About
About Xi'an International Studies University
Xi’an International Studies University (西安外国语大学, XISU) describes itself as one of the four earliest foreign-language institutions established in New China. It was formed in 1951 as the Northwest Russian Language College (西北俄文专科学校) through the merger of three institutions, became the Xi’an Foreign Languages Institute (西安外国语学院) in 1958 and took its present name in 2006. It is a public, full-time institution under Shaanxi Province: the Shaanxi Provincial Government listed it as a high-level university for priority construction during the 12th Five-Year Plan, and it is one of the province’s "domestic first-class discipline construction universities". It is not part of the national Double First-Class list.
International students study on two campuses. The Chang’an Campus, on Wenyuan South Road in the Guodu Education and Technology Industrial Development Zone south of the city, is the main site for degree and long-term students and houses the International Students Office. The Yanta Campus, at 437 Chang’an South Road in Yanta District, is the older in-town campus; the office’s Yanta desk sits in the Chinese Culture Experience Center, and the university uses Yanta mainly for customised and short-term programs.
According to the university profile (data as of June 2026), XISU has 23 teaching and research units and 59 undergraduate majors, 32 of them in foreign languages and 21 in less commonly taught languages. It holds a doctoral first-level discipline in Foreign Languages and Literatures with a postdoctoral research station, 10 master’s first-level disciplines and 11 professional master’s degree programs, one provincial first-class discipline and three provincial key disciplines, and 20 majors — English among them — are national first-class undergraduate major construction sites. The campus covers 1,593 mu. The university’s English-language "About XISU" page is much older (its data are dated September 2017) and gives lower figures, for example 52 undergraduate programs and agreements with 199 institutions; the June 2026 Chinese profile is the current one.
Construction sites, English among them — university profile, data as of June 2026
With a postdoctoral research station
One provincial first-class discipline and three provincial key disciplines
Teaching Chinese since 1979
XISU began admitting international students in 1979 and calls itself the first specialised institution for teaching Chinese as a foreign language in north-west China. International education grew from a short-term training class (1979) to a language and culture centre (1985) and a college (1994).
A languages university
Of 59 undergraduate majors, 32 are foreign languages and 21 are less commonly taught languages — from Kazakh, Ukrainian and Belarusian to Urdu, Persian and Filipino. Many of those language majors are open to international students, taught through Chinese.
All levels open since 2019
Since 2019 the university has opened its bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral majors in full to international applicants, alongside the long-running Chinese language programs.
Chinese language teaching base
XISU has been a Chinese Government Scholarship host institution since 2006, and in 2012 was designated a multilingual base for the international promotion of Chinese.
Admission
Admission, programs & tuition
XISU admits international students to Chinese language study, a one-year preparatory program, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, and exchange study. All applications go through the university’s online system at xisu.chiwest.cn, and the International Students Office (国际学生办公室) handles admission for every route. For degree study the key facts are these: the application deadline for bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and preparatory study is 15 June, with entry in early September; degree programs are overwhelmingly taught in Chinese, so the HSK is the gate (HSK 4 at 180 for most bachelor’s majors, HSK 5 for master’s and doctoral study); and every bachelor’s applicant must sit the CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) in Chinese and mathematics. The admissions pages set no upper age limit for self-funded degree applicants — age limits appear only in the scholarship rules — while applicants under 18 need a guardian’s guarantee. The pages also mention English-taught options with IELTS 6.0 thresholds, but the published major catalogues do not mark any major as English-taught, so confirm the language of your major with the office before applying. For master’s and doctoral applicants there is an entrance assessment (interview or written test) after the online application.
Degree programs
Select a degree level to see tuition, duration and entry requirements.
Bachelor’s degreeUndergraduate
Four-year degrees across the university’s schools, most of them languages: English, business English and linguistics; Japanese; translation; Arabic, Korean, Indonesian, Hindi, Malay, Thai, Turkish, Persian, Urdu and Filipino; Russian, Kazakh, Ukrainian, Belarusian and Czech; German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Greek and Hungarian. For students whose goal is Chinese itself, the catalogue lists Chinese Language and Chinese International Education (汉学院·中亚学院) and Chinese Language and Literature (School of Chinese Language and Literature). Non-language majors include journalism, international politics, diplomacy, business administration, accounting, finance, international economics and trade, cross-border e-commerce, tourism management and three arts majors.
- All majors except arts
- RMB 16,000 / year
- Performance, Drama & Film Literature, Visual Communication Design
- RMB 28,000 / year
- Insurance
- RMB 1,000 / year
Application requirements
- Non-Chinese citizen with a valid passport and education equivalent to Chinese senior high-school graduation or above, meeting the nationality rules for applicants who were formerly Chinese citizens or whose parents are Chinese.
- Chinese-taught majors: HSK Level 4 with 180 points or more, or one year of Chinese study at XISU with a passed examination. Some majors require HSK Level 5 at 180 or above — the page does not list which, so ask the office.
- CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) Chinese and mathematics tests, with a valid score report. Applicants to the Chinese Language major (汉语言) with a valid HSK 4 certificate are exempt from the Chinese test; the undergraduate catalogue lists mathematics as the only CSCA subject for Chinese Language and for Chinese Language and Literature.
- English-taught programs, where offered: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 85 or Cambridge English B2 or above for non-native speakers.
- Applicants under 18 must provide a guardian’s guarantee letter; if the parents are not in China, they must appoint a foreigner or Chinese citizen who lives permanently in China as guardian.
- A self-introduction letter of 500–800 characters, a medical examination report valid for six months and a certificate of no criminal record.
Master’s degreeGraduate
Three-year master’s programs across roughly a dozen schools. For Chinese-focused students the relevant ones are Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (汉语国际教育, 汉学院·中亚学院) and Chinese Language and Literature (中国语言文学). Most of the rest are in foreign languages and literatures, linguistics and applied linguistics, translation and interpreting, journalism, politics, education, business, economics, finance, tourism and the arts. Applicants take an entrance assessment — an interview or a written test — after applying online.
- All majors except Design and Drama & Film
- RMB 20,000 / year
- Design; Drama & Film (School of Arts)
- RMB 30,000 / year
- Insurance
- RMB 1,000 / year
Application requirements
- Non-Chinese citizen with a valid passport holding the equivalent of a Chinese bachelor’s degree or above.
- Chinese-taught programs: humanities and economics majors need HSK 5 with 210 points or more, or HSK 6 with 180 or more; science and arts majors need HSK 5 with 180 or more.
- English-taught programs: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 80 or Cambridge English B2 or above.
- Two recommendation letters from associate professors (or equivalent) or senior professionals, dated after 1 September 2025.
- A personal statement of more than 1,000 characters, in Chinese or English according to the program language, plus research output and any award certificates.
- An entrance assessment (interview or written test) after the online application; original diplomas are checked at registration and admission is cancelled if they are missing.
Doctoral degreeGraduate
Four-year doctorates within the Foreign Languages and Literatures discipline: English language and literature, foreign linguistics and applied linguistics, translation studies, Japanese, Russian and German language and literature, Asian and African languages and literatures, country and regional studies, international communication, regional culture and education, and — for students of Chinese — comparative linguistics and comparative literature at the School of Chinese Language and Literature. The page advises contacting a supervisor before applying.
- All doctoral programs
- RMB 24,000 / year
- Insurance
- RMB 1,000 / year
Application requirements
- Non-Chinese citizen with a valid passport holding the equivalent of a Chinese master’s degree or above.
- Chinese-taught programs: HSK 5 with 210 points or more (humanities and economics) or 180 or more (science and arts); English-taught programs: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 80 or Cambridge English B2.
- Two recommendation letters, a personal statement, research output and a study and research plan.
- An entrance assessment (interview or written test); contacting a prospective supervisor in advance is recommended.
Non-degree programs
General Chinese Language Program (普通汉语进修生)
XISU’s core route for learning Chinese. Classes run Monday to Friday, four periods a day — 20 periods of 45 minutes a week — over 18-week semesters, with elementary, intermediate and advanced-intermediate levels and separate listening, speaking, reading and writing work. Classes are capped at 25 students, textbooks (the Developing Chinese series and others) are bought by students, and HSK coaching and electives such as Chinese ink painting are offered free. The autumn 2026 semester runs from early September 2026 to late December 2026 or early January 2027 (a full year runs to July 2027); the spring semester runs from early March to late June or early July. Open to ages 16 to 60: applicants under 18 need a guardian in China, and those over 60 need a health certificate and a family guarantee letter. No prior education level is required. Short enrolment is priced at RMB 1,200 (1 week), 1,800 (2 weeks), 2,200 (3 weeks), 2,500 (1 month), 4,200 (2 months) or 5,800 (3 months), plus the RMB 400 registration fee and insurance. Deadlines: 20 June for autumn and 20 December for spring. Students receive a transcript, and a completion certificate if they meet the requirements; the university issues visa documents for long-term students.
Fee · RMB 7,300 / semester or RMB 14,600 / year tuition, plus registration RMB 400 / semester or RMB 600 / year and insurance RMB 500 / semester or RMB 1,000 / year
Preparatory program (预科进修)
A two-semester foundation year for students who plan to take a bachelor’s degree in China, designed to raise Chinese proficiency and academic foundations. Each semester is 18 weeks with 20–26 class hours a week. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport, at least 16 years old and at HSK Level 3 with 180 points. The deadline is 15 June.
Fee · RMB 20,000 / year (RMB 10,000 / semester) tuition, plus registration RMB 600 / year and insurance RMB 1,000 / year
Summer Chinese Program (暑期汉语进修班)
About 70% Chinese language classes (comprehensive and speaking drills) and 30% culture — tai chi, calligraphy, painting and tea art. Beginners are welcome; a class at a given level opens with 10 or more students. An optional trip to the Terracotta Warriors costs about RMB 680. On-campus double rooms are quoted at RMB 300 per room per day (Expert Building) or RMB 200 per room per day (Apartment 4), with limited supply. The 2026 deadline was 15 June 2026.
Fee · RMB 4,500 tuition (textbooks and cultural activities included) + RMB 300 application fee; accommodation extra
Exchange study — Chinese language (汉语进修, exchange)
For students of partner universities. You must be nominated by the office that handles exchange at your own university, then register in the online system. The class format matches the general language program: 20 periods a week, classes of at most 25, free HSK coaching and electives, and a transcript or completion certificate at the end. Admitted students receive a JW202 visa form and admission letter, and are emailed instructions to book a dormitory online. XISU also lists professional (subject) exchange and an International English Credit Program, but their pages carry no details yet. Exchange enquiries go to inbound@xisu.edu.cn.
Fee · Not published on the exchange pages — tuition terms depend on the agreement with your home university, so ask your exchange office
Documents to prepare
- XISU International Student Application Form, completed online at xisu.chiwest.cn.
- Passport copy — the personal information page plus all Chinese visa pages (degree programs ask for passport and visa copies).
- Highest diploma and complete official transcripts: senior high school for bachelor’s applicants, bachelor’s degree for master’s, master’s degree for doctoral; language students provide proof of current enrolment or their latest degree in Chinese or English.
- CSCA Chinese and mathematics score report — bachelor’s applicants only.
- Language proficiency evidence: HSK 4 (180+) for bachelor’s majors, HSK 5 (210+ or 180+ by field) or HSK 6 (180+) for master’s and doctoral study, HSK 3 (180) for the preparatory year; IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 85 (bachelor’s) or 80 (master’s and doctoral), or Cambridge English B2 for English-taught programs.
- Written statements — the length depends on level: a 500–800-character self-introduction for bachelor’s applicants, a personal statement of more than 1,000 characters for master’s, and a personal statement, a master’s thesis abstract and a study and research plan for doctoral applicants.
- Two recommendation letters from associate professors or above (master’s and doctoral), dated after 1 September 2025.
- Medical examination report within six months, on the Foreigner Physical Examination Form with blood test results.
- Certificate of no criminal record (for language students, where your home country requires it, translated into Chinese or English if necessary).
- Guardian’s guarantee letter for applicants under 18; for language students aged 60 or over, a health certificate and family guarantee letter.
- Language students also submit a digital photo and an entry/exit information commitment form.
Application timeline
These are the dates Xi'an International Studies University published for the 2026 intake. That cycle has closed. Use them as a guide to when each step falls in the year, and check the official pages for the 2027 dates before you plan around them.
- 1
Spring dormitory booking opens
Early Jan 2026Online dormitory booking opens in early January for spring and early July for autumn; rooms are first come, first served.
- 2
MTI scholarship application window
5 Jan – 31 Mar 2026International Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship for the Master of Translation and Interpreting program, applied for on chinese.cn and in the XISU system.
- 3
Chinese Government Scholarship (bilateral)
Jan – early Apr 2026The usual window for applying through your home country’s dispatching authority; check the exact dates with that authority.
- 4
Spring semester starts (Chinese language)
Early Mar 2026The spring 2026 semester ran to late June / early July 2026.
- 5
Degree and preparatory deadline
15 Jun 2026Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and preparatory applications close; the 2026 Summer Chinese Program closed on the same day.
- 6
Autumn Chinese language deadline
20 Jun 2026Deadline for the General Chinese Language Program, autumn 2026 semester.
- 7
Summer Chinese Program
20 Jul – 14 Aug 2026 - 8
Registration and start of the academic year
Early Sep 2026Degree, preparatory and language students start; new degree students pay a full year’s tuition before registering and applying for the residence permit.
- 9
Spring semester deadline (Chinese language)
20 Dec 2026For the spring semester starting in early March 2027 — the second half of the 2026–27 academic year.
XISU’s fees are low by national standards and follow one simple pattern: every program charges a registration fee (RMB 400 for one semester, RMB 600 for a year) and insurance (RMB 500 per semester, RMB 1,000 per year) on top of tuition. Annual tuition is RMB 14,600 for the General Chinese Language Program, RMB 20,000 for the preparatory year, RMB 16,000 for bachelor’s majors (RMB 28,000 for three arts majors), RMB 20,000 for master’s (RMB 30,000 for Design and Drama & Film) and RMB 24,000 for doctoral study. New students pay a full year at once; from the second year you may pay by semester, and you must pay before registering and applying for a visa or residence permit. Payment is by bank transfer, online (Alipay, WeChat) or on arrival at the finance hall on the ground floor of Block A, Administration Building, Chang’an Campus. Refunds: full tuition back if you withdraw before the semester (or registration) starts, 70% of tuition within the first two weeks, nothing after that — the registration fee, insurance and textbook costs are never refunded. Dormitories are extra (see Campus life).
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Funding
Scholarships
XISU lists five families of scholarships: the Chinese Government Scholarship (bilateral and Silk Road channels), the International Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship (including a funded Master of Translation and Interpreting for international students), the Shaanxi Provincial Government’s Sanqin scholarship, the Xi’an Municipal Government "Belt and Road" scholarship, and XISU’s own scholarship. Only some of these have full terms online. The Chinese Government bilateral page sets out coverage and age limits clearly; the Silk Road, International Chinese Language Teacher (general) and XISU scholarship pages carry no coverage or deadline details at present, and the Xi’an municipal page still shows its 2025 round. Ask the International Students Office which awards are open for your intake before relying on any of them.
Chinese Government Scholarship — Bilateral Program
Full scholarship: registration, tuition, laboratory, internship and basic textbook fees waived; free on-campus accommodation; comprehensive medical insurance; and a monthly living allowance of RMB 2,500 (bachelor’s), RMB 3,000 (master’s and general scholars, including Chinese language students) or RMB 3,500 (doctoral and senior scholars).
Eligibility: Non-Chinese citizens in good health with the relevant prior education, applying through the student-dispatching authority of their home country — generally between early January and early April. Age limits: under 25 for bachelor’s, 35 for master’s, 40 for doctoral, 45 for general scholars (language study) and 50 for senior scholars.
Chinese Government Scholarship — Silk Road Program
Listed by XISU as a second Chinese Government Scholarship channel, but its page gives no terms yet.
Eligibility: Contact the International Students Office for this year’s arrangements.
International Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship — Master of Translation and Interpreting (MTI)
Tuition, accommodation, a living allowance and medical insurance for the three-year MTI program for international students, set up in 2022 by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation; five places in total.
Eligibility: Non-Chinese citizens under 40 with a bachelor’s degree in Chinese, translation or a related field and HSK Level 6 or above; translation experience is preferred. Translation directions: Japanese, Russian, English, French and German. The 2026 application window was 5 January – 31 March 2026, on chinese.cn and in the XISU system. XISU also lists the general International Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship (the usual funding route for Chinese language study) but its page gives no terms, so check the Center for Language Education and Cooperation’s own notice.
Shaanxi Sanqin International Student Scholarship
Per person per year: RMB 25,000 (Category A, doctoral), RMB 20,000 (B, master’s), RMB 13,000 (C, bachelor’s) and RMB 10,000 (D, a category for students from Kazakhstan in financial need).
Eligibility: For degree students (bachelor’s and above) already enrolled at a Shaanxi university: foreign citizens with a valid foreign passport who have completed at least one year of formal degree study and earned grades of "good" or better in all compulsory courses that year. Universities report their results to the provincial education department by 30 September each year. Note that the measures posted by XISU state they applied from 29 July 2015 and expired on 29 July 2020, so confirm the current rules with the office. Not open to new or language-only students.
Xi’an Municipal "Belt and Road" International Student Scholarship
The notice sets categories but no amounts: bachelor’s, master’s and non-degree Chinese language study (up to 10 months).
Eligibility: Citizens of Belt and Road countries in good health with excellent academic records and no disciplinary record. Age limits: under 30 for bachelor’s, under 35 for master’s and under 45 for language study. Bachelor’s applicants need HSK 4 (180+) and master’s applicants HSK 5 (180+) for Chinese-taught programs. The file includes an application form, an 800-character study plan, two recommendation letters and a medical form, emailed to admission@xisu.edu.cn, followed by a written test or interview. The notice on XISU’s page is for the 2025 round (deadline 15 June 2025); no 2026 notice is posted.
Xi’an International Studies University Scholarship
Described only as support for international students with excellent academic performance and overall quality to complete their studies; no amounts or grades are published.
Eligibility: Ask the International Students Office for this year’s criteria and deadline.
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Research at the university
XISU is a teaching-led languages university rather than a research-intensive one, and its research strength sits where its teaching does: foreign languages and literatures (its one doctoral first-level discipline, with a postdoctoral station), linguistics, translation, and area and country studies of the regions whose languages it teaches — Russia and Central Asia, Europe, and Asia and Africa. The university profile also notes research bases linked to the National Ethnic Affairs Commission and several regional studies centres. For an international student the practical relevance is at master’s and doctoral level, where the catalogues cover linguistics and applied linguistics, translation studies, comparative linguistics and literature, and country and regional studies.
Linguistics and applied linguistics
Offered at master’s and doctoral level through the English School, alongside English language and literature.
Translation and interpreting
Translation studies at doctoral level, a translation major at bachelor’s level, and an international MTI program funded by the International Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship.
Country and regional studies
A doctoral field at the School of Asian and African Studies, supported by the university’s many less commonly taught languages, from Kazakh and Ukrainian to Urdu and Persian.
Chinese language and comparative literature
Comparative linguistics and comparative literature at doctoral level, and Chinese language and literature and teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages at master’s level.
- Doctoral first-level discipline in Foreign Languages and Literatures, with a postdoctoral research station (university profile, data as of June 2026).
- Library collections in 50 languages: 1.313 million print books and journals, over 2.2 million e-books and 50 Chinese and foreign databases.
- Designated a multilingual base for the international promotion of Chinese in 2012.
Global engagement
Global engagement
International links are the core of a languages university’s identity. According to the June 2026 university profile, XISU has cooperation agreements with 305 universities and research institutions in 52 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Russia, and runs three Confucius Institutes abroad — in Kazakhstan, Argentina and France. (The older English-language About page, with data from 2017, lists 199 partner institutions and four Confucius Institutes and Classrooms.) For incoming students, partner universities nominate exchange students for semester or year-long Chinese study, and the International Students Office runs short-term customised programs, mainly on the Yanta Campus.
Confucius Institutes in Kazakhstan, Argentina and France
XISU runs three Confucius Institutes overseas, and set up a Confucius Institute work office in 2013.
Exchange nominations
Students of partner universities are nominated by their home institution’s exchange office for semester or year-long Chinese study; enquiries go to inbound@xisu.edu.cn.
Central Asia focus
Chinese Language and Chinese International Education are taught at the 汉学院·中亚学院 (a combined Chinese studies and Central Asia school), and XISU teaches Kazakh among its undergraduate languages. Past international students came from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as well as the US, UK, Japan, Korea, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Belgium, Australia and Canada.
Career
Career & alumni
XISU does not publish employment statistics or career services for international graduates on its international student pages. What its pages do show is the language-industry orientation of the degrees: translation and interpreting, teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages, journalism and international communication, and business and trade majors taught through Chinese. For support with internships, work rules for international students or career planning, ask the International Students Office directly.
Career support
- XISU runs an alumni section on its international student website (alumni news, alumni stories and an alumni association) for keeping in touch after graduation.
Notable alumni
Campus life
Campus life
Where you live depends on your program. Degree and long-term language students are housed on the Chang’an Campus in the Building 8 student apartments; the Yanta Campus, in the city, houses mainly customised and short-term program students in Apartment 4 and the Expert Building. Dormitory booking is online only: it opens in early January (spring) and early July (autumn), and rooms are allocated first come, first served. Exchange students are emailed booking instructions after admission.
Accommodation
Building 8 student apartment — Chang’an Campus
RMB 4,500 / semester or RMB 9,000 / academic year per person
Private bathroom with shower and toilet, air-conditioning, desk, bed, wardrobe and balcony. Internet is an extra RMB 20 a month. The main dormitory for degree and long-term students.
Apartment 4 — Yanta Campus
RMB 170 per room per day (stays of 2 months or more); RMB 258 per room per day (short stays)
Internet and bedding included. The 2026 Summer Chinese Program page quotes this building at RMB 200 per room per day — confirm the rate for your stay with the office.
Expert Building — Yanta Campus
RMB 300 per room per day
Internet and bedding included; the same rate is quoted for the Summer Chinese Program.
Dining
XISU does not publish dining halls or meal prices for international students on its international student pages; budget for food separately and ask the office on arrival.
Facilities
Two campuses
The Chang’an Campus in the Guodu education zone (main campus, International Students Office in Administration Building B204) and the Yanta Campus at 437 Chang’an South Road, home to the Chinese Culture Experience Center. The university covers 1,593 mu in total.
Library
Collections in 50 languages: 1.313 million print books and journals, over 2.2 million e-books and 50 databases.
Culture electives
Language students get free HSK coaching and electives such as Chinese ink painting; summer students do tai chi, calligraphy, painting and tea art.
Insurance and visas
Insurance is compulsory: RMB 500 per semester or RMB 1,000 per year for every long-term program. Long-term language students receive visa application documents; exchange students receive a JW202 form with their admission letter. Tuition must be paid before registration and the residence permit application.
Campus
Xi'an International Studies University in photos
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to learn Chinese at XISU?+
The General Chinese Language Program costs RMB 7,300 per semester or RMB 14,600 per year in tuition, plus a registration fee (RMB 400 per semester or RMB 600 per year) and insurance (RMB 500 per semester or RMB 1,000 per year). Short enrolment runs from RMB 1,200 for one week to RMB 5,800 for three months, plus registration and insurance. The 2026 four-week summer program was RMB 4,500 plus a RMB 300 application fee. Dormitories are extra — RMB 4,500 per semester in a double room on the Chang’an Campus.
What are the degree tuition fees at XISU?+
Per year: RMB 16,000 for bachelor’s majors (RMB 28,000 for Performance, Drama & Film Literature and Visual Communication Design), RMB 20,000 for master’s (RMB 30,000 for Design and Drama & Film) and RMB 24,000 for doctoral study. Add RMB 600 registration and RMB 1,000 insurance each year. The one-year preparatory program is RMB 20,000.
What Chinese level do I need for a degree?+
Bachelor’s: HSK 4 with 180 points, or one year of Chinese at XISU with a passed exam; some majors need HSK 5 at 180. You also need CSCA scores in Chinese and mathematics, though Chinese Language majors with valid HSK 4 skip the Chinese test. Master’s and doctoral: HSK 5 with 210 (or HSK 6 with 180) for humanities and economics, and HSK 5 with 180 for science and arts. If you are not there yet, the preparatory year takes students from HSK 3 (180).
When are the application deadlines?+
15 June for bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and preparatory study, with entry in early September. For the General Chinese Language Program, 20 June for autumn and 20 December for spring (the next is 20 December 2026 for the March 2027 semester). Chinese Government Scholarship bilateral applications usually run from early January to early April through your home country’s dispatching authority.
Is there an age limit?+
The admissions pages set no upper age limit for self-funded degree students; applicants under 18 need a guardian’s guarantee letter. Chinese language students must be 16 to 60 (over-60s need a health certificate and family guarantee), and preparatory students at least 16. Scholarships do have age limits: for the Chinese Government Scholarship, under 25 for bachelor’s, 35 for master’s, 40 for doctoral and 45 for language study.
Can I study in English at XISU?+
Mostly not. The degree pages mention English-taught programs and set IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 85 (bachelor’s) or TOEFL 80 (graduate) thresholds, but the published major catalogues do not mark any major as English-taught, and nearly everything — including all the Chinese language programs — is taught in Chinese. Ask admission@xisu.edu.cn which majors, if any, are taught in English for your intake.
Where will I live?+
Degree and long-term students live in Building 8 on the Chang’an Campus: double rooms with private bathroom, air-conditioning and a balcony at RMB 4,500 per semester or RMB 9,000 per year. Short-term students usually stay on the Yanta Campus at RMB 170–300 per room per day. Book online from early January or early July — it is first come, first served.
Contact
Contact the admissions offices
Reach the International Students Office (国际学生办公室), Xi’an International Studies University for questions about applications, documents, scholarships and arrival. Type university programs and offices are based on campus in Xi'an.
- Office
- International Students Office (国际学生办公室), Xi’an International Studies University
- Address
- Office B204, Administration Building, Chang’an Campus, Wenyuan South Road, Guodu Education and Technology Industrial Development Zone, Xi’an 710128, Shaanxi, China (Yanta Campus desk: Chinese Culture Experience Center, 437 Chang’an South Road, Yanta District, Xi’an 710061)
- admission@xisu.edu.cn — admissions for all programs, scholarships and dormitory questionsinbound@xisu.edu.cn — exchange students from partner universitieszhangmeng@xisu.edu.cn — Zhang Meng, director of the International Students Office
Verified from official sources · last checked 2026-09-28
Tuition, fees and deadlines change every intake. Always confirm the current figures on the official Xi'an International Studies University pages before applying.
- Undergraduate program (本科生)
- Undergraduate program (English)
- Master’s program (硕士研究生)
- Doctoral program (博士研究生)
- Undergraduate major catalogue
- Master’s major catalogue
- Doctoral major catalogue
- General Chinese Language Program (普通汉语进修生)
- Regular Chinese Language Program (English)
- Preparatory program (预科进修)
- Summer Chinese Program 2026
- Exchange — Chinese language study (汉语进修)
- Exchange — how to apply
- Enrollment programs overview
- Scholarships overview
- Chinese Government Scholarship — Bilateral Program
- Chinese Government Scholarship — Silk Road Program
- International Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship — MTI program
- Shaanxi Sanqin International Student Scholarship
- Xi’an Municipal Belt and Road Scholarship
- XISU Scholarship
- Accommodation (住宿)
- Payment and refunds (缴费)
- Contact the International Students Office
- International student education at XISU
- University profile (学校简介, data as of June 2026)
- About XISU (English, 2017 data)
- 2026 undergraduate admission regulations (domestic)