About
About Nanjing University
Nanjing University (南京大学) traces its history to 1902 and the founding of Sanjiang Normal School. It took the name Nanjing University in 1950 and is based in Nanjing, the historic capital of six Chinese dynasties.
A member of the elite C9 League and the Double First-Class initiative, NJU is a comprehensive university especially renowned for the natural sciences and basic research, alongside the humanities, social sciences and engineering.
NJU teaches around 40,000 students across four campuses in Nanjing and Suzhou, and has been ranked among the world’s top 20 universities by the Nature Index since 2016.
Ranked among the world’s top 20 universities by research output since 2016
C9 League member
One of nine universities in China’s elite C9 League and a Double First-Class institution.
Science & research powerhouse
Ranked among the world’s top 20 universities by the Nature Index, with outstanding strength in basic research.
Ranked among the world’s best
Ranked #103 in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
One of China’s oldest
Founded in 1902, in the historic city of Nanjing.
Admission
Admission, programs & tuition
Nanjing University admits international students to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, plus non-degree Chinese-language programs, through its Institute for International Students. Programs are taught in Chinese or English. NJU charges no application fee — only a registration fee on enrolment.
Degree programs
Select a degree level to see tuition, duration and entry requirements.
Bachelor’s degreeUndergraduate
Four-year undergraduate degrees in Chinese or English across the sciences, humanities, social sciences, business and engineering.
- Undergraduate programs
- RMB 20,000–45,000 / year by program
Application requirements
- Non-Chinese citizen with a valid passport and a high-school graduation certificate.
- Academic transcripts and an entrance assessment; undergraduate applicants typically submit scores to NJU by 15 May 2026.
- Chinese-taught programs: HSK Level 5 (≥180).
- English-taught programs: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 85 or Duolingo 100 for non-native English speakers.
Master’s degreeGraduate
Two- to three-year master’s degrees across the sciences, engineering, the humanities, social sciences and business, including English-taught programs.
- Master’s programs
- RMB 30,000–45,000 / 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 natural sciences, engineering, the humanities and the social sciences.
- Doctoral programs
- Set per program; doctoral funding 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 study for international students at NJU.
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 authentication where required.
- Full academic transcripts.
- Language-proficiency scores — HSK for Chinese-taught programs, TOEFL/IELTS for English-taught programs.
- Study plan or research proposal, and recommendation letters for graduate applicants.
- Foreigner physical-examination record and program-specific documents.
Application timeline
- 1
Undergraduate score submission
By 15 May 2026Undergraduate applicants typically submit their entrance-assessment scores to NJU by 15 May 2026.
- 2
Graduate & scholarship applications
Spring 2026Graduate and scholarship applications for autumn 2026 run through spring 2026; check the Institute for International Students for exact dates.
- 3
Registration & start of the autumn semester
Sep 2026Admitted students register on campus and the academic year begins.
Nanjing University charges no application fee, but a registration fee (RMB 400–500) is payable on enrolment. Tuition is charged per academic year and varies by program. Budget separately for accommodation and insurance, and confirm the current figure on the official program page before applying.
Funding
Scholarships
International students at Nanjing University 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 (Type B)
Full funding: tuition, free accommodation, a monthly living stipend and health insurance.
Eligibility: Non-Chinese citizens applying for degree study; NJU’s Type B track is applied for directly through the university and the CSC portal.
Jiangsu Government (Jasmine) Scholarship
Full or partial tuition for international degree students in Jiangsu province.
Eligibility: International degree students at Jiangsu universities, awarded on academic merit.
Nanjing University Scholarship
Full or partial tuition for outstanding international degree students.
Eligibility: Self-funded international degree students.
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
Nanjing University is one of China’s foremost research universities, internationally recognized for basic research and consistently ranked among the world’s top 20 by the Nature Index.
Natural sciences
Outstanding strength in physics, chemistry, astronomy, the geosciences, mathematics and environmental science.
Basic research
NJU is among China’s leaders in fundamental research and has won more than 800 national and provincial research awards in the past decade.
Humanities & social sciences
Four MOE key research bases in the humanities and social sciences, with strength in history, philosophy and Chinese literature.
National laboratories
A national laboratory, seven national key laboratories and nine Ministry of Education key laboratories.
- NJU has been ranked among the world’s top 20 universities by the Nature Index since 2016.
- NJU hosts a national laboratory, seven national key laboratories and nine MOE key laboratories.
- Its faculty includes 29 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and four of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
- NJU has won more than 800 national and provincial research awards over the past decade.
Global engagement
Global engagement
Nanjing University pursues a global strategy of partnerships, joint institutes and exchange, and has hosted international students from across the world for decades.
Hopkins-Nanjing Center
The Johns Hopkins University–Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies — the first joint international higher-education institution in China.
Nanjing-Helsinki Institute
A joint institute in atmospheric and Earth system sciences with the University of Helsinki, established in 2022.
Confucius Institutes
NJU has established eight Confucius Institutes with partner universities abroad since 2006.
Global partner network
Partnerships, joint programs and exchange with universities across more than 70 countries.
Career
Career & alumni
Nanjing University graduates are highly sought after in research, government, technology and business, and NJU has produced leading scientists, diplomats and academic leaders.
Career support
- Career counselling, workshops and recruitment events for students.
- Strong links to research institutes, technology firms and the public sector.
- A distinguished alumni network in academia, diplomacy and industry.
- Support for graduate study and international careers.
Notable alumni
Hua Chunying
Chinese diplomat and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Zhang Xiang
Mechanical engineer and President of the University of Hong Kong.
Jingguang Chen
Chemical engineer at Columbia University and member of the US National Academy of Engineering.
Campus life
Campus life
Nanjing University spans four campuses — the modern Xianlin main campus, the historic Gulou campus in central Nanjing, the Pukou campus and a campus in Suzhou.
Accommodation
Xianlin Campus dormitory
RMB 3,000/year (single) · RMB 1,500/year (double)
On-campus international student housing on the main Xianlin campus; electricity and water are billed separately.
Gulou Campus (Xiyuan)
About RMB 50/person/day (twin) to RMB 65/person/day (single)
International student accommodation in central Nanjing on the historic Gulou campus.
Dining
Each campus has canteens and cafeterias serving Chinese and international food at student prices.
Facilities
Libraries
A large library system across the campuses with extensive Chinese and foreign-language collections.
Sport & recreation
Gymnasiums, swimming pools, stadiums and sports grounds.
Health care
On-campus medical services; insurance is required for international students.
Four campuses
Xianlin (main), Gulou (central Nanjing), Pukou and a Suzhou campus.
Campus
Nanjing University in photos
Photos of Nanjing University
Photos will appear here once they are uploaded from the Qiao admin panel. In the meantime, Qiao is on it.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Nanjing University for international students?+
International undergraduate tuition runs roughly RMB 20,000–45,000 per year and master’s programs RMB 30,000–45,000 per year, depending on the program. Doctoral tuition is set per program, with funding available. NJU charges no application fee — only a registration fee on enrolment.
What are the admission requirements for international students at Nanjing University?+
Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport. Chinese-taught programs require HSK Level 5; English-taught programs require IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 85 or Duolingo 100. Undergraduate applicants submit transcripts and entrance-assessment scores.
Does Nanjing University offer scholarships for international students?+
Yes. International students can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship, the Jiangsu Government (Jasmine) Scholarship, Nanjing University scholarships and Chinese-language scholarships.
When is the application deadline for Nanjing University?+
Undergraduate applicants typically submit entrance-assessment scores to NJU by 15 May 2026. Graduate and scholarship deadlines for autumn 2026 run through spring 2026.
Is Nanjing University good for science?+
Yes. NJU is one of China’s strongest universities for the natural sciences and basic research, and has ranked among the world’s top 20 by the Nature Index since 2016.
Where do international students live at Nanjing University?+
NJU offers international student dormitories on the Xianlin and Gulou campuses; Xianlin rooms cost about RMB 1,500–3,000 per year and Gulou rooms about RMB 50–65 per person per day.
Contact
Contact the admissions offices
Reach the Institute for International Students for questions about applications, documents, scholarships and arrival. Type university programs and offices are based on campus in Nanjing.
- Office
- Institute for International Students
- Address
- International Students Services Office, Zeng Xianzi Building, 18 Jinyin Street, Gulou District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, P.R. China
- issd@nju.edu.cn
Verified from official sources · last checked 2026-05-18
Tuition, fees and deadlines change every intake. Always confirm the current figures on the official Tsinghua pages before applying.