Tsinghua University
清华大学
Photo: Costi, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Beijing, Beijing. Founded 1911.
China's leading science & engineering university.
Intl acceptance
Intl tuition / year
HSK requirement
Most Chinese universities publish no acceptance rate, admission is by gaokao score cut-off (domestic) or materials review (international). See selectivity below for how it actually works for each pool.
Strengths
- Engineering
- Computer Science and Technology
- Architecture
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Management Science and Engineering
Admission & selectivity
International applicants
~5–15% (est.)Tsinghua does not publish an international acceptance rate. Admission for students of foreign citizenship is materials-based (application review, sometimes plus interview), not gaokao-based.
Applicants submit high-school/university transcripts, national/regional graduation or matriculation exam certificates, and international standardized test results (SAT/ACT/A-Level/AP/IB/CSCA/etc.).
Chinese-taught programs require HSK Level 5+ (each of listening/reading/writing above 60); HSK 4 admits are conditional on reaching HSK 5 in the first year. English-taught programs require no HSK but require strong English (TOEFL/IELTS) for non-native speakers.
Applicants must generally be 18+ by Sept 1.
Domestic (mainland) students
Top ~0.1% provincial (est.)Domestic (mainland Chinese citizen) undergraduate admission is via the national college entrance examination (gaokao); no acceptance rate is published. Tsinghua is among the most selective schools in China, typically admitting only students in roughly the top fraction of a percent of gaokao takers in each province, with provincial score/ranking cut-offs set each year that place admits near the very top of their province.
Language of instruction
Most undergraduate degrees are taught in Chinese (HSK 5+, HSK 4 conditional). English-taught undergraduate study is limited to two international colleges: Zijing College — Tsinghua's first and only all-English undergraduate international college, centred on engineering and urban planning — and Zhishan College (e.g.
Politics, Economics & Sociology for Global Leaders). These waive HSK but require TOEFL/IELTS for non-native speakers. Many graduate programs, including Schwarzman Scholars, are also English-taught.
RequirementsInternational undergraduate
These figures are for international undergraduateadmission. Master’s and PhD requirements, funding and deadlines differ, see the official site (graduate programs are often more English-taught and better funded).
- HSK level
- HSK Level 5 or above (score ≥60 in each category: Listening, Reading, Writing) for Chinese-taught undergraduate programs; HSK Level 4 (score ≥60 each) accepted conditionally with upgrade required within first academic year
- Minimum GPA
- To be verified
- Tuition / year
- $4,425 / year (¥30,000)
- Application window
- Round 1 (Design/Fine Arts only): 30 Sep 2025 – 28 Nov 2025; Round 2: 29 Nov 2025 – 28 Feb 2026 (Beijing time)
Some requirement details above are still being verified, check the official site.
Colleges & schools19
- School of Humanities
- School of Social Sciences
- School of Economics and Management
- School of Information Science and Technology
- Academy of Arts and Design
- School of Sciences
- School of Civil Engineering
- School of Journalism and Communication
- School of Law
- School of Mechanical Engineering
- School of Architecture
- School of Life Sciences
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- School of Medicine
- School of Environment
- School of Aerospace Engineering
- Shenzhen International Graduate School
- Zijing College (all-English undergraduate international college)
- Zhishan College
How admission works
Undergraduate international admission is conducted in two rounds via the official portal international.join-tsinghua.edu.cn; applicants are evaluated on academic transcripts, standardised test scores (SAT/ACT/A-Level/AP/IB/CSCA), and an interview.
Chinese-taught programmes require HSK 5 or conditional HSK 4; English-taught programmes require TOEFL/IELTS and no HSK.
Frequently asked
How do I apply?
Most Chinese universities take applications through their own international admissions portal. Open the official website below to see the current steps, required documents and deadlines, then start your file with us and we will guide you through it.
What does it cost?
Tuition, housing and living costs vary by program and city. Where we have a figure confirmed from the official site, it is shown above, otherwise it is marked to verify. Always confirm the current amount on the official site before you budget.
Is it a reach for me?
Admission depends on your grades, your Chinese or English level and the specific program. We can look at your profile together and suggest a realistic list, this university included, rather than guessing.