiamen

Xiamen after class