About
About Sun Yat-sen University
Sun Yat-sen University (中山大学) was founded in 1924 by Dr Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of modern China, and is named in his honour. It is based in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.
A national Double First-Class university, SYSU is a comprehensive institution spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, pharmacology and management, with particular renown in medicine and the life sciences.
SYSU teaches more than 50,000 students across five campuses in Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Shenzhen, supported by ten affiliated hospitals, and admits over 3,500 international degree students each year.
Among the world’s leading universities by research output (Nature Index 2024)
Founded by Sun Yat-sen
Established in 1924 by Dr Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of modern China, and named in his honour.
Research powerhouse
Among the top universities in the Asia-Pacific for research output, with world-class strength in medicine, chemistry and the life sciences.
Five campuses, three cities
Campuses in Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Shenzhen, supported by ten affiliated hospitals.
Double First-Class university
A national key university in China’s Double First-Class initiative.
Admission
Admission, programs & tuition
Sun Yat-sen University admits international students to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, plus non-degree Chinese-language programs, through the Office of International Students’ Affairs. Undergraduate admission uses the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA). Tuition is set per academic year and varies by program.
Degree programs
Select a degree level to see tuition, duration and entry requirements.
Bachelor’s degreeUndergraduate
Four- to five-year undergraduate degrees, mainly in Chinese with some English-taught programs, across the humanities, sciences, engineering, business and medicine.
- Undergraduate programs
- RMB 26,000–33,800 / year
Application requirements
- Non-Chinese citizen with a valid passport and a high-school graduation certificate.
- China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) scores — accepted up to 1 March 2026 for first-round and 1 May 2026 for second-round applications.
- Chinese-taught programs: a valid HSK certificate; English-taught programs: IELTS or TOEFL scores.
- Academic transcripts; documents in other languages need a notarized Chinese or English translation.
Master’s degreeGraduate
Two- to three-year master’s degrees across the sciences, medicine, engineering, management and the social sciences.
- Master’s programs
- RMB 30,000–90,000 / year by program
Application requirements
- Foreign passport holder with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- Academic transcripts and degree certificate.
- A study plan and recommendation letters.
- HSK or English-language test scores depending on the program.
- Passport biographical page and program-specific materials.
Doctoral degreeGraduate
Doctoral study across the sciences, medicine, engineering and the social sciences.
- Doctoral programs
- Set per program; doctoral stipends often available
Application requirements
- Foreign passport holder with a master’s degree or equivalent.
- A research proposal and academic transcripts.
- Two academic recommendation letters.
- Language-proficiency test scores as required by the program.
- Passport biographical page and program-specific materials.
Non-degree programs
Chinese language program
Chinese language and culture courses for international students at SYSU.
Fee · By program
Exchange & visiting students
Students nominated by partner universities, or self-funded visiting students, study for one or two semesters.
Fee · Per exchange agreement
Documents to prepare
- Valid foreign passport (biographical page).
- Highest degree or graduation certificate, with a notarized Chinese or English translation if needed.
- Full academic transcripts.
- CSCA scores for undergraduate applicants; HSK or TOEFL/IELTS scores as required.
- Study plan or research proposal, and recommendation letters for graduate applicants.
- Foreigner physical-examination record and program-specific documents.
Application timeline
- 1
First-round CSCA scores
By 1 Mar 2026For first-round undergraduate applications, SYSU accepts CSCA scores from test sessions on or before 1 March 2026.
- 2
Second-round CSCA scores
By 1 May 2026For second-round undergraduate applications, CSCA scores from sessions on or before 1 May 2026 are accepted.
- 3
Graduate & scholarship applications
Spring 2026Graduate applications and scholarship deadlines run through spring 2026; check the Office of International Students’ Affairs for exact dates.
- 4
Registration & start of the autumn semester
Sep 2026Admitted students register on campus and the academic year begins.
Tuition is charged per academic year and varies by program; English-taught and professional programs cost considerably more. Budget separately for the RMB 400 application fee, accommodation and insurance. Always confirm the current figure with the Office of International Students’ Affairs before applying.
Funding
Scholarships
International students at SYSU can apply for national, provincial and university scholarships. The fully funded national scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, insurance and a stipend; others cover tuition fully or partly.
Chinese Government Scholarship
Full funding: tuition, accommodation, a monthly living stipend and comprehensive medical insurance.
Eligibility: Non-Chinese citizens applying for degree study, applied for together with SYSU.
Guangdong Provincial Government Scholarship
Full or partial tuition for international degree students in Guangdong.
Eligibility: International degree students at Guangdong universities, awarded on academic merit.
Sun Yat-sen University Scholarship
Full or partial tuition, awarded on academic performance.
Eligibility: Outstanding self-funded international degree students.
Silk Road Scholarship
Tuition support for students from Belt and Road / Silk Road partner countries.
Eligibility: International students from eligible Silk Road countries.
International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship
Tuition, accommodation and stipend for Chinese-language and Chinese-teaching programs.
Eligibility: Students of Chinese language and the Chinese-teaching track.
Research
Research at the university
Sun Yat-sen University is one of China’s most research-intensive universities, ranking among the world’s leaders for research output, with outstanding strength in medicine, chemistry, the life sciences and physics.
Medicine & clinical research
World-class medicine through ten affiliated hospitals, the SYSU Cancer Center and the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center.
State key laboratories
Including the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, the State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and the State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol.
Life sciences & chemistry
Top 1% global citation impact in chemistry, biology, biochemistry and molecular biology.
Physical sciences & engineering
Strong research in physics, materials science, mathematics and engineering.
- SYSU ranks among the top 10 universities in the Asia-Pacific for research output (Nature Index 2024).
- The 2025 CWTS Leiden Ranking placed SYSU 7th in the world by total publications.
- SYSU hosts the only State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology in China.
- SYSU reaches top 1% global citation impact across chemistry, clinical medicine, physics and the life sciences.
Global engagement
Global engagement
Sun Yat-sen University collaborates with around 200 universities worldwide through joint programs, joint institutes and exchange.
SYSU–Carnegie Mellon Joint Institute of Engineering
A joint engineering institute run with Carnegie Mellon University.
Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering & Technology
A nuclear-engineering institute run with Grenoble INP and other French institutions.
SYSU–Johns Hopkins research collaboration
A joint collaboration with Johns Hopkins University on clinical and translational research.
Global partner network
Cooperation with around 200 universities in 30+ countries through joint and exchange programs.
Career
Career & alumni
Sun Yat-sen University graduates are highly sought after across southern China — especially in medicine, business, technology and the public sector across the Greater Bay Area.
Career support
- Career counselling, workshops and recruitment events for students.
- Strong employer links across the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area.
- Particularly strong graduate outcomes in medicine, the life sciences and business.
- Support for graduate study and international careers.
Notable alumni
Shou-Wu Zhang
Mathematician and professor at Princeton University, known for number theory and arithmetic geometry.
Min Zhou
Sociologist and member of the US National Academy of Sciences.
Sónia Chan
Former Secretary for Administration and Justice of Macau.
Campus life
Campus life
Sun Yat-sen University spans five campuses across Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Shenzhen, blending historic and modern facilities in the heart of the Greater Bay Area.
Accommodation
International Student Dormitories
By room type and campus
Dormitory buildings on the Guangzhou South and North campuses; rooms have a private bathroom with hot-water shower, air-conditioning, internet and telephone, with shared laundry, a TV room, reading room, gym and games rooms.
Dining
Each campus has canteens serving Cantonese, other Chinese and international food at student prices.
Facilities
Libraries
Large libraries across the five campuses with extensive collections and study spaces.
Sport & recreation
Gymnasiums, swimming pools, stadiums and sports grounds, plus on-campus gyms and games rooms.
Health care
Ten affiliated hospitals and on-campus medical services; insurance is required for international students.
Five Greater Bay Area campuses
Campuses in Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Shenzhen — three major Greater Bay Area cities.
Campus
Sun Yat-sen University in photos
Photos of Sun Yat-sen University
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Sun Yat-sen University for international students?+
Undergraduate tuition ranges from about RMB 26,000 to RMB 33,800 per year. Master’s programs run roughly RMB 30,000–90,000 per year depending on the program, and doctoral tuition is set per program, with stipends often available.
What are the admission requirements for international students at SYSU?+
Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport. Undergraduate admission uses the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA); Chinese-taught programs require an HSK certificate and English-taught programs require IELTS or TOEFL scores.
Does SYSU offer scholarships for international students?+
Yes. International students can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship, the Guangdong Provincial Government Scholarship, Sun Yat-sen University scholarships, the Silk Road Scholarship and Chinese-language scholarships.
When is the application deadline for Sun Yat-sen University?+
For undergraduate admission, SYSU accepts CSCA scores up to 1 March 2026 for first-round applications and 1 May 2026 for second-round applications. Graduate and scholarship deadlines run through spring 2026.
Is Sun Yat-sen University strong in medicine?+
Yes. SYSU has ten affiliated hospitals and is renowned for medicine and the life sciences, hosting the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and the State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China.
Where do international students live at SYSU?+
SYSU provides International Student Dormitories on its Guangzhou campuses, with rooms that have a private bathroom, air-conditioning and internet, plus shared laundry and recreation facilities.
Contact
Contact the admissions offices
Reach the Office of International Students’ Affairs for questions about applications, documents, scholarships and arrival. Type university programs and offices are based on campus in Guangzhou.
- Office
- Office of International Students’ Affairs
- Address
- Office of International Students’ Affairs, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510275, P.R. China
Verified from official sources · last checked 2026-05-17
Tuition, fees and deadlines change every intake. Always confirm the current figures on the official Tsinghua pages before applying.